Award Availability Tools
 

This topic is covered to various degrees in other threads, but I haven't found an exact answer to this question. I am trying to search for availability from ORD or YYZ to HKG on a OW carrier. Per suggestions from other threads, I have tried using the QF tool, but I don't think it covers CX, which is what I'm hoping to fly. I have also tried searching on the BA site, but every time I search, it tries to route me through London on BA flights. This is even true when it gave me the option on the left part of the screen to search partner airlines. I feel like I'm missing something really obvious here, but I've read the screen like fifty times, and I don't see what I'm doing wrong. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Unfortunately, the only sure fire way I've found has been to sign up for the FF program and use the online tools for the airline to try and get award tickets. Regardless of whether or not I'm using the miles from that program...

For instance in your case, I would sign up as an Asia Miles member and login to the cathay pacific website and click on redeem miles - that would give me a fairly good availability calendar with which I can narrow down my decisions.

Exactly. And even better, you get availability by flight/cabin on CX. YYZ-HKG usually has pretty good availability in F, but not terribly far out. Browse around there for a bit and you'll begin to get a feel for when they release seats. If you're traveling in F, definitely go for CX. In J, I'd opt for AA. Also, remember to check other cities for availability, connections are often pretty good. So, for AA, you might want to look at JFK/DFW/LAX-NRT-HKG as well. For CX, JFK/YYZ/LAX/SFO-HKG.