Avios Madrid or Paris to Tokyo - never given the direct option
May 6, 2024, 6:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 27
Avios Madrid or Paris to Tokyo - never given the direct option
Was exploring London to Tokyo with Avios, and came across a comment on Reddit saying "book from Madrid". So I searched (on the BA "book with Avios" page) for Madrid to Tokyo. This gave no direct route, but did give an option via Paris. OK... please search Paris to Tokyo. Again, no direct route, and this time the option was via Madrid! I think the Paris route was JAL, and the Madrid route was Iberia.
What is going on there? How do I have a chance of finding availability for a popular route? SeatSpy only shows BA metal, and is very limited for anything not originating in the UK.
What is going on there? How do I have a chance of finding availability for a popular route? SeatSpy only shows BA metal, and is very limited for anything not originating in the UK.
May 6, 2024, 6:41 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,514
I don't think IB have started flying direct from MAD (yet). Check their schedule and then search for days you know they are due to fly. It's also quite possible they haven't/won't release any Avios seats.
May 6, 2024, 6:43 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 27
It showed the option ("4 seats left" kind of thing) on the search. I used March or April 2025 dates. Either way, I was not able to get it to show me a direct option via Paris, either.
May 6, 2024, 6:44 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,514
Not sure what you mean by a direct option via Paris? Direct means MAD-HND/NRT on the same plane.
May 6, 2024, 6:47 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 27
Search From: Madrid (All), To: Tokyo (All), Result = "Madrid - Paris - Tokyo"
Neither option ever resulted in a direct route, i.e. "Paris - Tokyo" or "Madrid - Tokyo".
May 6, 2024, 7:00 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,524
Pretty sure it would be this, but I'm surprised to see that on the MAD-CDG-TYO option because it's across two carriers [not that they couldn't do that, I just wouldn't expect them to bother].
May 6, 2024, 7:03 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 27
May 6, 2024, 7:04 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,612
Last year, we flew from Paris to Taipei on Cathay.
Sounds reasonable, right? It's what we did this year, too. However, the route out was Paris -> Amsterdam -> Hong Kong -> Taipei. The first leg was on Air France (all on the Cathay ticket). I tried all sorts of permutations to beat that price and failed. Airline ticket pricing is a dark art.
Sounds reasonable, right? It's what we did this year, too. However, the route out was Paris -> Amsterdam -> Hong Kong -> Taipei. The first leg was on Air France (all on the Cathay ticket). I tried all sorts of permutations to beat that price and failed. Airline ticket pricing is a dark art.
May 6, 2024, 7:13 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,959
This is called "married segments" and is very common for airlines.
It is because JAL is not prepared to offer you award seats for CDG-TYO or MAD-TYO direct (as most likely JAL expects to be able to sell the seats as revenue), however, to attract pax from other countries/markets JAL will be prepared to sell you MAD-CDG-TYO or CDG-MAD-TYO. I agree that in your situation it makes little sense (when JAL has direct flights from MAD and CDG).
Just book the indirect itinerary; hope for a schedule chance or cancellation and then req. (invol) rebooking to the direct flight to TYO.
It is because JAL is not prepared to offer you award seats for CDG-TYO or MAD-TYO direct (as most likely JAL expects to be able to sell the seats as revenue), however, to attract pax from other countries/markets JAL will be prepared to sell you MAD-CDG-TYO or CDG-MAD-TYO. I agree that in your situation it makes little sense (when JAL has direct flights from MAD and CDG).
Just book the indirect itinerary; hope for a schedule chance or cancellation and then req. (invol) rebooking to the direct flight to TYO.
May 6, 2024, 7:15 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 27
This is called "married segments" and is very common for airlines.
It is because JAL is not prepared to offer you award seats for CDG-TYO or MAD-TYO direct (as most likely JAL expects to be able to sell the seats as revenue), however, to attract pax from other countries/markets JAL will be prepared to sell you MAD-CDG-TYO or CDG-MAD-TYO. I agree that in your situation it makes little sense (when JAL has direct flights from MAD and CDG).
It is because JAL is not prepared to offer you award seats for CDG-TYO or MAD-TYO direct (as most likely JAL expects to be able to sell the seats as revenue), however, to attract pax from other countries/markets JAL will be prepared to sell you MAD-CDG-TYO or CDG-MAD-TYO. I agree that in your situation it makes little sense (when JAL has direct flights from MAD and CDG).