Released seat for partner airlines
Jan 11, 2008, 4:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2
Released seat for partner airlines
I am trying to find a seat on flight in August to South Africa with my US Airways miles. I have had no luck ... does anyone know when SA airways or Lufthansa releases their seat to their alliance partners ???
Jan 11, 2008, 5:22 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: FRA
Programs: AC SE 1MM, UA 1K, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Gold Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,935
Welcome to FT!
Usually reward seats are released some 350 days in advance, so it is very well possible that some seats have already been taken.
In order to help you better, we need more information:
- From where do you want to fly (country & city)?
- Any preference between CPT and JNB?
- How many seats do you need?
- First / Business / Economy?
- Any date in August ok?
- How long do you want to stay / latest return date?
You can search for reward seats by using http://www.seatcounter.com, but for better results try to search for each segment independenty.
Usually reward seats are released some 350 days in advance, so it is very well possible that some seats have already been taken.
In order to help you better, we need more information:
- From where do you want to fly (country & city)?
- Any preference between CPT and JNB?
- How many seats do you need?
- First / Business / Economy?
- Any date in August ok?
- How long do you want to stay / latest return date?
You can search for reward seats by using http://www.seatcounter.com, but for better results try to search for each segment independenty.
Jan 11, 2008, 8:37 pm
#3
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
Welcome to Flyer Talk jokereke
Premium (ie first/business) awards to South Africa are hard to get on any airline.
That said, how are you currently checking? If calling US Dividend Miles it may be they aren't looking up all the options, or there may be a problem with connecting flight that results in "no availability" answer? Have you tried looking for yourself using the ANA award look up tool? (Sign up to www.ana.co.jp/eng and search for award - no cost and no need for miles to search.) Also familiarise yourself with routing options by searching on www.staralliance.com .
Premium (ie first/business) awards to South Africa are hard to get on any airline.
That said, how are you currently checking? If calling US Dividend Miles it may be they aren't looking up all the options, or there may be a problem with connecting flight that results in "no availability" answer? Have you tried looking for yourself using the ANA award look up tool? (Sign up to www.ana.co.jp/eng and search for award - no cost and no need for miles to search.) Also familiarise yourself with routing options by searching on www.staralliance.com .
Jan 12, 2008, 12:09 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
Posts: 2,337
Also, many automatically look to the direct (SA) or via Europe routings and forget that SA also fly to J'Berg from Sao Paulo. If US redemption rules allow it, that's often a good option to check out.
Cheers and welcome to FT.
Jan 13, 2008, 3:11 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 994
I've been wait-listed since back in September (I think) when I booked the ticket, was confirmed all other sectors Business Class at the time of booking, and confirmed economy for the KWI-FRA sector.
Called LH in Kuwait to ask the status, and the guy told me very clearly and specifically, that if I wait until very close to the date of travel, it is much easier to get the award seat. He wasn't able to confirm it yesterday (I travel in 4 days time) but he assured me there will be availability this evening, he'll confirm the seat, and call me.
I'm surprised - I thought there were a specific number of award seats allocated from day 1 of taking bookings. But it seems that's not always the case.
Good luck ^