No seats sold, yet no Saver awards?
May 14, 2014, 10:30 pm
#1
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No seats sold, yet no Saver awards?
Just wondering how UAL can show no seats sold in Business on a MUC to ORD flight in September, but still have no Saver award tix for that flight. I imagine we should just wait and hope vs spending the Standard award points. When might we see Saver seats open up?
May 15, 2014, 5:32 am
#2
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Suggest you look in the UA forum where this topic is discussed extensively.
This is the pertinent thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ed-2014-a.html
Last edited by UAPremExecflyer; May 15, 2014 at 5:43 am Reason: added "not a reliable indicator"
May 15, 2014, 6:34 am
#3
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In addition to the above comment, it may be worth noting that the Oktoberfest occurs mostly in September.
May 15, 2014, 6:40 am
#4
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1. OP has no way of knowing that there are "no seats sold". There very well are likely seats sold, simply not selected.
2. Doesn't matter whether the seats are sold or not. Question is whether there are people who will people who will pay for them between now and Oktoberfest. There likely are and thus no reason to give them away at a fire sale price.
Saver intentory on UA and its cousins on DL, AA and other carriers are more typically for inventory which is not likely to be saleable.
2. Doesn't matter whether the seats are sold or not. Question is whether there are people who will people who will pay for them between now and Oktoberfest. There likely are and thus no reason to give them away at a fire sale price.
Saver intentory on UA and its cousins on DL, AA and other carriers are more typically for inventory which is not likely to be saleable.
May 15, 2014, 10:04 am
#5
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Since your post is specific to UA, I've moved it to the United Airlines | MileagePlus forum to gain the attention of those FlyerTalkers who are most knowledgable of the subject.
Readers will please note that this thread originated at the flame-free Information Desk, and reply accordingly.
Thanks everyone, and good luck to the OP.
~Moderator, Information Desk
May 15, 2014, 10:17 am
#6
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This is the same for a lot of routes. I'm on LGA-IAH in December, on a Saturday, close to Xmas (i.e., no business travel). 9s across the board, 16/16 seats showing in F...yet R0/I0 of course.
May 15, 2014, 10:18 am
#7
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BadgerGreg Go Bucky!! Right?
Do you have any status on UA? If so...or not...that changes what awards seats you are able to see availability for. UA publishes that one of their elite perks is that elites have a wider range of availability. So if you are looking on-line with out elite status you'll be seeing less.
Have you thought of going via IAD or EWR? Both of those cities are served by UA, and LH too and may have current availability that fits your plans.
Other than that, waiting is best.
Good luck!
Do you have any status on UA? If so...or not...that changes what awards seats you are able to see availability for. UA publishes that one of their elite perks is that elites have a wider range of availability. So if you are looking on-line with out elite status you'll be seeing less.
Have you thought of going via IAD or EWR? Both of those cities are served by UA, and LH too and may have current availability that fits your plans.
Other than that, waiting is best.
Good luck!
May 15, 2014, 11:51 am
#9
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The answer to OP's question is that it's not at all uncommon for UA not to release any advance saver award space on a given flight, regardless of how empty that flight may be. They may release space closer to departure, or they may not.
A very very limited benefit when we are talking about business class seats. IN>I is not frequently seen, and when it is, it's typically only one additional seat. To the extent this benefit does exist, it's only for Plats and above.
May 15, 2014, 11:57 am
#10
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May 15, 2014, 11:59 am
#11
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I bolded that part for you.....it holds true for Saver Economy (I frequently see XN>X) but I believe it is pure myth for premium cabin Saver Awards. (happy to be proved wrong, but there is a long thread here on this)
May 15, 2014, 12:14 pm
#12
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May 15, 2014, 12:25 pm
#13
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btw, I just ran a random search. UA953 MUC-ORD for 9/20/14, the seatmap shows two BF seats occupied. This matches 100% with bookings of 2/40.
So to repeat, seatmaps are often, though not always, a reliable indicator of load.
May 15, 2014, 12:44 pm
#14
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To those saying that seat maps are not a reliable indicator:
Which flight do you want to bet has fewer seats sold?
Flight A that shows every seat occupied.
Flight B that shows zero seats occupied.
Which flight do you want to bet has fewer seats sold?
Flight A that shows every seat occupied.
Flight B that shows zero seats occupied.
May 15, 2014, 12:55 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Flight B has a180-person youth soccer team on a group ticket, and it's already sold out.
