Apr 26, 2019, 2:05 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA flights will usually be available to book flight 330 or more days in advance. It has on occasion been 333 days or more (336?) but many times the earlier "listing" of flights are not truly bookable.
However, with these early listings, not all inventory is immediately available.
Many times it is just expensive paid fares. There is no set date or noticeable pattern for when discount fares or awards are available. Maybe early, may not.
Partner award availability has even greater uncertainty. Depending on the partner, it may be early or may be much, much later. There are some partner-specific patterns (especially for premium cabin).
Related thread
UA MP Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) -when is it released?
Booking outbound UA award 330 days out when return is more than 330 days
Older thread Strategy/Questions about booking an award travel at the 330-day mark.
However, with these early listings, not all inventory is immediately available.
Many times it is just expensive paid fares. There is no set date or noticeable pattern for when discount fares or awards are available. Maybe early, may not.
Partner award availability has even greater uncertainty. Depending on the partner, it may be early or may be much, much later. There are some partner-specific patterns (especially for premium cabin).
Related thread
UA MP Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) -when is it released?
Booking outbound UA award 330 days out when return is more than 330 days
Older thread Strategy/Questions about booking an award travel at the 330-day mark.
What time (and time zone), how many days out does UA release awards for booking?
Jan 28, 2014, 10:28 pm
#1
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What time (and time zone), how many days out does UA release awards for booking?
For the reason everyone knows I want to book award flights using mileage plus. However online I can only see flights to the end of the year. Is that possbile to book more than that by phone?
Jan 28, 2014, 10:33 pm
#2
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Jan 28, 2014, 10:34 pm
#3
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Jan 29, 2014, 12:24 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 175
Any work around for "flights not loaded yet"
I am trying to find award flights for December to south asia, however the latest return date available today is 12/24 (i'm trying to stay until the 30th of jan 1/2/3). When I called I was told those flights just aren't loaded yet. Any work around or do I just have to book a return after the deval?
Jan 29, 2014, 12:30 am
#5
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I am trying to find award flights for December to south asia, however the latest return date available today is 12/24 (i'm trying to stay until the 30th of jan 1/2/3). When I called I was told those flights just aren't loaded yet. Any work around or do I just have to book a return after the deval?
Jan 29, 2014, 1:13 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 175
Thats a great idea I didn't think about, right now 330 days I can see flights up until jan 1 2015 however there isn't a return from this airport from 12/25 and on.
Jan 29, 2014, 7:36 am
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Jan 29, 2014, 9:05 am
#10
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Jan 29, 2014, 9:25 am
#11
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The reasons are technical - many backend systems only use month-day format.
Since there are a number of reasons an agent or other system may need to go back in time up to a month, the system needs to have only one of each day of the year active at any given time. It was generally agreed upon at some point that 330 days of future schedule and 30 days of past schedule was the best way to do this. This is pretty standard across every airline that uses a widely-distributed CRS or GDS-based system to manage their inventory.
Note that this limitation is on the Schedule/Availability side of the CRS. The Reservations/PNR's are obviously a lot more flexible and can be over a year old. This is because they have a unique way to access them (PNR or Ticket#). However, there's no the other way to specify UA887 on January 17 other than "UA887JAN17"
Since there are a number of reasons an agent or other system may need to go back in time up to a month, the system needs to have only one of each day of the year active at any given time. It was generally agreed upon at some point that 330 days of future schedule and 30 days of past schedule was the best way to do this. This is pretty standard across every airline that uses a widely-distributed CRS or GDS-based system to manage their inventory.
Note that this limitation is on the Schedule/Availability side of the CRS. The Reservations/PNR's are obviously a lot more flexible and can be over a year old. This is because they have a unique way to access them (PNR or Ticket#). However, there's no the other way to specify UA887 on January 17 other than "UA887JAN17"
Jan 29, 2014, 10:13 am
#12
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Airlines pick how far out they want to list flights/inventory. Some are 330, but others are 360 or 300 or sometimes even less (think WN's anti-GDS stance). I think all of them make sense, and I'm not sure your question. Are you asking why they'd pick numbers that resemble the length of a year? I think it should be clear that airlines don't want to sell tickets a year in advance--imagine booking a ticket for 370 days out and then showing up a year early. Beyond that, I'd guess that airlines think that 300 or 330 days out (which roughly is 10-11 months) are plenty far enough in advance to release tickets.
Edit--Zappity explained the technical side in a way I didn't attempt to. Assuming new technology everywhere and that they could implement this beyond a year, I just don't see motivation for them to change. Only those of us in the MR and FF ticket world ever really think much about wanting to book something nearing a year in advance.
Edit--Zappity explained the technical side in a way I didn't attempt to. Assuming new technology everywhere and that they could implement this beyond a year, I just don't see motivation for them to change. Only those of us in the MR and FF ticket world ever really think much about wanting to book something nearing a year in advance.
Jan 29, 2014, 10:32 am
#13
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Not true. Most people are convinced that you can only get the best fares and awards by booking as far as possible in advance. People taking a "once in a lifetime" trip also plan well in advance.
Jan 29, 2014, 9:41 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Posts: 3,938
Zappity explained it well ... that was what I was looking for ^
Airlines pick how far out they want to list flights/inventory. Some are 330, but others are 360 or 300 or sometimes even less (think WN's anti-GDS stance). I think all of them make sense, and I'm not sure your question. Are you asking why they'd pick numbers that resemble the length of a year? I think it should be clear that airlines don't want to sell tickets a year in advance--imagine booking a ticket for 370 days out and then showing up a year early. Beyond that, I'd guess that airlines think that 300 or 330 days out (which roughly is 10-11 months) are plenty far enough in advance to release tickets.
Edit--Zappity explained the technical side in a way I didn't attempt to. Assuming new technology everywhere and that they could implement this beyond a year, I just don't see motivation for them to change. Only those of us in the MR and FF ticket world ever really think much about wanting to book something nearing a year in advance.
Edit--Zappity explained the technical side in a way I didn't attempt to. Assuming new technology everywhere and that they could implement this beyond a year, I just don't see motivation for them to change. Only those of us in the MR and FF ticket world ever really think much about wanting to book something nearing a year in advance.
Jan 30, 2014, 2:06 am
#15
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