Jan 29, 17, 12:59 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Years ago, there was a pattern of release award space at begin-of-schedule, some 330+ before travel. That is not longer the default situation. There may be some released at that time and a few weeks later but just as common for airlines to wait to see how the flight is selling versus historical data. Then if sales are falling behind, they may release some seats. If sold seats are on historical trends or better, the likelihood of awards space is less. Some airlines are more sophisticated than others and some like UA for their flights tend to hold onto space until closer to departure.
So in summary, predictable patterns are few and award space is getting harder to find.
Business award space for some routes can be nearly impossible to find and generally is never easy. BUT it can happen with some flexibility and perseverance.
A couple of suggestions for finding space
== Avoid peak travel periods -- seasons, days --- midweek tends to be better than weekends, be flexiable -- fixed dates are a killer
== Look early, look late, look all the time
== Partner space tends to be more available than UA space for international flights
== For those not starting at a hub, first look for "gateway" non-stop space to Europe or Asia. Find the long haul flight possibilities first and then build from there (or separate ticket to the gateway -- with plenty of buffer time)
What does "Advance seat assignments are restricted for this flight" mean?
What time (and time zone), how many days out does UA release awards for booking?
Previous Thread -- United Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) - when is it released? [Archive]
So in summary, predictable patterns are few and award space is getting harder to find.
Business award space for some routes can be nearly impossible to find and generally is never easy. BUT it can happen with some flexibility and perseverance.
A couple of suggestions for finding space
== Avoid peak travel periods -- seasons, days --- midweek tends to be better than weekends, be flexiable -- fixed dates are a killer
== Look early, look late, look all the time
== Partner space tends to be more available than UA space for international flights
== For those not starting at a hub, first look for "gateway" non-stop space to Europe or Asia. Find the long haul flight possibilities first and then build from there (or separate ticket to the gateway -- with plenty of buffer time)
What does "Advance seat assignments are restricted for this flight" mean?
What time (and time zone), how many days out does UA release awards for booking?
Previous Thread -- United Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) - when is it released? [Archive]
UA Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners)-when is it released? Ever any business?
Mar 31, 23, 1:37 pm
#751
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 21
Does anyone know the saver award class for Lufthansa when looking at the United site. What about LOT, Austrian, and Swiss? Would they all be the same
I was looking extensively at the release patterns and of course the next day I looked expecting all the open award seats and only one was LOT which is very strange
I was looking extensively at the release patterns and of course the next day I looked expecting all the open award seats and only one was LOT which is very strange
Mar 31, 23, 1:39 pm
#752
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,581
Does anyone know the saver award class for Lufthansa when looking at the United site. What about LOT, Austrian, and Swiss? Would they all be the same
I was looking extensively at the release patterns and of course the next day I looked expecting all the open award seats and only one was LOT which is very strange
I was looking extensively at the release patterns and of course the next day I looked expecting all the open award seats and only one was LOT which is very strange
Mar 31, 23, 2:28 pm
#754
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,581
If I'm understanding your question correctly... there is no "equating". Saver is only for miles, not revenue. That's why you don't see I class when searching for cash fares. There is no cash price for I class, only a mileage price.
Mar 31, 23, 2:34 pm
#755
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 20,259
You can search for I inventory on ExpertFlyer or KVS Tool, both paid services. (They have separate award search sections — you can’t do it via the regular search because award inventory is not published to the global distribution systems they query directly. They each have a workaround to get this data from another source).
OP is talking about Expert Mode, which is, in fact, only available on the revenue display . UA flights do show the award buckets, as do non-UA flights when they appear under their native code — but that only happens when there’s no codeshare available, as discussed.
Mar 31, 23, 2:41 pm
#756
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,581
Sure. Understood now. I thought the OP was trying to liken the cost in miles for a saver award to the cost of a ticket in a certain revenue class, where there is little correlation.
Mar 31, 23, 3:23 pm
#757
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.96MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 65,112
Partner awards are ONLY Saver but in UA's dynamic award word the meaning of saver is fuzzy. There are no EveryDay/Standard awards for partners.
Mar 31, 23, 3:31 pm
#758
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 21
How would I benefit by using one of the paid search services versus using the United platform? To my understanding , I can only book a flight that is listed on the United website for Sever awards. Im assuming no additional inventory that I might be missing ?
Mar 31, 23, 3:34 pm
#759
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 20,259
1 - You may prefer the search interface.
2 -You can set up alerts so that you dont have to search constantly to find inventory.
Mar 31, 23, 4:06 pm
#761
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,458
Apr 3, 23, 5:35 am
#764
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Platinum, AF, Chase, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,071
Is it just me, or is there scant award availability of LH Group airlines in any cabin? I've done lots of searches for SFO-Western Europe for all kinds of dates this summer and early fall. I'll see some itineraries with shorthaul segments on LH/LX/SN/et al, but never any longhaul segments. The longhaul segments are always on UA, or perhaps AC or LO. Seems a little weird to me that I can't find anything on LH, not even in coach.
On the plus side, somehow I just managed to snag SFO-LHR nonstop on UA in J for 60k in the middle of July
On the plus side, somehow I just managed to snag SFO-LHR nonstop on UA in J for 60k in the middle of July
Apr 4, 23, 3:01 am
#765
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,610
Is it just me, or is there scant award availability of LH Group airlines in any cabin? I've done lots of searches for SFO-Western Europe for all kinds of dates this summer and early fall. I'll see some itineraries with shorthaul segments on LH/LX/SN/et al, but never any longhaul segments. The longhaul segments are always on UA, or perhaps AC or LO. Seems a little weird to me that I can't find anything on LH, not even in coach.
On the plus side, somehow I just managed to snag SFO-LHR nonstop on UA in J for 60k in the middle of July
On the plus side, somehow I just managed to snag SFO-LHR nonstop on UA in J for 60k in the middle of July
