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?
Feb 24, 19, 10:59 am
#76
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Very low probability. Maybe on one of the narrowbody flights, never on the 772. In general, expect to pay for F or fly in Y.
Feb 24, 19, 1:07 pm
#77
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If you want saver awards, 3 off-season mid-week might be a remote possibility, but UA isnt going to make them available until days before the flight. If you want to fly outside off-peak, midweek - either cough up the full miles or pay for it.
Feb 28, 19, 1:25 pm
#78
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 114
Posting mostly just to vent...but seeing a chart like this is quite infuriating due to it just picking up at the end of August like that...these are non stops from ZRH to ORD for this summer. This seems to be a pattern for all/most European cities with direct flights to ORD. The tough part was a good amount of days had zero flights available in J even on the earliest booking day possible.
Last edited by smurov; Feb 28, 19 at 1:26 pm Reason: Typo
Feb 28, 19, 2:47 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Posting mostly just to vent...but seeing a chart like this is quite infuriating due to it just picking up at the end of August like that...these are non stops from ZRH to ORD for this summer. This seems to be a pattern for all/most European cities with direct flights to ORD. The tough part was a good amount of days had zero flights available in J even on the earliest booking day possible.
OR are you saying that the calendar has a bug and says it should have availability nonstop, but doesn't?
Feb 28, 19, 4:41 pm
#80
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 114
Why is it infuriating? Summer is peak leisure travel to Europe vacation time. Why should UA have saver availability when it can have leisure passengers pay for upgrades / pay for business seating?
OR are you saying that the calendar has a bug and says it should have availability nonstop, but doesn't?
OR are you saying that the calendar has a bug and says it should have availability nonstop, but doesn't?
Not a great feeling to give more allegiance to a certain carrier, open more credit cards, use select shopping portals, and stockpile miles, only to have inventory diminished over time and it be more difficult to actually use those precious miles on what you want...but I digress...
Feb 28, 19, 4:50 pm
#81
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
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Posts: 6,447
Feb 28, 19, 4:54 pm
#82
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And I think it's generally true . . . award availability keeps getting worse and worse, with saver J TATL continuing to be extremely difficult.
Feb 28, 19, 5:00 pm
#83
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 114
For me, its that they push the cards on us, they release new cards, they put out milage bonuses on portals, etc. - is there a point at which it is not going to work out favorably for the airlines to do that, because people start focusing on other things like cash back cards or something else? All stemming from a lack of availability?
Feb 28, 19, 5:05 pm
#84
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I can say that extreme diligence (check daily) has continued to work for me in finding award space. For example, I caught some NH space last week that was available for less than 24 hours.
There's also a lot to be said for focusing credit card spend on transferable currencies, such as Amex MR and Marriott, so you can transfer to programs that still offer decent availability.
Feb 28, 19, 9:52 pm
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 20,259
If anything, the way that they're promoting the credit cards helps availability. Chase has a vested interest in people finding MileagePlus miles to be valuable. If UA cuts the program too much, they risk killing the golden goose. Besides which, UA actually has really good award availability for the awards the most people actually book -- domestic economy awards -- especially when you consider that many people will pay for domestic everyday awards. They might grumble, but they'll pay.
FlyerTalk is not representative of the flying public.
Mar 1, 19, 2:31 am
#86
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Platinum, AF, Chase, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,071
Is there a chart yet for how much the saver award tickets will be for Premium Plus? I'm mostly interested in US-Europe. I tried using the link below on UA's site, but it still doesn't list it. I've been looking at SFO-CDG, and in the upcoming months, the only availability I've seen for Premium Plus is the standard fare of 120,000 miles one way – no thanks.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...ardTravel.aspx
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...ardTravel.aspx
Mar 1, 19, 3:17 am
#87
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Mar 1, 19, 9:13 am
#88
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Join Date: Oct 2001
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More to the point, there's currently no such thing. There's only a single award inventory bucket for P+ -- ON. This is used for the dynamic Everyday awards. If they wanted to offer standard awards, they would need another bucket (or they would have to share an inventory bucket, which is never really a good idea).
If the rumored *A PE awards come to fruition, that might be the impetus for UA to introduce saver awards on P+. Otherwise, I feel like this is the 'new normal.'
If the rumored *A PE awards come to fruition, that might be the impetus for UA to introduce saver awards on P+. Otherwise, I feel like this is the 'new normal.'
Mar 5, 19, 11:00 am
#90
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 212
Hawaii and First Saver Availability
Looking for a trip ~1 year from now, hoping to grab 2 saver tickets in first with miles. Realize I won't be able to book for next month or so, but am trying to do some research now.
Somewhat surprised that even for newly loaded flights, I can't get first saver. Is that true?
What are the changes I can get these? And what booking window (how far out) is my best shot?
FWIW, looking for 2 tcks to OGG or HNL or LIH from ORD.
Somewhat surprised that even for newly loaded flights, I can't get first saver. Is that true?
What are the changes I can get these? And what booking window (how far out) is my best shot?
FWIW, looking for 2 tcks to OGG or HNL or LIH from ORD.
