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 5, 19, 11:08 am
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 20,300
Note that if you're able to confirm a saver economy award -- even that can be difficult -- you can waitlist for a saver award. I wouldn't expect you'll clear, but at least you'll have a chance. Note that UA will clear all pending upgrades before they will open saver awards.
Mar 5, 19, 11:13 am
#92
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
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.
In my experience, the farther out you look, the less likely you'll find Saver F - for instance, you can literally fly today for 40K miles ORD-HNL (with a stop), and there is like 1 or 2 dates in the next week - and then nothing for months. Saver F tends to be last minute availability lately - at least when I look.
Mar 5, 19, 2:27 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,412
UA realizes a large percentage of Hawaii-bound flyers are going there on vacation and need to plan ahead (accommodations, rental car, timeframe, etc). I also dont see saver awards until last second, and its usually off-peak season and mid-week.
Chances of saver awards spring break are zero. OP needs to plan on everyday awards or buying First. Unless youre GS, even upgrade awards are tough peak travel and weekends.
Even beyond this, itll be interesting to see how things evolve to/from Hawaii as WN builds up. I can see UA reducing 772s out of SFO to Hawaii and replacing them with 738/9s, a further reduction in F capacity.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Mar 5, 19 at 2:36 pm
Mar 5, 19, 2:40 pm
#94
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I'm not sure UA will see much of a difference at SFO - WN is going out of Oakland and 2 737's I don't think will dent the market - who knows, I would miss the lie flats if it happens though.
Mar 5, 19, 8:27 pm
#95
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: TPA
Programs: UA GS, 1MM
Posts: 93
UA realizes a large percentage of Hawaii-bound flyers are going there on vacation and need to plan ahead (accommodations, rental car, timeframe, etc). I also don’t see saver awards until last second, and it’s usually off-peak season and mid-week.
Chances of saver awards spring break are zero. OP needs to plan on everyday awards or buying First. Unless you’re GS, even upgrade awards are tough peak travel and weekends.
Chances of saver awards spring break are zero. OP needs to plan on everyday awards or buying First. Unless you’re GS, even upgrade awards are tough peak travel and weekends.
Quoted for truth. I have scoured EWR-HNL for the last two years and never had any upgrade clear ever - even as a GS. Never, ever, ever - and I've tried over and over. Every time I end up just paying F for me and use companion / standard awards for wife and son. Worst FF mile redemptions that I do by far. Tokyo? R/T business for 70,000 miles nonstop on the new 777-300ER no problem. LHR? 60,000 R/T. No problem.
HNL? Forget it. IAH-OIL-TRASH nailed it. UA knows everyone wants saver redemptions and upgrades on Hawaii routes. That's why they don't offer them. They don't need to. Want to go to a business destination for a vacation? Then you're likely to strike gold.
So, pay up and enjoy the Aloha
Last edited by Acastus; Mar 5, 19 at 9:38 pm
Mar 5, 19, 8:44 pm
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA Plat & 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Exp, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,394
UA does not release saver award space at 330 day mark and only random release after that. Maybe on unpopular routs (I don’t check those) but never peak season to peak leisure destinations, eg Hawaii Mexico. I have snagged 40k saved seats to Hawaii nonstop from SFO but usually 2-4 months advance. Plenty if you are willing to go redeye (I won’t). We were able to upgrade paid tix going westbound using RPUs but not even close eastbound. And no luck in late December.
Mar 15, 19, 11:56 pm
#97
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tel Aviv (TLV), Chicago (ORD)
Programs: United Premier 1K, Starwood/Marriott Gold
Posts: 247
I have run into this situation a couple of times, particularly at the end of the year when I am trying to top off and square away all of my mileage across different Star Alliance programs. USUALLY, there is no change at all. When upgraded to C or in E+, I have never lost the seat because of it.
HOWEVER, sometimes I have run into agents who refuse to do it. They look at the benefits I have received from the status currently on my ticket, and deny my request.
So, YMMV.
HOWEVER, sometimes I have run into agents who refuse to do it. They look at the benefits I have received from the status currently on my ticket, and deny my request.
So, YMMV.
Mar 23, 19, 10:57 pm
#98
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United, BA, FlyingBLue, AA
Posts: 99
TATL award tickets on UA and LH
No current status on UA, but had accumulated a pile of miles. I have never booked TATL award seats before. The MileagePlus' award chart specifies the number of miles needed for UA and *A tickets, but I am wondering if award seats are really available on LH.. Looking to use up some miles for a summer trip. Problaby SFO-FRA or LAX-FRA (maybe EWR-FRA). I haven't tried booking anything yet on UA (although on some flights EWR to BGO,United.com says that there are NOT ANY award economy seats available - which doesn't make any sense unless UA has changed its policy of allowing booking of award seats available IF ANY seats are available for purchase - Can entire economy sections be sold out already for July flights?). I have heard/read that booking award tickets on LH using UA miles can be difficult. What is the best process for trying to book award seats on LH? Calling LH? Using their website? UA's website? Does LH make award seats available to airline partner members months in advance? Weeks? Is it necessary to use ExpertFlyer or similar to find award seats on LH?
Mar 23, 19, 11:03 pm
#99
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1K 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Ti, LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 55,241
If you are Premier or have certain Chase credit cards, UA offers "last seat" availability at the "Everyday" level on its own metal. That does not apply to flights operated by other carriers, such as LH.
Mar 23, 19, 11:21 pm
#100
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 440
I have read in other threads that LH does not open up *A award availability for premium classes on long haul routes until about 15 days prior to flight date. If you go to the *A website, it indicates that to book an award flight on *A partners that you must do so by going to the website of your mileage program ( in your case MP/UA) and book via their award travel booking process. I have been wanting to book a flight on LH using MP miles and it has not shown any LH availability on the UA search engine since I started looking several months ago. I do seem to recall seeing Economy availability, but don't have any recall about PE.
Mar 23, 19, 11:25 pm
#101
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1K 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Ti, LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 55,241
Mar 23, 19, 11:35 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, LH Senator *Gold, AA EXP OWE Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,390
If you have UA miles, then you book with UA and UA.com. Seats are indeed available on partner airlines, just not every flight, every day especially at peak travel times. And since SFO is a hub and a large market, award travel from SFO is not as good as from other markets. You'll have to be flexible and try other west coast gateways like SEA, YVR or DEN. Then try to improve as departure date approaches and last minute award seats are released.
Mar 23, 19, 11:38 pm
#104
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1K 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Ti, LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 55,241
No. Only UA branded cards. Explorer and Club card are the two currently available cards which provide this benefit. But again, this does not apply to LH operated flights.
Mar 24, 19, 6:54 pm
#105
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,030
No current status on UA, but had accumulated a pile of miles. I have never booked TATL award seats before. The MileagePlus' award chart specifies the number of miles needed for UA and *A tickets, but I am wondering if award seats are really available on LH.. Looking to use up some miles for a summer trip. Problaby SFO-FRA or LAX-FRA (maybe EWR-FRA). I haven't tried booking anything yet on UA (although on some flights EWR to BGO,United.com says that there are NOT ANY award economy seats available - which doesn't make any sense unless UA has changed its policy of allowing booking of award seats available IF ANY seats are available for purchase - Can entire economy sections be sold out already for July flights?). I have heard/read that booking award tickets on LH using UA miles can be difficult. What is the best process for trying to book award seats on LH? Calling LH? Using their website? UA's website? Does LH make award seats available to airline partner members months in advance? Weeks? Is it necessary to use ExpertFlyer or similar to find award seats on LH?
