PSA- If you find business saver space, book it!
Aug 19, 2017, 1:18 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,496
So, I couldn't remember if the last seat guarantee applied to J or not; I thought it was economy only. So I tried to look it up. I wasn't able to find any mention of the expanded award availability at all at http://www.chase.com/united or http://www.theexplorercard.com . Now, I'm sure they're not killing the program -- they wouldn't have added the "expanded award availability" message on the search results if they were. But I'm puzzled.
Anyway, this last bit is probably better suited for the Chase thread.
Aug 19, 2017, 2:33 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,469
If you're suggesting that UA's IT system records individual award searches, then causes those specific awards to become unavailable to specific customers before they're booked in some nefarious plot to sow frustration and keep miles from being redeemed ... no. That is a myth.
Note however that award space doesn't only disappear because of bookings though. RM will open and close it, sometimes for only a few hours, just to observe what happens.
So, I couldn't remember if the last seat guarantee applied to J or not; I thought it was economy only. So I tried to look it up. I wasn't able to find any mention of the expanded award availability at all at http://www.chase.com/united or http://www.theexplorercard.com . Now, I'm sure they're not killing the program -- they wouldn't have added the "expanded award availability" message on the search results if they were. But I'm puzzled.
Aug 19, 2017, 2:55 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
I have been checking lately (flexible dates/non-peak travel periods/1 pax) and IMO MP international business saver availability looks horrific 
if you see flights that work for you book it fast. 24 hours to cancel gratis and the >60 day cancel fee is relatively nominal for elites.
SL
if you see flights that work for you book it fast. 24 hours to cancel gratis and the >60 day cancel fee is relatively nominal for elites.SL
Aug 19, 2017, 6:00 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,747
I can sympathize. Saver awards in business class to NZ/Aust. are like unicorns and I could never find any a decade ago. I'm sure it has not gotten any better though at least there are a few more flights on the menu and no more unreliable 747s.
If I've learned anything from 17 years on FT it is that you definitely have to jump immediately on mistake fares, fare matches and award seats
If I've learned anything from 17 years on FT it is that you definitely have to jump immediately on mistake fares, fare matches and award seats
Aug 19, 2017, 7:58 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 12
Thanks for everyone's replies!
I would agree with the sentiment that even small swings in purchases can cause huge swings in availability, RM probably has short and long term goals with how they manage that inventory. There's still some decent routings via Asia at the 80k level.
Ironically when looking at close in bookings there's actually a lot of saver availability over the next 2 weeks (as one might expect of course). Some still looks open about two months out as well. I'll take everyone's advice to constantly keep looking!
I do believe that IN is saver availability for MP cardholders as well, which perhaps would explain the +1 on the inventory. Our meager rewards
I would agree with the sentiment that even small swings in purchases can cause huge swings in availability, RM probably has short and long term goals with how they manage that inventory. There's still some decent routings via Asia at the 80k level.
Ironically when looking at close in bookings there's actually a lot of saver availability over the next 2 weeks (as one might expect of course). Some still looks open about two months out as well. I'll take everyone's advice to constantly keep looking!
I do believe that IN is saver availability for MP cardholders as well, which perhaps would explain the +1 on the inventory. Our meager rewards
Aug 19, 2017, 10:04 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,673
IN is not for cardholders, but JN is. I wrote about the full breakdown for who can access each class in a post on my blog:
https://www.dansdeals.com/more/all-a...were-promised/
https://www.dansdeals.com/more/all-a...were-promised/
Aug 21, 2017, 12:48 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,395
IN is not for cardholders, but JN is. I wrote about the full breakdown for who can access each class in a post on my blog:
https://www.dansdeals.com/more/all-a...were-promised/
https://www.dansdeals.com/more/all-a...were-promised/
ETA: And, of course, cardholders also have access to XN.