Does saver availability = inventory available in other *A partners?
Nov 28, 2011, 6:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze, Hertz pres circle, Marriott Platinum, hilton diamond
Posts: 2,537
Does saver availability = inventory available in other *A partners?
I'm trying to snag a 1 way JFK-LAX ticket in F in January for a friend, but am trying to avoid the 70k miles and obviously get a saver seat.
I called BMI first and they see no reward inventory available at all, but UA can do a regular award for 70k miles, and said the savers would be released randomly.
So I'm wondering, if a seat is released as a Saver, does it then show up as available award inventory through other * mileage programs? I don't mind the daily checking for a little while, but its probably not worth it if I have to fight it out between all the other airlines too.
I called BMI first and they see no reward inventory available at all, but UA can do a regular award for 70k miles, and said the savers would be released randomly.
So I'm wondering, if a seat is released as a Saver, does it then show up as available award inventory through other * mileage programs? I don't mind the daily checking for a little while, but its probably not worth it if I have to fight it out between all the other airlines too.
Nov 28, 2011, 6:24 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
It is possible - and quite common - for programs to have more award seats for members of their own program than they do for partners. If you want to verify the inventory available to partners you need to use a partner search engine. Aeroplan and ANA are the two most comprehensive options.
Nov 28, 2011, 7:41 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
if this involved more than 1 segment you could book an F award on the available one and WL for the PS flight in F and be on the FFCC list.
Nov 28, 2011, 11:52 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze, Hertz pres circle, Marriott Platinum, hilton diamond
Posts: 2,537
Could I book JFK-LAX-LAS in F, with JFK-LAX waitlisted and LAX-LAS confirmed? -for the same mileage, have JFK-LAX clear automatically at some point, then just not use the LAX-LAS segment?
Nov 28, 2011, 1:15 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 268
UA saver awards dont equate to availabilities on partners.
even post-merger, sometimes you can find saver on UA flights on UA site but not on CO site.
even post-merger, sometimes you can find saver on UA flights on UA site but not on CO site.
Nov 28, 2011, 1:24 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
*A awards are saver awards. Don't think there is an equivalent to standard award with *A. UA would have the standard award. What airline are the miles coming from? Why did you call BMI?
Nov 28, 2011, 1:31 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze, Hertz pres circle, Marriott Platinum, hilton diamond
Posts: 2,537
Basically my order of preference for this is: UA saver>BMI miles + cash> UA standard award.