davidsfo

Hello,

I am new to Flyer Talk, so I apoligize if this has been covered before.
I have many miles on United. Occassionally, I check united.com for availability of F and C trips from SFO to LHR and SFO to SYD.
My experience has been that even if you're booking months ahead, availability will change from hour to hour. For instance, one day there will be 0 seats in F or C for a flight on September 30, and the next day the computer shows 9 seats in both cabin. Is it my imagination that United opens these free seats up for awards for a few hours (days) and then closes it down again only to open it again the next day (week)?

Also, it appears to me that United is making very few saver business seats available on any flight across the pond?

jujube

You could always call - depending on your level of status the small handling charge could be wave if you're 1K, if memory serves, otherwise it's 15? That way they can do the leg work for you - it's a small $ amount.

And in answer to your question, no, some of those seats are the most sort after, without knowing more, (i.e. time, day, high season or not), the seats changes quiet often. Again, it also depends on your status.

gesoffen

I've run into this as well when trying to book awards for my parents from IAD to MUC for a late January trip this year. I'd been looking for weeks at saver biz awards with no availabilty. On a whim, I checked Saver F awards and had no problems with availability. In fact, it was a full two weeks from initial investigation into saver F awards and booking with no problems. Also suprising is when I checked a few weeks ago, there was still saver F open in May! Hmmm - 160000 miles for standard C award, 100000 for saver F or 80000 for standard Y?

However, in United's defense, the saver awards are intended for those awardee's who are extremely flexible (or lucky!?). If you can swing creative routings and flexible arrival/departure dates, you should be able to find some saver awards....

Delta3MM

Not that it's that important, but saver awards US - Europe are 50/80/100 and Standard are 80/150/200. At least they are today...

Billy

ozstamps

OR, some folks are smart enough to book them when they see "9" and not let them disappear.

kjpglobal

Looking thru a 4 month period for flights ORD to PVG the is NOTHING available in Business Saver awards. However First class savers are available with regularity and much less costly in terms of Miles. International upgrades are waitlisted ALWAYS. Its getting more and more difficult to utilize the benefits we should be getting as loyal United customers. Until enough people e-mail 1K and express their dissapointment we will continue to lose more and more.

dilbert

Just picking one route may be unfaire, if that route has heavy demend. What you mean by that F saver seats are available and less costly in miles?

ozstamps

Do tell.

gabrielz

I'm guessing: it's less costly than a standard C award.

<G>

chuckd

What makes a standard F award worth twice the saver's 100k? I'm not sure I understand the difference. I've used savers in the past and have just booked another. No problems so far. What is the advantage?

And always call to arrange an award flight. I always tell them to be creative with my connections, but I don't mind going out of the way to hang out for a few hours here or there. Sometimes two identical calls on different days will yield drastically differently flight availablities, so always at least get a confirmation number when you find something you like.

RobotDoctor

Welcome to FlyerTalk davidsfo.