ANA (NH) Redemptions using VS Flying Club points - thread locked Sept 2022
Nov 11, 2021, 6:48 am
#1636
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 48
I'm trying to book ORD-HND for October 2022 (less than 330 days out), but the Flying Club rep I spoke with today can't find any availability in F or J, despite United's website showing 1 F and 1 J available on a few different days. Anyone else experiencing this or have any idea what might be happening here? When I called VS yesterday, the rep said that ANA simply wasn't responding: the rep would send in a query/request and it would just hang as "pending." Rep said other callers were having the same issue and suggested I call back today, which I did, but today's rep gave me a more definitive "not available" answer.
Last edited by incaroads; Nov 11, 2021 at 7:11 am
Nov 11, 2021, 7:26 am
#1637
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 940
I'm trying to book ORD-HND for October 2022 (less than 330 days out), but the Flying Club rep I spoke with today can't find any availability in F or J, despite United's website showing 1 F and 1 J available on a few different days. Anyone else experiencing this or have any idea what might be happening here? When I called VS yesterday, the rep said that ANA simply wasn't responding: the rep would send in a query/request and it would just hang as "pending." Rep said other callers were having the same issue and suggested I call back today, which I did, but today's rep gave me a more definitive "not available" answer.
Nov 11, 2021, 7:28 am
#1638
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 940
Just re-read that, and if it’s being held as ‘pending’ that’s unusual. I’ve probably booked x15 or so ANA partner award tickets and they usually just have to wait for a response in (up to) about 5 mins from Japan.
never been left as pending…
never been left as pending…
Nov 11, 2021, 8:10 am
#1639
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 48
Thanks - I didn't know there was an issue with phantom availability on United's site, but that must be what's going on as VS reps aren't finding any seats for me on several dates that show up as available on United (typically 1 F and 1 J).
Nov 11, 2021, 8:15 am
#1640
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 486
I would HUCA if I were you. In the three years that I've now been booking and rebooking these flights not once have I seen phantom availability on UA. You can double check on Aeroplan and if they're available there, too, then in my experience it must be a system issue or an agent issue. It's worth it to do your homework before the call and to feed them all the exact details such as flight number, departure time, and exact airports. Even competent agents sometimes slip up and accidentally check the wrong flight, especially if there are multiple flights on the same day. This did happen to me a few months ago and when I picked up on the error and pointed it out the agent found the availability I was looking for.
Nov 11, 2021, 8:20 am
#1641
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 48
I would HUCA if I were you. In the three years that I've now been booking and rebooking these flights not once have I seen phantom availability on UA. You can double check on Aeroplan and if they're available there, too, then in my experience it must be a system issue or an agent issue. It's worth it to do your homework before the call and to feed them all the exact details such as flight number, departure time, and exact airports. Even competent agents sometimes slip up and accidentally check the wrong flight, especially if there are multiple flights on the same day. This did happen to me a few months ago and when I picked up on the error and pointed it out the agent found the availability I was looking for.
EDIT: Successfully booked the flight I wanted, though on a different date. In the end, it seems that United's site was accurate for some dates but not others.
Last edited by incaroads; Nov 11, 2021 at 5:57 pm
Nov 11, 2021, 11:53 am
#1642
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 76
When checking flight availability on United, sometimes I see one Business (mixed cabin) and one Business seat. When it's a nonstop flight, are they referring to the same seat or are there actually two seats available in Business? I'm not sure how a mixed cabin seat works on a nonstop flight?
Nov 15, 2021, 3:51 pm
#1643
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 15
So today in CA it's 11/15. If I call the VS office when it opens at 11PM (7AM UK Time) it will be 11/16 there.
That means I should be able to book 11/16 + 331 = Oct 13?
Or is it 11/15 (California date) + 331 = Oct 12?
That means I should be able to book 11/16 + 331 = Oct 13?
Or is it 11/15 (California date) + 331 = Oct 12?
Last edited by Tooshay; Nov 15, 2021 at 3:53 pm Reason: Formatting
Nov 16, 2021, 1:47 am
#1644
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 98
Apologies for the late reply and welcome to this forum.
Yes you are correct with regards to with 11/16 at 7am UK time. Did you manage to contact them and book anything?
Nov 16, 2021, 8:55 am
#1645
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 15
I didn't book anything yet. But I am planning to for travel around end of Oct so coming up soon. I just wanted to be as prepared as I could be! Fingers crossed it works well, will be my first time booking premium award travel.
Nov 16, 2021, 9:05 am
#1646
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 98
Fair enough - preparation is key 
it is a bit confusing about the 331 days thing - took me a little while and a phone call to work it out.
Good luck when you're booking day comes up.
it is a bit confusing about the 331 days thing - took me a little while and a phone call to work it out.Good luck when you're booking day comes up.
Nov 16, 2021, 9:12 am
#1647
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 15
Thanks! This might be overkill, but do you have a recommendation on when to call? Should I start dialing when its 7AM UK Time? Or do I have better chances if I start calling some time before? 10 mins before? More or less?
Nov 16, 2021, 9:26 am
#1648
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 98
It's got to be 7am. I tried calling a few minutes before and it goes straight to recorded message.
Go straight in with 'I would like to book an ANA reward flight from A to B in Business/First on this date' and give the flight number/timings, that way they can get straight to taking the seat off the system before someone else gets it.
Go straight in with 'I would like to book an ANA reward flight from A to B in Business/First on this date' and give the flight number/timings, that way they can get straight to taking the seat off the system before someone else gets it.
Nov 16, 2021, 10:18 am
#1649
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 15
Thanks for the info! Really helpful.
Now I'm figuring out when I need to book return flights, and now I'm searching on ANA site and seeing that they are switching to 789 planes from TYO-LAX in November so no F sadly. I didn't see any news about this announcement, but I hope I'm at least able to snag 2 J seats on the return. Is there any difference with booking return flights with VS? I assume it's the same procedure as the outgoing flight (+331 days UK).
Now I'm figuring out when I need to book return flights, and now I'm searching on ANA site and seeing that they are switching to 789 planes from TYO-LAX in November so no F sadly. I didn't see any news about this announcement, but I hope I'm at least able to snag 2 J seats on the return. Is there any difference with booking return flights with VS? I assume it's the same procedure as the outgoing flight (+331 days UK).
Last edited by Tooshay; Nov 16, 2021 at 10:18 am Reason: dates
Nov 16, 2021, 10:28 am
#1650
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 76
It's got to be 7am. I tried calling a few minutes before and it goes straight to recorded message.
Go straight in with 'I would like to book an ANA reward flight from A to B in Business/First on this date' and give the flight number/timings, that way they can get straight to taking the seat off the system before someone else gets it.
Go straight in with 'I would like to book an ANA reward flight from A to B in Business/First on this date' and give the flight number/timings, that way they can get straight to taking the seat off the system before someone else gets it.
I've been looking for 2 seats from LAX to HND for about 1.5 months with no luck for end of Sept to October 2022. Been a pretty rough go.