blitzen

Yes but look for saver bucket (i.e. NYC-TYO 110k United miles shown for first)

blitzen

I transferred some yesterday (instant transfer) as I didn't want to miss the 30% MR bonus (which ends in a week or so). Citi ThankYou points transfer have to bonus up until Oct 10-15 or thereabouts. Transferred some today and instant too. Very impressed expected to wait a day or two

Debbed

Data Point- called into VS today to ask for a date just released (330 days out). I see it on United. VS agent told me she could not see the availability. I put the date on 24 hour hold, but was told that I would have more luck calling back next week. Will HUCA later today to check on status... has any one else experienced this for a date just released?

Also- Hi! Long time reader, first time poster.

newyorklondon

Firstly, welcome to FT!

I believe sometimes this can happen because of the time differences between the UK and Japan, and how VS refreshes newly onboarded NH inventory. Whereas the UA system is 'live', I'm not sure the VS one is.

So if inventory is released at 1 a.m. T-330 in Japan, it will be seen by UA 'live', but for the UK system (which needs to send an availability request) it's still T-331 in the UK, and it may be that the UK system automatically blocks it, or hasn't refreshed newly onboarded inventory yet.

But the short answer is what you've already worked out: HUCA!

Let us know how you got on!

T.

Debbed

Thank you for the welcome! I'm a bit exasperated after my first booking attempt. I called every day to check availability, and VS could not see it. As of this morning I saw the availability on United, ANA, and Expert Flyer. However, availability is now gone from all three, but no seats are taken on Expert Flyer.

Maybe ANA is limiting availability to VS? Do they usually release award seats and then rescind them?

I'll keep trying...

totoropanda

What I have noticed that if someone puts the flight on hold, it will disappear from ExpertFlying. What date are you looking for? I was able to book a return flight today for August 7th.

Debbed

totoropanda

I was not but I assume United didn't update over the weekend and today is the first day 7th is available. Not seeing anything available for those dates ;/

sethMCOflyer

I'm a bit confused on booking with the t-330 method. How do you book the outbound leg right when it opens up before a return leg is available? Do you book the return for the next day and then do a date change?

aquanine

Yes, exactly that. It's only a $50 award change fee, which is quite reasonable.

blitzen

Debbed

FYI- I had success booking 8/6. BUT it should be noted that neither flight (outbound/inbound) was showing up in United's award calendar when I booked. Let's hope the change for the actual return is smoother.

pop311

Does anyone know if you can change the "return" flight to depart before your outbound flight, so to speak? If I am trying to fly LAX - TYO RT, in order to get the desired LAX --> TYO outbound when it opens (e.g. 9/1) , can I book an earlier, open TYO --> LAX flight (e.g. 7/25), and then when my actual desired TYO --> LAX date opens (e.g. 9/8), I can change my originally booked TYO --> LAX leg to a date after my LAX --> TYO booking? Effectively, does the LAX --> TYO vs. TYO --> LAX order matter for award changes?

VXforever

I'm looking to book an ex-US ANA J/F award in December. I understand how to find availability. My outbound US-Japan flight will be on December 19. My return Japan-US flight could be anytime between Jan 10-24. I may not know until I arrive in Japan.

Can I book a roundtrip reward using VS miles on ANA, fly the December outbound US-Japan flight, and while in Japan, change the return date? As a Gold member, would there be a fee?

Thanks.

stephem

I am struggling to get two F awards ticketed. I found a day when EF showed 2 O seats for LAX-HND and then a day where EF showed 1 each for the NRT-LAX flights and so had planned to book us on the LAX-HND flight together and the separate returns, with a plan to look for an O seat opening where we could get on the same plane home. Strangely, the first ticket went through fine, but the second one came back unconfirmed for LAX-HND. The agent tried submitting it again and same problem. Then I saw that the morning LAX-NRT flight had space and so had him try that and he said neither the LAX-HND nor LAX-NRT flights would come back confirmed. This is strange as still shows one O seat for each of the outbound flights from LAX on that day. The agent said to give it three hours and call back to try again, anyone experience something like this? I was under the impression that EF availability mapped to what VS would be able to book (within the 330 day window of course, which I am well within).