ANA (NH) Redemptions using VS Flying Club points - thread locked Sept 2022
Jun 23, 2019, 9:01 am
#647
Join Date: May 2019
Location: LAX
Posts: 11
In my experience this past week AP updated a couple of hours before UA. If you can see availability on EF I would just call VS and see what they say. What is your alert for: O-class or general award searches? I had better luck with the award search as O simply didn't show up.
I'm setting up a Flight Alert in EF now. Is there a class code to use to cover general award seats as an alert, as opposed to how I have a few alerts set exclusively for O seats at the moment? Or would I just need to perform manual searches in the Award & Upgrade Availability Search?
Jun 23, 2019, 9:36 am
#648
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 486
What would be the best way to do this?
I'm setting up a Flight Alert in EF now. Is there a class code to use to cover general award seats as an alert, as opposed to how I have a few alerts set exclusively for O seats at the moment? Or would I just need to perform manual searches in the Award & Upgrade Availability Search?
I'm setting up a Flight Alert in EF now. Is there a class code to use to cover general award seats as an alert, as opposed to how I have a few alerts set exclusively for O seats at the moment? Or would I just need to perform manual searches in the Award & Upgrade Availability Search?
Jun 23, 2019, 11:55 am
#649
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: SFO
Programs: DL Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 46
Does anyone know the close in release logic? It seems quite a few seats get released between two and three weeks from departure - is this cancellations or the airline releasing award availability? Also, does the UA site not updating over the weekend hold true for close-in releasing of seats?
Jun 23, 2019, 12:00 pm
#650
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 486
Does anyone know the close in release logic? It seems quite a few seats get released between two and three weeks from departure - is this cancellations or the airline releasing award availability? Also, does the UA site not updating over the weekend hold true for close-in releasing of seats?
Jun 27, 2019, 8:34 pm
#651
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LHR, DFW, J Cabins WorldWide
Programs: AA EXP, UA GS, FB Gold, AS MVPG, MR Titanium, VS Gold
Posts: 954
Just Booked a IAH-NRT-ORD for outbound in july return in dec, super easy, 120k miles.
Jun 28, 2019, 1:39 pm
#652
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 34
Does anyone know exactly at what time eatly 330 day seats get released? Is it local time midnight in Tokyo? I've been checking for ANA flights 330+1 day out for two days and nothing is available.
Jun 28, 2019, 3:33 pm
#653
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 335
I've seen different answers to your question: e.g,, from specific times to explanations that it can take a few days for United to update it's system. Recently I did some test searches, comparing ExpertFlyer availability with United. Based on those searches, all I can say is, "It seems to vary."
The best advice I've read is to call Virgin Atlantic (VS) at 330 days out and ask them to check for availability. Fundamentally, that's all that matters. Finding availability on ExpertFlyer or a partner (e.g., United or Aeroplan) obviously gives you more data, but if you're having difficulty just go straight to VS.
Where are you checking award availability? I just did a random search on United for ORD-TYO on May 23, 2020, which is 330 days out. (Technically 331 already in Tokyo.) There was NH award availability:
For example,
Jun 28, 2019, 3:43 pm
#654
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Does anyone know the close in release logic? It seems quite a few seats get released between two and three weeks from departure - is this cancellations or the airline releasing award availability? Also, does the UA site not updating over the weekend hold true for close-in releasing of seats?
Keep in mind that EF shows NH availability, not partner availability.
Jun 28, 2019, 4:50 pm
#655
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 34
Mataushas,
I've seen different answers to your question: e.g,, from specific times to explanations that it can take a few days for United to update it's system. Recently I did some test searches, comparing ExpertFlyer availability with United. Based on those searches, all I can say is, "It seems to vary."
The best advice I've read is to call Virgin Atlantic (VS) at 330 days out and ask them to check for availability. Fundamentally, that's all that matters. Finding availability on ExpertFlyer or a partner (e.g., United or Aeroplan) obviously gives you more data, but if you're having difficulty just go straight to VS.
Where are you checking award availability? I just did a random search on United for ORD-TYO on May 23, 2020, which is 330 days out. (Technically 331 already in Tokyo.) There was NH award availability:
For example,
I've seen different answers to your question: e.g,, from specific times to explanations that it can take a few days for United to update it's system. Recently I did some test searches, comparing ExpertFlyer availability with United. Based on those searches, all I can say is, "It seems to vary."
The best advice I've read is to call Virgin Atlantic (VS) at 330 days out and ask them to check for availability. Fundamentally, that's all that matters. Finding availability on ExpertFlyer or a partner (e.g., United or Aeroplan) obviously gives you more data, but if you're having difficulty just go straight to VS.
Where are you checking award availability? I just did a random search on United for ORD-TYO on May 23, 2020, which is 330 days out. (Technically 331 already in Tokyo.) There was NH award availability:
For example,
Thanks for a thorough explanation. I'm actually trying to book something coming back to JFK. I'm from the East Coast. What I am trying to do is make a ORD-TYO-JFK trip, with a domestic flight to JFK-ORD. This domestic leg is only ~$90 + few hours of my time. It seems impossible to get something RT from JFK and back that's why I'm positioning in ORD. I want to book something coming back as soon as it becomes available but there's nothing on the 23rd or 24th of May 2020. Now, ORD does show some premium award cabins on 23rd, so it means JFK is just sold out. I am curious when United Opens up 24th of May awards based on today's date. If I knew exact hour it opens up, I can get on the phone with VS that exact time. I may just give VS a call and ask if they see availability.
Jun 28, 2019, 8:22 pm
#656
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 101
Is there a restriction on what routes Virgin can book? I just called for BRU-NRT and was told they couldn't book this route. The agent claimed only 4 routes were available: LHR, CDG, FRA, CPH. I'm inclined to think it's an error since ANA does not even fly from CPH?
Jun 29, 2019, 8:33 am
#657
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,026
Weird cos agent also said they can't book flight to Australia due to some laws? Not sure how accurate
Jun 29, 2019, 9:40 am
#658
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 335
Thanks Gengar. I should have made that clear in case anyone doesn't understand that. I search EF first because it's easier and more flexible, and because if there's no NH availability on EF then there's no reason to even bother trying to search for NH on a partner.
Jun 29, 2019, 11:35 am
#659
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 486
They can book it but the agent might have meant that nothing was available. Or HUCA.
Jun 29, 2019, 7:16 pm
#660
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 101
I’m booking for July 2019. The agent asked for the route, told me to wait whilst she checked for a list of “permitted routes” and came back that she couldn’t book it. Without asking for my desired dates. Guess I’ll just try again