Different status tier - different rewards flight options?

[aplmac]

I'm heading over to the UK in June, economy, for family purposes, so a rewards pay-by-points return flight is the go. Mrs Aplmac (Platinum) looked at flights this afternoon, and found suitable dates with affordable points - she had sufficient to book one way, I (Gold) had sufficient to book the return. This evening, after checking with the UK family, we sit down to book. So we both log on simultaneously to our accounts - I (Gold) have only one flight option showing for the date in question, she (Platinum) has several flight options!

I assume, then, the higher your status, the more options you get shown? It was just weird!

Anyway, flights are now booked - which incidentally this afternoon cost about half the number of points for the same flight. So I guess seat points are like currency, fluctuating with demand.

 

[froggerADL]

I'm heading over to the UK in June, economy, for family purposes, so a rewards pay-by-points return flight is the go. Mrs Aplmac (Platinum) looked at flights this afternoon, and found suitable dates with affordable points - she had sufficient to book one way, I (Gold) had sufficient to book the return. This evening, after checking with the UK family, we sit down to book. So we both log on simultaneously to our accounts - I (Gold) have only one flight option showing for the date in question, she (Platinum) has several flight options!

I assume, then, the higher your status, the more options you get shown? It was just weird!

Anyway, flights are now booked - which incidentally this afternoon cost about half the number of points for the same flight. So I guess seat points are like currency, fluctuating with demand.

That's when family transfers are very handy!

 

[Deewhy]

I assume, then, the higher your status, the more options you get shown? It was just weird!

Anyway, flights are now booked - which incidentally this afternoon cost about half the number of points for the same flight. So I guess seat points are like currency, fluctuating with demand.

That's good to know. You didn't by chance get offered the VA flights rather than Etihad?

 

[aplmac]

That's good to know. You didn't by chance get offered the VA flights rather than Etihad?

The Etihad flights. And because I couldn't access the same flight offers as my wife, I couldn't pay using my VR points, which were AMEX MR transfers, so rendering my AMEX travel insurance activation not possible, as she had to pay with her points, which are achieved points, not shopping transfers!

 

[Deewhy]

Could you not have done a family transfer to your wife to give best availability and book the flights?