How To Search For oneworld Award Availability

[bcworld]

One more question: If you end up booking J on some legs and F on others how does that effect the DMs needed?

You pay F mileage for the entire return trip.

 

[Sheenaec7]

I suppose if I get desperate to get the flights I need that wouldn't be too bad.

 

[travellinmumberry]

Thanks anat01 for this amazingly useful thread. I have a question about the 'phantom' CX seats on the BA award search. I tried checking on JAL but can only search return availability.
I want one way only- is it possible to get CX seats one way? I am planning a trip Australia to UK oneworld using AA miles. I can search on JAL for return flights, but if the seats show as available for a return will I still be able to book one leg of the return as a one way flight.
Hopefully the question makes sense.

 

[anat0l]

Thanks anat01 for this amazingly useful thread. I have a question about the 'phantom' CX seats on the BA award search. I tried checking on JAL but can only search return availability.
I want one way only- is it possible to get CX seats one way? I am planning a trip Australia to UK oneworld using AA miles. I can search on JAL for return flights, but if the seats show as available for a return will I still be able to book one leg of the return as a one way flight.
Hopefully the question makes sense.

Yes that is fine. The availability returned does not become dependent on booking a return - it is basically searching for two one ways, with each going in the opposite direction, if that makes sense. (And you have no choice in this regard because JAL only allows you to search for return flights).

It should be somewhat noted now that JAL is not the be all and end all for CX availability. There are sporadic reports now that JAL doesn't report all of the availability on CX that US DM can see, and some other tools (like BA) can see CX availability that US DM can access but JAL will not show.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

You pay F mileage for the entire return trip.

When do the AA rules come into play and only paying for what you use (ie, J on the outbound sector, F on the return) ?

 

[JessicaTam]

When do the AA rules come into play and only paying for what you use (ie, J on the outbound sector, F on the return) ?

You can book ow AAward flights, so you only pay for the class you book ew.

 

[Limewood]

I'm looking at doing HKG/CGD then MIL/HKG on CX in J, I found the award flights on JL, when I go to BA it does not show CX only FIN & BA, with the latter I have no reason to go via LHR, so from what I see the JL result should be correct?.

 

[vitagen]

There are heaps of problems with phantom availabily now, dont really know why. Last year i could check availabilty on QF and call up AA to book right away. This time around nothing seems to line up with what AA can see. It took me separate calls yesterday to find a really competant agent who searched for some availabilty that even QF engine couldnt find.

 

[Sheenaec7]

You can book ow AAward flights, so you only pay for the class you book ew.

To do this do we still use the same USDM phone number when booking?

 

[JessicaTam]

To do this do we still use the same USDM phone number when booking?

To book AAwards, goto AA.com

Edit: Just saw that you are booking with USDM - you can only book return flights with them. My answer related to using AA miles. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Sheenaec7]

Thanks Jessica. Also, can we book AAwards via AA.com using USDM?

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks Jessica. Also, can we book AAwards via AA.com using USDM?

No. You would have to wait until your USDMs are converted to AA Miles when the merger between the two airlines progresses further. For now, they are two separate programs.

 

[Limewood]

I've found CX flights HKG/CDG/HKG in J on QF site is that a realistic indication of USDM availability?.

 

[bcworld]

I've found CX flights HKG/CDG/HKG in J on QF site is that a realistic indication of USDM availability?.

Not necessarily. The only way you'll find out is by calling. Personally I would check all of QF, BA, JL and CX and if they all matched up I'd be feeling confident. Alternatively if just QF/BA showed availability I'd be feeling hopeful. Less and less convinced that what JL sees is useful when dealing with US.

 

[Limewood]

Not necessarily. The only way you'll find out is by calling. Personally I would check all of QF, BA, JL and CX and if they all matched up I'd be feeling confident. Alternatively if just QF/BA showed availability I'd be feeling hopeful. Less and less convinced that what JL sees is useful when dealing with US.

I do find on BA they want me to go via LHR or fly with FIN, and don't show CX direct flights that I want.

oops looking at wrong site was AA

Now on BA found plenty on CX for Aug 2015.

 

[anat0l]

Even if JL doesn't show all CX availability, is it just under reporting it or are there false positives in the JL results?

My experience so far seems to suggest that it is the former (i.e. the most "conservative" set of CX availability), but I wouldn't be too surprised if false positives are showing, perhaps not to the same degree as other tools showing CX availability.

 

[k_sheep]

I've got an expert flyer subscription, is that useful for this? Finding the ba.com site very irritating, having to click through every date individually ...

 

[ablecookie]

Even if JL doesn't show all CX availability, is it just under reporting it or are there false positives in the JL results?

My experience so far seems to suggest that it is the former (i.e. the most "conservative" set of CX availability), but I wouldn't be too surprised if false positives are showing, perhaps not to the same degree as other tools showing CX availability.

Not specifically responding to your latest post, but seeking your advice with your vast in-depth knowledge on award booking.

I am trying to find J award flight between MIA and RIO or BSB plus BSB-RIO, way out for August 15 and still finding difficulty.

Looking at TAM, there's plenty all year round. However, definitely nothing with Qantas and very few on BA. I assume then TAM is keeping of these for their own members. do they also dish them out to individual airlines - such as those shown on BA may not be available to redeem with Q points?

 

[anat0l]

Not specifically responding to your latest post, but seeking your advice with your vast in-depth knowledge on award booking.

Ha! I wish I had a real in-depth knowledge. To give an analogy, if award booking was like chess, then I can say I like to play chess and have experience. I'm not Gary Kasparov.

I am trying to find J award flight between MIA and RIO or BSB plus BSB-RIO, way out for August 15 and still finding difficulty.

Looking at TAM, there's plenty all year round. However, definitely nothing with Qantas and very few on BA. I assume then TAM is keeping of these for their own members. do they also dish them out to individual airlines - such as those shown on BA may not be available to redeem with Q points?

Your conclusion about different availabilities per programme are quite possible. Definitely quite natural for some programmes to hold seats on the host airline for its own members. That said, it doesn't mean it is not available for redemption from another programme, e.g. US. Only way to find out is to call and try, though.

Another good example is the intra-Europe availability on BA. Search on the AA site (which can look for BA flights), and you may get only a few flights a day for some sectors on some days. Search on the BA site and it's open slather for the same days. CX availability is the mystery par excellence in this regard, both with underreporting and overreporting of availability.

 

[ablecookie]

Ha! I wish I had a real in-depth knowledge. To give an analogy, if award booking was like chess, then I can say I like to play chess and have experience. I'm not Gary Kasparov.



Your conclusion about different availabilities per programme are quite possible. Definitely quite natural for some programmes to hold seats on the host airline for its own members. That said, it doesn't mean it is not available for redemption from another programme, e.g. US. Only way to find out is to call and try, though.

Another good example is the intra-Europe availability on BA. Search on the AA site (which can look for BA flights), and you may get only a few flights a day for some sectors on some days. Search on the BA site and it's open slather for the same days. CX availability is the mystery par excellence in this regard, both with underreporting and overreporting of availability.

Thanks for your response. Booking award flights is a lttle bit like playing chess! I guess I just have to keep trying.

At the moment just found a pair of MIA-BSB seats on the appropriate date with AA. That is not too bad, happy to pay for the short BSB-RIO leg myself. Will see whether available via Qantas.