using points to USA September 2011

[diningdecadence]

Hi all,

long time lurker, first time poster.

a friend and I are looking to head stateside this september (from Sydney), using points of <300K, preferably in J or F (a boys gotta dream right!).

We need to leave on the 14th, but are open to when to come back (sometime around the 28th). There's a nice 92K Y+ heading out to LAX, but I can't find a classic flight back from any main US city (LAX, DFW, SFO, JFK) that doesn't go through Tokyo or Buenos Aires. Additionally, the ASA are ridiculously high (800K one way :shock: (no cheeky <100K flights available unfortunately!)

Is there some sort of blockout of classic seats in Sept? I know its Northern Hemisphere summer, but its right at the back end. Alternatively I guess we've just left our run too late and they are gooooone.

Anyway does anyone have any suggestions? e.g. whether to book the flight over and wait and hope for a flight back to open up, a different way to search (like using the call centre instead of the online search tool), or something else i don't know about

Thanks for reading the essay, any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[UP4014]

Don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but if the classic seats for September dates you have looked at are not showing then they are probably already snapped up!

 

[cove]

I would either book a Premium Economy return journey and lodge a points upgrade request or figure out how to run up some SQ Kris points for the run home thru Singapore.
Grab the J flight outwards now.

 

[Maca44]

I think you are looking at school holiday period.

 

[cove]

The penalty to cancel a one way J is modest so think one way first.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Alternatively I guess we've just left our run too late and they are gooooone.

Yes Option B...you are way to late for a popular route and time of year for Classics.

 

[diningdecadence]

since beginning to look at these flights about 2 weeks ago, 2 flights have since emerged that weren't showing originally.

based on this i think i'm going to chance my arm and hope some later flights also show up soon.

if someone books a classic seat and then cancels or changes the date, does it go back into the 'pool' so to speak? alternatively, is the awards booking system just playing silly buggers with me?

 

[cove]

Based on the fact I have been able to pick up One ticket in First when none had been showing previously makes me think that they go back to the pool for LAX.