Topic Wiki

In general, search on AA.com for award availability.

BA
If you want to book a flight with Avios, it is known from Dan's Knowledgebase that BA.com doesn't show availability very well, but some flights definitely are searchable there. Nonetheless, it's easier to just search AA.com, and if you find a MileSAAver availability, check BA.com to see if it shows up there, too. If it does, book it there. If it doesn't, you can always call up BA and reference the flight you found. Note that there is usually a very long hold time before BA picks up, and they will charge a phone booking fee. If the flight was unsearchable on BA.com, try fighting that fee, but YMMV.

IB
IB availability will not show up on AA.com You can call AA to find IB availability, but it's hard without being able to browse dates and have to ask the rep to check flights over the phone. Searching on Qantas.com will show IB flights - supposedly if they appear there, they can then be booked by calling AA.

OneWorld Explorer [OWE] The OWE has officially been cancelled [4/8/14] as part of the latest AA no-warning changing to its award program. Here's what the OWE looked like:
This is an around-the-world [RTW] award that is calculated not by the mileage cost of specific flights, but rather by the actual distance travelled on your trip. It is especially valuable for flying business class, as the difference in miles needed between coach and business is not very great on longer trips. See this chart to see the different tiers of how many miles it costs to travel different distances. You can take up to 16 segments on a trip, but there are MANY rules to follow when booking such an award.

Be prepared to spend a lot of time when planning this trip. (Personally [@Yehuda], it took 2 months with a few weeks of break in the middle from frustration.) Availability changes everyday, so you need to constantly check back to see if flights you needed are now available. It will also likely require changing your itinerary/order of stops numerous times. An itinerary can be held for 5 days (and can be extended past that on Day 5, if they are willing to rebook each flight for you, getting you another 5 days), but itineraries with IB flights can usually only be held for 24 hours. You will find that you will have to use hub airports since you're limited to OW partners. You will not find a flight from CDG-FCO without either stopping off in LON or MAD - both of which are out of the way. It's unfortunate, as it adds unnecessary distance miles to your trip, but it can be done. Remember that BA flights have high YQ, IB/AB have semi-high YQ, US/AA have very little YQ. (Unsure about other airlines, as my trip was TLV-Europe-NYC, so those were the only airline I had to work with.) You should check flight availability, again, on AA.com but the ticket must be booked on the phone (and they will charge a $25 phone booking fee, but again, try to fight it since this ticket cannot be booked online - although, honestly, by the time you've ticketed, they will likely have helped you out with much more than $25 worth of time). Technically, you can book it with any OW partner, but the odds are you probably only have enough AA miles to book this trip. AA reps definitely know about this award, although most have never booked it before. You will find that after calling so many times, you'll know more about the rules than they do. Once you have your perfect itinerary, they will have to send it to their rate desk to price it out. This can take ~24 hours. Because it takes time, if you have IB flights on the itinerary, they will make sure IB allows the flights to be held for longer than 24 hours, but confirm this with the rep before you hang up. Once it's priced out, you can pay for it. You can use 2 or more AA accounts to pay for it, but they will require each account to have enough miles to pay for 1 ticket. (e.g. If it costs 80K pax and you have 2 pax, they won't ask you to have 1 account with 160K in it, but they will require 2 accounts with at least 80K in each.)

Feel free to contact @Yehuda with any questions regarding the OWE.

« Last edited by AJK on July 27, 2014, 04:45:43 PM »

Author Topic: One World Award Search Tips  (Read 589591 times)

Offline AJK

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 25418
  • Total likes: 721
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: United Concierge Key; Delta Global Services; American Chairman; US Airways 1K; Hilton Sapphire; Hyatt Tritium; Marriott Californium; Starwood Kryptonium; Hertz Plutonium; National Adamantium, Avis Executive Proactanium
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #80 on: February 06, 2014, 05:05:00 PM »
Don't fly BA.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline MEIR613

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 4593
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #81 on: February 07, 2014, 12:38:30 AM »
Can stop in last NA city you leave from, or the first NA city you arrive in.

Example: CDG-NYC(stop)-LAX or LAX-ORD(stop)-CDG
Or NYC-LAX(Stop)-LHR :P

Offline Marco Polo

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 13121
  • Total likes: 47
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 104
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #82 on: February 07, 2014, 12:43:49 AM »
Or NYC-LAX(Stop)-LHR :P
They will let that through? Or just HUCA until you get it?
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline jaywhy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 3767
  • Total likes: 68
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #83 on: February 07, 2014, 12:56:40 AM »
They will let that through? Or just HUCA until you get it?
The definition of gateway cities is very broad.  ;)

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 12818
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #84 on: February 07, 2014, 12:57:44 AM »
The definition of gateway cities is very broad.  ;)
-1
The definition of gateway city is the city you depart north America from
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline jaywhy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 3767
  • Total likes: 68
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #85 on: February 07, 2014, 01:32:48 AM »
-1
The definition of gateway city is the city you depart north America from
Exactly. That gateway city can be any city in the US, regardless of of the final destination. Backtracking is no issue.

Offline jaywhy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 3767
  • Total likes: 68
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #86 on: February 07, 2014, 02:02:35 AM »
Bookable on AA.com.


Offline deusconsilio

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 130
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #87 on: February 07, 2014, 07:05:03 AM »
Best way to book first class NYC-PER using AA points?

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9693
  • Total likes: 187
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #88 on: February 07, 2014, 10:03:11 AM »
Best way to book first class NYC-PER using AA points?
AA.com? Looks like that flights exists on June 30th and it's business/first b/c there are only 2 cabins.

Offline deusconsilio

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 130
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #89 on: February 07, 2014, 10:54:03 AM »
AA.com? Looks like that flights exists on June 30th and it's business/first b/c there are only 2 cabins.

I know about AA.com obviously. My question is more if there is an ideal way to route the flight in order to increase availability, or get 3 cabin plane, etc

Thanks though

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9693
  • Total likes: 187
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #90 on: February 07, 2014, 10:58:22 AM »
I know about AA.com obviously. My question is more if there is an ideal way to route the flight in order to increase availability, or get 3 cabin plane, etc

Thanks though

Unless you're willing to pay for one of the programs mentioned above in the thread, the only way to see better availability is by calling AA, as they can see more airlines on their end. Ex, aa.com won't show IB flight avail. My suggestions is to use ITA to see which airlines from OW (use routing code / alliance oneworld ) take that route on first class on the day you want to go and then call AA and tell them to look up that flight and see if there's any avail.

Offline deusconsilio

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 130
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #91 on: February 10, 2014, 07:08:54 AM »
Unless you're willing to pay for one of the programs mentioned above in the thread, the only way to see better availability is by calling AA, as they can see more airlines on their end. Ex, aa.com won't show IB flight avail. My suggestions is to use ITA to see which airlines from OW (use routing code / alliance oneworld ) take that route on first class on the day you want to go and then call AA and tell them to look up that flight and see if there's any avail.

Thanks!  One question: what is ITA?

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9693
  • Total likes: 187
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #92 on: February 10, 2014, 09:40:11 AM »

Offline DBK

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 840
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #93 on: February 10, 2014, 02:25:17 PM »

Offline philbenjoe

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 1373
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: USA
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Avis Prefered
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #94 on: February 11, 2014, 05:55:50 PM »
I'm looking to book AA with BA miles from ORD to NYC on 3/4 and the latest flight that shows up is at 2:45pm is there any flights later than this? Want something leaving around 5ish. TIA
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" Dr Seuss

Offline jaywhy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 3767
  • Total likes: 68
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #95 on: February 11, 2014, 06:02:51 PM »
I'm looking to book AA with BA miles from ORD to NYC on 3/4 and the latest flight that shows up is at 2:45pm is there any flights later than this? Want something leaving around 5ish. TIA
BA only shows first 9 flights of the day.
Need to PUTPAC to book later flights.

Offline philbenjoe

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 1373
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: USA
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Avis Prefered
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #96 on: February 11, 2014, 06:04:49 PM »
You serious?? Wow! I never knew that. Is there any way to do it with out PUTPAC?
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" Dr Seuss

Offline Ez

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 842
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #97 on: February 12, 2014, 01:48:04 AM »
You serious?? Wow! I never knew that. Is there any way to do it with out PUTPAC?

Might help to search by individual airport instead of entire city area, for example instead of searching NYC put in LGA.
Other than that,I don't think there is a way.

Offline ilherman

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2013
  • Posts: 8935
  • Total likes: 227
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 35
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #98 on: February 13, 2014, 02:01:58 AM »
When searching Cathay Pacific on BA it does not show up anything for LHR-HKG???

I know they show availability NYC-HKG....
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline davidd75

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 3866
  • Total likes: 118
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: new jersey
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #99 on: February 20, 2014, 05:53:05 PM »
whats the the most efficient way to search Air Berlin flights(that will be available on BA avios site) nyc to tel aviv?