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 591754 times)

Offline lubaby

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 5335
  • Total likes: 736
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 12
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1000 on: October 04, 2018, 12:23:48 PM »
Has AA started blacking out saver availability within 2 weeks?

I've been monitoring PIT-NYC over the last couple weeks. There seems to consistently be plenty of availability for many dates, but it all disappears once I'm within 14 days.
Looks like a married segment restriction on that route.

On 10/10 (random date I searched) they have T class (economy sAAver) on a direct PIT-BOS flight, and they also have T on PIT-LGA-BOS.
Although as you mention, nothing within 14 days in T for just PIT-LGA.

Offline efflpetzel

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 2835
  • Total likes: 133
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1001 on: October 05, 2018, 01:08:25 AM »
Looks like a married segment restriction on that route.

On 10/10 (random date I searched) they have T class (economy sAAver) on a direct PIT-BOS flight, and they also have T on PIT-LGA-BOS.
Although as you mention, nothing within 14 days in T for just PIT-LGA.

same thing on PHL - ATH route.

availability on AA758 is spotty at best when searching direct, however when searching BOS - PHL - ATH magically 758 is available every day.

AA T class has more & more married segment issues.

there are simple workarounds however, place connection on hold online & call in to remove first segment.

I've even done that with Etihad, fed them both segments to build the itinerary & then requested them to drop the first segment, successfully ticketed (I don't see why this wouldn't work with BA too) 
« Last Edit: October 05, 2018, 01:16:20 AM by efflpetzel »

Online yelped

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 10465
  • Total likes: 3823
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 43
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1002 on: October 05, 2018, 10:02:36 AM »
Thanks.

Offline AJK

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 25419
  • 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 #1003 on: October 10, 2018, 11:10:32 AM »
Incredible that there is not more of an outcry over this AA two-week blocking...
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 davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7218
  • Total likes: 978
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1004 on: October 10, 2018, 11:11:37 AM »
Incredible that there is not more of an outcry over this AA two-week blocking...
It's not everywhere so it's easier to ignore/not notice
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline AJK

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 25419
  • 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 #1005 on: October 10, 2018, 11:25:08 AM »
It's def on routes I book. Bah.
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

Online yelped

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 10465
  • Total likes: 3823
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 43
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1006 on: October 10, 2018, 11:30:29 AM »
Incredible that there is not more of an outcry over this AA two-week blocking...
Post on forums all over. Email the bloggers.

Also, I don't know why @Dan didn't write about AA not rebooking on United and Delta for non elite economy passengers (90% of travelers) in the event of IRROPS.

Offline davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7218
  • Total likes: 978
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1007 on: October 10, 2018, 11:36:17 AM »


It's def on routes I book. Bah.
Booked a friend LAX-JFK 2 days out just this week.
It was the only availability during the following 2 weeks.
Also, I don't know why @Dan didn't write about AA not rebooking on United and Delta for non elite economy passengers (90% of travelers) in the event of IRROPS.

+1
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline Lamppost

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: May 2012
  • Posts: 158
  • Total likes: 30
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jackson
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1008 on: October 31, 2018, 10:31:58 AM »
Just for the record for this forum, I am looking at PHL-DTW for next week and there is loads of availability at saver level. And for the next couple months as well. Same for LGA-DTW. Kinda shocking. Is AA doing teshuva here?

Offline AJK

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 25419
  • 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 #1009 on: October 31, 2018, 01:10:33 PM »
Seems so. Also see availability LGA<>MEM in next 2 weeks. BH.
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

Online farmbochur

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2011
  • Posts: 1796
  • Total likes: 233
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1010 on: October 31, 2018, 01:15:13 PM »
Same for PIT-NYC
Risk is opportunity

Offline m65

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 1884
  • Total likes: 725
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1011 on: November 06, 2018, 05:57:50 AM »
to which airports europe can i fly direct from nyc area using aadvantage miles?

Online mochjas

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 9699
  • Total likes: 1069
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 123
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium Elite, AA EX PLAT, Jetblue Mosaic, Qatar Gold, United Silver
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1012 on: November 06, 2018, 06:57:44 AM »
to which airports europe can i fly direct from nyc area using aadvantage miles?
any oneworld nonstop flight. There are plenty

Offline m65

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 1884
  • Total likes: 725
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1013 on: November 06, 2018, 07:12:44 AM »
any oneworld nonstop flight. There are plenty
mad, mxp, lhr, what else?

Offline davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7218
  • Total likes: 978
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1014 on: November 06, 2018, 07:15:12 AM »
CDG may be good option to connect to TLV
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline m65

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 1884
  • Total likes: 725
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1015 on: November 06, 2018, 12:35:42 PM »
CDG may be good option to connect to TLV
what else? i need a list to check all the options

Offline davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7218
  • Total likes: 978
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1016 on: November 06, 2018, 12:38:36 PM »
what else? i need a list to check all the options
Sorry I don't think anyone here wants to compile a list for you of all AA flights to Europe and all partners
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline lubaby

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 5335
  • Total likes: 736
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 12
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1017 on: November 06, 2018, 02:10:35 PM »
what else? i need a list to check all the options
Quick lesson:

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/

Hidden City Ticketing
Copy the "Europe Airport List (top 150):" from the wiki and paste it into the Destination field (Departing from NYC obviously).

This one is a bit more complicated, so I'll give you what you're looking for:
ITA Software Advanced Routing Codes
Paste into Extension codes field "alliance oneworld; -codeshare" will give you all One World Member flights and exclude codeshare bookings (since you only need 1 line per flight).

Select only show nonstops from the filters on bottom.

Once the results load, click the "From / To" sort /filter at the top of the results to see the short list.

Sorry I don't think anyone here wants to compile a list for you of all AA flights to Europe and all partners
Not posting the results :)
« Last Edit: November 06, 2018, 02:15:03 PM by lubaby »

Offline m65

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 1884
  • Total likes: 725
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1018 on: November 06, 2018, 04:31:36 PM »
Quick lesson:

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/

Hidden City Ticketing
Copy the "Europe Airport List (top 150):" from the wiki and paste it into the Destination field (Departing from NYC obviously).

This one is a bit more complicated, so I'll give you what you're looking for:
ITA Software Advanced Routing Codes
Paste into Extension codes field "alliance oneworld; -codeshare" will give you all One World Member flights and exclude codeshare bookings (since you only need 1 line per flight).

Select only show nonstops from the filters on bottom.

Once the results load, click the "From / To" sort /filter at the top of the results to see the short list.
Not posting the results :)

thank u

Sorry I don't think anyone here wants to compile a list for you of all AA flights to Europe and all partners
lubaby just did

Offline lubaby

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 5335
  • Total likes: 736
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 12
    • View Profile
Re: One World Award Search Tips
« Reply #1019 on: November 06, 2018, 04:42:07 PM »
thank u
lubaby just did
I didn't give you the list, I showed you how to find it yourself.

We were all new to this once, keep on learning :)