Star Alliance Award Search Tips

[Dan]

this theory of yours works, when I ask for a flight from CLE to OUA.

When you give them one specific flight, what else is there to do?


(on oneworld its a different story, as some flights don't search 'well' together, and need to be searched manually = separately)

I'm convinced that some agents don't even bother.
Call centers agents often get compensated for how quickly they get customers off the phone.  The agent can make a big bonus by just always denying availability!

[SuperFlyer]

I'm convinced that some agents don't even bother.
Call centers agents often get compensated for how quickly they get customers off the phone.  The agent can make a big bonus by just always denying availability!

you mean an inverted CO system?

[steve2]

I'm convinced that some agents don't even bother.
Call centers agents often get compensated for how quickly they get customers off the phone.  The agent can make a big bonus by just always denying availability!

 very true but also some carriers must be done manually and if LO is that way with US, then could be the agent didnt want to be tied up for so long. Also certain Carriers transfer you over to another desk that handles those reses that need specal attention and that agent simply might have not known and once their screen didnt show anything assumed that meant nothing is available

[SuperFlyer]

I'm convinced that some agents don't even bother.
Call centers agents often get compensated for how quickly they get customers off the phone.  The agent can make a big bonus by just always denying availability!

Alright, is there anyway to find out where those reps live?

I believe its time to move to plan B.

Thats the part where they turn into real estate...

[Mikeoracle]

Be sure to use my standard line...another agent found availability on xxx flight earlier but I wasn't ready to book can you please see if it's still available.  Works like a charm once you have find a good agent.

Worked like a charm for me today. Called BA, told the agent that I already worked out all the availability earlier with another agent and had it all written down so I can help him find the flights -I then rattled off a 5 leg (questionably borderline) Itinerary and he just booked it no problem.

[BrooklynCPA]

When the agent looked up my US Dividend number and saw I had a 0 balance she told me that she doesn't have the time to spend 45 minutes looking for flights when I don't even have the miles. I told her that I would transfer Starwood points but I need to know if its available first, She worked with me but was impatiant. I should have hung up right away and called back.

However, when I gave her an exact flight number she should have had an easy way to see if it was available and she was therefore probably correct when she said it wasn't.

[Dan]

When the agent looked up my US Dividend number and saw I had a 0 balance she told me that she doesn't have the time to spend 45 minutes looking for flights when I don't even have the miles. I told her that I would transfer Starwood points but I need to know if its available first, She worked with me but was impatiant. I should have hung up right away and called back.

However, when I gave her an exact flight number she should have had an easy way to see if it was available and she was therefore probably correct when she said it wasn't.

If an agent ever told me that I'd hang up on the spot. No point of bothering when the agent will just pretend to try.

[yare]

i had an agent with aa who was being extremely rude and making noises every time i asked her to try something else... i said to her," i dont know why you're being so rude, i'm being very polite and all i'm asking you is for you to do you're job"   she actually got a lot nicer after that

[SuperFlyer]

Alright, is there anyway to find out where those reps live?

I believe its time to move to plan B.

Thats the part where they turn into real estate...

I seem to be the only one with a plan out here...

[BrooklynCPA]

Per Dans original post

Quote:
-You can then use this link to search for Star Alliance award flights:
https://aswbe-i.ana.co.jp/p_per/sky_ip_per_en/preAwdSearchLogin.do

This link takes me to the correct website but it does not let me get into where I can search for Partner flights. Can someone try it and let me know if its only me thats having this problem???

[steve2]

Per Dans original post

Quote:
-You can then use this link to search for Star Alliance award flights:
https://aswbe-i.ana.co.jp/p_per/sky_ip_per_en/preAwdSearchLogin.do

This link takes me to the correct website but it does not let me get into where I can search for Partner flights. Can someone try it and let me know if its only me thats having this problem???

 here U go;
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=2569.0

[Club2000]

*ALLIANCE AND *WOOD THE EST PROGRAM EVRE
and with ANA it make it very easy to use

thanks dan

[aussiebochur]

Does Continental consider dep. EWR and returning to JFK as an open-jaw or not?

[aussiebochur]

On CO, does anybody know if changing an award flight from, with a stopover to direct (e.g. TLV-BRU-EWR to TLV-EWR), would constitute as a "change of stopover" and therefore incur fees?
Any help is appreciated, as well as if anyone knows the answer to my previous question in the post above.

[steve2]

On CO, does anybody know if changing an award flight from, with a stopover to direct (e.g. TLV-BRU-EWR to TLV-EWR), would constitute as a "change of stopover" and therefore incur fees?
Any help is appreciated, as well as if anyone knows the answer to my previous question in the post above.

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/onepass/rewards/travel/ticketing.aspx

 as long as the trip is at least 21 days out no problem since you are still keeping the O/D as TLV/EWR, otherwise the fees are based on what if any status you have with CO. I assumed the Miles came out of CO and not any other Program

 i dont believe if theres a Stopover or where is Important, its the O/D that is important

[Dan]

On CO, does anybody know if changing an award flight from, with a stopover to direct (e.g. TLV-BRU-EWR to TLV-EWR), would constitute as a "change of stopover" and therefore incur fees?
Any help is appreciated, as well as if anyone knows the answer to my previous question in the post above.

I think EWR/JFK is not an open-jaw, but probably a YMMV issue.

Changing stopover to nonstop or vice versa is free 21+ days out.

[aussiebochur]

Thanks guys

[yaakov]

does anybody know how much taxes+fuel surcharges ana charges for flights bet
nyc-tlv
phl-tlv

[Yordai Dooma]

does anybody know how much taxes+fuel surcharges ana charges for flights bet
nyc-tlv
phl-tlv

Try a search next time. http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=1592.msg12615#msg12615

It depends what airline you fly on

[yaakov]

so if i book through ana the us airways flight for 60k i wont pay any surcharge.

for your info i worked out with virgin atlantic in their system to have the us airways flight fo 50k. but i think they charge. (i still never found a open date. could be im trying succos time)