Author Topic: Star Alliance Award Search Tips (Read 837812 times)

Centurion · « **Reply #460 on:** March 21, 2013, 10:37:57 AM »

was looking for ita software for awards or other ways to use ANA points.
seems very difficult to find anything there
ex. april 7-apr 12 from nyc tlv
i found on united (a flight on lufthansa) but none on ana different buckets per airline- i called ana as well
also i tried from nyc-any city in europe (brussels-munich-frankfurt-zurich-geneva etc) and then seperate to tlv without luck
on a side note- no return tix avail after feb 20th (not opened yet i guess)

AJK · « **Reply #461 on:** April 10, 2013, 12:25:05 AM »

UA (and EF) show 2 seats in F on LH 402, FRA-EWR, on 4/16.

However, ANA (which is supposedly the most accurate) shows nothing:

Any thoughts?

MEIR613 · « **Reply #462 on:** April 10, 2013, 12:33:32 AM »

Quote from: AJK on April 10, 2013, 12:25:05 AM

UA (and EF) show 2 seats in F on LH 402, FRA-EWR, on 4/16.
Any thoughts?

EF pulls from UA inventory, so if UA is showing "phantom" so is EF.

AJK · « **Reply #463 on:** April 10, 2013, 12:48:27 AM »

Quote from: MEIR613 on April 10, 2013, 12:33:32 AM

EF pulls from UA inventory, so if UA is showing "phantom" so is EF.

Quote from: ExpertFlyer Voice on November 11, 2012, 01:06:12 AM

The Star Alliance inventory is not being screen scraped from the United.com website. Beyond that we do not discuss our airline relationships or specific data sourcing.

MEIR613 · « **Reply #464 on:** April 10, 2013, 12:59:43 AM »

AC is not showing either.

I have a feeling....

AJK · « **Reply #465 on:** April 10, 2013, 01:03:27 AM »

Another example:

Both LH400 (FRA-JFK) and LH402 (FRA-EWR) on 4/10 (today) show 2 seats in F on UA.com, and so does EF.

Yet, ANA shows neither.

MEIR613 · « **Reply #466 on:** April 10, 2013, 01:18:05 AM »

Quote from: AJK on April 10, 2013, 01:03:27 AM

Another example:

Both LH400 (FRA-JFK) and LH402 (FRA-EWR) on 4/10 (today) show 2 seats in F on UA.com, and so does EF.

Yet, ANA shows neither.

Proving my point

AJK · « **Reply #467 on:** April 10, 2013, 01:31:39 AM »

Oddly enough, I just tried booking it, and it let me.

I cancelled within 3 mins though, so I have no idea if it would ticket.

But if it was phantom, I'm assuming it would have errored out...

Moishebatchy · « **Reply #468 on:** April 10, 2013, 02:22:43 AM »

Quote from: AJK on April 10, 2013, 01:31:39 AM

Oddly enough, I just tried booking it, and it let me.

I cancelled within 3 mins though, so I have no idea if it would ticket.

But if it was phantom, I'm assuming it would have errored out...

Maybe try again, and wait ~20 hours?

AJK · « **Reply #469 on:** April 10, 2013, 08:21:48 AM »

Quote from: Moishebatchy on April 10, 2013, 02:22:43 AM

Maybe try again, and wait ~20 hours?

The flight was in 3 hours

Moishebatchy · « **Reply #470 on:** April 10, 2013, 03:01:36 PM »

Quote from: AJK on April 10, 2013, 08:21:48 AM

The flight was in 3 hours

I hear...

Maybe try it on a random date, for next time (proof-of-concept)?

yosele · « **Reply #471 on:** April 10, 2013, 03:21:44 PM »

Quote from: Dan on May 26, 2010, 09:32:09 PM

-A great search engine is ANA.
-You need to first signup for an ANA account:
https://cam.ana.co.jp/psz/amc/jsp/regist0_e.jsp

-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

-Click "Use Star Alliance Member Airlines"
Perform the search, for example type in JFK to TLV.

the "Use Star Alliance Member Airlines" button is grayed out.

how could I get it to work?

MEIR613 · « **Reply #472 on:** April 10, 2013, 03:24:55 PM »

Quote from: yosele on April 10, 2013, 03:21:44 PM

the "Use Star Alliance Member Airlines" button is grayed out.

how could I get it to work?

First try searching a ANA route (eg. NRT-LAX/HKG/FRA etc.)

Then you will see on the bottom the "Use Stat Alliance Member Airlines" lit up in blue.

yosele · « **Reply #473 on:** April 10, 2013, 03:48:31 PM »

thanks, it worked.

Now, why when I search flights it shows little to none flight availabilty, vs united that shows more flights.

I am looking for 04/14 nyc-lax and 4/18 lax-nyc

Yossi. · « **Reply #474 on:** April 11, 2013, 05:36:22 AM »

Noob question: I need to book a Turkish Airline flight and I know that they have award availability for that flight on their website. When I look in ANA and Unite, I can't find award space for that same flight... Is there any other way for me to get that flight? Any other airline to check? Any way to transfer from anything to Turkish? TIA

MEIR613 · « **Reply #475 on:** April 21, 2013, 10:36:27 PM »

Why when I call US they can't find flights on LX and TG, which UA, ANA, AC and EF are able to find?

meshugener · « **Reply #476 on:** April 21, 2013, 11:20:34 PM »

You see it on UA.com or by a UA rep?
If its the former than its probably not actually available. It has a fancy name... Nu! Remind me!

Ez · « **Reply #477 on:** April 21, 2013, 11:21:51 PM »

Phantom?

MEIR613 · « **Reply #478 on:** April 21, 2013, 11:24:25 PM »

I was able to see it on UA and AC, UA rep was able to confirm, but AC rep said the system is showing available but when she tries to hold the seats it won't let her.

meshugener · « **Reply #479 on:** April 22, 2013, 12:35:49 AM »

Yeah, phantom.
It drives me crazy.