Author Topic: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?  (Read 65827 times)

Offline Side incomer

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Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« on: January 03, 2013, 12:16:02 PM »
If anyone here books a lot LY on AA miles, you have probably noticed that for the last 10 days, the AA reps find close to 0 availability on LY.
LY has many seats in class E and X (award classes) which always used to be the same availability through AA, but now they seem to get none. And you can see those on EF and KVS (displaying regular inventory).

Some reps will say: "it's not available", the more clever reps will say: "Elal's direct access system is down, keep trying".

2 weeks ago this problem was only on the HKG/BKK/PEK-TLV market, now it seems to be expanded to NYC-TLV as well.
one out of 25 reps will get you availability or know how to book without direct access.

The most frustrating thing is that this isn't officially documented and reported to all reps, so they have no clue about this. When JAL or CX is down for one day, there is reports within hours, because this gets their attention instantly, but on LY it doesn't seem like they have so much attention.

Anybody here has successfully booked an LY ticket with AA the last few days?
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Offline Dan

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2013, 12:17:31 PM »
Have you tried Tweeting to them or PM'ing their FT rep?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Side incomer

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2013, 12:20:28 PM »
Have you tried Tweeting to them or PM'ing their FT rep?
No. Great idea. Thanks
But I think if many will do, it'll have a bigger impact.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2013, 12:28:14 PM »
No. Great idea. Thanks
But I think if many will do, it'll have a bigger impact.
Might just be a bug they're unaware of, in which case a tweet/PM may solve it.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Side incomer

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2013, 12:32:17 PM »
Might just be a bug they're unaware of, in which case a tweet/PM may solve it.
Many reps promised me already that they are reporting this, which may or may not be true. But still gave me the feeling that with 1 tweet or PM this issue may not be resolved.
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Offline Side incomer

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2013, 12:05:36 AM »
Now they see certain dates, but only 5% of the actual seats seen on X or E. Crazy!!

The biggest problem is that they don't want to admit that this is a problem. Help desk and supervisors all say: "Sorry, it's not available, ELAL doesn't share same seats that they have" - same bs you hear from every clueless airline rep.

PM already AA rep, and tweeted them. Didn't get a response from either.
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Offline gdam

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2013, 08:44:38 AM »
Are you still having the same problem?
I noted that LY flights can be found at qantas website and when you try to book them, you get an error message . So , the technical glitch is probably from ELAL and not AA.  Are they blocking some award space?


Offline Side incomer

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2013, 09:11:07 AM »
Are you still having the same problem?
I noted that LY flights can be found at qantas website and when you try to book them, you get an error message . So , the technical glitch is probably from ELAL and not AA.  Are they blocking some award space?

Qantas usually gives you an error message when trying to book LY online, because they are bot able to calculate the taxes online, they have to do that manually over the phone. But doubted you'll have problems booking over the phone.
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Offline gdam

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2013, 05:36:00 AM »
Many reps promised me already that they are reporting this, which may or may not be true. But still gave me the feeling that with 1 tweet or PM this issue may not be resolved.

Reporting to Elal laision several times may help.

Offline Side incomer

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2013, 11:09:14 AM »
So nothing has changed yet... and now 3 weeks already...

Can we take this as an official start of blocking seats to partners?

I wish I can be proven wrong.
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Offline AJK

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2013, 12:07:21 PM »
Time to go bigger, it seems.

Perhaps a blogger? I'd suggest one of the boarding area guys, but this is more up Dan's alley.

Then again, Dan doesn't really post on this kind of redemption stuff that often (unfortunately).
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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2013, 02:05:32 PM »
LY is really not a market-hunted airline in terms of awards. And most of the bloggers have no experience with this.
If this should be posted it should be here on DD. But then again, Dan cannot post anything, before having multiple members complaining, or verifying himself. And I'm totally shocked, that within 3 weeks there ain't any reports of DDF members to prove me right or wrong.
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Offline Drago

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2013, 03:35:28 PM »
LY is really not a market-hunted airline in terms of awards. And most of the bloggers have no experience with this.
If this should be posted it should be here on DD. But then again, Dan cannot post anything, before having multiple members complaining, or verifying himself. And I'm totally shocked, that within 3 weeks there ain't any reports of DDF members to prove me right or wrong.
I'm waiting for Qantas to show inventory on the HKG - TLV route b/f I call in.

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2013, 03:39:56 PM »
Qantas was always making hiccups on that particular route, and wasn't always showing it as available online, but never had a problem with them over the phone when X or E were showing availability.

It is extremely likely to be an error or award blockage from AA's side.

PS. Not sure what you'll achieve by showing it on QF, when they display awards a year in advance VS. AA which cannot book anything further than 331 days.
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Offline Drago

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2013, 04:02:53 PM »
Qantas was always making hiccups on that particular route, and wasn't always showing it as available online, but never had a problem with them over the phone when X or E were showing availability.

It is extremely likely to be an error or award blockage from AA's side.

PS. Not sure what you'll achieve by showing it on QF, when they display awards a year in advance VS. AA which cannot book anything further than 331 days.
Thanks. I didn't know about the 331 days.
I'm looking to book for around 335 days out, so I'll give it another week.

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #15 on: January 13, 2013, 04:14:58 PM »
LY is really not a market-hunted airline in terms of awards. And most of the bloggers have no experience with this.
If this should be posted it should be here on DD. But then again, Dan cannot post anything, before having multiple members complaining, or verifying himself. And I'm totally shocked, that within 3 weeks there ain't any reports of DDF members to prove me right or wrong.
I had the same experience a few weeks ago, but thought it was an availability issue, as my dates were very specific. I  did wonder why nothing was available as it was not high season at all... When I saw this I understood...

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #16 on: January 14, 2013, 12:21:13 AM »
This is getting crazier and crazier.  >:(  :(

Had some extra time today, so I checked on (a few phone calls, of course) HKG-TLV from March all the way till December Economy, where LY shows 9 seats almost every single day. Not a "single" date was bookable. Even some dates where they "found" availability, they were not able to book it.

3 weeks already, and no reports anywhere? is nobody really booking LY? or does everybody manage to book those besides me?  >:(

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #17 on: January 14, 2013, 12:22:57 AM »
This is getting crazier and crazier.  >:(  :(

Had some extra time today, so I checked on (a few phone calls, of course) HKG-TLV from March all the way till December Economy, where LY shows 9 seats almost every single day. Not a "single" date was bookable. Even some dates where they "found" availability, they were not able to book it.

3 weeks already, and no reports anywhere? is nobody really booking LY? or does everybody manage to book those besides me?  >:(
LY biz is rarely available within normal booking periods (<2-3months before dept), so we don't end up booking it much.
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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #18 on: January 14, 2013, 12:30:39 AM »
LY biz is rarely available within normal booking periods (<2-3months before dept), so we don't end up booking it much.

That doesn't justify how a group of 5K Jewish members which are into accumulating miles didn't have any booking with LY on either of the following:
1. Asia market - which is wide open. 2. Economy - which is quite decent, even within normal booking periods (besides peak season). 3 - advanced bookings for next year etc... 4 - some last minute Biz seats which are sometimes available even for the US market.
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Offline gdam

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Re: Using AAdvantage miles? What happened to ELAL award inventory?
« Reply #19 on: January 14, 2013, 05:39:44 AM »
You are not alone.

It might take a long time , but this is what I am doing.

1. HUCA until the AA agent does not ignore the issue . This might take at least 3 HUCAs.

If not successful,

2.  Have the agent checked with the "reference desk".  You will remain waiting on hold for at least 10 minutes, but there good chances that the seats can be booked.

If not successful,

3.  Suggest the agent to send a request to the "EL AL liaison".  They have direct access to LY and do not require the currently broken access link between AA and LY. 

If not successful,

Repeat step 2 and 3 until you get your seat.

« Last Edit: January 14, 2013, 05:43:54 AM by gdam »