Business Class Availability for Redemption

[dorkhun]

My husband and I want to book business class seats from end September to early October return from Sydney to Tokyo via JAL using Amex points transferred to Asia Miles. Since the only way to book JAL flights is to fill out an application form and there is no way to find out the availability of seats are, we don't want to transfer Amex points over only to find out there are no seats available.

So my question is, how do we found out availability without transferring points from Amex to Asia Miles?

If there is noway to find out, what is the likely hood of reserving business class seats on the days we want 3 months prior to travel?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My husband and I want to book business class seats from end September to early October return from Sydney to Tokyo via JAL using Amex points transferred to Asia Miles. Since the only way to book JAL flights is to fill out an application form and there is no way to find out the availability of seats are, we don't want to transfer Amex points over only to find out there are no seats available.

So my question is, how do we found out availability without transferring points from Amex to Asia Miles?

If there is noway to find out, what is the likely hood of reserving business class seats on the days we want 3 months prior to travel?

JL award availability can be found in two ways - either through the JAL mileagebank tool (free to join, clunky to use, but accurate), or through BA Executive club (will require you to have a UK address to join).

Of course both tools are only accurate at that point in time - seats can go in a second.

 

[travelislife]

Yep another +1 for the BA tool as being the simplest to check availability.

 

[dorkhun]

JL award availability can be found in two ways - either through the JAL mileagebank tool (free to join, clunky to use, but accurate), or through BA Executive club (will require you to have a UK address to join).

Of course both tools are only accurate at that point in time - seats can go in a second.

Thanks Mel.

We have found the mileage bank tool, but the international award seat availability calendar shows "vacant seat waiting" from August all the way until April. I assume that means we have to be on the waiting list.

We then went on the JAL retail website and tried to book 9 tickets on our preferred September date, and it shows that there are 9 seats available.

So let's say we go on the waitlist and the business cabin does not sell out on our preferred date of travel, when will Asia Miles tell us that we have the seats?

And if it does sell out, will we be given alternative dates?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks Mel.

We have found the mileage bank tool, but the international award seat availability calendar shows "vacant seat waiting" from August all the way until April. I assume that means we have to be on the waiting list.

We then went on the JAL retail website and tried to book 9 tickets on our preferred September date, and it shows that there are 9 seats available.

So let's say we go on the waitlist and the business cabin does not sell out on our preferred date of travel, when will Asia Miles tell us that we have the seats?

And if it does sell out, will we be given alternative dates?

Yes - looks like waitlist.

First class availability seems much more open than business class - which seems a pattern from my recent searches for a trip a couple months ago. F was much easier than business. I'd expect business class to sell quite well on that route - an excellent product.

As for part 2 - revenue (paid) tickets bear no resemblance to award availability. There may be 9 seats for sale in business class but not a single award seat (ever) available on that flight.

 

[dorkhun]

Yes - looks like waitlist.

First class availability seems much more open than business class - which seems a pattern from my recent searches for a trip a couple months ago. F was much easier than business. I'd expect business class to sell quite well on that route - an excellent product.

As for part 2 - revenue (paid) tickets bear no resemblance to award availability. There may be 9 seats for sale in business class but not a single award seat (ever) available on that flight.

Thanks Mel! Really appreciate your help and insight.
I think We'll just change our plans to redeem a flight in April next year.