CX availability to AA compared with other OW carriers?

[ejd711]

Hi all,

I have been trying to get my hands on some CX flights HK to Brisbane (direct, or via SYD,MEL,ADL). It is now 4 weeks out.

The seats are showing of KVS (through British Airways and Qantas oneworld award searches) and also on qantas.com . I've now rung the US call centre once and the Australian call centre twice and none of them can see them. Other than HUACA, is there any other tips?

Are seats released to some partners but not others?
Any chance of more seats being released in the next week or so?

Cheers in advance.

 

[Hvr]

CX have been known to release seats to AA a couple of weeks before so basically keep trying.

But there is of course the risk that you wont be able to travel at all or it will be expensive to purchase. If these are options then you're on the right path,

 

[ejd711]

Thanks Hvr.

It's quite frustrating to see these available on BA, QF but not be able to get through AA! I have flights back but 4-6 days earlier than I want. I can always get an economy award back, or via MH but I'd been quite keen to go home via HKG and sample the CX lounges.

Hopefully something will open up soon...

 

[vantage03]

QF has an issue where it sometimes shows "phantom" CX award space, and whilst it shows in the search engine it's actually not bookable. I wouldn't use QF as your point of reference for CX space.

That said, the BA search engine shouldn't show the phantom space. So if BA is showing availability then I'd HUACA.

 

[Limewood]

JL is usually a good marker for CX flight availability too.

 

[Isochronous]

I've had BA show phantom availability on AY, amongst others, to me.

 

[grussellt]

Have you had a look on Award Nexus to check availability?

 

[ejd711]

Have you had a look on Award Nexus to check availability?

Hi grusselt,

I hadn't checked Award Nexus because I had a free account and think I ran out of points last time or something? I pay for KVS and tried using the one world (QF) and One World (BA) but that recently has seemed to overestimate the number of seats that the AA agents claim they can find (after 3 lots of HUACA).

I've changed my flights to within a day of my preferred flight so getting closer and happy enough if that is the best I can do but will keep an eye out. It seems when on KVS there are only 1 or 2 seats AA has nothing for CX but if there are 3/4 then it is ok.

Cheers!

 

[Cheatah]

I dont think it is just the "phantom award" space we so often hear about. Both JL, BA and QF show quite a few award seats on CX metal which are simply unavailable to AA. Some of these seats have shown to be bookable(look at that other well known frequent flyer board in the AA forum)

There is no rhyme or reason but is it possible there may be selective blocking to AA members given how relatively generous the program is compared to other OW programs? CX may well say AA members wont have access to all award inventory on certain routes.

 

[ejd711]

It would be great if they included CX on the online booking fee to cut out having to decide if it is a HUACA or it really isn't available. One day maybe! Not complaining at my KTM-BNE in CX J for 45,000 points though...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That said, the BA search engine shouldn't show the phantom space. So if BA is showing availability then I'd HUACA.

I can confirm BA shows plenty of phantom availability for CX