Help Using Miles with AA / Site keeps returning flight not available

[DontGetMeStarted]

Hi All Have spent the last 48 hours trying to book business class or First Melbourne to Heathrow June or July, I know this is a busy time but the AA site shows availability especially for 1st class with Qantas but when I go to book it returns with a message "Flight no longer available" have tried loads of dates and the same.

If I want to book out of Singapore or HK I can get J class or First with BA so I may need to do that but wondering if anyone has the same issue or am I doing something wrong. Have spoken to AA service and depending who you get you get different information each time...Tried BA website for availability and also JAL but not much luck there .....if I can get through will try AA Service Centre again tonight Any help welcome

 

[NM]

Try giving them a call via the USA phone number. Explain the issue when trying to book online and they may waive any additional fees for phone booking. But also note that they will be able to see other airline options as well as what shows on-line. For example, Cathay Pacific, JAL and Malaysia Airlines generally cannot be booked on-line and may have suitable flights and availability. When calling to make award bookings, I always call the USA number late at night or early morning Aussie time so its normal operating hours for them in USA Central time.

 

[TomVexille]

That's phantom QF availability. A common problem with AA.

 

[serfty]

There are many reports of AAdvnatge showing 'phantom' First award availability on Qantas.

I have found that if ExpertFlyer shows P seats on QF flights then these can generally be booked. If no P then no go.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

There are many reports of AAdvnatge showing 'phantom' First award availability on Qantas.

I have foind that if ExpertFlyer shows P seats on QF flights then these can generally be booked. If no P then no go.

Ah OK thanks...I don't have access to Expert Flyer anymore but I will give AA (in the USA) a call tonight to see how it goes if not will make the booking out of Asia somewhere on BA

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ah OK thanks...I don't have access to Expert Flyer anymore but I will give AA (in the USA) a call tonight to see how it goes if not will make the booking out of Asia somewhere on BA

If it doesn't show on the Qantas site it can also be an indicator.

 

[maz1]

I have been having problems with the AA website for a long time now- assorted problems include, when not using the APP (either on my phone or on my laptop) I cannot request a month/date- it won't show any availability-
when using the app, it's showing pages and pages of Business (J) availability for everything, but, of course when you try to book, it's phantom.

quite annoying really.

I call any time of the day and I find that the customer service is wonderful- they are so helpful- I think they're in Fiji.
however, when I called yesterday, of course there is NO availability for anything i'm looking for

 

[snabbu]

You can also try cross checking the availability on BA. If the flight you are after shows on AA but not on QF/BA it's probably phantom availability which as other have said is a known problem.

 

[drron]

My experience last week was trying to book awards on the AA flight SYD-LAX in December.I would be ready when they were due for release-would show up then exactly what you experienced.
So I rang after midnight on the AA Australian number as at that time it often diverts to the US.It did.talked to the agent who got the same thing happening.She said there has been a known glitch with award bookings but the boffins thought they had fixed it so it was reported again.this was not the old QF phantom availability.
bottom line though is you must ring.

 

[garybatz]

Hi DGMS, I has this exact problem when booking last August so it's now a long-term problem. I also started a thread about it but don't know how to link you to it.

In the end it worked out fine, I rang AA in Oz and they confirmed the IT glitch. I had checked on Expert Flyer and could see J flights MEL-LHR with Malaysian and booked them then while on the phone. They waived the telephone booking fee w/o me needing to ask.

I also emailed AA's customer feedback line about the IT problem, got a nothing response but they did give me 1500 points. Unfortunately it looks like they're no closer to fixing the problem, which is indeed very annoying.