ff flights/329 days out - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

rynker · May 7, 2008, 08:14 PM

If this has been posted before, please advise me where to go. I've always used AA frequent flyer miles when we can.....I've always gotten in on 329 days to get the seats.......I'm trying for Turks and Caicos(PLS) from Chicago and only come up with 60 thousand miles instead of 30 thousand. I called and they said they didn't know when the 30 thousand miles would come in. Is this standard procedure now or am I "out of date" with the frequent flyer seats? Please advise. Thanks!

myip · May 7, 2008, 08:17 PM

AA don't load all the available seats on the first day of availability. I have to continue checking it until it is load. For example for my August, 2008 trip, I didn't find availability till March, 2008. I just check whenever I have time.

MikeM132 · May 8, 2008, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rynker

If this has been posted before, please advise me where to go. I've always used AA frequent flyer miles when we can.....I've always gotten in on 329 days to get the seats.......I'm trying for Turks and Caicos(PLS) from Chicago and only come up with 60 thousand miles instead of 30 thousand. I called and they said they didn't know when the 30 thousand miles would come in. Is this standard procedure now or am I "out of date" with the frequent flyer seats? Please advise. Thanks!

The AA website says flights post at 329 days. HOWEVER---they appear internally at AA 331 days out. CALL, do not book on website, at 331 days after midnight if you want the best FF availability on AA. Take it from one who's been there!

rynker · May 8, 2008, 07:41 AM

I'd tried that also because I've heard of doing that.......she didn't budge and said nothing until 329 days out.

Art · May 8, 2008, 11:33 AM

These days all the airlines, including AA, are using software to insure that as many seats as possible are sold for as much money as possible rather than given away for ff rewards. Therefore, while 330 days is the earliest that seats can be loaded, seats might not be loaded until some indefinite date in the future when the airline has ascertained that a flight isn't going to sell out. This is especially true for in-season tourist destinations.

In short, the traditional rules are no more, so one just has to keep looking and hope that he catches seats when and if they are released.

Art

MikeM132 · May 8, 2008, 01:09 PM

My experience with the 331 day rule is recent (about a month). While true that an airline may release seats in the future if a flight is not filling, the first FF award tickets appear after midnight at 331 days on AA.

MikeM132 · May 8, 2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rynker

I'd tried that also because I've heard of doing that.......she didn't budge and said nothing until 329 days out.

It was suggested that I write AA regarding the discrepency of 2 days between aa.com and phone ticketing. I did. In fact, the website will say nothing appears until 329 days out and at that point the flights STILL have not posted there. You have to call. I've done this a few times including recently when I forgot (Aruba, Jan 09) and called at 329 and could not get a return flight. Was told by AA FF seats start to appear at 331. I'm flying to HI next week in first on AA and got those at 331 days last July, I think.

May 7, 2008, 08:14 PM	#1
rynker TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 8, 05 Location: indiana Posts: 173 Resorts: pelican, aquamarine, alexandra, royal mayan	ff flights/329 days out If this has been posted before, please advise me where to go. I've always used AA frequent flyer miles when we can.....I've always gotten in on 329 days to get the seats.......I'm trying for Turks and Caicos(PLS) from Chicago and only come up with 60 thousand miles instead of 30 thousand. I called and they said they didn't know when the 30 thousand miles would come in. Is this standard procedure now or am I "out of date" with the frequent flyer seats? Please advise. Thanks!

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May 7, 2008, 08:17 PM	#2
myip TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,358 Resorts: HGVC Elite, Starwood 5*Elite, Hyatt	AA don't load all the available seats on the first day of availability. I have to continue checking it until it is load. For example for my August, 2008 trip, I didn't find availability till March, 2008. I just check whenever I have time.

May 8, 2008, 07:41 AM	#4
rynker TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 8, 05 Location: indiana Posts: 173 Resorts: pelican, aquamarine, alexandra, royal mayan	I'd tried that also because I've heard of doing that.......she didn't budge and said nothing until 329 days out.

May 8, 2008, 11:33 AM	#5
Art TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Grand Island, NY Posts: 414 Resorts: Marriott Ocean Pointe Kona Coast Resort Harbor Ridge Marriott Grande Ocean	These days all the airlines, including AA, are using software to insure that as many seats as possible are sold for as much money as possible rather than given away for ff rewards. Therefore, while 330 days is the earliest that seats can be loaded, seats might not be loaded until some indefinite date in the future when the airline has ascertained that a flight isn't going to sell out. This is especially true for in-season tourist destinations. In short, the traditional rules are no more, so one just has to keep looking and hope that he catches seats when and if they are released. Art

May 8, 2008, 01:09 PM	#6
MikeM132 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 8, 05 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 762 Resorts: Grande Vista, Ko Olina Beach Club, Maui Ocean Club	My experience with the 331 day rule is recent (about a month). While true that an airline may release seats in the future if a flight is not filling, the first FF award tickets appear after midnight at 331 days on AA.