klam_chowder

No lowest-point level flights are available for early January, wondering if they still might become available later?

I've been looking to book a one-way ticket from Melbourne to Buffalo and have been checking since the 330-day booking window opened. However, AA 37.5K one-way tickets have never come up for the week of Jan 6th. I expected nothing to be available for the week btwn Christmas and NY's but expected availability the following week. Do you think that FF seats will become available later? Any guesses on "if you don't see them by xxx-date, they won't likely become available?"

Only have enough points for the 37.5K route (flies via LAX) so cannot use the ones that go through Hong Kong or London.

First time using FF for an international trip, so any thoughts/insights much appreciated - enjoy-la!

Rastaguytoday

Long time AA user, and 1.2m miler.

If I were you, and it's one person, I'd check every day.

I had similar problems with SFO to EZE (Buenas Aires). It took 3+ weeks to find a 1 stop connections with the lower fare.

You are also flying to Buffalo, which might make it more difficult than, say in to JFK. Check those options also.

Gardyloo

Yes, using the Qantas website's search facility, I can see availability to JFK on both the 6th and 7th (via SYD). It might well be that the last leg to BUF is the problem, not the transpacific portion (lots of people returning from holidays, school kids returning, etc. at that time.)

I haven't encountered any cases where flights shown as available on the Qantas site <i>weren't</i> available for AA mileage redemption. Of course you have to phone AA for these reservations; you can't do it online.

Also ask AA about availability on Air Pacific via Fiji or Air Tahiti via... duh. Both are partners and eligible for redemption on partner awards.

klam_chowder

Thx a mint for the replies and great info. I'm so glad I posted to ask for help. As I mentioned, I've been looking for a while and found nothing - now I know it's because I was looking for the 'wrong' thing.

Using the info you both gave me, I was just able to get a tentative flight booked for Jan 9. MEL > SYD > LAX > ORD > BUF I was hoping for a Jan 8th date to maximize our vacation days but Jan 7th would be fine too. The current flight has us overnite in Chicago and returning on the 10th which is one day more than our saved vacation allotment. I took it anyway as there is a 5 day hold period and I will see if I can get it adjusted to the 7th tomorrow. The agent said there was no availability for the 7th.

Rastaguytoday, 1.2Million - wow! Must be fun to play around with what you could do with those points DH & I travelling on a 'once in a lifetime' kind of trip but I will start phoning AA daily now - didn't want to 'bother' them before and was only phoning weekly.

Gardyloo, thx again for your assistance - you helped me successfully secure the outbound flight earlier. Was not aware of the other airlines so that was very useful info.

Enjoy-la!

klam_chowder

Is there any way to tell what class ticket is being offered on-line?

The agent said if I could find an "X class" ticket it would be available to me. However, I've clicked around on the links but cannot see what class ticket is being shown.

Yesterday, I looked for FF flights on Qantas and saw that some were available for Jan 7th so phoned AA Rewards travel. The fellow said he could find nothing at all on either 7th/8th. Given what Gardyloo had said about Qantas availability/AA redemption, I thanked him, hung up and phoned back.

The next agent was great and found some flights and routing (including one that is the best so far: Jan 8th MEL > SYD > LAX > ORD and next morning Jan 9th ORD > BUF) but then was unable to get into the Qantas system so she suggested I phone back a bit later. When I did, it was unavailable but I was able to get Jan 7 MEL > SYD > LAX > YYZ (Toronto).

I thought going to YYZ would work but when I look at the logistics, it doesn't make much sense: YYZ is 3 hours away and we'd have to get back, etc. Worse case scenario, I will just leave off the YYZ leg and pay for tix LAX > BUF which will probably be cheaper/more options than ORD > BUF.

Because the proficiency of the agents differs so much, I was hoping to find flights that were available and then phone them with specific flight number/routing request.

Any info/hints on this much appreciated - enjoy-la!

Gardyloo

<i>I was hoping to find flights that were available and <b>then phone them with specific flight number/routing request.</i></b>

That is exactly the way to go about it. Do their work for them - they'll thank you (one less call in the queue) and you'll get what you want.