Hi,

I am trying to book flights in November to the BVI. The flights are pretty empty, but all 30K award seats are 'sold out'.

I talked to a supervisor who requested the seats be freed, but it was rejected. Have a request to free one seat and we will take the 60K anytime that is available for the second. Waiting for a response

Has anyone ever been successful with getting Award tickets after they are sold out?

They did say additional seats may become available at a later date; I just need them now.

janet

Sometimes seats become released at a later date, sometimes not. I suspect on many flights "sold out" is a misnomer, as there never were any seats available at that rate. I have never heard of a supervisor being able to get seats "released" - live and learn.

Airlines are all in such difficulty now, they just can't afford to give things away.

janet...Check every single day...It becomes tiresome and frustrating.But thats what has to happen.Good Luck!

I don't think I've heard of airlines releasing more standard FF award seats simply because you ask. Not going to happen.

Don't know about AA, but on Continental and most other airlines, having Elite FF status meaning having more standard award seats available as they come from a different "bucket". Or spend double the number of miles, as you already know.

Typically, an airline doesn't start with an inventory of award seats which is then depleted over time as people claim them. They start with a few (often one or none) then make more available as time goes by if they are not selling seats at the rate they had projected. So, yes, you need to keep checking day after day after day. Your chances may be much better several months from now, but the problem is that anxiety keeps building up. It's all kind of excruciating.

At this point your best hope is that someone else who already has seats on the dates you need will cancel or re-schedule. I have been lucky enough to get what I need because of this, but you do have to check every day.

Does AA allow waitlisting? What I've done in the past with DL is book alternate dates that are available and waitlist for the actual flights that I want. You're taking a risk but between now and November, there's a good chance that seats may open up.

Also, are you trying to fly into EIS? Have you determined which flight segment you're having availability issues with? If it's the flight from SJU to EIS, try flying into STT. EIS is a tiny airport whereas STT has more flight options and is served by larger aircraft so that may help. From STT, you can take a ferry to your destination in the BVI. Or if you can get award seats to SJU, then buy your SJU-EIS tickets. These are some other possible options to consider (if you haven't already) instead of spending 120K.

Hi,

Thanks for the encouragement. My request to get one 60K and free one 30K was denied.

Yesterday, they only showed Business awards available; today they showed "anytime" awareds available.

Unfortunately, it was the BOS to SJU leg that was causing the problems; could have gotten to St . thomas, but not until much later in the day and would have had to spend the night there as we would have missed the ferry to Tortola.

so, i ended up adding a day to either end of the trip; so too more days in Paradise. Seemed like an easier "sacrifice" than spending the extra 60K miles.

I figured I had nothing to lose by asking and escalating my request.

Now I know to book my next trip to much further in advance.

janet