Etihad Airways offers really solid first class and business class products, which are surprisingly readily available using miles. They’re an American AAdvantage airline partner, so typically they have access to all the “saver” level award space that Etihad releases to their own Etihad Guest members.
Etihad Airways business class
Via TravelingBetter, it appears as if Etihad award space is temporarily not bookable using American AAdvantage miles:
Etihad Airways Award Availability
Update 1630CT/28MAY QSDLFC
It has been reported that Etihad Airways (EY) is not displaying award availability correctly in Direct Access. For example, when displaying availability for EY flights, you may receive availability for Jet Airways (9W* operated by Etihad Airways) instead. This issue has been reported and escalated. Once resolved and until further notice, please offer our apologies to customers wanting to book award flights on EY and advise to call back.
So it does seem to be a legitimate display problem, not like how Delta’s award calendar is “temporarily broken” or how United’s terminal at Washington Dulles is “temporary.”
I’d expect this to be fixed soon. I guess this would explain why so many are having issues booking Etihad award space. I’ve received a few messages the past few days asking why the space isn’t bookable, and I assumed it was one of the usual two reasons partner award space isn’t bookable through American AAdvantage:
- Poorly trained agents — in 90% of the cases hanging up and calling again does the trick
- The occasional availability discrepancy — no matter how good technology is, sometimes systems just don’t communicate with one another, whereby there’s a little more space through one program than another
This doesn’t appear to be the case here, so lets hope they get this fixed soon. I booked my Etihad Airways Dusseldorf to Abu Dhabi award just last week, so it looks like I managed to book that just before the issues starting happening.
(Tip of the hat to Gary)
This issue is now fixed, FYI:
https://onemileatatime.com/etihad-awards-bookable-aadvantage-miles/
Thanks, I will be waiting for an update here too!
Hey Lucky,
Any updated on whether this issue is fixed? Appreciate your help! thanks
@ NB -- Not yet, I'll post as soon as it's fixed.
Anyone have any experience using Etihad miles to book an American flight? I have heard it can be done, but the inventory is very small.
@ GP -- Etihad should have access to all saver level AAdvantage award space.
@ Lucky - speaking of booking problems, happy to report that BA Avios search engine finally was fixed and is not showing Houston to Dallas flights on AA :)
P.S. Hard to beat 4,500 Avios for a flight but for this weekend I'm using $52 one-way ticket for HOU-DFW and then an Avios award back.
@ Ivan Y -- Awesome, happy to hear!
Lucky any idea when this will be fixed? And how will we know?
Thanks
@ Nick -- No clue, sadly. These outages usually don't last very long. I'll post as soon as I hear of an update.
Lucky,
I'm surprised you have not been blogging about your kickstarter more. I think there are probably a lot of people who would be willing to kick in more to get you over the hump. They just need a reminder.
Known issue just hope they get it fixed, have an award booking I want to finish...
FYI...Jet Airways space is booking. I just called AA and put a first class seat on hold from BRU-YYZ
@lucky I told you about this 3 days ago!! :)
@ Angel -- Yep, though I assumed it was a typical availability discrepancy, which does happen. American only issued a memo about it yesterday.
Is this issue only for premium cabin award space or for all Etihad award space (including economy)?
@ Joey -- All cabins are impacted.
I meant to say kickstarter campaign.
Mohan
Ben, Please email me at [email protected] I have a proposition on the Etihad kickster campaign.
Mohan
only 52 hours left and there is not even $15k raised... will this happen? are you parents waiting to chip in last minute? ;)