Questions and Answers

Hi Lucky,

I saw your article last year about the “sad state” AA Award Saver Space.. unfortunately it looks like nothing changed. This was my fear when they took over US..

Being PHL based, I have seen almost 0 saver space available. I also searched 3 routes – from now through May 2017 (MAD-PHL, CDG-PHL, MUC-PHL).. every SINGLE day from now through 5/1 – U=0, U=0, U=0… really??? Truly disgraceful. Whereas, BA always has some space open (though with insane taxes/fees). I’ve written to AA only to get a standard form letter response. We’re both PLT fliers (mostly short routes, high $) so this really feels like we’re being disenfranchised.

Is there anything that can be done?

Derek

I’m a US Airways transplant and have spent years flying through PHL on TATL flights mostly in J cabin. Since the merger was completed October 16th, 2015, there has been nearly no SAAver awards in J on any PHL (LUS) TATL flights. However, last month I received an alert from EF of three award seats on 718 PHL-FCO for several days in May 2017 – they, however, disappeared the same day they posted.

If you’re not subscribed to Expert Flyer sign up and then load several alerts for flights you can utilize and remain flexible. One other note, I fly to CDG a few times a year and last year there was a lot of award space through DFW (on good planes with excellent J seats). I’ve also set up alerts on those flights for next year along with a few out of JFK.

Hi [USER=2552]@Derek Tarcza[/USER], and welcome!

Agreed, award space is horrible on many routes. It seems to come in bursts. On the plus side, [I]upgrade[/I] space out of PHL has been decent (though also in bursts), and combined with the cheap fares we’ve been seeing to Europe that could make sense.

Thanks Gia.. and Tiffany! I am on EF and have had some alerts saved for months with no luck.. really disappointing. Even the C space I’ve been tracking has been dismal as of late.