C-Savers Availability

[inix]

I'm not sure if I'm being sensitive, but I recently observed that C SAVER seats to certain places (almost all Australian cities) is very very difficult to find. I used to be able to book them them way in advanced, like the 330 day limit ahead as I do plan my holidays 1 year ahead.

But these days, despite tracking daily, I can't find a single seat. Only standard are available. Anyone notice it as well?

[jbflyer]

Yes. I think so..
I am searching C saver awards to US cities, hardly to find a award seat in Sept and Oct 2014, except S city which has 4 C saver awards per day.

[eminere™]

I've been waitlisted for SYD-SIN and SIN-SYD since 26 October... Hoping they'll go through by the time I need to travel on 21 December!

[DinkumDave]

Anyone notice it as well?

I've noticed it too. Booking nearly 330 days in advance always used to be my strategy for getting the flights/dates I wanted. Now it seems that, for many routes, there is nothing available more than 6 months out (except for 1-2 random days - which really look like somebody had the seats, then cancelled, returning those seats to inventory).

And yes, I have done a lot of searching.

I suppose it could be a deliberate move. Maybe program changes are coming in the next 6 months? Maybe the seats are being held back so that PPS members can have first dibs?

On the other hand, many of these flights are wide open to a certain *A partner program - which leads me to believe that it's either pure incompetence on SQ's part, or it's a cynical maneuver to try and con loyal KF members into forking out for standard awards.

Case in point. I had to call KF recently to make a booking for next September (it involves mixed classes). The agent didn't even offer me the option to waitlist - he just told me that he was very sorry but no savers were available and I would have to pay double the miles for a standard award. It was only after I insisted on waitlisting - and he then had to confirm this with his supervisor - that I managed to waitlist for a saver award. Just imagine what would happen if somebody less savvy has to call them up. Poor form, SQ.

[inix]

Occurs to me not a specific *A partner, but rather all *A partner. This is bloody ridiculous.. ARGH

[crazycrab955]

On the other hand, many of these flights are wide open to a certain *A partner program

Which certain program? LH?

Need a new *A program to start banking miles, because the pile of excrement that is UA post-merger has finally pushed me over the limit.

[DinkumDave]

Which certain program?

Mentioning no names, but here is a clue:



To illustrate the point, here's the same search on singaporeair.com:



Way to treat your loyal customers, SQ

[Kyo]

It works, when they bother to credit correctly...

[eminere™]

On the other hand, many of these flights are wide open to a certain *A partner program - which leads me to believe that it's either pure incompetence on SQ's part, or it's a cynical maneuver to try and con loyal KF members into forking out for standard awards.

That's an incredibly irritating double standard.

[Savage25]

Some things do not need more publicity, people!