Tons of Award Availability to Australia?!

I jumped for joy. I really did. Now having been to Australia several times, I’m giddy to want to keep going back. Better yet, if you can find Business or First Class space going down there, even better…because that’s a loooooong trip.

When looking at AA.com, check out all that award availability in Business Class in March and April! Almost every date is highlighted in blue, which means great availability. I searched Los Angeles to Sydney.

Or is it?

Click most of those blue highlighted dates, and you’ll be presented with various options. Oh good! Los Angeles to San Fransisco is in First Class – cool. But, what’s this? San Fransisco to Sydney is in COACH? Yeah, no thanks.

That’s right – a majority of these flights are displaying traditional award availability, with the trans-pacific sector (the important one) being in coach. Not exactly what I was hoping for.

Check out July of next year, too.

It’s the same sad story. The domestic segment is in First, while the over the water flight is in coach.

To be fair, there are a few days (and when I say few, I really do mean few) that have real Business or First Class availability. I actually snagged 2 round-trips the other day — 2 Qantas Business Class, 1 Qantas First Class and 1 Fiji Airways Business Class. But, the majority of what you’ll see is “phantom” space – it looks as if the award space is there, but in reality, it isn’t.

So, you’ve been warned. Don’t get all excited about that terrific award availability you see to Australia. It isn’t there.