Fiji Airways and Malaysia Airlines are now easily bookable online using your AA miles.
I know I say this every time a partner is added online, but I do consider this bad news, not good news.
Think of it like this. There is a tightly-controlled, limited inventory of award seats that many people are chasing: a classic supply/demand issue. Up until now, Fiji Airways was a relatively stable source of award space to reach Fiji and the South Pacific and it was more readily available because most people did not know you had to call AA to book it. Now that the floodgates are opened, look for this space to quickly disappear. It is what it is.
When AA teased us by adding many partners online (apparently in error) last month, I was criticized for making the same argument. I still stand by argument that consumers who take the time to research award booking should prefer less partners online, not more.
> Read More: Why AA’s Expanded Online Award Space Is Devastating News
Fiji Airways partners with Alaska Airlines as well. For the last couple years, you’ve been able to book that space online. But Alaska is also “glitchy” when it comes to Fiji Airways. Oftentimes when there are two seats available, Alaska can only book one. That’s never been a problem, in my experience, with American Airlines.
Oh well, the space was nice while it lasted…
CONCLUSION
Malaysia Airlines often makes one business or first class award seat available on each flight. That doesn’t help couples traveling together, but is a great source of award space for solo travelers and a great product as well. Look for award space on both of these carriers to quickly dry up.
As I said above, it is what it is.
> Read More: Malaysia Airlines First Class: A350 vs. A380
Your point for Fiji might end up being true, but on Malaysian?
Don’t see that happening just because MH will show its intra Asia flights via KUL, but no one searching on AA will be able to find availability connecting to that flight so I doubt it will impact things very much.
Hopefully not. I’m thinking more about Australia <> Asia and intra-Asia.
Let’s hope that every MH intra-Asia seat booked on AA.com is one less that might otherwise have been booked on CX.
AA miles seen like unable book malaysia airlines first class award ticket
If AA applies married segment logic to these trips it could discourage people to book. I just hope they keep QR routes off the AA web site.