Status: Checked against official sources on 18 October 2026
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is an award calendar?
An award calendar is a date-by-date view of redemption availability: for each day in a range it shows whether an award seat is offered and how many miles or points that seat costs. It is the view travellers use when their dates are flexible, and the airlines that publish one put their own inventory behind it — American Airlines, for example, includes partner airline flights in its award travel search results and lets members filter the results by preferred airline on the "Choose flights" screen. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- A calendar answers two questions for every date: is a seat offered, and what does it cost in miles or points. Where a programme prices awards by date, the same display carries the price.
- American Airlines shows partner airline flights inside award travel search results and allows filtering by preferred airline. [1]
- Qantas states that Reward availability is limited, and that it may change Flight Reward blackouts or non-bookable periods and the number of Flight Rewards bookable on a particular flight. [2]
- Singapore Airlines may change award levels and the availability of redemption seats at its sole discretion without prior notice. [3]
What does an award calendar show?
A calendar view lists dates and, against each one, what a redemption would cost and in which cabin. Where a programme prices awards by date rather than at one flat rate, the calendar also carries that price, and some programmes divide the year into peak and off-peak dates with different award levels; which dates fall in each band is set by the programme, not by the display itself. A day can therefore be bookable and still change price if the band dates or the award levels behind it are revised.
On American Airlines, award travel can be booked to more than 1,000 destinations on aa.com and the American app, partner airline flights are included in award travel search results, and results can be filtered for preferred airlines on the "Choose flights" screen. [1] American also provides an award map, a separate view for exploring where members can go with miles. [1]
Qantas Frequent Flyer treats flight redemptions as "Flight Rewards" and distinguishes Classic Flight Rewards from Classic Plus Flight Rewards, with Classic Plus redemptions limited to Qantas operated and marketed flights carrying a Qantas flight number. [2] Its terms state plainly that Reward availability is limited. [2]
Why can displayed availability change?
Two things move independently: whether a seat exists on a given date, and what the programme charges for it. Both are the programme's to change.
Qantas may make changes to the ways Qantas Points are earned and redeemed, to Flight Reward blackouts or non-bookable periods, to limitations on the number of Flight Rewards and Classic Upgrade Rewards redeemable on particular flights, to Reward restrictions or conditions, and to ticketing, service charges and other fees, with changes effective from the date specified in the Terms. [2] Where a change will limit Benefits, Qantas says it will use best efforts to give members at least three months' notice for a Benefit it provides, and, where possible, at least 30 days' notice for a Benefit provided by a third party. [2]
Singapore Airlines reserves the right to modify the KrisFlyer programme, including the award structure, award levels and availability of awards, and the redemption structure, redemption levels and availability of redemption seats, at its sole discretion and without prior notice. [3] It says it will use reasonable efforts to notify material changes, but that members are responsible for keeping themselves up to date and that any use of the programme is deemed acceptance of an amendment. [3] Awards issued by programme partners also depend on the partner's continued participation in KrisFlyer. [3]
What happens if an award disappears after you book?
Qantas says that, except as otherwise stated in the applicable Fare Rules, if a Reward ceases to be available after a member has booked it, Qantas will at the member's option either refund the Qantas Points redeemed or provide an alternative Reward of similar value. [2]
American Airlines lets members change an eligible award trip online; a difference may be payable, but there are no change fees for award tickets, and miles are reinstated to the original AAdvantage account. [1]
Changing a Qantas Reward requires any additional Qantas Points or money needed for the new booking, a Change Fee, any additional applicable taxes, fees and carrier charges and, where applicable, a Service Fee. [2]
Exceptions and limits
- An empty date is not an error. Qantas states that Reward availability is limited [2], so a calendar can legitimately show dates with no bookable award.
- Points are not the whole price. Qantas members must pay any other amounts quoted at the time of booking, including applicable taxes, fees and carrier charges, and any applicable Reward Assistance Fees, on top of the points. [2]
- Partner capacity can withdraw. At Singapore Airlines, awards from programme partners depend on the partner's continued participation in KrisFlyer. [3]
- Change rights sit with the programme. Singapore Airlines may modify award levels and availability without prior notice [3]; Qantas changes take effect from the date stated in its Terms [2].
- A change of dates is not free everywhere. American Airlines charges no change fee for award tickets but may require a fare difference [1], while Qantas lists a Change Fee alongside any extra points or money [2].
Frequently asked questions
Does an award calendar show every airline a programme partners with?
That depends on the search behind the calendar. American Airlines includes partner airline flights in its award travel search results and lets members filter them by preferred airline on the "Choose flights" screen. [1]
Why does an award seat shown on one day disappear the next?
Availability is not fixed. Qantas states that Reward availability is limited [2], and Singapore Airlines reserves the right to change the availability of awards and redemption seats at its sole discretion. [3]
Can a programme change award levels after I book?
Singapore Airlines reserves the right to modify award structure and award levels without prior notice. [3] At Qantas, changes take effect from the date specified in the Terms, and if a booked Reward ceases to be available Qantas will refund the points or offer an alternative Reward of similar value, except as otherwise stated in the applicable Fare Rules. [2]
Can I move an award ticket to different dates?
American Airlines allows eligible award trips to be changed online with no change fees for award tickets, though a difference may be payable. [1] Qantas requires any additional points or money for the new booking, a Change Fee, any additional taxes, fees and carrier charges and, where applicable, a Service Fee. [2]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Programmes other than American Airlines AAdvantage, Qantas Frequent Flyer and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer are not covered here; see the glossary for other entries.
- American Airlines, Using miles for travel – AAdvantage program, checked 18 October 2026
- Qantas Frequent Flyer terms and conditions (effective 27 August 2026), checked 18 October 2026
- Singapore Airlines, KrisFlyer terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026