Why is the Explore tool not showing a full year of results?
The Explore tool is designed to help users quickly identify award availability on direct routes for a specific airline. If you're seeing only a few results — or results for a short timeline — there are a few key reasons why this might happen:
1. Explore Only Shows Direct Flights
The Explore tool displays only nonstop flights operated by the airline you've selected. It does not include flights operated by partner airlines or connecting itineraries. If the selected airline has limited direct service to or from the region you're searching, that will naturally reduce the number of routes shown.
2. Availability Dictates the Timeline
The timeline of results is based on actual award availability, not a preset range. If award seats are only available on a few dates, the tool will reflect that. So, when you see a limited timeline, it's typically because there are only a few dates with open award seats on direct routes for that airline.
3. Shorter Routes Are Sometimes Filtered Out
To improve usability, Explore may filter out very short-haul routes in regions with high flight density. This prevents the tool from being overwhelmed with results. However, this filter is applied contextually and doesn’t affect longer or international routes.
4. Not All Partner Flights Are Displayed
Even if two airlines are partners or part of the same alliance, Explore will only show flights operated by the selected airline. Partner-operated routes, even if available as awards, will not appear unless you search for that specific operating airline.
Additionally, not all partner-operated flights are bookable through every airline's website or program—even when they appear in search tools. It's always a good idea to check the operating carrier’s site or award program for booking options.
Need Help Finding More Options?
If you're looking for broader availability, try:
- Searching for a different airline with a wider route network in that region
- Using the Search tab to look for specific origin-destination pairs (including connecting flights)