I have a flight from ATL-PHL-PVD, obviously it stops in Philly but it keeps the same flight # on to Providence. Does this count as one segment or two segments?

Thanks

Jay

If it's a direct flight and you don't change planes, it's one segment.

I thought at ticketing you can request two e-tickets, one for ATL-PHL and the other for PHL-PVD to get you two segments.

I was in the same position flying PVD-PHL-SEA, but the flight #s were changed on me and it eliminated this issue that I would have loved to seen the first hand answer for.

Anyone know if what chexfan suggested works? Also curious from ATL-PHL is 667 miles or so, and I wanted to use an 800 mile upgrade from ATL-PHL and not waste another 800 miler on the short flight to PVD. Wonder if that's possible..Don't know, just need it to count as two segments in order for my wife to complete a silver challenge.

--Jay

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JaymanAU:
Also curious from ATL-PHL is 667 miles or so, and I wanted to use an 800 mile upgrade from ATL-PHL and not waste another 800 miler on the short flight to PVD. Wonder if that's possible...</font>It is possible to only upgrade certain segments of your itinierary and not the whole thing.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JaymanAU:
Don't know, just need it to count as two segments in order for my wife to complete a silver challenge.</font>Is it possible to get to the airport early and standby on different flights either through PHL, PIT or CLT? This would basically eliminate this problem.

Well the flight is at 6:50 in the morning so as far as I know there are no earlier flights out that morning. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I just checked to see if there were any earlier flight options and my flight is the first one out to PVD. I don't want to take chance on standing by for a later flight. So any ideas how we can get it to post as 2 segments? You think getting two separate e-tix will work, or a gate agent will be willing to do that. Just wondering

You'd need to book the direct flight as a connection in order to receive credit for the separate segments. I have seen a few travelers do this.

Take flight 751 for example. It goes BWI-SEA with a stop in PHL. Book it as follows for the segment credit:

US751 BWI-PHL
US751 PHL-SEA

You'll get hit with a few extra bucks for the PFC's on two segments instead of the direct flight, but that's a neglible amount. Also, you'll have to deplane at PHL and reboard as any other connecting passenger; you won't show as a "thru" passenger and they'll need to take your ticket in PHL to show you as boarded. You could also end up with different seating assignments even though it's the same aircraft and flight number.

[This message has been edited by PHLFlyer (edited 07-18-2001).]

The flight has already been booked. When I originally booked it, it was a connecting flight rather then a direct flight, so I am sure I have already got hit with the extra bucks for PFC's. US sent me a flight change notifiation that they had changed the flight number on my connecting flight and basically had turned it into a direct flight. So do you know if I request two e-tickets, one from ATL-PHL & one from PHL-PVD if that will cause two segments assuming I deplane in PHL. Would it help if I used a 800 mile upgrade on the way to PHL but not on the way to PVD so that way I would I have to have a different seat and thus a different ticket? Any thoughts. Thanks for all you guys help.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
Is it possible to get to the airport early and standby on different flights either through PHL, PIT or CLT? This would basically eliminate this problem.</font>

I have done this in the past. It works.


And, although it does not help JaymanAU's situation, PHLFlyer's advice on booking the two segments of a single flight number itinerary separate will net you the 2 segments instead of one. I just did this for an upcoming "direct" (single flight #) flight from SEA-BWI (with a stopover in PIT).


[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 07-18-2001).]

This flying connecting segments, instead of direct should mean more miles, as the PHL-PVD will minimum you up from 237 to 500. Even worse with direct, since the flight miles are calculated based on end to end distance, you actually fly further than you get credited. A double penalty! In this case the air mile issue is small, but the 263 miles loss each way adds up.

[This message has been edited by unixguy (edited 07-18-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JaymanAU:
So do you know if I request two e-tickets, one from ATL-PHL & one from PHL-PVD if that will cause two segments assuming I deplane in PHL.</font>

You'd need to look at the actual itinerary and/or VCR (Virtual Coupon Record, or e-ticket) in the reservation to know how you've been rebooked. If they rebooked you onto flight 123 ATLPVD, then no, you won't get credit for 2 segments.

When you check-in at ATL, if the printer kicks out 2 boarding passes then you have *likely* been booked as a connection. If it's a single boarding pass then you're booked on the direct flight. (This isn't foolproof, though, since sometimes there are seat changes on direct flights that require a second boarding pass.)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Would it help if I used a 800 mile upgrade on the way to PHL but not on the way to PVD so that way I would I have to have a different seat and thus a different ticket?
</font>

This might work, since most agents would probably not know how to issue seats in different classes for a thru flight (I seem to recall there's a way to do it, but that's not something I've seen a lot). It's easier to rebook the segments separately, one in G or F and one in Y.

[This message has been edited by PHLFlyer (edited 07-18-2001).]

I had one once where they cancelled my connecting flight and moved me onto the next morning's direct flight. Then they cancelled the second leg of that direct flight and knocked me back onto a connecting flight (on a Dash-8 no less, which I had delayed my rebooked departure for the express purpose of avoiding). I still was refused credit for more than one segment, even though I had originally booked connecting flights and had actually flown connecting flights!

IDEA!- what if you try to change seat assignments for the ATL-PHL and PHL-PVD segments?

That's basically what I have been thinking is the only real way that is could possibly count, Chexfan. Well I will report to you after I take the trip to see what happens. Should be interesting, thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
IDEA!- what if you try to change seat assignments for the ATL-PHL and PHL-PVD segments?</font>

Nope, unfornately that won't work. It's perfectly normal to have different seats on a thru flight. Even though you'll have a second boarding pass, the system still recognizes you as having "boarded" at the origination point. In this case the boarding pass for the 2nd leg is for your information only, so you know where to move during the stop.

*TWO* changes must be made:

1) RESERVATION: The itinerary (ATLPVD) must be rebooked as 2 separate segments (ATLPHL and PHLPVD).

2) TICKETING: If it's electronic then the VCR (e-ticket) must be "reassociated" so that a virtual coupon (ticket) exists for 2 segments instead of just one. Likewise for a paper ticket: it needs to be reissued so that 2 paper coupons exist.

Question...If I ask them to rebook as two segments instead of a direct flight. Since I originally paid for a connecting flight would there be any additional fees for this quasi-change. Thanks again PHLflyer for all your assistance.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JaymanAU:
Question...If I ask them to rebook as two segments instead of a direct flight. Since I originally paid for a connecting flight would there be any additional fees for this quasi-change. Thanks again PHLflyer for all your assistance.
</font>

Technically I guess that it would be an involuntary re-route due to schedule change, but they're really going to wonder what to do considering that there (I'm assuming here) is not an actual change in the flight times.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ITRADE:
Technically I guess that it would be an involuntary re-route due to schedule change, but they're really going to wonder what to do considering that there (I'm assuming here) is not an actual change in the flight times.</font>

Your right no schedule change is involved here, the only change was in making it a direct flight. Just want to have my facts straight before I make the call. I have US Gold Status if that helps at all in this situation. Interested in any replies, or if anybody has had a similar situation

I would call the Gold desk and just tell them your concern: you're looking to earn 2 segments on the trip and that due to a schedule change made by the airline you're now unhappy that it will be reflected as only 1 segment despite taking 2 flights.

I think your response will be totally dependent on the agent you speak with. It's worth a try.

Success, I got rebooked on a flight that goes ATL-BWI-PVD, and that guy couldn't have been nicer, so US comes through again and thanks for all the great suggestions.

--Jay

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JaymanAU:
Success, I got rebooked on a flight that goes ATL-BWI-PVD, and that guy couldn't have been nicer, so US comes through again and thanks for all the great suggestions.

--Jay</font>

Hmmm... isn't that now an all-Metrojet itinerary?

RZ

yes..but at least I will get my two segments..yeah no F but that's okay..I am just happy to be able to let my wife complete her challenge for silver.