I've been trying for hours to book a last minute flight on USAirways.com but to no avail. The website reservations system is down. And if that's not bad enough, I call the reservations center, and they say the volume of calls is too high and disconnect me.

I don't like to read too much into this, but it seems awfully odd to me that they don't want me to make a reservation at all -- via web or phone. Do you think this is a hint of things to come?

When other companies want to do web maintenance, they do so in the wee hours of the morning. This has been like this since the 9 o'clock hour on the East Coast. So that's nearly 7 hours and counting now.

I don't know what's up, but it seems like they don't want to give out that 20k bonus for online booking since the only way I can book right now is expedia or the like!

What do you guys make of this? I for one am headed to United to book my flight to DC. I'd rather go through DCA, but if the site won't let me book and nobody will take my call, I don't know what else to do.

The website just let me book a flight 2 minutes ago... :confused:

The website just let me book a flight 2 minutes ago... :confused:


Less than 30 minutes after I posted this, the site went back up! I think it was around 4 a.m. when it was back up. Before that, you'd get a message asking you to call the 800 number (where you don't get the anniversary bonuses). Then, you'd call the 800 number, and it would disconnect you because there were too many calls.

I don't know what US was thinking doing work at 9 p.m.! That's only 6 Pacific Time. That's way too early for something like that. That's not the action of an airline that wants to stay in business!

Eh... Maybe their IT department wanted to have the evening off. :)

Eh... Maybe their IT department wanted to have the evening off. :)


Whenever new functionality is released to the web site, they basically shut it down (or at least the section(s) that is/are affected by the changes). In generaly, it used to always go down around midnight and always come up by 6 (ET). If the original poster was trying to access at 4 a.m., that could have been what happened.

I tried to help a fellow FT'er book an award ticket last night... she kept failing, and I failed online too. She called rez and they had no clue, finally disconnecting her after about 45 minutes. Finally after midnight she was able to talk to someone there and they got her booked.

Not good, folks. :(

When it takes a CP over 2 hrs to book a simple domestic premium award ticket, something is wrong.

When it takes a CP over 2 hrs to book a simple domestic premium award ticket, something is wrong.

Geez, it's almost as if we're near a major holiday, there have been major flight delays and cancellations requiring higher call volume and the baggage system broke. Coincidence?

PS. Sarcasm aside, there seems to be a good reason why the call centre is busy. Nothing is "wrong" besides inoppertune timing.

When it takes a CP over 2 hrs to book a simple domestic premium award ticket, something is wrong.


Interesting. Yesterday I called the CP international line to book four award tickets to Aruba. The process took all of 10 minutes with the help of a very nice agent. The funny thing was that she volunteered to try to book me on a *A flight without me asking. When I told her that I wanted a straight US ticket she seemed shocked but very grateful that I was staying loyal.

Geez, it's almost as if we're near a major holiday, there have been major flight delays and cancellations requiring higher call volume and the baggage system broke. Coincidence?

PS. Sarcasm aside, there seems to be a good reason why the call centre is busy. Nothing is "wrong" besides inoppertune timing.

You are absolutely correct. Which is why I tried booking through the website.


Interesting. Yesterday I called the CP international line to book four award tickets to Aruba. The process took all of 10 minutes with the help of a very nice agent. The funny thing was that she volunteered to try to book me on a *A flight without me asking. When I told her that I wanted a straight US ticket she seemed shocked but very grateful that I was staying loyal.

It was a simple domestic itinerary, so I went to the website for booking. After spending about 20 minutes trying various "tricks", all resulting in the same error message, I called the CP desk. It was stated that they cannot book award tickets for the discounted "web" rate, so my 40K premium ticket would be 50K. I called back, different agent, same answer, so at their suggestion I called web tech support. A polite support agent answered on the third ring. No real complaints so far, except for the fact that I'm having the same error that I had back in August with no real explanation or progress. (see: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348744 )

The disturbing and frustrating part is that the tech support agent was clueless and fairly incompetent. After about 30 minutes she escalated me to a supervisor, who then stated he would transfer me to a CSA. After another 15 minutes or so on hold I was told that I would be hung up on...goodbye.

After jimcfsus unsuccessfully tried to book the ticket for me (3rd browser, 2nd computer, 2nd user...) I called website support again. Again, very quick answer, immediately transferred to the supervisor, another 15 minutes on hold for a CSA. Once Kathy from PIT answered, she was very helpful, professional, and everything we have all come to love from US employees.

So...my gripe is with the website, their contract support staff, and whomever is responsible for each of them. No where else.

You are absolutely correct. Which is why I tried booking through the website.




It was a simple domestic itinerary, so I went to the website for booking. After spending about 20 minutes trying various "tricks", all resulting in the same error message, I called the CP desk. It was stated that they cannot book award tickets for the discounted "web" rate, so my 40K premium ticket would be 50K. I called back, different agent, same answer, so at their suggestion I called web tech support. A polite support agent answered on the third ring. No real complaints so far, except for the fact that I'm having the same error that I had back in August with no real explanation or progress. (see: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348744 )

The disturbing and frustrating part is that the tech support agent was clueless and fairly incompetent. After about 30 minutes she escalated me to a supervisor, who then stated he would transfer me to a CSA. After another 15 minutes or so on hold I was told that I would be hung up on...goodbye.

After jimcfsus unsuccessfully tried to book the ticket for me (3rd browser, 2nd computer, 2nd user...) I called website support again. Again, very quick answer, immediately transferred to the supervisor, another 15 minutes on hold for a CSA. Once Kathy from PIT answered, she was very helpful, professional, and everything we have all come to love from US employees.

So...my gripe is with the website, their contract support staff, and whomever is responsible for each of them. No where else.

I forgot to mention that I too tried to book my tickets via the website only to be rejected twice on the last page. My only point was that the folks at the CP desk can usually set things right in no time. If US ever goes under I will really miss the CP desk folks - they are the best.

You are absolutely correct. Which is why I tried booking through the website.

So...my gripe is with the website, their contract support staff, and whomever is responsible for each of them. No where else.

Welcome to San Salvador. Get used to it, because I don't have much hope that it is going to get much better.

It's funny because the website actually works for me when I book simple award and premium award itineraries. I've even bought them for other people and had it work. Guess I've got good karma or something.

It's funny because the website actually works for me when I book simple award and premium award itineraries. I've even bought them for other people and had it work. Guess I've got good karma or something.

I may call on some of your good karma the next time I have an award ticket to book! Thanks for volunteering ;)

Was able to book an award ticket in less than 5 minutes today using the website.

Okay,I am a very new poster to Flyer Talk,so I have to ask this question-(actually 2 questions)-what is a CP and what's *A? Thank you!!!

Okay,I am a very new poster to Flyer Talk,so I have to ask this question-(actually 2 questions)-what is a CP and what's *A? Thank you!!!

CP = Chairman's Preferred - The highest level for a US member of Dividend Miles.

*A = Star Alliance

CP = Chairman's Preferred - The highest level for a US member of Dividend Miles.

*A = Star Alliance

Thank you! I suppose chairman's Preferred means you have about a million miles,right?

Thank you! I suppose chairman's Preferred means you have about a million miles,right?


Of course not, we have many more miles than that. :p