I know this question has come up multiple times here and, yes, I've reviewed a few previous threads on the topic:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=654287
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=529681
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=508053

BUT, it seems like it hasn't been discussed in a while (since Jan?) and I wonder if anyone has new info?

I'm flying SFO-CLT-LGA on flt 1630 - single flight number but two segments. It shows up on the Estimated Frequent Flyer miles prior to booking as 2832 mi, which is the two-segment total (2290+542). However, it sounds like they may only credit me the direct point-to-point distance (2570 mi according to WebFlyer). Has anyone experienced this recently? Had any success calling in to get the segments credited separately? Sounds like this has been possible on AA:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=743180

Thanks!

Followup: Just got off the phone and the TA confirmed that I should be getting the full 2832 miles - at least that's what's coming up in his system when he enters it. We'll see what I end up with. Also in my favor, I originally booked this as two separate flight numbers and then there was one of their ubiquitous 5-min schedule changes and it became a single flight number.

Still curious if others have had this come up recently...

I have come up with it on flight 1180 - SFO - PIT - BOS (yes, a flight connecting in PIT!) I have ONLY gotten the SFO-BOS mileage, not the two segment mileage (because PIT to BOS would qualify for the 500 minimum.) That's because this is a single one stop flight and can't be split into two segments according to US.

The biggest problem is getting a good upgrade seat - right now I have 3A on the whole flight, but I know 90% of the passengers will change over in PIT, so there are likely seats available on one part, but not the other. They won't split my seat assignments by segment since it's one flight number and I only have one boarding pass. So I'm stuck in 3A on a 320 since that's the only seat available the whole way through. For that reason alone I don't like to book 1 stop through tickets.

Ah yes, the famous marketing tactic of confusing the public with the terms "direct" and "non-stop". This is such a great exploitation and source of great confusion for many travelers.

A "non-stop" is simply that, you take off in point a and land in point b. Simply stated, there are NO stops, at all, on the flight.

A "direct" flight is not at all a "non-stop" flight. A direct flight is from point a to point b with a stop at point c BUT marketed as not changing planes. As we all know, planes break, crews need swapping, weather hits ORD, ATC has a flow control in MIA that is effecting your "direct" airplane that what was once simply a stopping point with no change of planes - - wow - is now a change of gauge or an intended (although not sold that way) change of aircraft.

If you ticket shows LGA-SFO for one segment, you should get mileage as LGA-SFO, although we all know that route does not exist non-stop. Even if there is a change of planes (although unintended at the selling point) so long as you have one ticket that shows that one flight number, that is what you should get. But every once in a while it works differently.

So the point is, unless it has a (0) for stops, it really is not direct.

Cheers,
Global Express

I have come up with it on flight 1180 - SFO - PIT - BOS (yes, a flight connecting in PIT!) I have ONLY gotten the SFO-BOS mileage, not the two segment mileage (because PIT to BOS would qualify for the 500 minimum.) That's because this is a single one stop flight and can't be split into two segments according to US.

The biggest problem is getting a good upgrade seat - right now I have 3A on the whole flight, but I know 90% of the passengers will change over in PIT, so there are likely seats available on one part, but not the other. They won't split my seat assignments by segment since it's one flight number and I only have one boarding pass. So I'm stuck in 3A on a 320 since that's the only seat available the whole way through. For that reason alone I don't like to book 1 stop through tickets.

Actually in QIK it is possible to do what is called split route seating, where we can assign two seats on one direct route, its a pain cause half the time the system tries to reject it, but a good determined agent can do it. But it would need to be done either in SFO or before day of departure. Also in PIT the agent can change thru pax seats very easily.

Both options all the agent does is hit cntl-g, f10; from there the split route seating is option 5 and the thru pax seat change is option 10.

Hope this helps.

Ah yes, the famous marketing tactic of confusing the public with the terms "direct" and "non-stop". This is such a great exploitation and source of great confusion for many travelers.

A "non-stop" is simply that, you take off in point a and land in point b. Simply stated, there are NO stops, at all, on the flight.

A "direct" flight is not at all a "non-stop" flight. A direct flight is from point a to point b with a stop at point c BUT marketed as not changing planes. As we all know, planes break, crews need swapping, weather hits ORD, ATC has a flow control in MIA that is effecting your "direct" airplane that what was once simply a stopping point with no change of planes - - wow - is now a change of gauge or an intended (although not sold that way) change of aircraft.

If you ticket shows LGA-SFO for one segment, you should get mileage as LGA-SFO, although we all know that route does not exist non-stop. Even if there is a change of planes (although unintended at the selling point) so long as you have one ticket that shows that one flight number, that is what you should get. But every once in a while it works differently.

So the point is, unless it has a (0) for stops, it really is not direct.

Cheers,
Global Express

Thanks. Actually, I don't think it's a marketing issue for any of us - we know exactly what itineraries we're booking and that there is a stop. The issue is understanding how US currently credits miles, which by all previous accounts is only point-to-point distance for a single flight number. Yes, if you try to book this itinerary today, it shows up as a single flight on the Purchase page. However, if you click on View Details under Estimated Frequent Flyer miles, the system still returns full mileage for SFO-CLT-LGA (2832). So, is the estimate wrong or did they change their rules?

In my case, it shows up as two separate flights with the same number on my itinerary, perhaps because I originally booked on two different flight numbers prior to the sked chg.

Thanks for the info! I was told "it can't be done" and believed it. Know I'll know what to ask for :)

UPDATE: I called and they said "we can't do anything for you." When I told them they could and sounded like I knew what could be done, I was told "well, there aren't any seats like that available - just 1A and that's reserved for handicapped passengers." they gave it to me - and warned me I could be bumped out of it by someone who is handicapped and back to 3A or worse.... but at least they did it. Thanks for the help - sometimes just sounding like you know what you're talking about helps!

I haven't done this in 2+ years, but I used to fly SFO-(PIT)-LGA and LGA-(PIT)-SFO all the time.

I posted this in another thread, but this was my strategy that worked 100% of the time (again, this was 2+ years ago so no guarantees).

Get off at PIT. Tell the GA you hate your seat and want a different one. The GA re-assigns you a seat and prints out a new BP. Board with the new BP. You gets miles for each segment individually. It always worked like a charm for me.

OK, just got credited miles for both SFO-CLT-LGA segments separately (2296 + 543 mi), even though it was a single flight number 1630. So, as long as it shows up as two separate flights on your confirmation, seems like you'll get credit for both (remember, I'd orig booked diff flt #'s then they sked chg'd me).

Interestingly, the estimates on their website are a few miles short vs what I actually received (3-6 mi) - no idea why they don't have the distances pinned down exactly!?