Aegean Airlines Miles&Bonus - Difficulty entering M&B membership number with partner airlines

Just recently switched to A3 after being SK *G for many years. However flying both SK and LX the last two days neither of these *A partners could enter my A3 frequent flyer number using the printed out card from the A3 website. The system denied it.

I've tried both the online checkin and having agents trying it in Zurich.

Anyone have similar experiences and know what to do? I've contacted A3 by email but still haven't received any reply.

Thanks!

I've tried both the online checkin and having agents trying it in Zurich.

I haven't been able to enter it at the LX online checkin (most recently tried mid-February), but it was successfully entered from the printed out card twice by the agents at the baggage drop desk at ZRH.

I very recently had to tell the LX agent at the C checkin in ZRH what's the Shortcut of Aegean (A3) to enter my number into the system.

They're probably the most unknown airline in *A...

Oh, yes that's normal.

It is completely expected to have to tell the agent that Aegean is A3.
That's a given.
I usually have to do it on every trip I take.
Expecting an agent to know that Aegean is A3 is asking more than their job description

However, once A3 is inputed properly into the reservation, the miles get invariably credited on the carriers which I listed.

Does anyone still have problems booking or checking-in on other *A airlines using A3 M&B number?

I see here and there that a lot of airlines or check-in desks that don't even know A3 was part of *A. But since it's been a while now that they joined, I figured all their systems have been updated accordingly?

Any recent stories to share?

Does anyone still have problems booking or checking-in on other *A airlines using A3 M&B number?

I see here and there that a lot of airlines or check-in desks that don't even know A3 was part of *A. But since it's been a while now that they joined, I figured all their systems have been updated accordingly?

Any recent stories to share?

I recently flew Bmi, LH and Turkish. The first two allowed me to input my M&B number, TK didn't. Miles from TK, though, showed up after 3 days (:D), LH-miles after about 10 days while I'm still waiting for the Bmi ones to register. Go figure...

Checked in with AC at LGA last week.

Me: Let me give you my Aegean number for miles credit.
Air Canada Ticket Agent: What's Aegean?
Me: A Greek airline.
TA: Oh, we give miles on AC, UA, us, co, lh and a few others.
Me: Aegean is one of the few others.
TA: Sir, I've never heard of them.
Me: Let me give you my number and let's see if it takes. [I read the number from my Blackberry.]
TA: [Unnatural pause.]
Me: The IATA code is A3.
TA: Thanks. Lets see if it takes.
TA: Wow. It even thinks you're an elite.

I took my boarding pass and was on my way.

Similar challenges checking in for a CA flight (departing PEK), but I attribute that first to language, though I suspect if that ticket agent understood me, he would have also disputed their *A participation.

I will have the A3 gold card after one more *A flight and will start actually carrying the card for easy lounge access.

I kind of look forward to the funny reactions to trying to get my points credited to A3 now.

Anybody encoutering problems with mileage credit at check-in with A3 Miles&Bonus should just take a United Airlines Ticket Pouch (http://www.jamiejetblue.com/uploads/ft/UAL-Pouch.png) with him/her and show them, that A3 is a Star Alliance member and partner of UAL :-)

<Picture> (http://www.jamiejetblue.com/uploads/ft/UAL-Pouch-A3.jpg)

By the way, on the UAL internet site, its even possible to add the A3 FQTV number to your booking!

In 8 out of 8 TK flights I had no problems getting credit within a few days. I checked-in in ATH and ORD...

My A3 membership number was rejected by TKs system as 'invalid'. Not sure if it meant the newly created A3 member data hadn't yet been replicated to other *A partners or what the issue was. TK were surprised too.

Will now do retro mileage claims and hope it doesn't take several months. A few weeks will be fine though.

Thanks ...

My A3 membership number was rejected by TKs system as 'invalid'. Not sure if it meant the newly created A3 member data hadn't yet been replicated to other *A partners or what the issue was. TK were surprised too.

Will now do retro mileage claims and hope it doesn't take several months. A few weeks will be fine though.

Thanks ...

I had a similar experience just a few days ago. The very strange thing is that web check in lists Aegean A3 as one of the accepted FF programs, and the check in also accepts the number. But it is not printed on the boarding pass, and the TK check in operators at the airport could not add the A3 number either.

Hi all, wondering if anyone else had experienced the below.

I'm a newly qualified a3 *g so my card hasn't arrived yet. On a flight MAN-BRU this morning the brussels airlines checkin system flatly refused to accept my m&B ff number saying that it was "not accepted on this carrier". The flight was booked throug bmi by my office and the bmi system had no problems taking the number. The nice lady at the lounge let me in based on my account printout but i now forsee immense fun and games to get the mileage credited.

Anyone else experienced similar ?

Jake

Hi all, wondering if anyone else had experienced the below.

I'm a newly qualified a3 *g so my card hasn't arrived yet. On a flight MAN-BRU this morning the brussels airlines checkin system flatly refused to accept my m&B ff number saying that it was "not accepted on this carrier". The flight was booked throug bmi by my office and the bmi system had no problems taking the number. The nice lady at the lounge let me in based on my account printout but i now forsee immense fun and games to get the mileage credited.

Anyone else experienced similar ?

Jake
Yes. This happened to me once. The error went away a couple days later...

Flight credited, no problem.

show my A3 blue card (*S) at the counter
none of them can deal with this card, but once I told them the code of Aegean is A3, the process is smooth and all my boarding passes have A3*S printed.

Now I am waiting for my gold card. I turned to Gold 9th Jan, based in Europe.
Let's see how long it will take for Greeks

I have had to give the A3 code to NZ, SQ and OS recently.

I guess maybe *A needs to organise member carriers to better brief their staff on newer members of the alliance. Alternatively, how about prefixing the numbers on all the cards with the two-character airline code, since it appears to need to be typed in along with the membership number.

On a flight MAN-BRU this morning the brussels airlines checkin system flatly refused to accept my m&B ff number saying that it was "not accepted on this carrier".

I have experienced this numerous times, most recently in December when flying LX as a UA codeshare. I was not able to enter my A3 number at OLCI, neither at the counter for the LX flights. The problem was not that I or the airport staff did not know the "A3" code. For UA legs operated by UA on the same ticket, A3*G appeared on the boarding passes. The miles from the LX flights credited automatically which I found strange. :confused:

Entering my A3 number always worked. Sometimes (alright, MOST times) I had to tell them A3, to do so, but then it mostly worked. Only a few (apparently rather "smart") agents couldn't do so, then I simply did retrocredit, which always worked.

Lounge access, on the other hand, is much more difficult. I hit A3 *G early this month, had couple flights, with the lounge ladies in ZRH letting me in twice, and the dragons in FRA+MUC with their typical german friendliness (or better said, the contrary off) simply telling me to get lost.. had to grab my FTL card to at least be able to access the C lounges there, as apparently in Germany it's "No Real card, no access" - no matter if you've a statement which clearly shows that you should have access. At least I'm hitting SEN now too, hopefully that card arrives quicker..

I still have this problem with my (soon to be defunct) BMI Diamond Club card. More often than not, I have to prompt that the code for BMI is BD - not BM, which is sometimes tried at first attempt.

I have already done this with A3 on my one and only time trying to add my Aegean number into a Air NZ booking by phone :)

I actually only had trouble with the temporary paper card (which leads me to believe that A3 have some timing issue with letting other *A carriers know about new members).

But you do get some fun discussions. At NZ check in at MEL:
Me: Can you make sure my FF-programme is registered?
Agent: Sure (takes the card, but doesn't swipe it, tries to enter number manually)
A: You wouldn't happen to know the code for A... Ae... Aegean? What is it?
M: Aegean. It is a greek airline.
A: (looks baffeled)
M: Greece, in Europe.
A: (some lights comes back on)
M: The code is A3.
A: What?
M: A3.
A: Aha, I didn't think the code could contain a number, so I thought I heard wrong. OK let's see... Wow, it worked! I never heard of them! Oh it says you are GOLD!
M: I wouldn't have it any other way!

I did credit a TG flight recently to A3 and I was able to select the carrier from the drop down list during OLCI and it also accepted my number. Flight posted 2 days later.

Now I'm 251mls shy of Gold. Will credit a short hop in the next few months.

When I went to the UA lounge at HNL more than a year ago the A3 card was immediately recognized and I was told by the dragon, proudly, that I was "her" first A3 passenger!

When I went to the UA lounge at HNL more than a year ago the A3 card was immediately recognized and I was told by the dragon, proudly, that I was "her" first A3 passenger!

^^ That's nice!
I always like it when they have the time and energy to add a personal comment.

A colleague here in Brussels went to get boarding passes for me, he came back and said the check-in agent told him she couldn't put my card in the system. I kinda suspected it had to do with the iata code.
And in Warsaw I gave my card to the check in agent. My Polish is non-existing, but I did hear her say "aegean? aegean?" a few times to her colleagues. I told her the iata code was A3, but she didn't seem to register. When she grabbed for her phone, I told her again:
"I think you're looking for the code A3".
She "You know the code?"
Me: "It's not the first time I need to give it."
She (surprised) "It works!"
Me: "It should..." :D

It's always a bit complicated to say "Aegean" correctly, even for English speaking people... I usually get "Asian?, what Asian airlines?" :D

Just always remember to tell them A3 or write it on a piece of paper and usually everything goes smoothly. Some OLCI systems might not have A3 in their drop down lists yet but it worked everywhere else at the check-in desks.

It's always a bit complicated to say "Aegean" correctly, even for English speaking people... I usually get "Asian?, what Asian airlines?" :D

Just always remember to tell them A3 or write it on a piece of paper and usually everything goes smoothly. Some OLCI systems might not have A3 in their drop down lists yet but it worked everywhere else at the check-in desks.

For me, using Aegean, half the fun is EXACTLY that :D

Only airports I've never had agents failing to enter A3: ATH, IST :D

It's always a bit complicated to say "Aegean" correctly, even for English speaking people... I usually get "Asian?, what Asian airlines?" :D

Just always remember to tell them A3 or write it on a piece of paper and usually everything goes smoothly. Some OLCI systems might not have A3 in their drop down lists yet but it worked everywhere else at the check-in desks.
Yeah, people always think that I'm saying Asiana at first. My boarding pass often prints with OZ instead of A3!

My A3 membership number was rejected by TKs system as 'invalid' ...Hmmm could this be the Greeks and Turks fighting again? I gather there are old historical issues .....

Hmmm could this be the Greeks and Turks fighting again? I gather there are old historical issues .....

Sorry, that theory have been proposed and rejected before...

More likely is that *A check in system validates card numbers against a repository, and that this source is not updated with Aegeans temporary paper cards. I had to retro-credit first flight (non-aegean), after that no problem with "invalid" card number.

Yeah, people always think that I'm saying Asiana at first. My boarding pass often prints with OZ instead of A3!

Oh yeah, it is funny! The "ge" in agean will form a different sound in english (in greek I think it is a harder sound, not a "sche" or a "je" sound. Spelled with the gamma letter, right?)

So I guess you are retro crediting quite a lot then...:eek:

Oh yeah, it is funny! The "ge" in agean will form a different sound in english (in greek I think it is a harder sound, not a "sche" or a "je" sound. Spelled with the gamma letter, right?)

So I guess you are retro crediting quite a lot then...:eek:

Nah, I make them reprint the BP with my A3 number :)

I didn't know that it has a harder sound in Greek...

Could *A not institute prefixing the membership number with the carrier code on the card. Seeing how this is how the staff enter the number into the computer, presumably it is coded into the magnetic strip for when the card is swiped, so it might as well be embossed/printed on the front...

...

I didn't know that it has a harder sound in Greek...

Sorry for driving the thread OT like this... but I was wrong, it is a very clear "j" sound in greek; Aegean airlines is Αεροπορία Αιγαίου [aeropoˈria eˈʝeu]

For germanic languages the letter "g" can take on a hard sound even if it is followed by soft vocal "e", and this would be the case for aegean.
Now for greek letter gamma (γ) this seems only to be true for ancient greek but in modern greek it is always (?) a "j" sound.
I am sure someone else (like KLouis) will have a deeper knowledge and might tell how it works ;)

OK I will be quiet now, I am just too much of a language nerd to leave my earlier mistake without correction:)

Sorry for driving the thread OT like this... but I was wrong, it is a very clear "j" sound in greek; Aegean airlines is Αεροπορία Αιγαίου [aeropoˈria eˈʝeu]

For germanic languages the letter "g" can take on a hard sound even if it is followed by soft vocal "e", and this would be the case for aegean.
Now for greek letter gamma (γ) this seems only to be true for ancient greek but in modern greek it is always (?) a "j" sound.
I am sure someone else (like KLouis) will have a deeper knowledge and might tell how it works ;)

OK I will be quiet now, I am just too much of a language nerd to leave my earlier mistake without correction:)
Sunday morning, raining, and the newspaper is not yet there: I can try to clear up the matter.

Aegean Airlines is indeed called Αεροπορία Αιγαίου in Greece but (hardly) anybody calls it this way. People call it "Aegean" and they pronounce it anything between its correct English/Americal pronunciation and "Ετζίαν". This would be pronounced: Ε= like the e in the name Ben; τζ= like an Italian would pronounce the zz in Pizza (i.e. not silent!); ί= like the i in is; αν= like any non-English/American would pronounce the letters an (the a like in father). Of course, having written this diatribe/discourse (in their archaic meaning) and not being a linguist, what immediately comes to mind is ghoti (William Ollier Jr).

At any rate, it stopped raining, I'll take my bike to go get the newspaper.

Sunday morning, raining, and the newspaper is not yet there: I can try to clear up the matter.

Aegean Airlines is indeed called Αεροπορία Αιγαίου in Greece but (hardly) anybody calls it this way. People call it "Aegean" and they pronounce it anything between its correct English/Americal pronunciation and "Ετζίαν". This would be pronounced: Ε= like the e in the name Ben; τζ= like an Italian would pronounce the zz in Pizza (i.e. not silent!); ί= like the i in is; αν= like any non-English/American would pronounce the letters an (the a like in father). Of course, having written this diatribe/discourse (in their archaic meaning) and not being a linguist, what immediately comes to mind is ghoti (William Ollier Jr).

At any rate, it stopped raining, I'll take my bike to go get the newspaper.

So the correct way to pronounce Aegean is Etzian. Interesting...

How do Greeks pronounce "airlines"?

Aegean Airlines is indeed called Αεροπορία Αιγαίου in Greece but (hardly) anybody calls it this way. People call it "Aegean" and they pronounce it anything between its correct English/Americal pronunciation and "Ετζίαν". This would be pronounced: Ε= like the e in the name Ben; τζ= like an Italian would pronounce the zz in Pizza (i.e. not silent!); ί= like the i in is; αν= like any non-English/American would pronounce the letters an (the a like in father).


Interpreting what you say, this is the best IPA I can reproduce using the limited character set available on the board is:

[‘ƐtsIɑn]

I found this out by accident. Here is a way to get your A3 number into your booking before flying.

If you have a LH (etc) Miles & More account: login with your Miles & More account. Get your booking into view by Lounge -> My Booking -> View All Bookings -> enter Booking Code / locator / PNR -> Select. Then you may or may not find your booking at this point allocated to Miles & More, however you can perhaps get the seat you want, then switch the booking to A3 at the top of the window since Aegean is one of the allowed options here. The seat won't be guaranteed due to status switching, but it stayed unchanged in my case.

I had a T and S class booking with LH, the T class outbound apparently gives no A3 miles, so I left that as Miles & More. But then after flying out I changed the S class return in Miles & More to Aegean, and the points arrived a few days later in Miles and Bonus. This method also works for Austrian, and I'm waiting to see if it works for SN Brussels.

...How do Greeks pronounce "airlines"?
a) Same as in English but...
b)...they don't. They only use Aegean :)

...[‘ƐtsIɑn]? ‘ƐtzIɑn :)

Does google transalte get it right? Click the speaker to get it to do TTS.

http://translate.google.com/#auto|en|%CE%91%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%B1%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%8 5%20

I flew a GRU-MAD on JJ the day after SpanAir shut down and had given they Spanair number, now I am scrambling for *A Gold so joined Aegean on the advice of this forum and am trying to retro claim the GRU-MAD leg. Fingers crossed!

i like how Aegean have an on line claims tool instead of sending my tickets to Istambul like the Turks wanted me to.

Does google transalte get it right? Click the speaker to get it to do TTS.

http://translate.google.com/#auto|en|%CE%91%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%B1%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%8 5%20
It's sort of OK (you can detect some minor mistakes: aspirated vowel at the beginning, double accent on both syllables). But, I think, if interested we should continue a discussion on translation and pronunciation of Greek in a different forum...;)

I flew a GRU-MAD on JJ the day after SpanAir shut down and had given they Spanair number, now I am scrambling for *A Gold so joined Aegean on the advice of this forum and am trying to retro claim the GRU-MAD leg. Fingers crossed!

i like how Aegean have an on line claims tool instead of sending my tickets to Istambul like the Turks wanted me to.

Yes, and their online claiming usually works pretty good - so far (fingers crossed) never had issues with it, differently than M&M which still claims I wasn't on 2 flights in 2011 which I perfectly was..

Regarding your M&B account / claim, it MIGHT be that since you've joined them after you've flown, it might simply tell you that the account would have to exist before you actually have flown, at least most carriers behave that way (Some don't) - I had a look at A3, but couldn't find their exact rules. Probably, just as you did, is best. If it doesn't work, just try to put the miles into another *A program you were a member of before Spanair grounded.

Hi,

Small question (and probably a newbie one :) ): I have booked my trip via Amex on LX J . I couldn't put my FF number, so I called Amex who put a note in my booking and asked me to confirm with LX that it was correctly entered.
I called LX a day after, they confirmed it had been entered, however I don't see my A3 number, neither on my eticket nor on my booking.
So, should I wait until I check-in and ask the agents to enter it at that time, or should I contact them again?

Thanks!
PapyPiHi

Hi,

Small question (and probably a newbie one :) ): I have booked my trip via Amex on LX J . I couldn't put my FF number, so I called Amex who put a note in my booking and asked me to confirm with LX that it was correctly entered.
I called LX a day after, they confirmed it had been entered, however I don't see my A3 number, neither on my eticket nor on my booking.
So, should I wait until I check-in and ask the agents to enter it at that time, or should I contact them again?

Thanks!
PapyPiHi

Wait until checkin.. there are no special seats for *G on LX, only SEN/HON could choose ahead better seats, so to give them your A3 number at checkin will be all you need.

Quote:
Originally Posted by papyPiHi
Hi,

Small question (and probably a newbie one ): I have booked my trip via Amex on LX J . I couldn't put my FF number, so I called Amex who put a note in my booking and asked me to confirm with LX that it was correctly entered.
I called LX a day after, they confirmed it had been entered, however I don't see my A3 number, neither on my eticket nor on my booking.
So, should I wait until I check-in and ask the agents to enter it at that time, or should I contact them again?

Thanks!
PapyPiHi
Wait until checkin.. there are no special seats for *G on LX, only SEN/HON could choose ahead better seats, so to give them your A3 number at checkin will be all you need.

Sorry, I wasn't precise enough: I'm not A3 Gold yet, I am doing this trip to become it :) Thus, I was just worried that the fact that it wasn't on my e-tix it wouldn't be creditable to A3...would that change a thing?

I would wait for check in and make sure it is visible on the BP. Especially since LX callcentre said it was registered.
If it is not show on BP, then ask check in staff.

It doesn't really matter if it is on your eticket or not. What's on the BP will count.

On my recent TK flights HKG/IST/LAX/IST/HKG, agent at TK office in Hong Kong confirmed by email that my Aegean FF number is in the TK system, but upon checking in at HKG and LAX, the check in agent says there's no FF number in the sytem, and I had them put in the A3 FF number for each sector.

But outbound miles are showing up in the Aegean site; still awaiting the inbound miles, and then I should have the Aegean gold card.

You can always post on the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/swiss-international-airlines/1073249-introducing-official-swiss-lurker-16.html thread, but in my experience with LX this seems to just be how their eticket system works - Gianrico (the lurker!) confirmed my FF# had been entered but it still didn't show up. You should get to reconfirm this at check-in though and there's definitely no harm in asking at the check-in desks and lounge too!

On a flight MAN-BRU this morning the brussels airlines checkin system flatly refused to accept my m&B ff number saying that it was "not accepted on this carrier". The flight was booked throug bmi by my office and the bmi system had no problems taking the number. The nice lady at the lounge let me in based on my account printout but i now forsee immense fun and games to get the mileage credited.


I experience this on a regular basis. The SN website is severly broken in many respects. Once I tried to contact them precisely about this issue using the "Contact us" link on their site, but not even that is working.

Oh well. What works is entering your A3 number when they prompt you to check in online (by email, 24h before departure).

Regarding retro-crediting miles: with M&B this is fairly painless and fast. No need to send in anything (boarding pass, ticket etc.), just fill in the form on the M&B website.

When I went to the UA lounge at HNL more than a year ago the A3 card was immediately recognized and I was told by the dragon, proudly, that I was "her" first A3 passenger!

I had this exact same comment last week at the UA lounge in LAX

I guess A3*G isn't really as popular as it seems from FT

MrsNWIFlyer and I are travelling on US in a couple of weeks. When we booked the flights, in late December, A3 did not exist on the drop-down list of FF schemes and so we entered our BD*G numbers instead.

With the presumably imminent demise of BD, last week I asked US to manually change the numbers in the FQTV field to A3 (once a number has been entered, you can't edit it online as far as I can tell) - and today they appeared, so it seems A3 is recognised somewhere in US's system.

Anyone have any more recent experience of booking a US flight and can say whether or not it's possible to enter an A3 number at booking?

MrsNWIFlyer and I are travelling on US in a couple of weeks. When we booked the flights, in late December, A3 did not exist on the drop-down list of FF schemes and so we entered our BD*G numbers instead.


Did you book via US Airways website? Because I booked on US Airways website in late November and I could choose A3 FF. At check-in, the A3 number and my *S status were printed on the boarding pass without problems.

Did you book via US Airways website? Because I booked on US Airways website in late November and I could choose A3 FF. At check-in, the A3 number and my *S status were printed on the boarding pass without problems.

Yes, but the UK site. Perhaps, not for the first time, I just couldn't see for looking - but I'm not normally *that* bad! Wasn't any problem getting it changed, but a bit annoying that US don't allow you to do this online - although that's a gripe for another forum :)

My A3 M&B balance is currently 17k and I'm still waiting for the miles to be credited for my recent LH flight from JFK to FRA. While the outbound flight was credited within 3 days, the return flight hasn't been credited for approx. one week. Is it normal that crediting is so irregular? I now used "Claim Air Miles", hopefully it will speed up things so that I'll reach *G soon(er) - though I doubt that since it stated on the website that it might take up to 28 days..

One problem I encounter with LX is that I cannot enter the A3 FF number during web-checkin. I always get an error message (other FFP work fine). What am I doing wrong? Have you encountered the same?

Thanks!

My A3 M&B balance is currently 17k and I'm still waiting for the miles to be credited for my recent LH flight from JFK to FRA. While the outbound flight was credited within 3 days, the return flight hasn't been credited for approx. one week. Is it normal that crediting is so irregular? I now used "Claim Air Miles", hopefully it will speed up things so that I'll reach *G soon(er) - though I doubt that since it stated on the website that it might take up to 28 days..

One problem I encounter with LX is that I cannot enter the A3 FF number during web-checkin. I always get an error message (other FFP work fine). What am I doing wrong? Have you encountered the same?

Thanks!

LH had a massive move of their M&M system - from around 11th to 18th February, but already some issues were reported slightly before that.

If your flight have been during this date, it's most probably LHs fault, and it should post within a few days from now on.

Actually, A3 is very good about crediting fast IF the airline you were flying on does report quickly. I had several CA (Air China) flights which all showed up within 3-4 days on A3 account, as well as some OS and LX flights, which never took longer than 4 days.

About online checkin with A3 number on LX, I too had issues last November, had to give them the number at counter checkin (worked fine then)

LH had a massive move of their M&M system - from around 11th to 18th February, but already some issues were reported slightly before that.

If your flight have been during this date, it's most probably LHs fault, and it should post within a few days from now on.


That should explain why I haven't seen my last flew flights with SN appear on my account activity. I was eagerly awaiting the adding of these flights, as they would've pushed me over 20k. Lets hope M&M gets their act together as soon as possible ;)


Actually, A3 is very good about crediting fast IF the airline you were flying on does report quickly. I had several CA (Air China) flights which all showed up within 3-4 days on A3 account, as well as some OS and LX flights, which never took longer than 4 days.


Indeed, all the various Star Alliance flights I took the last few months have always been credited quite fast. That's why I was getting slightly worried the last few days.

Just took my first "A3 earning" flight with United

i.e. on the card it says "A3 3xxxxxxx"

For some reason on my boarding passes there is a 3 before the number - is this normal? Should I be worried?

:confused:

You indicate a "3" as the first digit of your membership number, and then you say that a "3" appears on the BC, wondering whether this is normal. This is confusing. Have you thought of the "3" of A3 playing a "role"?

Just took my first "A3 earning" flight with United

i.e. on the card it says "A3 3xxxxxxx"

For some reason on my boarding passes there is a 3 before the number - is this normal? Should I be worried?

Yes, you should.

I had the same problem on UA/CO. On a YOW-ORD-DFW-ORD-YOW run, the number applied correctly only on the CO boarding pass. A clueless UA gate agent insisted it was correct but I later confirmed - at ORD- that it wasn't. The ORD gate agent tried to fix it but didn't succeed. But I got priority boarding anyway. In return, I managed to fix it during web check in, so it was ok for DFW to ORD, but once in ORD, realized it was was wrong (same problem as yours). Customer service took care of it but warned me that while it was showing on my BP, they weren't sure if it had been applied properly, so I should check with A3.

Guess I ll find out soon. I anticipate a retro claim on all 3 UA legs. Definitely a UA error.

:confused:

You indicate a "3" as the first digit of your membership number, and then you say that a "3" appears on the BC, wondering whether this is normal. This is confusing. Have you thought of the "3" of A3 playing a "role"?

I thought that, but it is defintely "A3" space "3xxxxxxxx".

I guess a mileage claim is relatively inevitable...

Got a business trip to the far east in May and SQ and TG are doing some good deals for my routing.

Anyone had any major issues earning/ crediting miles to their A3 card?

Don't know about A3, but up to now, SQ website refuses to acknowledge or recognise BD's 'new' 11 digit number. But at check in, they're ok.

So as long as you can show your FFP # at check in for either airline, you should be ok. SQ flights post very fast for most FFPs. Don't know what the time is for A3 though.

My A3 number was recognized by SQ's internet booking tool and does show correctly in my booking.

So far no problems with SQ. Do not know about TG.

just to share my experience.

SQ flight took 2-3 Greece working days to post
TG flight took 3-5 Greece working days to post

6 return sector with SQ and 1 with TG for the past 6 months

Hope the above answer OP questions.

I thought that, but it is defintely "A3" space "3xxxxxxxx".

I guess a mileage claim is relatively inevitable...

I had the A3-3XXX issue too. Like I mentioned earlier it happened on 3 of 4 boarding passes. On the outbound, the CO pass had it correct but the UA one didn't and they were unable to change it. None of the miles have posted.

On inbound, same error. In both cases I changed it retroactively(once online, once through CSA at ORD). Both worked - miles posted within 96 hours (as is the trend). Going to put in clad for outbound today. Oddly enough, it's CO who ve failed to communicate, despite getting the number right.

Bad start to my Aegean career - Swiss couldn't put my A3 number onto my booking on an OS ticket (LX metal) ZRH-VIE on Saturday. Tried on the check-in app (no A3 listed), then via online check-in, then at the check-in machine at the airport, then at the check-in desk and finally at the airport ticket counter. The humans involved told me I'd have to file a retroclaim. A3 site won't accept the retroclaim yet as their server says 2 days must first elapse.

Hoping my next leg will be smoother, VIE-FRA on OS on Wednesday morning.

In my experience can never get A3 number into LX bookings. Always have to retroclaim. Never a problem getting the credit to the account but it does take a month or so

TK app also doesnt accept A3 number...

I think star alliance should know how difficult dealing with A3 is. TG and LX don't accept miles. A3 NEVER RESPONDS to retro requests - I have processed 5 since January. They don't respond to emails either.

Anyone have an idea of how to put pressure on them? They are not good.

I've put my A3 number onto LX flights with no issue and had *G show on my boarding passes.

However I haven't received any miles from those flights...I'm waiting on 2 flights from February and 2 flights from March. Both in a mileage earning class.

I think star alliance should know how difficult dealing with A3 is. TG and LX don't accept miles. A3 NEVER RESPONDS to retro requests - I have processed 5 since January. They don't respond to emails either.

Well, YMMV but the only time I've submitted a retro-claim the miles appeared in my account within the timeframe indicated on the A3 website. As a Lifetime Plat, you know how difficult it is to get a straight answer out of Flying Blue so A3 surely can't be more difficult, can they? :)

From the greater experience of others on this forum, a phone call to check on the status of your retro-claim seems to be the way to go. In my experience, Greek people are normally extremely helpful and welcoming, and I'm sure a polite enquiry will get you a long way.

Gianrico (the Swiss Lurker on FT) was able to help me out with getting my A3 number into an LX booking manually. We then realised though that the 'Captain Kirk' chairs in LX business were only available to *G customers so he put my BD*G in to get seat selection and said to change it at check-in - will definitely be doing that but sounds like as a backup I'll need to get them to just wipe all reference to BD from the booking if they can't add A3 manually.

Out of interest though, EFATO - did you specifically tell them to use A3 as the code or did you just say "Aegean Airlines"? When speaking to them on the phone it was only when I said A3 that they seemed to be able to find it on their system...

Out of interest though, EFATO - did you specifically tell them to use A3 as the code or did you just say "Aegean Airlines"? When speaking to them on the phone it was only when I said A3 that they seemed to be able to find it on their system...

yup - had it written on a piece of paper with A3 prefixed. They were able to pull up the airline but when they entered the number they got an invalid message. Same on the check-in kiosk. Referenced the signup email to check the number was correct of course.

Ah, OK - that's annoying! I'm not travelling until October so fingers-crossed the system might be working properly by then! (although I'm a bit worried in case A3 change their *G requirement by then too, but hopefully not!)

In my experience can never get A3 number into LX bookings. Always have to retroclaim. Never a problem getting the credit to the account but it does take a month or so

My experience is they accept the A3 number (and showing status later) when you do the booking on swiss.com and giving them the number right during the booking process. Any time later, it won't work till you're hitting up their counters on flight day. So it's either now, or flight day :D

Not tried LX but SQ and TG have no problem accepting A3 as a carrier and the FFP number during OLCI. Flights posted withing 3-5 days for both airlines. even though I only have a Blue (*S) card from A3 at the moment the SQ BP showed A3*G correctly and I was even allowed to access the lounge in CGK with BP only. (I had LH*G & BD*G as a backup, but not needed in this case)

I think star alliance should know how difficult dealing with A3 is. TG and LX don't accept miles. Simply not true. I flew LX yesterday and they had no problem with my M&B number A3 NEVER RESPONDS to retro requests - I have processed 5 since January. They don't respond to emails either.With one exception, they always fixed my "problems", once several months later, but still they did.

Anyone have an idea of how to put pressure on them?If you find a way to put "pressure" on a FF programme, let us all know! They are not good.De gustibus et coloribus no disputandum est. But have you thought of the possibility that there may be a reason behind the difficulties with the number input that should be due to the "other" airlines?

Gianrico (the Swiss Lurker on FT) was able to help me out with getting my A3 number into an LX booking manually. We then realised though that the 'Captain Kirk' chairs in LX business were only available to *G customers so he put my BD*G in to get seat selection and said to change it at check-in - will definitely be doing that but sounds like as a backup I'll need to get them to just wipe all reference to BD from the booking if they can't add A3 manually.

Out of interest though, EFATO - did you specifically tell them to use A3 as the code or did you just say "Aegean Airlines"? When speaking to them on the phone it was only when I said A3 that they seemed to be able to find it on their system...
I simply don't understand why Aegean Airlines is to be blamed if a given airline's agents don't understand the name but only the code, or if the airline's system does not recognize the status on a partner's program, or if one has to have good connections to another airline to do things that with most other *A partners are simple routine.

Not tried LX but SQ and TG have no problem accepting A3 as a carrier and the FFP number during OLCI. Flights posted withing 3-5 days for both airlines. even though I only have a Blue (*S) card from A3 at the moment the SQ BP showed A3*G correctly and I was even allowed to access the lounge in CGK with BP only. (I had LH*G & BD*G as a backup, but not needed in this case)
I'm a bit confused why you would credit miles to A3 to get A3 *Gold when you are already SEN with LH.

I think there might be a problem related to very new A3 members. The system response "invalid FF number" comes from the fact that (some) *A-airlines do validate entered numbers against their database of known frequent flyer numbers. If the A3 card number isn't in it, it will not be possible to add it to the BP.

This might be the explanation why some have no trouble at all adding the number to a LX booking while others can't.

It might be the case that A3 does not send new FF# into the *A system very often, or that the operating airline did not update their database of known FF#. For example, my early flights with some airlines was not possible to add A3 number to, as it was "invalid". Later flights with the same airlines posed no problems.

In my case, retro claims of my first few flights took a good 4 weeks to clear.



As for the upset comments on A3 "never responding", one should consider that A3 does not offer customer services via email.

I agree that it would have been nice if there was a status indicator in the "claim air miles". But there isn't, and if the retro claim hasn't gone through within 4 weeks (which is the service deadline A3 offers as of their T&C) one can call the service centre and ask.
In all cases I have heard of, the trouble lies with the operating airlines failing to respond to the claim.

Interesting hypothesis about other airlines validating A3 FF numbers. In my case, I joined A3 just before--probably the day before--a LH flight and then called LH to have my new FF number added to the record. During OLCI the number seemed to be on my boarding pass and the miles posted correctly, automatically within a couple days.

Interesting hypothesis about other airlines validating A3 FF numbers. In my case, I joined A3 just before--probably the day before--a LH flight and then called LH to have my new FF number added to the record. During OLCI the number seemed to be on my boarding pass and the miles posted correctly, automatically within a couple days.

Interesting, as it was LH I was referring to!
However, I only used the website to add the number to my booking, and it refused to add my brand new A3 number, stating it was invalid (or "unknown", don't remember the term used). Nowadays, there is never any trouble adding the number to a booking, and it immediately responds "*GOLD".

Wait until checkin.. there are no special seats for *G on LX, only SEN/HON could choose ahead better seats, so to give them your A3 number at checkin will be all you need.Sorry to reply to this post so late, but certainly in my case BD*G opened up the single seats in the new LX Biz product that until I had provided that were blocked off.

... it immediately responds "*GOLD".

Just a quick question: How (and where) do you see that LH's system has recognised your FF status? I can only see the airline name and my FF# when I look at my bookings.

Thanks for your help!

Just a quick question: How (and where) do you see that LH's system has recognised your FF status? I can only see the airline name and my FF# when I look at my bookings.

Thanks for your help!

IIRC it was on the Lufthansa.com "Login/My bookings", "Lastname/Booking code" and then under "add/change frequent flyer number". My memory may serve me wrong, maybe it was only FF# showing. Not sure anymore.
What I remember was thinking "hey, it worked perfectly this time!" as if there was some response indicating the number had been validated.

Bad start to my Aegean career - Swiss couldn't put my A3 number onto my booking on an OS ticket (LX metal) ZRH-VIE on Saturday. Tried on the check-in app (no A3 listed), then via online check-in, then at the check-in machine at the airport, then at the check-in desk and finally at the airport ticket counter. The humans involved told me I'd have to file a retroclaim. A3 site won't accept the retroclaim yet as their server says 2 days must first elapse.

Hoping my next leg will be smoother, VIE-FRA on OS on Wednesday morning.

I faced the same problem at ZRH during my transit between SIN-ZRH on SQ and ZRH-ARN on SK. The transfer desk agent claimed the system didn't recognise the A3 number. When I went to the lounge and tried OLCI, the system didn't recognise the number too, with error prompts. I suspect that my AC FFP number was locked in for the SIN-ZRH-ARN sectors since my luggage was checked through directly to ARN. But I'm not sure. Anyone can advise?

Was your VIE-FRA on OS successfully charged to A3? I'll be on that sector too next week.

I faced the same problem at ZRH during my transit between SIN-ZRH on SQ and ZRH-ARN on SK. The transfer desk agent claimed the system didn't recognise the A3 number...What can I say, see my recent experience with LX here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/aegean-airlines-miles-bonus/1316909-normal-time-miles-post-into-miles-bonus-account-5.html) and try to understand why LX's system is so inconsistent.

Was your VIE-FRA on OS successfully charged to A3? I'll be on that sector too next week.

Yes - number added via check-in kiosk at VIE and 750 miles credited within 3 days :)

Just flew CPH-VIE on OS. At check-in, the system doesn't recognise the A3 FFP, even though the agent confirmed the validity of A3. So flew without any FFP in the system. Will have to make the claim with A3 in a couple of days time. :mad:

What's strange was that I'd previously flew CPH-SIN on SQ and there was no problem. Think could be because different terminal/airline servicing agent had different systems.

This is the second time I'm encountering this issue on one trip. Hopefully my remaining sectors would be smooth.

by the looks of all of the issues here, I think I really will be crediting elsewhere once I hit the 20k needed for Gold. Have booked 10,741 miles (including bonuses) to A3 in the last 10 days, but only 3,676 are showing on my account so far. Should have been *Silver for my flights today, but ended up having to board in group 5 and narrowly avoiding having to subsequently stow my wheeled bag in the hold. Just the thing I'm trying to avoid...

by the looks of all of the issues here, I think I really will be crediting elsewhere once I hit the 20k needed for Gold. Have booked 10,741 miles (including bonuses) to A3 in the last 10 days, but only 3,676 are showing on my account so far. Should have been *Silver for my flights today, but ended up having to board in group 5 and narrowly avoiding having to subsequently stow my wheeled bag in the hold. Just the thing I'm trying to avoid...

What is "Group 5"? This doesn't exist on Aegean, are you talking about another carrier? Also, there is no "bonuses", the miles are fixed, no matter if you're P, *S or *G. Just see the booking class table on the A3 website.

Obviously it sometimes does take times for your miles to post, and A3 *S does not really give much benefits when travelling, compared to FTL on M&M which does give you lounge access and Exec Bonus (but comes at higher costs)

I'm happily collecting miles on A3 even after I reached Gold, often you can earn more miles then at M&M, and all issues so far had been to blame on the carrier (LH group) - not A3.. for example, miles from TK and CA had been posting within 3-10 days automatically, while LH/LX flights in the recent 2 months could take up to 6-8 weeks even when using the retrocredit form. Some other posters experienced the same, apparently LH only recently fixed it.

What is "Group 5"? This doesn't exist on Aegean, are you talking about another carrier? Also, there is no "bonuses", the miles are fixed, no matter if you're P, *S or *G. Just see the booking class table on the A3 website.

I guess he isn't complaining about elite bonus, but about the delay in miles acknowledgment. If all segments had been credited quickly, he would be *S, and he's still a nobody.

The "group 5" he's speaking of must refer to boarding by zone used in NA airlines. With *S, he'd get priority boarding and avoid the wait/rush for overhead bin space.

There's no hint he was speaking about A3 flights, he must be speaking of US/UA flights.

I guess he isn't complaining about elite bonus, but about the delay in miles acknowledgment. If all segments had been credited quickly, he would be *S, and he's still a nobody.

The "group 5" he's speaking of must refer to boarding by zone used in NA airlines. With *S, he'd get priority boarding and avoid the wait/rush for overhead bin space.

There's no hint he was speaking about A3 flights, he must be speaking of US/UA flights.

Spot on. By bonuses I meant a 300% tier miles bonus for a UA F segment ORD-LGA (great value at only $60 more than K / 50% miles); by Group 5 I meant the boarding group as described above, and I was indeed talking of US and UA flights.

Traveling from Toronto to Rome via Zurich on an AC ticket. Flight to Rome with an AC flight number coshared with LX. BP printed with the LX flight number but without my A3 FF card number. I tried to have it printed in Zurich at the lounge and the gate but.... Computer says no: card not accepted, not valid with the transporter (ie LX)...??

I bet it has to do with the code share thing. But the strange point is that on my AC BP A3 FF and status appeared. Go figure...

Just an update regarding my previous post. A3 card number and status could not be entered and printed on my BP but the miles for the LX flight was credited exactly a week after. I guess the number being in the booking is the reason why. Strange...

I've had so many different experiences with LX concerning its "interactions" with both A3 and LH but I've stopped worrying since, so far, all of my "problematic" cases, without a single exception, have been solved rather fast. Having lived in Switzerland for a few years (and being, myself, 1/4 Swiss ;)) I think that this simply reflects that country. :p

Just learned about Aegean and how to earn *G (thanks Flyertalk!) after I had booked AirNZ WLG to SFO, so upon check in, had to change my FF... am hoping this isn't frowned upon... :confused:

At WLG there was an issue entering number, and I wondered if it was because I had just signed up for miles and bonus the day before, but after three attempts it worked. That's when I learned about the A3 part from the agent, saying that's what was needed to enter it. When we arrived at SFO, we had a different itinerary flying on UA to YYC so at check in, again requested that my FF be changed, however this time after two attempts the agent wasn't successful, saying it was invalid. So he instead removed my UA FF number so I could then request retro active credit. I mentioned A3 to him but he said it wasn't working... hmmm.

Also to note, both agents had no idea about Aegean and told me it's not *A, however they both referenced some kind of desk book and found it listed to their surprise, "oh look at that!" :p

On another note, the UA agent wasn't able to update my partners FF either, nor able to remove the UA FF number... I wonder if it's because we were flying on UA using award miles? I'm guessing he won't be able to receive retro active credit?

On another note, the UA agent wasn't able to update my partners FF either, nor able to remove the UA FF number... I wonder if it's because we were flying on UA using award miles? I'm guessing he won't be able to receive retro active credit?

He wouldn't earn anything on award flight anyway. What would be the point of changing the FF number?

Ah good point Richelieu, I was too excited to earn and get it sorted to realise it wouldn't apply. Cheers!

and if sg1979 is using an award ticket too, he/she should not receive any miles from A3 or any other *A carrier.

Just flew CPH-VIE on OS. At check-in, the system doesn't recognise the A3 FFP, even though the agent confirmed the validity of A3. So flew without any FFP in the system. Will have to make the claim with A3 in a couple of days time. :mad:

What's strange was that I'd previously flew CPH-SIN on SQ and there was no problem. Think could be because different terminal/airline servicing agent had different systems.

This is the second time I'm encountering this issue on one trip. Hopefully my remaining sectors would be smooth.

Just got all my sectors posted on A3, some of which had to be retro-claimed. So all's good. :)

flew with egyptair last week. They tried for 20 minutes at the checkin desk to get the A3 number in. But where not able to do so..

next week i shall fly with LX.. should be interesting :)

I want to do webcheckin on Austrian but I cannot add my Miles and Bonus number. What should I do?

When I last flew OS I booked online and by M&M number defaulted into the booking. I was able to email OS through their website and they changed it. I imagine OS's call centres could help you too.

Failing this, add it at the airport before boarding (make sure any old number are removed), and ensure you get a new BP with A3 printed on it.