United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Agent unable to see biz award seats on partner airlines?

I have an existing award reservation that includes two QR segments. I was charged with business awards, but at the time of the booking, for one QR segment, only economy award is available. I found that QR released one business class award seat on ual.com last night, so I called them three times from last night to this morning to make an adjustment from (X) to (I). They said they can't see the business award seats. Their excuse is system synchronization issue, but I don't believe that the system was out of sync for 24 hours during which I made my three phone calls.

I was told that even I can book the (I) online as a separate itinerary to "hold the seat," they won't be able to "merge/replace" it into my current itinerary with the (X).

What should I do? I have tried reservation, web support, and UA's star alliance help desk.

I would look at other options.... when is your trip planned for?

I had a ticket that was booked and when I called QR a couple months later I found out that UA never executed the ticketed the QR portion... so I was screwed and had to start over.

It's risky these days at UA..... anything on partner airlines is rolling the dice.

Its a crap shoot on ua site for partner awards....

UA and QR will discontinue their relationship on or around 15SEP. UA CSRs no longer see QR award inventory in their system because of this - at least this is what they tell me. If you are able to see and book the inventory online, then do so. I have had success doing this (3 times over the last 3 months) and the itineraries have been ticketed. I have also been able to see my reservation on the QR website and was able to manage the booking there.

Good luck.

call web support maybe?

UA Award list for partners is TOTALLY unreliable, and they know it.

seems ok for LH and their fleet. i just acquired my tickets, so "totally" unreliable does not seem correct.

seems ok for LH and their fleet. i just acquired my tickets, so "totally" unreliable does not seem correct.

If you received a F Award for LH beyond 2 weeks, you are extremely lucky. Even UA admits that LH is most often ghost awards. That is NOT the usual experience, and I have been working with this for over one year. Congratulations on a LH F Award.

call web support maybe?

called. they can do nothing

I have an existing award reservation that includes two QR segments. I was charged with business awards, but at the time of the booking, for one QR segment, only economy award is available. I found that QR released one business class award seat on ual.com last night, so I called them three times from last night to this morning to make an adjustment from (X) to (I). They said they can't see the business award seats. Their excuse is system synchronization issue, but I don't believe that the system was out of sync for 24 hours during which I made my three phone calls.

I was told that even I can book the (I) online as a separate itinerary to "hold the seat," they won't be able to "merge/replace" it into my current itinerary with the (X).

What should I do? I have tried reservation, web support, and UA's star alliance help desk.

Keep trying...I had the exact same situation a week or so ago changing a QR segment from X to I. The agent had to talk to a supervisor but eventually came back and said something about a setting that needed to be changed, and voila she put me in I.

That said, she effed up somehow and didn't submit the segment for ticketing so it dropped off my reservation. I called again several days later and the agent I spoke with did not have any problems seeing QR inventory and put me back in I with no problems.

Neither agent batted an eye at booking QR segments.

called them three times more. received the same answer over and over again: "we are no longer partner of QR," "the ticket you are seeing haven't been loaded to our system," "the ticket your are seeing have already been taken by others," "you won't be able to book the seats even online", "even you booked it online, it doesn't mean you have the seat," "something is wrong, but there is nothing we can do." It's amazing that everyone I talked to go through the same loop of the above messages. They probably have a cheat sheet of excuses?

Dealing with QR awards is really a nightmare right now. I had the same problem as you earlier. My DOH-MLE was in X when the rest of my trip was in I. I had to call multiple times before getting someone to move me into the I space when it opened up. (one tried to do it, but ended up sending me on an open jaw to Melbourne!). Eventually, I got a capable agent to execute the change for me.

This was a few weeks back, so things may have changed slightly, but I'd give it another shot or 2 before giving up completely.

The current agent canceled all my QR segments because star alliance desk told her that QR is no longer "operating" that flight and she booked me to other flights without my permission.

At the same time, the ticket I want is still showing on both UA and QR's website.

Good job, United!

I don't know what to tell you other than keep trying...there are definitely agents that are capable. Have you had them ask a supervisor or a help desk for help?

UA Award list for partners is TOTALLY unreliable, and they know it.

What are you basing this on? Definitely doesn't reflect my experience - they have one of the most comprehensive online tools in *A for checking award availability.

yes, you are right

just encountered a mighty lady who fixed everything

I am going to talk to her supervisor to give my highest praise to her


I don't know what to tell you other than keep trying...there are definitely agents that are capable. Have you had them ask a supervisor or a help desk for help?

just encountered a mighty lady who fixed everything

I am going to talk to her supervisor to give my highest praise to her

Glad it finally worked out.

It's absolutely ridiculous that it took you that much time and effort to finally find a competent agent willing to do something that all agents should be capable of doing. It's pathetic, really.

Enjoy your trip!

thank you!

new problem, this knowledgable agent also noticed that the ET segment was never confirmed outside shares. By calling ET, she told me the only way to confirm ET is to cancel the ticket and rebook, and the business class award on QR may be gone, since I took the last one this morning.

My cell phone shows calling time is 4+ hours. And we are rebooking everything.

I start to think the other agents were probably not as incompetent as I thought. They probably just didn't want to bother to dig this sh*hole.

Glad it finally worked out.

It's absolutely ridiculous that it took you that much time and effort to finally find a competent agent willing to do something that all agents should be capable of doing. It's pathetic, really.

Enjoy your trip!

Done after a 5.5 hr struggle.

She almost become my exclusive agent today....



thank you!

new problem, this knowledgable agent also noticed that the ET segment was never confirmed outside shares. By calling ET, she told me the only way to confirm ET is to cancel the ticket and rebook, and the business class award on QR may be gone, since I took the last one this morning.

My cell phone shows calling time is 4+ hours. And we are rebooking everything.

I start to think the other agents were probably not as incompetent as I thought. They probably just didn't want to bother to dig this sh*hole.