Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Ethiopian Airlines confirmation code?

Hello. I booked three award tickets using UA miles on ET. Neither UA nor ET can give me an ET confirmation code. ET said they can verify the 016(UA) ticket number, and the itinerary is confirmed, but they are unable to find any confirmation number and they can't provide seat assignment. Whom should I keep calling to get the ET confirmation number?

What should I do to, at least, select seats? Thanks!

If you can find it on UA.bom, there should be a button under your UA confirmation number that says This reservation contains partner flights. View additional confirmation numbers.

Try click that. May work, or not.

So ET is able to view an e-ticket BUT says they do not see a reservation? Do I understand it correctly??? It most likely means that you do not have a reservation (i.e. reservation was created in UA SHARES but didn't make it from SHARES to SABRE that ET uses). Call ET again - ask them to retrieve a reservation, entry in SABRE should be:

*ETflight number/date point of origin-your last name

*ET100/20SEPIAD-HOWTO

If they do not see a reservation call back UA saying that reservation didn't make it to SABRE and ask to clarify the situation with ET.

UA asked me to use the confirmation number for another partner, because that confirmation number is for Amadeus, and all partners should be able to use that number to retrieve my itinerary. Does it make sense?

I think what you said makes more sense. I will call ET/UA again.


So ET is able to view an e-ticket BUT says they do not see a reservation? Do I understand it correctly??? It most likely means that you do not have a reservation (i.e. reservation was created in UA SHARES but didn't make it from SHARES to SABRE that ET uses). Call ET again - ask them to retrieve a reservation, entry in SABRE should be:

*ETflight number/date point of origin-your last name

*ET100/20SEPIAD-HOWTO

If they do not see a reservation call back UA saying that reservation didn't make it to SABRE and ask to clarify the situation with ET.

UA asked me to use the confirmation number for another partner, because that confirmation number is for Amadeus, and all partners should be able to use that number to retrieve my itinerary. Does it make sense?

I think what you said makes more sense. I will call ET/UA again.

Doesn't make ANY sense whatsoever - ET uses SABRE and not Amadeus...

finally found someone who acknowledges that there is a problem.
her supervisor is on it for about an hour and a half.
how does United make profit if one ticket can cost them so much time...

Normally, as long as you do have a ticket number, you should have a reservation. Because ticket number are only issued when the booking is fully confirmed. Booking references (PNR's) are given directly even if the booking is not yet complete (i.e. you still need to pay something or something like that)
But I know it's very inconvenient if you don't have both.
However in rare cases ticketnumbers can be allocated before the booking is final, but that's a serious mistake from the agent who handled the booking.

finally found someone who acknowledges that there is a problem.
her supervisor is on it for about an hour and a half.
how does United make profit if one ticket can cost them so much time...

Just push UA to get you the ET SABRE PNR number and then call ET to verify that this PNR really exists and that e-ticket segments are really associated to the flight segments.

actually there are multiple cases reported that United "forget" to report the ticket number to partner airlines (mostly Asiana) and causing segments being cancelled. very bad experience...

Normally, as long as you do have a ticket number, you should have a reservation. Because ticket number are only issued when the booking is fully confirmed. Booking references (PNR's) are given directly even if the booking is not yet complete (i.e. you still need to pay something or something like that)
But I know it's very inconvenient if you don't have both.
However in rare cases ticketnumbers can be allocated before the booking is final, but that's a serious mistake from the agent who handled the booking.

The knowledgable agent told me that after investigation, her supervisor found that ET flight "had a schedule change" of zero minutes, therefore cancelled my segments. I don't have my reservation any more. She offered to ship me back about ten hours late using UA 777-200, comparing with ET's new 787.:td:

Just push UA to get you the ET SABRE PNR number and then call ET to verify that this PNR really exists and that e-ticket segments are really associated to the flight segments.