United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - End-on-End Ticketing Using Two Separate Airlines

Perhaps some of the more rules-savy folks may have some thoughts on this end-on-end question.

I am in Europe. Currently there is an enormous (and unfavorable) fare difference on UA flights leaving from neighboring city (IST) and my city. IST has nonstops on UA metal. My city requires a connection to through IST or another hub. Getting it all on one ticket is makes it double the price, notwithstanding the fact that IST is a pretty short flight from here.

I can get the much cheaper ticket on UA out of IST and then add-in a connection on TK for an extremely low price (some sort of big fare sale on TK to IST).

The connection times in IST are quite long both ways, over 8 hrs, --which I don't mind as the CIP lounge is great and I have a number of friends in IST who I like to visit.

I am a bit concerned about the UA rules on end-on-end ticketing, however, because what I was told by the Premier Desk. I did check the specific fare rules for my ticket and the UA Contract of Carriage. The rules specifically say that end-on-end ticketing is permitted among countries in the same "region as defined in the CoC - which is ok b/c IST and my country are in the same region.

I generically asked the Premier Desk about adding an end-on-end segment with the idea that I could ask to add the TK PNR to my reservation in the unlikely event of a very long flight delay.

They told me that no matter what I read in the Fare Rules, if the fare from my country to the USA is less than from IST to the USA and the connection is less than 24 hrs, I would have to pay the fare difference no matter what I read in the rules. I tried 2 other agents at the Premier Desk and they said the same thing. Obviously I did not give them info about the TK connecting ticket or take it further.

My question is this, should I be concerned enough to not use my MP number for the TK flights to/from IST? I really would like to get the credit because I am going to be extremely close on re-qualifying for 1K this year. Do the agents not know what they are talking about? I am thinking of saving my boarding passes and then asking for credit some weeks later - but from what I understand that might risk UA coming back and demanding I pay the back-fare difference under risk of penalizing my MP account and status.

Anybody have any thoughts about this? I'd hate to have to schedule a pointless mileage run at year's end simply to re-qualify just because I couldn't credit flights taken due to some dumb rules.

Many thanks!

Don't confuse UA. You may cause SHARES to short circuit again. I would just get 2 sep tkts. The conx time as you said is no problem & since the fare is much cheaper w 2 tkts, your asking for trouble trying to combine them

Just go ahead and book two separate tickets. The airlines only really care about end-on-end rules when you try to book separate flights on the same carrier to get round stupid fare rules. Bear in mind though that any cancellations/disruptions etc (however unlikely with that long a layover) are entirely your responsibility and not the airline, so make sure you have decent travel insurance. You might not get your bag checked through either. But the system won't even notice if you credit the connecting flight to UA. I've done this loads of times in the past.

Just go ahead and book two separate tickets. The airlines only really care about end-on-end rules when you try to book separate flights on the same carrier to get round stupid fare rules. Bear in mind though that any cancellations/disruptions etc (however unlikely with that long a layover) are entirely your responsibility and not the airline, so make sure you have decent travel insurance. You might not get your bag checked through either. But the system won't even notice if you credit the connecting flight to UA. I've done this loads of times in the past.

Thanks for that!

Just go ahead and book two separate tickets. The airlines only really care about end-on-end rules when you try to book separate flights on the same carrier to get round stupid fare rules. Bear in mind though that any cancellations/disruptions etc (however unlikely with that long a layover) are entirely your responsibility and not the airline, so make sure you have decent travel insurance. You might not get your bag checked through either. But the system won't even notice if you credit the connecting flight to UA. I've done this loads of times in the past.


Agreed.

The end-on-end rules in Europe are often designed to thwart people from doing what you're doing and exposing the airline to additional liability (e.g., misconnect protection, interlining bags). Since you lose that protection with separate tickets, the airline won't care. You're also SOL if you misconnect across separate tickets, but you seem savvy enough, so you probably know that already.

I would do it and not worry about it. Just don't be surprised if they refuse to interline any bags. They seem to be more aware of this in Europe because of the prevalence of cheap intra-Europe fares and high variances on int'l fares.

Not exactly sure what route you're flying but generally TK offers two prices for their tickets. An international price paid in dollars, euros, etc. and a local price if paid in turkish lira. Often the prices to connect to say Antalya are nearly 500 dollars while the same connecting flight bought through a turkish travel agent via email is 75 bucks. Of course you have the issues spoken about above.

Not exactly sure what route you're flying but generally TK offers two prices for their tickets. An international price paid in dollars, euros, etc. and a local price if paid in turkish lira. Often the prices to connect to say Antalya are nearly 500 dollars while the same connecting flight bought through a turkish travel agent via email is 75 bucks. Of course you have the issues spoken about above.

Yeah, I got one of the cheap ones. Thus my concern... :D