US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - USAir not allowed to book Star Alliance tick on Singapore...

I just called Chairman's Pref to book a ticket using miles from SFO to Singapore. Apparently, Singapore Air is no longer accepting bookings using miles from USAir. I called back and spoke with another agent who gave the same story.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is it related to the bankruptcy?
Is it happening with other carriers?

I just booked a miles ticket on sq the other day jfk-fra so im not sure what's going on here...
-howie

I had a reservation from yesterday... but they said they could no longer book it as of today.
Is this the begining of the end....


I just booked a miles ticket on sq the other day jfk-fra so im not sure what's going on here...
-howie

I had a reservation from yesterday... but they said they could no longer book it as of today.
Is this the begining of the end....

Was it simply an award reservation on-hold or was it already ticketed?

I just called pretending to want to book PHL-HKG on SQ and they said they couldn't presently book SQ. When pressed, the very friendly rep said it was due to a "computer link problem" and suggested calling back in a few days. :confused:

This is clearly an unwelcome development, but perhaps it implies that there is truth to the statement from the WSJ that *alliance reservations made with DM miles would be honored. Some of those carriers may plan on honoring, but want to mitigate further risk and are shutting off new bookings.

This is clearly an unwelcome development, but perhaps it implies that there is truth to the statement from the WSJ that *alliance reservations made with DM miles would be honored. Some of those carriers may plan on honoring, but want to mitigate further risk and are shutting off new bookings.

I tend to agree. I continue to believe that other carriers will honor US award bookings made prior to the bankruptcy filing last Sunday. I now believe we are on "borrowed time" and that if SQ has pulled the plug because of the bankruptcy, other carriers are sure to follow. My suggestion is to book your award tickets now.

Maybe, just maybe, this time it is different than the last time. I wonder what SQ knows that we don't (if anything).

Can you make a star alliance reservation on UAL and then have USAir book it?

This is indeed a very scary developement which makes me nervous. I have just used US miles for a nice ticket in First on SQ three weeks ago. Especially scary because I did not hear any fellow star alliance carrier do that to AC or UA who are still in BK as well.

If true, this is hardly a surprise - as myself and others warned in previous threads, SQ is the LEAST likely Star carrier to be symptathetic to US DM members.

Can you make a star alliance reservation on UAL and then have USAir book it?

No.

Although the future does look dark for US Airways, I am a little surprised that a *alliance carrier can simply choose to stop redeeming Star awards from a member airline. I would have assumed that there would be agreements between US and the *alliance and/or SQ that require each airline to accept Star awards.

What's next? Could US Airways membership in the *alliance be at risk any time soon? How easily can the other *alliance airlines force US Airways out of the Alliance? If they could, would they?

Although the future does look dark for US Airways, I am a little surprised that a *alliance carrier can simply choose to stop redeeming Star awards from a member airline. I would have assumed that there would be agreements between US and the *alliance and/or SQ that require each airline to accept Star awards.

What's next? Could US Airways membership in the *alliance be at risk any time soon? How easily can the other *alliance airlines force US Airways out of the Alliance? If they could, would they?

There ARE reciprocal agreements in place between US and SQ - however, I'm sure that the agreement has a "material adverse event"-type clause that allows one party to alter or reject the contract should certain actions occur with respect to the other party.

I'm not 100% sure about this, so call it an educated hunch. I think Star Alliance has an agreement whereby if you use US miles, or any other member's miles on SQ or any other Star member, then said member, in theory gets compensated some nominal rate....now, i'm sure there is a "clearing house" in that some SQ members are going to redeeem on US in return, but maybe SQ feels that there will be a bunch of redemption on SQ by US members and not a lot of US redemption by SQ members, thus creating a deficit which must be paid by US at some interval.....So maybe SQ doesn't want this because they are scared that they will not get reimbursed that deficit should US not survive in between intervals.

Again, I'm not sure, but it is a hunch.

gosh, i'm glad i booked my 6 business class tickets on sq last week when i did!! i'm now sitting on fewer than 5,000 miles.

-- he who slacks

gosh, i'm glad i booked my 6 business class tickets on sq last week when i did!! i'm now sitting on fewer than 5,000 miles.


Don't be too thrilled -- if this is true then they're clearly demonstrating what sorts of people they are with this move. If unhappiness ensues I'd be prepared for them to misbehave.

In the same way a grocery store's shelves get cleared by anxious patrons in the wake of a hurricane warning, with all the advice being given by third parties to protect US miles, some of these carriers may be concerned about a wave of redemptions for that purpose. You would think normal inventory controls would handle that, but SQ has a lot of seats for a relatively small carrier, allowed by their comparitively lower costs, and disproportionately large number of big planes(they have always been active with consolidators). They might just be more vulnerable in that regard, and have to do this, in place of ordinary inventory management.

In the same way a grocery store's shelves get cleared by anxious patrons in the wake of a hurricane warning, .

I call this the "French Toast" effect. What else can everyone do with all the milk, bread, and eggs that they buy before a hurricane or snowstorm (I'm in the northeast). :D

Would those of you who have has this difficulty please reply to me via PM so I can forward this to our friends at US Airways. I'll try to get you an answer. They have been quite responsive and forthright since RoachFEST.

I don't think that there's anything situation specific. Out of curosity I called the CP desk and asked about booking Singapore travel.

"Sorry, we can no longer do this."

Would those of you who have has this difficulty please reply to me via PM so I can forward this to our friends at US Airways. I'll try to get you an answer. They have been quite responsive and forthright since RoachFEST.

With all due respect, unless this is due to some sort of technical problem, there is nothing the Debtors can do to remedy this situation.

I recieved this response to my inquiry just now. On a Saturday. Guess RoachFEST was a waste of time.

I contacted one of my numerous contacts and they said,

Bob - This is not the beginning of the end. We have a systems/technical glitch
that our systems people are working to fix. The work should be completed
shortly
and we will be back up and running by as early as Monday. Our res staff have a
bulletin that explains the issue.

As we stated publicly numerous times over the last week our partner airline
programs and our membership in Star Alliance has not been impacted by our
Transformation Plan.

I recieved this response to my inquiry just now. On a Saturday. Guess RoachFEST was a waste of time.

I contacted one of my numerous contacts and they said,

Bob - This is not the beginning of the end. We have a systems/technical glitch
that our systems people are working to fix. The work should be completed
shortly
and we will be back up and running by as early as Monday. Our res staff have a
bulletin that explains the issue.

As we stated publicly numerous times over the last week our partner airline
programs and our membership in Star Alliance has not been impacted by our
Transformation Plan.

Now that's a good response. Although I have no plans to redeem an award on SQ, it would be very bad if they could back out of the *A agreement with US.

I recieved this response to my inquiry just now. On a Saturday. Guess RoachFEST was a waste of time.

I contacted one of my numerous contacts and they said,

Bob - This is not the beginning of the end. We have a systems/technical glitch
that our systems people are working to fix. The work should be completed
shortly
and we will be back up and running by as early as Monday. Our res staff have a
bulletin that explains the issue.

As we stated publicly numerous times over the last week our partner airline
programs and our membership in Star Alliance has not been impacted by our
Transformation Plan.

This is indeed a positive development (who would have thought another technical glitch is a positive thing) which shows that many of us have jumped to conclusions that are just plain wrong.

Of course, this could have been avoided if res agents would have gotten the bulletin a little earlier but I guess that is too much too ask....

Thanks Bob for your help!!!

Good news indeed. Thanks for the info Piney.

Now that it's Monday, has anyone tested out to see if the glitch is gone?

but now still cannot book.
so no; still no singapore airline.

Now that it's Monday, has anyone tested out to see if the
glitch is gone?

It's now Tuesday and it's still down.

Does this mean that any already issued tickets that need to be re-issued can't be processed? When my award tickets were issued, the final leg on SQ was in coach. I was later able to get in the biz cabin and my tickets need to be re-issued. I've been meaning to do it sooner rather than later (just in case).. does anybody know if this impacts their ability to ticket?

The "computer glitch" continues... now for over a week.
Curious how these computer glitches time so well with bankruptcy....

Last week I tried to book using TG, but was told it was a "computer glitch" as well. Anyone else have this experience, or is it now fixed?

According to this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=355849&page=1&pp=15) on the Delta forum, SQ is no longer providing seats to DL either. I'm not sure that sounds like a computer glitch. If TG doesn't work either, I have to suspect that Piney is being used for spin control.

* duplicate post removed *

I have to suspect that Piney is being used for spin control.

I, unfortunately, have to agree. I think US is playing the Roaches like a cheap violin. :mad:

I have to suspect that Piney is being used for spin control.

agreed.

-- he who slacks

I tried today and they couldn't confirm LOT Polish flights either.

According to this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=355849&page=1&pp=15) on the Delta forum, SQ is no longer providing seats to DL either. I'm not sure that sounds like a computer glitch. If TG doesn't work either, I have to suspect that Piney is being used for spin control.

Your comment/observation may well be correct. I did recieve another e-mail regarding their efforts to resolve the issue.

My suggestion/advice is to get on line for the Q & A, and ask one of the 3 panelists. All I will say regarding my information is that one of the panelists provided the answer. Do get the answer from the source.

Don't think I'm being played. If you had a glimpse of what passes for IT at US you'd be inclined to believe the answer provided.

I already posted the question. What makes me so mad about this. I had a confirmed reservation, and it was ok. The paper ticket went out. I call to change it and they say "Oh ok, it's done bring the ticket in." Well 15 min later they can't get back what I had, nor what change I wanted.

... I did recieve another e-mail regarding their efforts to resolve the issue.


Bob, do you care to share the info? You can't possibly want everybody to contact them individually.

called today for mileage redemption. i was on hold for 20 minutes. two paper tix on LH in business class

didnt seem to be a problem in any way.

maybe i am missing something

called today for mileage redemption. i was on hold for 20 minutes. two paper tix on LH in business class

didnt seem to be a problem in any way.

maybe i am missing something

Nobody said LH was a problem (I got F tickets to CPT :D ), the problems are "limited" to SQ, TG and LOT Polish.

Nobody said LH was a problem (I got F tickets to CPT :D ), the problems are "limited" to SQ, TG and LOT Polish.

What backend systems are those guys using? Could there be a common thread?

please strike my previous comment from the record, your honor.

sq tix are up and running again. got one today in raffles (my sixth in the last three weeks).

my sincere apologies, piney.

-- he who slacks

I think we can all be excused for being sceptical. I'm glad it is working again!

my sincere apologies, piney.

-- he who slacks

I'll take my crow medium well.

Barry Biffle & John Reistrup joined the DC FT happy hour gang last night at the Key Bridge Marriott after the online chat. (Thanks again for coming!) They assured me that this was indeed a computer glitch.

Don't apologize, I was having second thoughts myself!

I think that maybe all of us learned a lesson here self included.

Since December 19th of last year I have witnessed no blatant attempts by US to anything less than responsive and truthful. Ultimately in the end they have done the right thing.

In the past I think it would be safe to say that the above was NEVER the case. Lies, half truths, deceptions and an "Industry of fine print" with the customer as the enemy attitudes ruled the roost.

Perhaps it's time to believe them until they prove otherwise, instead of working backwards from assuming whatever was said was the lie du jour.

Perhaps it's time to believe them until they prove otherwise, instead of working backwards from assuming whatever was said was the lie du jour.
Agreed ^

might as well not be able to book as they are giving no inventory anyways....