China Eastern - SkyTeam Partner with Delta.
May 23, 2016, 10:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
China Eastern - SkyTeam Partner with Delta.
How does one actually book and find a seat. I find flights via Google Flights and no matter what I choose/do there is always a message "Not enough seats".
What gives?
What gives?
May 24, 2016, 12:01 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
With respect to seats, I usually get assignments during check-in (either at the airport or online).
May 24, 2016, 5:01 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Google Flights - https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...U717;a=SKYTEAM
Try to book direct from link and get error 'we are sorry there are no seats'. I can change to the entire month and every time no seats. Try to book through the website directly(not via link on google flights) and same deal.
Try to book direct from link and get error 'we are sorry there are no seats'. I can change to the entire month and every time no seats. Try to book through the website directly(not via link on google flights) and same deal.
May 24, 2016, 6:07 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
Google Flights - https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...U717;a=SKYTEAM
Try to book direct from link and get error 'we are sorry there are no seats'. I can change to the entire month and every time no seats. Try to book through the website directly(not via link on google flights) and same deal.
Try to book direct from link and get error 'we are sorry there are no seats'. I can change to the entire month and every time no seats. Try to book through the website directly(not via link on google flights) and same deal.
May 25, 2016, 8:16 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA Exp / Marriott Titanium / Hilton Gold / Hyatt Globalist / United Silver
Posts: 958
Google Flights - https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...U717;a=SKYTEAM
Try to book direct from link and get error 'we are sorry there are no seats'. I can change to the entire month and every time no seats. Try to book through the website directly(not via link on google flights) and same deal.
Try to book direct from link and get error 'we are sorry there are no seats'. I can change to the entire month and every time no seats. Try to book through the website directly(not via link on google flights) and same deal.
May 25, 2016, 5:27 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
I can do that but booking through Orbitz is a 3rd party. Which means getting mileage credit becomes more beating around the bush on SkyTeam(Delta).
And if China Eastern is claiming 'no seats' one may assume you may run into an issue... plus we are a group looking to book. 3-5 people. So unassigned seats and waiting until the day of means 12-14 hours sitting randomly across the plane?
And if China Eastern is claiming 'no seats' one may assume you may run into an issue... plus we are a group looking to book. 3-5 people. So unassigned seats and waiting until the day of means 12-14 hours sitting randomly across the plane?
May 25, 2016, 7:38 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
I can do that but booking through Orbitz is a 3rd party. Which means getting mileage credit becomes more beating around the bush on SkyTeam(Delta).
And if China Eastern is claiming 'no seats' one may assume you may run into an issue... plus we are a group looking to book. 3-5 people. So unassigned seats and waiting until the day of means 12-14 hours sitting randomly across the plane?
And if China Eastern is claiming 'no seats' one may assume you may run into an issue... plus we are a group looking to book. 3-5 people. So unassigned seats and waiting until the day of means 12-14 hours sitting randomly across the plane?
Keep in mind MU doesn't always release their absolute dirt cheap fares to TAs or GDS systems so it may be beneficial to call one of MU ticketing offices close to you as well.
May 26, 2016, 4:13 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
For a group booking I'd highly advise you contact a competent TA that specializes in China market. There are lots of these in every major US/Canadian city.
Keep in mind MU doesn't always release their absolute dirt cheap fares to TAs or GDS systems so it may be beneficial to call one of MU ticketing offices close to you as well.
Keep in mind MU doesn't always release their absolute dirt cheap fares to TAs or GDS systems so it may be beneficial to call one of MU ticketing offices close to you as well.
May 26, 2016, 9:31 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA Exp / Marriott Titanium / Hilton Gold / Hyatt Globalist / United Silver
Posts: 958
So keep that in mind.
May 26, 2016, 10:34 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
The thing is 98% (ok - tbh, I made that number up, but i've never seen $600-700ish flights on MU that was something other than Q for TPAC segment - which is 0 across the board (http://www.wheretocredit.com/china-eastern-airlines/q)) of the flights under $1k that you see on China Eastern are all non-accural fare codes (Q fare).
So keep that in mind.
So keep that in mind.
From:
Chicago (CHI-All Airports)
To:
Tokyo, Japan (TYO-All Airports)
Fare Basis Code:
Q2PRUSS
Chicago (CHI-All Airports)
To:
Tokyo, Japan (TYO-All Airports)
Fare Basis Code:
Q2PRUSS
-$580 is a great fare (assuming the long layovers in Shanghai are tolerable/desirable)
-the seat map is wide open (now that I've had a chance to dig a bit deeper into this, I'm pretty sure that the OP was attempting to book using the China Eastern US website, which is notoriously buggy)
May 26, 2016, 3:13 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA Exp / Marriott Titanium / Hilton Gold / Hyatt Globalist / United Silver
Posts: 958
But sometimes, they don't market Q fare in the intra-asia segment - so those segments do book into B fare - which earns 100% on DL.
Which is better than nothing, and it's sort of what Delta would have given you on a $500 fare anyways
Which is better than nothing, and it's sort of what Delta would have given you on a $500 fare anyways
May 26, 2016, 4:07 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Everything is at least 100%...
I still ask. Why when I search on the MU website every search comes up 'sorry no seats'.
May 26, 2016, 4:08 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Nice catch. His prospective flights are, indeed, Q:
The good news is:
-$580 is a great fare (assuming the long layovers in Shanghai are tolerable/desirable)
-the seat map is wide open (now that I've had a chance to dig a bit deeper into this, I'm pretty sure that the OP was attempting to book using the China Eastern US website, which is notoriously buggy)
The good news is:
-$580 is a great fare (assuming the long layovers in Shanghai are tolerable/desirable)
-the seat map is wide open (now that I've had a chance to dig a bit deeper into this, I'm pretty sure that the OP was attempting to book using the China Eastern US website, which is notoriously buggy)
May 26, 2016, 5:54 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
@OP: At the risk of beating a dead horse, the "workaround" to MU's "no seats" error that prevents you from getting out of the batter's box is to book elsewhere (in addition to Orbitz and Cheapoair, Expedia and Priceline are also offering those flights for $580).