Star Alliance Award Bookings Using SAS Miles
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7
Star Alliance Award Bookings Using SAS Miles
Can someone explain to me how to go about finding flights available for Star Alliance members who wish to use their saved miles? The checking of one flight at a time by SAS's helpdesk is far from ideal...
#2
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: US Silver, UA Plat, HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 212
If you run a simple google search on "star alliance award flight search" you will find numerous explanations. In short, United, ANA, and Aeroplan (Air Canada) all provide this capability.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,075
We booked the flight in March and it was for a flight in during x'mas - 9 months ahead.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7
Thanks for the replies. The google search term did indeed work very well and the best article found was this one:
How to Use the ANA Award Tool to Search Star Alliance Award Availability - http://thepointsguy.com/2011/06/how-...-availability/
How to Use the ANA Award Tool to Search Star Alliance Award Availability - http://thepointsguy.com/2011/06/how-...-availability/
#5
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Flying Blue, Eurobonus
Posts: 186
Just be aware that what shows up as free in the search might not be available when you talk to the SAS booking agent! I saw several flight San Francisco-Tokyo that looked great, but for some reason, the SAS representative couldn't book them, for instance because my selected class was not available.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,075
Just be aware that what shows up as free in the search might not be available when you talk to the SAS booking agent! I saw several flight San Francisco-Tokyo that looked great, but for some reason, the SAS representative couldn't book them, for instance because my selected class was not available.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PVG
Programs: SK*G, QR*G
Posts: 514
When I tried to book Sq award, SAS told me they had economy and economy extra available. ! SQ doesn't have economy extra, so I'm still wondering in what seat I would have ended up if I booked. On another flight, she said economy, economy extra and business was available.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 682
When I tried to book Sq award, SAS told me they had economy and economy extra available. ! SQ doesn't have economy extra, so I'm still wondering in what seat I would have ended up if I booked. On another flight, she said economy, economy extra and business was available.
#10
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 682
Booking class P on SQ is First Class. The agent thought P was premium economy since SK use P for awards on Y+ on SK operated flights.
#11
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PVG
Programs: SK*G, QR*G
Posts: 514
Anyway, that makes sense. I spoke to two agents that both said they had exonomy extra available, so I would conclude that the SK agents aren't too skilled for *A award bookings.
Also, she said it was not permitted to fly PVG SIN MNL, it had to be PVG PEK MNL on air china. So I ended up booking this with UA miles.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CPH
Programs: SK Diamond *G, LH SEN *G, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 437
Normally "O" is first class, where does P come from?
Anyway, that makes sense. I spoke to two agents that both said they had exonomy extra available, so I would conclude that the SK agents aren't too skilled for *A award bookings.
Also, she said it was not permitted to fly PVG SIN MNL, it had to be PVG PEK MNL on air china. So I ended up booking this with UA miles.
Anyway, that makes sense. I spoke to two agents that both said they had exonomy extra available, so I would conclude that the SK agents aren't too skilled for *A award bookings.
Also, she said it was not permitted to fly PVG SIN MNL, it had to be PVG PEK MNL on air china. So I ended up booking this with UA miles.
This link I have used to tell the agents the difference in the Star and the SK award system
http://www.starallianceemployees.com...ignment.1.html
Always ask the agent to use the StarAlliance award search system, search flights leg by leg and NOT as CPH-FRA-SIN as an example, search CPH-FRA and then FRA-SIN then the agent can melt it into one itinerary.
Always point out that the agent should look for O if you wants First class, I for Business Class and X for economy class if you want to fly StarAlliance.
Usually the agents are very happy to learn new things and appreciate that one can help them. Els ask to talk to a supervisor – even though I have talked to a supervisor before that even didn’t know the rules and told me it wasn’t possible to book First class on any partner. Told her to look at flysas.com and then she realized I were correct.
Anyways, booking StarAlliacne awards with SAS is a BIG challenge – NEVER accept a NO when you know that you are right. Ask for a supervisor or ask the agent to talk to his/her supervisor and then call you back and always ask politely for the name of the agent you are talking to.
Good luck booking StarAlliance awards in premium cabins to all of you
Last edited by NicoEBG; Aug 20, 2012 at 8:59 am
#13
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,132
Beware of the married segment system though... CPH-SIN via FRA may have better availability than FRA-SIN, and vice versa. With LH once the booking is saved, it will marry the segments and undo the work.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CPH
Programs: SK Diamond *G, LH SEN *G, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 437
What is most important is to explain to the agent that he/she should be looking for I, P or X when the flights is operated by SK and O, I and X when the flight is operated by *partners
Last edited by NicoEBG; Aug 20, 2012 at 9:03 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: All of 'em
Posts: 438
Sry for bumping an old thread, but I couldn't find a better location for my questions.
1) What routing rules exist on Star Alliances award reservations?
2) Is a stopover allowed.
3) My understanding is that YQ aren't charged. Is this correct?
4) Any recent experiences with calling up to book flights.
5) Are holds allowed?
6) What's the infant fee on miles redemptions?
Thx ya'll
1) What routing rules exist on Star Alliances award reservations?
2) Is a stopover allowed.
3) My understanding is that YQ aren't charged. Is this correct?
4) Any recent experiences with calling up to book flights.
5) Are holds allowed?
6) What's the infant fee on miles redemptions?
Thx ya'll