OZ awards seems to be blocked on UA *net
Jan 30, 2008, 1:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,894
OZ awards seems to be blocked on UA *net
I have been wrestling with this problem since yesterday where I see Asiana (OZ) awards on ANA and on OZ's mileage program. ICN-LAX, ICN-SFO, ICN-JFK available in F or C. UA agents can't even see the flights, let alone see any availability.
So far, what's accurate on ANA's tool is AC and SQ availability.
Nontheless, it's really frustrating when more and more *A airline awards are not being available with UA miles.
So far, what's accurate on ANA's tool is AC and SQ availability.
Nontheless, it's really frustrating when more and more *A airline awards are not being available with UA miles.
Jan 30, 2008, 2:07 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Seattle & Seoul.... and now, Maastricht....
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, NWA WorldPerks deserter, Alaska Airlines Something-er-Other...
Posts: 1,886
Jan 30, 2008, 4:39 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA
Programs: AMC MovieWatcher, Giant BonusCard, Petco PALS Card, Silver Diner Blue Plate Club
Posts: 22,297
That's a clear sign StarNet is filtering, agents don't see the flights come up.
You might search past threads on StarNet, it's a long shot and agents aren't supposed to do it, but there are some strategies for requesting the agent try a manual sell in those threads.
It really does seem as though StarNet fliltering has become more of a problem compared to, say, 2006.
You might search past threads on StarNet, it's a long shot and agents aren't supposed to do it, but there are some strategies for requesting the agent try a manual sell in those threads.
It really does seem as though StarNet fliltering has become more of a problem compared to, say, 2006.
Jan 30, 2008, 4:57 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 17,769
I have been wrestling with this problem since yesterday where I see Asiana (OZ) awards on ANA and on OZ's mileage program. ICN-LAX, ICN-SFO, ICN-JFK available in F or C. UA agents can't even see the flights, let alone see any availability.
So far, what's accurate on ANA's tool is AC and SQ availability.
Nontheless, it's really frustrating when more and more *A airline awards are not being available with UA miles.
So far, what's accurate on ANA's tool is AC and SQ availability.
Nontheless, it's really frustrating when more and more *A airline awards are not being available with UA miles.
Jan 30, 2008, 7:33 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,894
Okay, booked a completely new set of award.
BKK-SIN-HKG-YYZ-BOS-YYZ-HKG-SIN-BKK. AC and SQ.
Again, I can be very certain (99.9999%)
that AC awards and SQ 11 and SQ 12 awards (to and from LAX-NRT) when showed available on ANA tool, IS available with UA.
Other carriers are certainly subject to UA filtering.
BKK-SIN-HKG-YYZ-BOS-YYZ-HKG-SIN-BKK. AC and SQ.
Again, I can be very certain (99.9999%)
that AC awards and SQ 11 and SQ 12 awards (to and from LAX-NRT) when showed available on ANA tool, IS available with UA. Other carriers are certainly subject to UA filtering.
Jan 30, 2008, 8:05 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,894
Forgot to add. Pretty much all of the intra-asian flights on (even OZ), NH, TG, SQ reflect accurate available on UA when viewed as available on ANA tool.
So, a summary:
ANA vs UA *net
1) Usually SQ availabilities match (in all cabins) especially LAX-NRT-LAX route (this will soon be filtered when SQ brings A380 to this route.
)
2) TG flights (except for intra-asia) are not accurate (50-50 for JFK/LAX-BKK routes) and almost always never for BKK-Europe routes
3) OZ flights (except for intra-asia) also are now being filtered for over the water segments (ICN-LAX/JFK/SEA/SFO/ORD). OZ used to be well represented... but this no longer is the case.
4) AC's availability matches very well and if ANA is available UA will have it.
5) LH (70-30). Usually matches, but I've had several cases where LH F awards were not available on FRA-LAX, etc when ANA showed availability.
6) LX, CA, etc cannot be viewed on ANA so no comment.
So, a summary:
ANA vs UA *net
1) Usually SQ availabilities match (in all cabins) especially LAX-NRT-LAX route (this will soon be filtered when SQ brings A380 to this route.
)2) TG flights (except for intra-asia) are not accurate (50-50 for JFK/LAX-BKK routes) and almost always never for BKK-Europe routes
3) OZ flights (except for intra-asia) also are now being filtered for over the water segments (ICN-LAX/JFK/SEA/SFO/ORD). OZ used to be well represented... but this no longer is the case.
4) AC's availability matches very well and if ANA is available UA will have it.
5) LH (70-30). Usually matches, but I've had several cases where LH F awards were not available on FRA-LAX, etc when ANA showed availability.
6) LX, CA, etc cannot be viewed on ANA so no comment.
Jan 30, 2008, 8:09 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 17,769
Nice summary, but the above point is totally inaccurate. I am LH SEN, and for intra-EU awards, LH will often have up to a dozen options per day for my chosen city pair (C or Y), while UA will show NADA. On TATL, UA will often "not see the flight", while LH will make several options available to me in F.
Jan 30, 2008, 8:18 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,894
Nice summary, but the above point is totally inaccurate. I am LH SEN, and for intra-EU awards, LH will often have up to a dozen options per day for my chosen city pair (C or Y), while UA will show NADA. On TATL, UA will often "not see the flight", while LH will make several options available to me in F.
So, I guess based on OUR experiences, now, LH awards are being filtered.
Jan 30, 2008, 9:25 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: A lovely little town filled with cows
Programs: US2, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,284
I was able to ticket an itin PHX-LAX-ICN-SIN and return w/ LAX-ICN and ICN-LAX on OZ in F and ICN-SIN on SQ, so my own experience has been that I had no problems getting OZ F overwater awards...
Of course, I cancelled it last week, so perhaps I should've left it if they're that rare...
This was two weeks ago.
Of course, I cancelled it last week, so perhaps I should've left it if they're that rare...
This was two weeks ago.
Jan 30, 2008, 9:30 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,894
I was able to ticket an itin PHX-LAX-ICN-SIN and return w/ LAX-ICN and ICN-LAX on OZ in F and ICN-SIN on SQ, so my own experience has been that I had no problems getting OZ F overwater awards...
Of course, I cancelled it last week, so perhaps I should've left it if they're that rare...
This was two weeks ago.
Of course, I cancelled it last week, so perhaps I should've left it if they're that rare...
This was two weeks ago.
Jan 30, 2008, 9:32 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
Forgot to add. Pretty much all of the intra-asian flights on (even OZ), NH, TG, SQ reflect accurate available on UA when viewed as available on ANA tool.
So, a summary:
ANA vs UA *net
1) Usually SQ availabilities match (in all cabins) especially LAX-NRT-LAX route (this will soon be filtered when SQ brings A380 to this route.)
2) TG flights (except for intra-asia) are not accurate (50-50 for JFK/LAX-BKK routes) and almost always never for BKK-Europe routes
3) OZ flights (except for intra-asia) also are now being filtered for over the water segments (ICN-LAX/JFK/SEA/SFO/ORD). OZ used to be well represented... but this no longer is the case.
4) AC's availability matches very well and if ANA is available UA will have it.
5) LH (70-30). Usually matches, but I've had several cases where LH F awards were not available on FRA-LAX, etc when ANA showed availability.
6) LX, CA, etc cannot be viewed on ANA so no comment.
So, a summary:
ANA vs UA *net
1) Usually SQ availabilities match (in all cabins) especially LAX-NRT-LAX route (this will soon be filtered when SQ brings A380 to this route.
)2) TG flights (except for intra-asia) are not accurate (50-50 for JFK/LAX-BKK routes) and almost always never for BKK-Europe routes
3) OZ flights (except for intra-asia) also are now being filtered for over the water segments (ICN-LAX/JFK/SEA/SFO/ORD). OZ used to be well represented... but this no longer is the case.
4) AC's availability matches very well and if ANA is available UA will have it.
5) LH (70-30). Usually matches, but I've had several cases where LH F awards were not available on FRA-LAX, etc when ANA showed availability.
6) LX, CA, etc cannot be viewed on ANA so no comment.
Another point: You hardly get NH C over the water through *net. An agent was willing to do a manual sell for me (after calling in for like 6-7 times)!
I've tried too many times for OZ but the agent wasn't willing to do a manual sell.
Jan 30, 2008, 9:37 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: A lovely little town filled with cows
Programs: US2, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,284
It may be because of the "time period" I was looking for an award (end of February - perhaps blackout date?!). But it's hard to believe that UA can't see any space in C or Y when with OZ miles, I can find 7 and 9 C and Y seats available for an award + ANA tool availability.
Incidentally, I've found ANA availability versus what UA can see via StarNet to be 99% the same. The only segments UA couldn't see were on an LHR-SYD award when I tried to pull some creative routings. They couldn't see either a CPH-DXB or the DXB-BOM-BKK segment, despite ANA showing availability.
I've had bad luck getting LX seats, but since I can't check inventory on ANA, I don't really know if they *should* be available or not.
Jan 30, 2008, 10:51 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
At this time of year UA-Starnet sometimes "loses" the entire LH award inventory, as if UAMP had hit a credit-limit for LH awards. They may all reappear in a week or two.
The blocking of TG, OZ, and premium classes transpacific is for individual flights and classes, which are permanently blacked out and will never reappear.
It's a giveaway that the evil StarNet programmer has been at work, when the agent says "I don't see that flight".
The blocking of TG, OZ, and premium classes transpacific is for individual flights and classes, which are permanently blacked out and will never reappear.
It's a giveaway that the evil StarNet programmer has been at work, when the agent says "I don't see that flight".
Jan 30, 2008, 11:22 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,894
Well, for OZ's ICN-JFK route, the aircraft is now retrofitted with new F and C and Y, which may suggest that OZ is doing what SQ is doing with their 77Ws and A380s.
Jan 30, 2008, 11:39 am
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,305
Just had the same thing.. ANA shows OZ from SFO and LAX in J, Agent can't see the flights.. refusing Manuel sell..