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FYI, I posted this in the BD forum. I had a BD award in business class on the TG BKK-JFK flight. A few days ago, BD called me and told me the flight was canceled and they offered me a routing BKK-FRA (LH F) connecting to FRA-JFK (SQ C) at no additional charge.
So, I'm the person who started this thread a few weeks ago. The added complication was I had MP award seats for 3 "C" class RT JFK>BKK during the Dec/Jan Christmas season. I have been checking with UA nearly everyday. In the end, my pessimism was misplaced. But, my patience was definitely tested.
After many phone calls - finally - today I got a sympathetic rep and her sympathetic supervisor on the Prem Exec line. Bottom line, they opened up some rev seats on UA metal and got all of us there and back on our original days of travel. New routing is JFK>SFO>NRT>BKK. Optimal? No. Am I a happy camper? Definitely!
Moral of story....
- It's everyman/woman for themselves. There are only so many seats out there. This is a numbers game - like musical chairs. More than a few people will be left out.
- There are no rules for protection - especially for award travelers - at least not as of yet. They are apparently being handled on a case-by-case basis. It depends solely on who you happen to get on the phone.
- Many reps are not aware of the massive TG cancellations so don't get angry with them. Explain the situation and ask for resolution. Most will say they are unable to help. If you don't like what you hear, politely end the conversation and call back at another time. Stay with it. Be civil.
- Make sure you are dealing with a US-based call center. If not, end the call and redial.
- Status helps - if you are UA Prem/Prem Exec/1k or more you definitely get bumped to the head of the line.
- And don't give up!
I had 2 tickets on Aeroplan on the BKK-JFK route--AP opened up seats on AC and got me BKK-NRT-YVR-JFK seats--the gaent was very helpful. This was on the 16th Jun--so pursue the changes now and chances are you will be accomodated--leave it till later--may be out of luck.
Hello. Just want to share my story, another pair of passengers affected by this canellation. We have 2 C tickets booked with UA mile for this November and I didn't get to call UA until this week. We were originally on OZ to BKK, so it's only the return flight in late November that was supposed to be on TG direct.
The first call was during the day that probably went to Chicago or some other midwestern call center where I met an agent from HELL! I asked her that she could just check for any availability during the week of November 26 and she came back with NOTHING in C all the way. The only option she gave me was BKK-PEK in C then PEK-JFK in Y!!! I wasn't going to take it and I checked the ANA tool where there were tons of availability through ICN with OZ, I asked her to checked that flight and I don't think she knows how to check or just plainly lied to me! I asked to speak to her supervisor and she couldn't have been any less sympathetic. I said other agents have opened up UA seats for the affected people on this flight and she said that action is sucking their inventory dry and she got a message from corporate to stop doing that. Again, could be a plain old LIE! I said then they should refund me the mile difference btw C and Y award ticket and she said she can't give partial mile credit. Again, could be another LIE! It got me so upset, I hung up on her.
I waited til 10PM EST to called again and talked to a rare gengleman agent on 1K, Premere desk and he was very nice and found a C ticket for me from BKK-PEK-JFK and my partner on BKK-ICN-JFK a week later (what we wanted). Funny it seems that this second agent saw the same availability as what I saw on ANA tool. There was even an availability on SQ 26 and he was booking my partner on that and just right after he said OK, the wonderful UA system gave him an error message that it's a RTW ticket because SQ 26 flies via FRA. Somewhat disappointed but I can't complain with OZ especially since he was able to book us on something in C!
For people who haven't called: don't give up and don't take their refund. The first nasty agent and her supervisor kept saying I could get miles refunded, but our outbound flights were all set and we liked them. I was afraid that we'd have to pay the fuel surcharges that airlines are just imposing recently, but we didn't pay anything extra, so is UA absorbing that cost?
Sorry for the long post if it is boring, but the bottom line is that I don't call UA much but i have met a few extremely nice agents and some NASTY mean ones and I am done with UA and *A! Switched to AA this year and used up my last miles on this trip which became a problem thanks to TG. If I want to go to Asia again, CX has 3 flights out of JFK everyday! Let's all switch!
I have to say I am impressed with the way some partners are handling award re-bookings, especially UA/MP. When I had a similar incident, with UA/MP, a few years ago I was offered no reasonable alternative so had to re-deposit miles and issue a Standard (requires ~ 75% more miles) award.
However as a frequent UA upgrader I have to say I am a little annoyed that they are freeing up so much space which might otherwise go to me. Also it's easier to understand why TG cancelled this route seeing as though a lot of the seats seem to have been going to partner award travel which likely yields a pittance in revenue compared to a revenue fare pax. Of course TG could have 'controlled' their inventory a bit better.
I had a complicated story because I had 4 C award tickets using UA MP and LH M&M Miles (though not all on the same day)
LH called me and conference called UA to try and find a solution. In the end they got me 4 C class tickets to Tokyo (going on UA and back on ANA) instead of Bangkok - which suits me just fine as an alternative.
All the seats came form the award bucket. From what I've learned Asiana via ICN seems to have the best availability in C.
FWIW - They worked very hard to make me happy (and they succeeded).
Also it's easier to understand why TG canceled this route seeing as though a lot of the seats seem to have been going to partner award travel which likely yields a pittance in revenue compared to a revenue fare pax. Of course TG could have 'controlled' their inventory a bit better.
Actually, TG had one of the tightest FF seat inventories - especially on JFK/BKK. Rarely had 2 or more seats per flight. And many flights had zero.
Quote:
Originally Posted by transpac
However as a frequent UA upgrader I have to say I am a little annoyed that they are freeing up so much space which might otherwise go to me.
Life just isn't fair sometimes.....We'll have a toast to you while we are sitting in "your" C-class seat!
Switched to AA this year and used up my last miles on this trip which became a problem thanks to TG. If I want to go to Asia again, CX has 3 flights out of JFK everyday! Let's all switch!
Happy to hear of your success. But, as a long time OneWorld member I got to tell you that FF tix on CX in "C" are quite difficult to get - especially at holiday time. In addition, they are apt to route you JFK>Vancouver over the Pacific rather than the non-stop to Hong Kong. The alternative to CX in JAL via Tokyo. But, its not a snap to get C on them either. Been there. Done that.
To be honest - having been through the mill trying to get tickets on each - there are more trans-Pac alternatives with *A than OW.
And when all is said and done UA did make good. Not that it wasn't a huge pain in the a$$. Do what you want. But keep in mind, the FF redemption grass isn't any greener over there on OW.
Second that, but as Kenstee writes, do whatever makes you happy. A switch often works out for the best, you see how the other half live, BUT if you want to take it from somebody who sits on the fence between both....
Star Alliance is better, if that is where your flights are. I keep OW for the areas that *A don't cover and the airlines are very good in covering that. regards bkkrop
I have to say I am impressed with the way some partners are handling award re-bookings, especially UA/MP. When I had a similar incident, with UA/MP, a few years ago I was offered no reasonable alternative so had to re-deposit miles and issue a Standard (requires ~ 75% more miles) award.
However as a frequent UA upgrader I have to say I am a little annoyed that they are freeing up so much space which might otherwise go to me. Also it's easier to understand why TG cancelled this route seeing as though a lot of the seats seem to have been going to partner award travel which likely yields a pittance in revenue compared to a revenue fare pax. Of course TG could have 'controlled' their inventory a bit better.
Airlines don't have C and F classes for "upgraders" - if you want to sit in C or F, then buy a C or F ticket.
Programs: Thai Gold, NZ Koru Club and comped Silver, QANTAS Club Bronze
Posts: 3,204
Quote:
Airlines don't have C and F classes for "upgraders" - if you want to sit in C or F, then buy a C or F ticket.
Airline have F and C for a number of reasons, and making these seats available for 'upgraders' is most definitely a strategy used by airlines to attract and retain customers.
When an upgrade is secured by paying cash/CCrd for a standby upgrade, or through miles, then this is a 'paid' upgrade since the mileage didn't come to you for free by any stretch of the imagination. Mileage earning fares and other the other programs all cost the consumer at one point or another. Perhaps those who have large cashflows through some CCrd schemes are relatively better off for accumulating miles than others whose circumstances are different.
Upgrades for other reasons (political/societal status, nepotism, etc etc) are of course counterproductive to revenue inflow.
Upgrading carries the risk that upgradeable seats won't be available when you prefer them - that is a part of the risk. For greater security of a C or F seat, buy all means pay more.
Airline have F and C for a number of reasons, and making these seats available for 'upgraders' is most definitely a strategy used by airlines to attract and retain customers.
When an upgrade is secured by paying cash/CCrd for a standby upgrade, or through miles, then this is a 'paid' upgrade since the mileage didn't come to you for free by any stretch of the imagination. Mileage earning fares and other the other programs all cost the consumer at one point or another. Perhaps those who have large cashflows through some CCrd schemes are relatively better off for accumulating miles than others whose circumstances are different.
Upgrades for other reasons (political/societal status, nepotism, etc etc) are of course counterproductive to revenue inflow.
Upgrading carries the risk that upgradeable seats won't be available when you prefer them - that is a part of the risk. For greater security of a C or F seat, buy all means pay more.
Perhaps, but premium cabins are first, and foremost, cabins for those who can and will pay for the luxury of sitting in the front of the plane. I agree that it is an incentive for an airlines' frequent flyers to have the chance to upgrade using miles, or are sold at the gate/day of departure, to generate additional cash flow. However, I was answering in response to a statement made in regards to airlines opening up revenue seats for displaced passengers. If you want to sit upfront, don't rely on the chance of an upgrade on the day of depature.
Airlines don't have C and F classes for "upgraders" - if you want to sit in C or F, then buy a C or F ticket.
With regards to UA, which is the airline I was referring to in my comments which you quoted and offered comment on, you are unfortunately misinformed. UA does in fact have C and F classes for upgraders. It is commonly referred to as NC (I) and NF (X). Award space is XY (N/E), XC (O) and XF (R).
I appreciate your sentiment but please get your facts straight before offering comments.
As a UA/MP 1K MP gives me six (6) Systemwide Upgrades each year. These can be used on almost all fare buckets, including low-priced Q/V/W international fares. Further these upgrades can be confirmed at ticketing time, so potentially months before travel commences, and are good for multiple segments, e.g. BOS-ORD-NRT-BKK. Sometimes I use these to uprade from Y to C and sometimes from C to F. UA makes upgrade space available (NC/NF).
My comments referred to the fact that there are limited seats available and I would prefer that UA clear my upgrade first, after all I did pay for a ticket with cash, before accomodating an award passenger who might have been disserviced by the TG cancellation. But I acknowledge it is a fine balance to keep both parties satisfied. And I am impressed with some of the success stories reported here. And I have been re-accomodated by UA/MP recently (yesterday) on an award due to schedule changes.
"There was even an availability on SQ 26 and he was booking my partner on that and just right after he said OK, the wonderful UA system gave him an error message that it's a RTW ticket because SQ 26 flies via FRA."
I recently rebooked my TG to PHN from JFK on OZ. Since i'm returning through SGN I thought about rebooking the return on SQ 26. Now I know not to bother trying!
Thanks!
Last edited by adomatic; Jun 30, 08 at 10:01 am..
Reason: Added quotes
Just like to find out from anyone in this forum who had used their ROP points for redemption on the BKK-JFK flight? Seems like TG will only re-book you from BKK-LAX and thereafter, you have to buy your own ticket from LAX to JFK.
Did this happen to all those who used their ROP points for the redemption?
