Overlapping Bookings - Any Problems?
Jan 25, 2013, 3:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy BS, Hertz & Avis Pres
Posts: 653
Overlapping Bookings - Any Problems?
I know this has been asked before but I have not found recent answers relating to overlapping mileage OR revenue tickets.
A friend and I are doing a Mileage run in May:
IAH-IAD-LHR-IAD-ORD-IAH (all UA metal).
Given that I live in Denver, I am inclined to either purchase a one-way IAD-DEN nonstop or ORD-DEN nonstop to make my getting home on the return a little easier and quicker (I'll be buying a revenue or mileage ticket to get to IAH at the beginning). I'm not sure if I will use miles or purchase a revenue ticket for the IAD/ORD-DEN leg.
Will United flag me if I am booked on two separate itineraries on the same day with overlapping and "conflicting" routings? That is to say, if someone looked at my MP account, they'd see a nonstop IAD/ORD-DEN at the same time as the IAD-ORD-IAH flights (the return portion of my international ticket). Aside from throwing away money (either in a leg I won't use or an award redeposit fee), is there much risk here? In some prior posts I reviewed relating to pmCO and Shares, it was asserted that when I checked in for the earlier itinerary, the "overlapped" later itinerary would be cancelled out. Is that true of the new United?
If I shouldn't book overlapping, conflicting tickets, is there any chance that I could buy an IAH-DEN ticket that creates a legal connection in IAH from my mileage run itinerary but then SDC two PNRs such that I be able to fly IAD-DEN or IAD-ORD-DEN and skip one or both connections (assuming there is fare class availability)?
Thanks much in advance for your help and thoughts.
A friend and I are doing a Mileage run in May:
IAH-IAD-LHR-IAD-ORD-IAH (all UA metal).
Given that I live in Denver, I am inclined to either purchase a one-way IAD-DEN nonstop or ORD-DEN nonstop to make my getting home on the return a little easier and quicker (I'll be buying a revenue or mileage ticket to get to IAH at the beginning). I'm not sure if I will use miles or purchase a revenue ticket for the IAD/ORD-DEN leg.
Will United flag me if I am booked on two separate itineraries on the same day with overlapping and "conflicting" routings? That is to say, if someone looked at my MP account, they'd see a nonstop IAD/ORD-DEN at the same time as the IAD-ORD-IAH flights (the return portion of my international ticket). Aside from throwing away money (either in a leg I won't use or an award redeposit fee), is there much risk here? In some prior posts I reviewed relating to pmCO and Shares, it was asserted that when I checked in for the earlier itinerary, the "overlapped" later itinerary would be cancelled out. Is that true of the new United?
If I shouldn't book overlapping, conflicting tickets, is there any chance that I could buy an IAH-DEN ticket that creates a legal connection in IAH from my mileage run itinerary but then SDC two PNRs such that I be able to fly IAD-DEN or IAD-ORD-DEN and skip one or both connections (assuming there is fare class availability)?
Thanks much in advance for your help and thoughts.
Jan 25, 2013, 3:43 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
What you're proposing is hidden city ticketing (i.e., you are terminating your trip in a different city than what you purchased to/from) and is a violation of the contract of carriage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_booking_ploys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_booking_ploys
Jan 25, 2013, 3:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
If you were calling it a mileage run then why are you skipping IAD-ORD-IAH? That is a lot of miles to skip when you were actually calling it a mileage run!
You will have less chance to be detected if you don't put in your MP number in your non-MR itinerary (e.g., ORD-DEN).
You will have less chance to be detected if you don't put in your MP number in your non-MR itinerary (e.g., ORD-DEN).
I know this has been asked before but I have not found recent answers relating to overlapping mileage OR revenue tickets.
A friend and I are doing a Mileage run in May:
IAH-IAD-LHR-IAD-ORD-IAH (all UA metal).
Given that I live in Denver, I am inclined to either purchase a one-way IAD-DEN nonstop or ORD-DEN nonstop to make my getting home on the return a little easier and quicker (I'll be buying a revenue or mileage ticket to get to IAH at the beginning). I'm not sure if I will use miles or purchase a revenue ticket for the IAD/ORD-DEN leg.
Will United flag me if I am booked on two separate itineraries on the same day with overlapping and "conflicting" routings? That is to say, if someone looked at my MP account, they'd see a nonstop IAD/ORD-DEN at the same time as the IAD-ORD-IAH flights (the return portion of my international ticket). Aside from throwing away money (either in a leg I won't use or an award redeposit fee), is there much risk here? In some prior posts I reviewed relating to pmCO and Shares, it was asserted that when I checked in for the earlier itinerary, the "overlapped" later itinerary would be cancelled out. Is that true of the new United?
If I shouldn't book overlapping, conflicting tickets, is there any chance that I could buy an IAH-DEN ticket that creates a legal connection in IAH from my mileage run itinerary but then SDC two PNRs such that I be able to fly IAD-DEN or IAD-ORD-DEN and skip one or both connections (assuming there is fare class availability)?
Thanks much in advance for your help and thoughts.
A friend and I are doing a Mileage run in May:
IAH-IAD-LHR-IAD-ORD-IAH (all UA metal).
Given that I live in Denver, I am inclined to either purchase a one-way IAD-DEN nonstop or ORD-DEN nonstop to make my getting home on the return a little easier and quicker (I'll be buying a revenue or mileage ticket to get to IAH at the beginning). I'm not sure if I will use miles or purchase a revenue ticket for the IAD/ORD-DEN leg.
Will United flag me if I am booked on two separate itineraries on the same day with overlapping and "conflicting" routings? That is to say, if someone looked at my MP account, they'd see a nonstop IAD/ORD-DEN at the same time as the IAD-ORD-IAH flights (the return portion of my international ticket). Aside from throwing away money (either in a leg I won't use or an award redeposit fee), is there much risk here? In some prior posts I reviewed relating to pmCO and Shares, it was asserted that when I checked in for the earlier itinerary, the "overlapped" later itinerary would be cancelled out. Is that true of the new United?
If I shouldn't book overlapping, conflicting tickets, is there any chance that I could buy an IAH-DEN ticket that creates a legal connection in IAH from my mileage run itinerary but then SDC two PNRs such that I be able to fly IAD-DEN or IAD-ORD-DEN and skip one or both connections (assuming there is fare class availability)?
Thanks much in advance for your help and thoughts.
Jan 25, 2013, 4:15 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
1. If you use your MP#, the overlapping bookings will be detected.
2. If you don't use your MP#, your overlapping bookings may be detected.
3. If the system picks up the overlapping bookings, UA may call or email you to ask you to pick one or it may cancel one or both without notification.
4. If you really want to do this, don't book your last leg on UA. Book anothr carrier on another ticket. Don't do this often (meaning again in the next couple of years) because it's a violation of the COC and you are putting your status/miles at risk.
2. If you don't use your MP#, your overlapping bookings may be detected.
3. If the system picks up the overlapping bookings, UA may call or email you to ask you to pick one or it may cancel one or both without notification.
4. If you really want to do this, don't book your last leg on UA. Book anothr carrier on another ticket. Don't do this often (meaning again in the next couple of years) because it's a violation of the COC and you are putting your status/miles at risk.
Jan 25, 2013, 4:21 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy BS, Hertz & Avis Pres
Posts: 653
Thanks for the good feedback, all. One of the main impetuses for my wanting to do this is that the ORD layover is 4+ hours but given the feedback that you have provided, I'll just buy a DEN-IAH-DEN roundtrip around the mileage run itinerary and hope to use SDC maneuvering to shorten my layover in ORD or get a nonstop IAD-IAH (and SDC my later flight home).
Thanks again.
Thanks again.