"Ghost" MP Availability - Again
Jun 17, 2012, 9:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,860
"Ghost" MP Availability - Again
About 7 months ago I was trying to book at miles ticket on the CO website. It showed availability of LH in F. It would not book and the phone agents could not get it either. I was assured by CO that this was "temporary" and would be fixed.
Today I am looking for TG availability from FRA-BKK. TG had nothing available after April, 2013 for booking. Today the availability "came on line". I tried to book it, could not, called the 1K reservation, they could not, they put me through to website suppot, they saw it, but could not book it. Now TG has joined the phantom airline availability.
Again, they are giving the long list of why it cannot be booked. The last thing they admit is their website is a piece of junk.
Today I am looking for TG availability from FRA-BKK. TG had nothing available after April, 2013 for booking. Today the availability "came on line". I tried to book it, could not, called the 1K reservation, they could not, they put me through to website suppot, they saw it, but could not book it. Now TG has joined the phantom airline availability.
Again, they are giving the long list of why it cannot be booked. The last thing they admit is their website is a piece of junk.
Jun 18, 2012, 5:47 am
#3
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Saw some ghost LH for a couple weeks for now...not on my preferred routing, but would add a connection in BOS. UA.com clearly showed F availability, but nothing in KVS.
Jun 18, 2012, 5:49 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,860
The fligts an class of service are avialable on aeroplan, so they exist. Just UA website ongoing problems?
If they are not available on UA website, why do they show them? Very frustrating to be going through this again with UA.
If they are not available on UA website, why do they show them? Very frustrating to be going through this again with UA.
Jun 18, 2012, 6:50 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,393
Since it shows avail on Aeroplan, and I had a UA CSR call the LH * Desk (or something like that), I'm suspicious this might be LH's fault and not uniteds.
This is different than plain phantom LH avail which united.com shows, but won't let u put on hold.
Jun 18, 2012, 6:53 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885
This same thing just happened to me with NH availability 2 days ago. I saw it, called, and the agent said it's no longer there. I refreshed my screen many times, but she still could not book it for me. She said "keep checking" which made me laugh -- how am I supposed to keep checking if it says its' there but really not?
Jun 18, 2012, 7:04 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,393
This same thing just happened to me with NH availability 2 days ago. I saw it, called, and the agent said it's no longer there. I refreshed my screen many times, but she still could not book it for me. She said "keep checking" which made me laugh -- how am I supposed to keep checking if it says its' there but really not?
Jun 18, 2012, 7:06 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
When in doubt - check the ANA site. I don't even bother looking at the UA site any longer. What's the point. We all know this problem is not going away
Jun 18, 2012, 7:19 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,393
It is also not 100% accurate. IME it fails to show TK avail.
Even after all the issues, United.com award booking function is an industry leader IMHO. Aeroplan can get very hard to use, and many routes are completely unbookable online. ANA is very hard for the average user to use.
Jun 18, 2012, 7:20 am
#10
Join Date: May 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Amb, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,126
I had issues with phantom LH F availability when booking a reward recently. I made it to the final page when it was processing cc info and got an error that I needed to call. Agent couldn't locate any availability that was showing on united.com. Ended up getting J on a different date on a preferred flight anyway.
Jun 18, 2012, 7:31 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
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ANA is very uncreative with routings. I use it too - just pointing out the downsides.
It is also not 100% accurate. IME it fails to show TK avail.
Even after all the issues, United.com award booking function is an industry leader IMHO. Aeroplan can get very hard to use, and many routes are completely unbookable online. ANA is very hard for the average user to use.
It is also not 100% accurate. IME it fails to show TK avail.
Even after all the issues, United.com award booking function is an industry leader IMHO. Aeroplan can get very hard to use, and many routes are completely unbookable online. ANA is very hard for the average user to use.
I know when flying from NY to BKK I want to take the LH380 from FRA-NRT so ANA is good for finding that flight. Then it's easy to find a flight within 24 hours from NRT-BKK. Finally from NY - FRA the day before I need to sometimes get creative but still works well)
Hard to use? Yeah, I guess so. I'm about as computer savy as Mike Tyson but I tolayed w it for a few days and now I'm a pro
Jun 18, 2012, 10:10 am
#12
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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How about this one (albeit in reverse)...
MIA-FRA-CDG
Both MIA-FRA & FRA-CDG are daily flights
Can't book a revenue flight let alone see award availability as in both cases, the flights don't show on .sux
Called and asked the agent if she could see the flights
Agent: Yes, would you like first, business or economy?
Me: Business and I'm looking for award seats plus I know you'll probably say no, but by any chance do you see 3 business award seats?
Agent: Yes, there are 6 business award seats available-well 3 now as I just grabbed yours ^
MIA-FRA-CDG
Both MIA-FRA & FRA-CDG are daily flights
Can't book a revenue flight let alone see award availability as in both cases, the flights don't show on .sux
Called and asked the agent if she could see the flights
Agent: Yes, would you like first, business or economy?
Me: Business and I'm looking for award seats plus I know you'll probably say no, but by any chance do you see 3 business award seats?
Agent: Yes, there are 6 business award seats available-well 3 now as I just grabbed yours ^
Jun 18, 2012, 10:27 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,393
How about this one (albeit in reverse)...
MIA-FRA-CDG
Both MIA-FRA & FRA-CDG are daily flights
Can't book a revenue flight let alone see award availability as in both cases, the flights don't show on .sux
Called and asked the agent if she could see the flights
Agent: Yes, would you like first, business or economy?
Me: Business and I'm looking for award seats plus I know you'll probably say no, but by any chance do you see 3 business award seats?
Agent: Yes, there are 6 business award seats available-well 3 now as I just grabbed yours ^
MIA-FRA-CDG
Both MIA-FRA & FRA-CDG are daily flights
Can't book a revenue flight let alone see award availability as in both cases, the flights don't show on .sux
Called and asked the agent if she could see the flights
Agent: Yes, would you like first, business or economy?
Me: Business and I'm looking for award seats plus I know you'll probably say no, but by any chance do you see 3 business award seats?
Agent: Yes, there are 6 business award seats available-well 3 now as I just grabbed yours ^
Jun 18, 2012, 10:40 am
#15
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
