Apr 21, 2014, 11:37 am
Last edit by: Pat89339
A number of folks with award flights booked on CA (Air China) found their reservations cancelled. The only notification of cancellation appears to be an email in from UA written in chinese. UA reps confirmed that cancellations were made online and CA award space was no longer available. UA can rebook on other flights when award space is available.
It is plausible that a third party with access to PNR and pax name on the flight can fraudulently cancel an existing itinerary and book the reopened award seat.
Affected FlyerTalk members — with links to where in this discussion they posted their experiences — include:
It is plausible that a third party with access to PNR and pax name on the flight can fraudulently cancel an existing itinerary and book the reopened award seat.
Affected FlyerTalk members — with links to where in this discussion they posted their experiences — include:
- MikeMpls
- nihaoa
- lewende Reported 4 friends with this issue
- ordbkk
- twebst
- kb1992
- litesleeper
- zombietooth
- critten Reported 2/3 confirmations (3 people CA Business class) cancelled at the same time
- skyvanman Also 1 friend with the issue
- chris1234
- atiger29
- bubble o bill
- genemk2
- jefftiger
- CuddlyFlyer
- gpeso8
- imm2b
- acf1270
- dgxoxo
- ACM two passengers
It seems everybody wants to see the message.. here was mine:
united.com 通知 - 航班预订取消
2014年4月17日 (星期四)
united.com | 优惠促销 | 预订 | 赢取前程万里 (MileagePlus®) 奖励里程 | 我的帐户
先生 ORDBKK
您的预订 MYRES123 已取消，我们已收到您的退款申请。申请信用卡退款需 7 个工作日。如果信用卡退款未在一个付款周期内寄出，请联系信用卡公司。对于包括现金退款在内的 所有其他形式 的付款，需要 20 个工作日。
如需详细信息或查看退款的状态，请访问 united.com 并提供您的机票号码。
感谢您使用 united.com
电子邮件信息
请不要使用“回复”地址回复此邮件。
此电子邮件中的信息仅供原接收人使用。
如果您遇到技术问题，请通过电子邮件或电话联系 united.com 服务支持。
通知：机票取消确认
电子邮件地址: ORDBKK@MYEMAIL
2014年4月17日 (星期四)
united.com | 优惠促销 | 预订 | 赢取前程万里 (MileagePlus®) 奖励里程 | 我的帐户
先生 ORDBKK
您的预订 MYRES123 已取消，我们已收到您的退款申请。申请信用卡退款需 7 个工作日。如果信用卡退款未在一个付款周期内寄出，请联系信用卡公司。对于包括现金退款在内的 所有其他形式 的付款，需要 20 个工作日。
如需详细信息或查看退款的状态，请访问 united.com 并提供您的机票号码。
感谢您使用 united.com
电子邮件信息
请不要使用“回复”地址回复此邮件。
此电子邮件中的信息仅供原接收人使用。
如果您遇到技术问题，请通过电子邮件或电话联系 united.com 服务支持。
通知：机票取消确认
电子邮件地址: ORDBKK@MYEMAIL
Originally Posted by ordbkk View Post
For tracking purposes, I went through the 27 pages of this thread and compiled a list of those affected:
MikeMpls
nihaoa
lewende (reported 4 friends with this issue)
ordbkk
twebst
kb1992
litesleeper
zombietooth
critten
skyvanman (also 1 friend with the issue)
jefftiger (but, happened during October 2013)
So we're at 13 people affected, although some like critten have had multiple trips canceled.
From what I understand, all of these occurred in the last 3 weeks.
For tracking purposes, I went through the 27 pages of this thread and compiled a list of those affected:
MikeMpls
nihaoa
lewende (reported 4 friends with this issue)
ordbkk
twebst
kb1992
litesleeper
zombietooth
critten
skyvanman (also 1 friend with the issue)
jefftiger (but, happened during October 2013)
So we're at 13 people affected, although some like critten have had multiple trips canceled.
From what I understand, all of these occurred in the last 3 weeks.
2014 UA Issued Awards on Air China (CA) Are Mysteriously Being Canceled (Hacked?)
Apr 23, 2014, 10:34 am
#526
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
Apr 23, 2014, 10:49 am
#527
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,923
Perhaps this is sent out when reservations are cancelled on United's Chinese website?
I just want to see the e-mail. Does it provide any clues? Does it mention cancellation at all? Is it an authentic e-mail from United or not?
Apr 23, 2014, 10:55 am
#529
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Why is it that a reservation cancelled on united.com sends out an e-mail in Chinese? When I cancel a reservation that includes an Air China segment, there is no e-mail that is sent out in Chinese.
Perhaps this is sent out when reservations are cancelled on United's Chinese website?
I just want to see the e-mail. Does it provide any clues? Does it mention cancellation at all? Is it an authentic e-mail from United or not?
Perhaps this is sent out when reservations are cancelled on United's Chinese website?
I just want to see the e-mail. Does it provide any clues? Does it mention cancellation at all? Is it an authentic e-mail from United or not?
Apr 23, 2014, 10:57 am
#530
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 83
http://www.united.com/web/zh-CN/ etc/etc/
Also, the headers of the email indicate it came from "coair.com" which is a Continental Airlines system.
Apr 23, 2014, 12:31 pm
#531
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,923
Hello, I PM'd you the Chinese email. It basically says your reservation has been canceled, and the only links inside are to United's chinese website:
http://www.united.com/web/zh-CN/ etc/etc/
Also, the headers of the email indicate it came from "coair.com" which is a Continental Airlines system.
http://www.united.com/web/zh-CN/ etc/etc/
Also, the headers of the email indicate it came from "coair.com" which is a Continental Airlines system.
Apr 23, 2014, 12:33 pm
#532
Suspended
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Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
Apr 23, 2014, 12:42 pm
#534
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Programs: Hyatt D/HHonors D/ SPG P/ Marriott P/ IHG P/ UA 1K/ AA EXP/ DL D
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Apr 23, 2014, 12:53 pm
#535
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Delta Plat, UA Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 258
Apr 23, 2014, 1:03 pm
#536
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,124
Eg. "Received by - ORD/ABC123/UA/123456789"
Apr 23, 2014, 1:10 pm
#537
Suspended
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Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
Right. Thus my earlier point that UA could create an alternate PNR with a subset of the information and give only that to CA. I don't know if this would violate some of their contractual or other obligations. I'm sure it would be a hassle for them.
Apr 23, 2014, 1:59 pm
#538
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Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
How do you obtain the list of PNRs connected to a particular flight?
Apr 23, 2014, 2:08 pm
#539
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From my (admittedly limited) knowledge, United controls their tickets / reservations. Seems much easier to just require that changes / cancellations to an existing itinerary be initiated only from the responsible party's "logged-in" account.
Shoot, just requiring the entry of the stupid 4-digit PIN would probably solve the problem.
The problem is that United allows ticket cancellation using only the PNR and passenger name.
Seems rather simple....Am I missing something?
Last edited by goodeats21; Apr 23, 2014 at 2:09 pm Reason: typo
Apr 23, 2014, 4:23 pm
#540
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 13
Update on my situation
Wanted to share the latest on my status. Thanks to you guys on FT, I was contacted by UA, and have since been offered a replacement trip on UA metal. I had been looking forward to checking our Air China's "forbidden Pavillion", but I guess I know now why it's called Forbidden Pavillion. You can't go there, it gets cancelled on you! 
Anyway, they are also refunding the $200 I spent to redeposit the miles to my MP account.
I will be using pre-deval point levels on this as well, as I had on the original booking.
Fortunately, I didn't have any other exposure to loss of deposits such as ground transportation or hotel bookings, etc.
My trip is in mid-June.
Although it's been a rough couple weeks, at least it looks like the ending is a lot better than it could have been.
Thanks again, everyone!
Anyway, they are also refunding the $200 I spent to redeposit the miles to my MP account.
I will be using pre-deval point levels on this as well, as I had on the original booking.
Fortunately, I didn't have any other exposure to loss of deposits such as ground transportation or hotel bookings, etc.
My trip is in mid-June.
Although it's been a rough couple weeks, at least it looks like the ending is a lot better than it could have been.
Thanks again, everyone!