Q about Award Reservation--Air China unable to see my reservation
May 2, 2014, 1:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 193
Q about Award Reservation--Air China unable to see my reservation
I booked an award reservation on May 1, 2014, on United.com, using United miles, as follows:
outbound leg:
BUSINESS CLASS: IAH-NRT-TPE (IAH-NRT is with UA, while NRT-TPE is with EVA)
return leg:
FIRST CLASS: TPE-PEK-IAH (TPE-PEK is with EVA, while PEK-IAH is with AIR CHINA).
United agent gave me EVA's confirmation number, which I used to obtain seat assignments on the EVA legs by calling EVA.
However, United agent cannot see Air China's confirmation number.
I called Air China and gave them e-ticket #. They said they are unable to see my reservation.
I called United today, May 2, and asked United to call Air China to fix problem. After one hour on phone, United agent comes back and tells me there is likely a delay in propagating the reservation to Air China's system, and asked me to call back on May 3 to check.
Has anyone else run into this issue before? And if so, what was done to fix the problem?
outbound leg:
BUSINESS CLASS: IAH-NRT-TPE (IAH-NRT is with UA, while NRT-TPE is with EVA)
return leg:
FIRST CLASS: TPE-PEK-IAH (TPE-PEK is with EVA, while PEK-IAH is with AIR CHINA).
United agent gave me EVA's confirmation number, which I used to obtain seat assignments on the EVA legs by calling EVA.
However, United agent cannot see Air China's confirmation number.
I called Air China and gave them e-ticket #. They said they are unable to see my reservation.
I called United today, May 2, and asked United to call Air China to fix problem. After one hour on phone, United agent comes back and tells me there is likely a delay in propagating the reservation to Air China's system, and asked me to call back on May 3 to check.
Has anyone else run into this issue before? And if so, what was done to fix the problem?
May 2, 2014, 1:53 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, HH Gold, PC Plat, lots of miles but no status w/ usual *A, OW & ST suspects
Posts: 101
Hopefully it's not related to this issue -- http://upgrd.com/matthew/mysterious-...leageplus.html
May 2, 2014, 2:04 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
I didn't see you specifically mention this but assume you can see the full reservation on united.com?
This happened to me with a reservation containing a SN segment, and I got the same advice. I called back the next day, no change, but the new agent was able to manually ticket it somehow.
My advice is call back now and ask the agent to help you get it ticketed. Others on the forum probably know the details behind this issue, I don't.
This happened to me with a reservation containing a SN segment, and I got the same advice. I called back the next day, no change, but the new agent was able to manually ticket it somehow.
My advice is call back now and ask the agent to help you get it ticketed. Others on the forum probably know the details behind this issue, I don't.
May 2, 2014, 2:06 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 193
Hopefully it's not related to this issue -- http://upgrd.com/matthew/mysterious-...leageplus.html
The United agent said it was a synchronization issue between United and Air China. I'm a bit befuddled by that since EVA has no issue seeing my reservation.
Has anyone else experienced an issue where a Partner airline is unable to see an award reservation booked through United?
May 2, 2014, 2:09 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Plat, UA Plat 1MM, AS MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, Avis Presidents Club, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,938
Has the reservation ticketed? I have found that it can take a few days for reservations to ticket when partners are involved.
At the very least, patience is important. Give it another day or two per the agent.
At the very least, patience is important. Give it another day or two per the agent.
May 2, 2014, 2:09 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
It probably hasn't ticketed on CA yet. Supposed to happen within 24 hours, but sometimes there are delays. Hard to tell if it's a UA issue or a CA issue. UA used to screw these up quite often, but not getting many reports of that lately.
Have you checked your ticket on the Saudia website? saudiairlines/Welcome
Have you checked your ticket on the Saudia website? saudiairlines/Welcome
May 2, 2014, 2:18 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 193
It probably hasn't ticketed on CA yet. Supposed to happen within 24 hours, but sometimes there are delays. Hard to tell if it's a UA issue or a CA issue. UA used to screw these up quite often, but not getting many reports of that lately.
Have you checked your ticket on the Saudia website? saudiairlines/Welcome
Have you checked your ticket on the Saudia website? saudiairlines/Welcome
I guess if it doesn't show up in 24 hours at Air China, I'll have to escalate to a supervisor at United. I'm not sure about the competency of the agent who was helping me (I'm a non-elite and so assume I probably got the bottom of the barrel in terms of customer assistance).
May 2, 2014, 2:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
Make sure to read the linked article and this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...hacked-25.html
I would be very nervous about booking one of these until this is sorted out and is put to a stop.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...hacked-25.html
I would be very nervous about booking one of these until this is sorted out and is put to a stop.
May 3, 2014, 2:27 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 193
UPDATE:
It appears that the reservation did not ticket because United.com erroneously showed award availability of F, while Air China did not have award availability.
Spent two more hours today on the phone to discover that
United changed my TPE-PEK-IAH (First class) to TPE-NRT-IAH (Business class). Recredited 40,000 miles to my account (120,000 F award less 80,000 C award).
It appears that the reservation did not ticket because United.com erroneously showed award availability of F, while Air China did not have award availability.
Spent two more hours today on the phone to discover that
United changed my TPE-PEK-IAH (First class) to TPE-NRT-IAH (Business class). Recredited 40,000 miles to my account (120,000 F award less 80,000 C award).
May 3, 2014, 2:57 pm
#10
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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Posts: 100,368
Are you happy with this or would you prefer FC for more miles? How are your new schedule and NRT connecting times?
May 3, 2014, 4:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold, UA G
Posts: 596
UPDATE:
It appears that the reservation did not ticket because United.com erroneously showed award availability of F, while Air China did not have award availability.
Spent two more hours today on the phone to discover that
United changed my TPE-PEK-IAH (First class) to TPE-NRT-IAH (Business class). Recredited 40,000 miles to my account (120,000 F award less 80,000 C award).
It appears that the reservation did not ticket because United.com erroneously showed award availability of F, while Air China did not have award availability.
Spent two more hours today on the phone to discover that
United changed my TPE-PEK-IAH (First class) to TPE-NRT-IAH (Business class). Recredited 40,000 miles to my account (120,000 F award less 80,000 C award).
May 3, 2014, 4:50 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 193
I certainly would have preferred F with Air China (enjoyed my experience last year with them in F), but felt it wasn't worth the aggravation (including more hours on the phone) of insisting on F on a different route which may not be ideal.
May 3, 2014, 4:59 pm
#13
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Posts: 100,368
New schedule is similar to original schedule, so OK there.
I certainly would have preferred F with Air China (enjoyed my experience last year with them in F), but felt it wasn't worth the aggravation (including more hours on the phone) of insisting on F on a different route which may not be ideal.
I certainly would have preferred F with Air China (enjoyed my experience last year with them in F), but felt it wasn't worth the aggravation (including more hours on the phone) of insisting on F on a different route which may not be ideal.
Mar 27, 2015, 9:36 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: IND
Posts: 2,005
I made a UA award reservation with a CA flight in it. UA gave me a confirmation number, and I was able to get a seat assignment by calling CA. Does this mean I'm good to go? Wonder the issues in 2014 are resolved by now. Thanks.
Mar 27, 2015, 10:28 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
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Posts: 4,387
Another variation on this theme happened to a GS friend:
He booked a SFO-PEK-BKK saver coach award ticket (in X), and upgraded the SFO-PEK to PN using a GPU. PEK-BKK was in Y on Air China (CA). The PNR and e-ticket number were confirmed with UA all the way through to BKK. CA was called for a seat assignment; they said they saw the reservation OK, but could not reserve a seat until check-in at the transit desk in PEK.
At check-in at SFO, UA could not print out the BP for the CA PEK-BKK leg either out front or at the GFL -- both agents agreed that CA had confirmed the space and he'd be fine.
When he got to PEK, the transit desk said that they could not see confirmed space, and since he was on an award ticket and the flight was oversold, he would have to overnight in PEK *two nights* before they had a seat available. My friend asked CA to get a UA agent, who fortunately came over. The UA agent apologized, but said she could not do anything -- and that all other airlines were sold out on the route until the second day ahead. My friend had three 70-lbs bags and was worried about how he was going to lug these back-and-forth to a hotel as he attempted to stand-by.
The good news is he insisted on going to the gate of the original CA flight PEK-BKK, stood by, and got the last seat on the plane. So that ended well, except for some agita.
While waiting at PEK he called GS, and the very nice agent said they have had a lot of problems with CA and other *A carriers in similar cases, thought LH and NH were "better" in handling award legs as part of UA ticketed itineraries that had original legs on UA. She agreed that the so-called "seamless" *A service wasn't.
He booked a SFO-PEK-BKK saver coach award ticket (in X), and upgraded the SFO-PEK to PN using a GPU. PEK-BKK was in Y on Air China (CA). The PNR and e-ticket number were confirmed with UA all the way through to BKK. CA was called for a seat assignment; they said they saw the reservation OK, but could not reserve a seat until check-in at the transit desk in PEK.
At check-in at SFO, UA could not print out the BP for the CA PEK-BKK leg either out front or at the GFL -- both agents agreed that CA had confirmed the space and he'd be fine.
When he got to PEK, the transit desk said that they could not see confirmed space, and since he was on an award ticket and the flight was oversold, he would have to overnight in PEK *two nights* before they had a seat available. My friend asked CA to get a UA agent, who fortunately came over. The UA agent apologized, but said she could not do anything -- and that all other airlines were sold out on the route until the second day ahead. My friend had three 70-lbs bags and was worried about how he was going to lug these back-and-forth to a hotel as he attempted to stand-by.
The good news is he insisted on going to the gate of the original CA flight PEK-BKK, stood by, and got the last seat on the plane. So that ended well, except for some agita.
While waiting at PEK he called GS, and the very nice agent said they have had a lot of problems with CA and other *A carriers in similar cases, thought LH and NH were "better" in handling award legs as part of UA ticketed itineraries that had original legs on UA. She agreed that the so-called "seamless" *A service wasn't.
