SMF-ORD on UA and ORD-DUB on Aer Lingus
Oct 16, 2014, 10:23 am
#1
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SMF-ORD on UA and ORD-DUB on Aer Lingus
I've obtained award seats on Aer Lingus from Mileage Plus for September 2015 from ORD to DUB. I plan to get to ORD from the west coast by redeeming another award, likely a UA standard award, for a flight on UA from SMF to ORD. There will be about a 7-hour layover in ORD. The combined total of miles needed is still less than a standard award from the west coast to DUB, 55000 vs. 65000.
As these will be on different PNRs, is there a way to check my luggage through from SMF to DUB? Or, will I need to pick up my bags at ORD and recheck them?
As these will be on different PNRs, is there a way to check my luggage through from SMF to DUB? Or, will I need to pick up my bags at ORD and recheck them?
Oct 16, 2014, 10:30 am
#2
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Not sure I understand your logic. A UA award to DUB on EI costs the same number of miles whether you originate at SMF or ORD (30,000 miles for saver economy).
But to answer your question, yes, you should be able to check your bags through at SMF. Although this is never guaranteed.
But to answer your question, yes, you should be able to check your bags through at SMF. Although this is never guaranteed.
Oct 16, 2014, 10:58 am
#3
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Not sure I understand your logic. A UA award to DUB on EI costs the same number of miles whether you originate at SMF or ORD (30,000 miles for saver economy).
But to answer your question, yes, you should be able to check your bags through at SMF. Although this is never guaranteed.
But to answer your question, yes, you should be able to check your bags through at SMF. Although this is never guaranteed.
On the return, which will be FCO-SMF, I'm inclined to book a saver award FCO-LAX, stay overnight, and then return to SMF via WN points.
Oct 16, 2014, 11:58 am
#4
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The logic is most simple: saver awards from SMF-DUB are unavailable, while saver awards from ORD are readily available. And, as miles are in plentiful supply these days, I'm inclined to deploy them in this manner.
On the return, which will be FCO-SMF, I'm inclined to book a saver award FCO-LAX, stay overnight, and then return to SMF via WN points.
On the return, which will be FCO-SMF, I'm inclined to book a saver award FCO-LAX, stay overnight, and then return to SMF via WN points.
Besides the problem of tagging luggage all the way through, this idea of doing a trip on multiple separate tickets is fraught with danger.
For example if SMF-ORD is late getting in, then UA may not want to rebook you on ORD-DUB. You may things its all UA, but to UA its two separate tickets. If you take this "route" then best to book a night stay just in case.
Oct 16, 2014, 2:31 pm
#6
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I did mean SMF-DUB, which includes SMF-ORD; on 9/11/15 saver awards were (are) unavailable for either possibility. I could have potentially obtained a saver routing LAX-DUB, but that involves other hurdles.
There's nothing wrong with "wasting miles"; it's inherently better than wasting money, as miles can be obtained essentially at no charge, and can always be replenished at essentially no charge.
There's nothing wrong with "wasting miles"; it's inherently better than wasting money, as miles can be obtained essentially at no charge, and can always be replenished at essentially no charge.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 16, 2014 at 10:46 pm Reason: deleted reference to deleted post
Oct 16, 2014, 4:30 pm
#7
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As long as you promise "us" you'll look to tag on a saver seat SMF-ORD (once it opens) and cancel your standard award booked separately, that will placate us
Oct 16, 2014, 4:39 pm
#8
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1. As to luggage, the answer is "maybe" and you won't know until you check in at SMF. Make it easy for the agent by having a print-out of your EI e-ticket receipt. It is the actual ticket #, not PNR, which the agent will need.
2. The greater problem is the separate ticket. Even though both are booked with UA miles, that is simply a form of payment. You will not be connecting at ORD, but starting a separate ticket. If your UA flight is delayed or cancelled and you miss your EI flight, you have simply noshowed and your EI ticket will be cancelled. Perhaps you can get EI to reinstate and rebook, but perhaps not. Any incidental costs of the delay such as hotels & food are on your nickel
2. The greater problem is the separate ticket. Even though both are booked with UA miles, that is simply a form of payment. You will not be connecting at ORD, but starting a separate ticket. If your UA flight is delayed or cancelled and you miss your EI flight, you have simply noshowed and your EI ticket will be cancelled. Perhaps you can get EI to reinstate and rebook, but perhaps not. Any incidental costs of the delay such as hotels & food are on your nickel
Oct 16, 2014, 5:28 pm
#9
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The point some are making is that your SMF-ORD segment would already be "paid" for given you have a TATL flight booked.
As long as you promise "us" you'll look to tag on a saver seat SMF-ORD (once it opens) and cancel your standard award booked separately, that will placate us
As long as you promise "us" you'll look to tag on a saver seat SMF-ORD (once it opens) and cancel your standard award booked separately, that will placate us
The saver seat may, of course, never materialize.
Oct 16, 2014, 6:02 pm
#10
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It is truly a waste of miles.
1. This route is not an expensive route. And OP is not traveling during holiday season. Don't see why the rush.
2. There are plenty of options to DUB, including UA metal (I know everyone hates TATL 752s
)
3. Seriously, time is better spent if OP flies to Europe first (like LHR) and then DUB.
1. This route is not an expensive route. And OP is not traveling during holiday season. Don't see why the rush.
2. There are plenty of options to DUB, including UA metal (I know everyone hates TATL 752s
)3. Seriously, time is better spent if OP flies to Europe first (like LHR) and then DUB.
Oct 16, 2014, 6:11 pm
#11
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Oct 16, 2014, 8:25 pm
#12
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It is truly a waste of miles.
1. This route is not an expensive route. And OP is not traveling during holiday season. Don't see why the rush.
2. There are plenty of options to DUB, including UA metal (I know everyone hates TATL 752s)
3. Seriously, time is better spent if OP flies to Europe first (like LHR) and then DUB.
1. This route is not an expensive route. And OP is not traveling during holiday season. Don't see why the rush.
2. There are plenty of options to DUB, including UA metal (I know everyone hates TATL 752s
)3. Seriously, time is better spent if OP flies to Europe first (like LHR) and then DUB.
Oct 16, 2014, 11:29 pm
#13
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If you have access to BA Avios points you may want to consider BOS-DUB.
BOS-DUB is 12500 Avios o/w. (25k for J)
Get to BOS with a UA award ticket or buy it if the price is right.
Leave a LONG layover in BOS in case of a delay getting there... Even an overnight is a good idea.
BOS-DUB is 12500 Avios o/w. (25k for J)
Get to BOS with a UA award ticket or buy it if the price is right.
Leave a LONG layover in BOS in case of a delay getting there... Even an overnight is a good idea.
Oct 17, 2014, 10:48 am
#14
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Followup in response to your suggestions
In response to everyone's suggestions, I found saver award availability SMF-IAH-ORD on 9/11/15 that will connect at ORD with the award I had previously booked on line, namely the 8pm EI flight ORD-DUB.
I called United and the agent was, after some prodding, able to add the new segments to my existing on-line reservation for a change fee of $100 per ticket, but no additional miles. And, everything is now on one reservation. Initially the agent wondered aloud "whether we should just make a separate reservation to avoid the change fee" and "whether additional miles would be needed". With my guidance, we just paid the $200. Mysteriously, there is no separate $25 charge for making a booking through an agent; I guess that charge is included.
While I initially felt confident that using the early morning (643am) nonstop SMF-ORD, with its 7-hour+ layover to the 8pm ORD-DUB flight, offered enough of a connection cushion, even if on separate reservations, it does seem a better deal to save 50,000 miles (traditionally there does not appear to be saver availability on that flight) and take on the risk of an additional connection at IAH, for $200. Now, instead of a long layover at ORD, we will take a more circuitous path, but departure time from SMF is about the same.
In about a week, I will be attempting something similar, looking to book saver awards from FCO to SMF for 9/26/15, likely via Air Canada through Toronto or Montreal and on to LAX, with a possibility being a Saturday night stay at LAX and an early Sunday morning (9/27) return to SMF. That last flight seems a good bet to have saver availability.
Am I correct that if I book FCO-LAX on line, I can get a free change to add LAX-SMF if I call it in within 24 hours? Or perhaps there will be a $25 agent charge? Inventory will open up 24 hours apart, as LAX-SMF is one day after FCO-LAX.
I called United and the agent was, after some prodding, able to add the new segments to my existing on-line reservation for a change fee of $100 per ticket, but no additional miles. And, everything is now on one reservation. Initially the agent wondered aloud "whether we should just make a separate reservation to avoid the change fee" and "whether additional miles would be needed". With my guidance, we just paid the $200. Mysteriously, there is no separate $25 charge for making a booking through an agent; I guess that charge is included.
While I initially felt confident that using the early morning (643am) nonstop SMF-ORD, with its 7-hour+ layover to the 8pm ORD-DUB flight, offered enough of a connection cushion, even if on separate reservations, it does seem a better deal to save 50,000 miles (traditionally there does not appear to be saver availability on that flight) and take on the risk of an additional connection at IAH, for $200. Now, instead of a long layover at ORD, we will take a more circuitous path, but departure time from SMF is about the same.
In about a week, I will be attempting something similar, looking to book saver awards from FCO to SMF for 9/26/15, likely via Air Canada through Toronto or Montreal and on to LAX, with a possibility being a Saturday night stay at LAX and an early Sunday morning (9/27) return to SMF. That last flight seems a good bet to have saver availability.
Am I correct that if I book FCO-LAX on line, I can get a free change to add LAX-SMF if I call it in within 24 hours? Or perhaps there will be a $25 agent charge? Inventory will open up 24 hours apart, as LAX-SMF is one day after FCO-LAX.
Oct 17, 2014, 11:42 am
#15
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Congrats on adding the segments.
There are likely to be multiple schedule changes between now and next September. This should work out to your advantage; keep an eye on your reservation and then when there is a change, try to move to the SMF-ORD nonstop. I have no doubt this will be possible (but may take some persistence).
For your return, I think you are over thinking it. Wait a day and book FCO-SMF. You may be able to even book FCO-IAD-SMF. It's a myth that everything opens up at 330 days and thats your only shot.
There are likely to be multiple schedule changes between now and next September. This should work out to your advantage; keep an eye on your reservation and then when there is a change, try to move to the SMF-ORD nonstop. I have no doubt this will be possible (but may take some persistence).
For your return, I think you are over thinking it. Wait a day and book FCO-SMF. You may be able to even book FCO-IAD-SMF. It's a myth that everything opens up at 330 days and thats your only shot.