Aer Lingus (EI) award booking experiences using UA miles [Consolidated]
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,136
Aer Lingus (EI) award booking experiences using UA miles [Consolidated]
Anybody with recent experience booking Aer Lingus flight with UA miles?
I am specifically looking at a segment ORD->DUB as part of a larger itinerary to BKK. Is this still a hassle to get ticketed?
I would need to cancel an existing, but sub-optimum, ticket to attempt the better one and I don't want to risk it if there are still major issues.
Thanks.
I am specifically looking at a segment ORD->DUB as part of a larger itinerary to BKK. Is this still a hassle to get ticketed?
I would need to cancel an existing, but sub-optimum, ticket to attempt the better one and I don't want to risk it if there are still major issues.
Thanks.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,136
Thanks. I was able to get it booked, though the agent struggled with it for a bit.
Ticketed in just a couple of minutes.
Ticketed in just a couple of minutes.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4me
Posts: 11,957
this ^
I encountered the 24 hr to ticket for the first time earlier this year going ewr-lis-bcn-ewr with the lis-bcn leg on TAP. After booking the flight i attempted to purchase E+ but couldn't select the seats. I called UA customer service and was told my confirmation # wasn't valid. After noticing the "You will hear back within 24 hrs" email I waited until the "confirmation" email arrived, literally 24 hrs later. I was than able to select E+ and see my reservation on TAP's website.
I encountered the 24 hr to ticket for the first time earlier this year going ewr-lis-bcn-ewr with the lis-bcn leg on TAP. After booking the flight i attempted to purchase E+ but couldn't select the seats. I called UA customer service and was told my confirmation # wasn't valid. After noticing the "You will hear back within 24 hrs" email I waited until the "confirmation" email arrived, literally 24 hrs later. I was than able to select E+ and see my reservation on TAP's website.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,764
I'm seeing a bunch of EI award availability for Christmas time ord-dub-lhr. There are a few AC flights, but not many. LH flights are long gone...I will miss redeeming miles on my ORD-FRA/DUS-LHR flights. Those were great and now they are gone
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,136
Yes, that is the time period that I just snagged my EI segment for.
I did see an AC option, but the connections time were too tight for my comfort, especially as the first flight was on an RJ later in the evening.
UA options really grim for the days right around Christmas. Seems to open up a bit for the week between Christmas and New Years, but I don't want to wait that long to get started on some vacation time.
While I hate the new award chart for *A First and Business, the lack of UA options are certainly pushing me to experience new routes / airlines. EI and BR on this trip. I will forsake UA Global First for BR Royal Laural...at least that is the impression I am getting from some trip reports.
I did see an AC option, but the connections time were too tight for my comfort, especially as the first flight was on an RJ later in the evening.
UA options really grim for the days right around Christmas. Seems to open up a bit for the week between Christmas and New Years, but I don't want to wait that long to get started on some vacation time.
While I hate the new award chart for *A First and Business, the lack of UA options are certainly pushing me to experience new routes / airlines. EI and BR on this trip. I will forsake UA Global First for BR Royal Laural...at least that is the impression I am getting from some trip reports.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,136
Just encountered another snag on Aer Lingus award flight and hoping someone else has maybe experienced it / has info.
The trip has been booked and ticketed for some time and has always seemed fine during my frequent reservation checks. The Aer Lingus segment showed as fare class "Business (U)", which I understood corresponds to Aer Lingus award business class. I was able to call Aer Lingus and reserve a business class seat.
Checking today, the segment shows as fare class "Economy (U)". There was no change to my displayed seat assignment in row 2. A BR segment still shows as fare class "Business (I)"
Any thoughts or experiences to know if I should be worried about this? I am hesitant to just call United as it seems they don't have a lot of knowledge about their partner Aer Lingus and how to make things work. I am concerned they will screw up the trip, which starts in 1 week from today. Unless someone has other advice, I am leaning towards calling Aer Lingus reservations and ask what they are seeing for my flight.
Thanks in advance for any opinions / experiences.
The trip has been booked and ticketed for some time and has always seemed fine during my frequent reservation checks. The Aer Lingus segment showed as fare class "Business (U)", which I understood corresponds to Aer Lingus award business class. I was able to call Aer Lingus and reserve a business class seat.
Checking today, the segment shows as fare class "Economy (U)". There was no change to my displayed seat assignment in row 2. A BR segment still shows as fare class "Business (I)"
Any thoughts or experiences to know if I should be worried about this? I am hesitant to just call United as it seems they don't have a lot of knowledge about their partner Aer Lingus and how to make things work. I am concerned they will screw up the trip, which starts in 1 week from today. Unless someone has other advice, I am leaning towards calling Aer Lingus reservations and ask what they are seeing for my flight.
Thanks in advance for any opinions / experiences.
Last edited by goodeats21; Dec 18, 2014 at 7:50 am Reason: add BR info
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,136
I found some time to call Aer Lingus. They confirm they still show my original itinerary, including their segments in Business Class.
United.com continues to show it incorrectly as Economy class.
Still makes me nervous, but I will just show up and hope everything works out.
I would be interested if anyone else sees this type of glitch on partner awards.
Trying to remember the last time I had a partner award trip that didn't involve some type of glitch/drama/worry.
United.com continues to show it incorrectly as Economy class.
Still makes me nervous, but I will just show up and hope everything works out.
I would be interested if anyone else sees this type of glitch on partner awards.
Trying to remember the last time I had a partner award trip that didn't involve some type of glitch/drama/worry.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS 75K,UA Gold 1.6MM, Hilton Dia, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Glb, Natl Exec, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,657
I had trouble getting the EI segments to be found by the UA agent and added into my itinerary. She checked with her customer service and found that she needs to look for availability in the T bucket for Saver Y and U bucket for Saver C (not through her typical award searching). They then have to put the itinerary on hold for 48 hours to allow time for EI to ticket their segments. I have to call back in 24-48 hours to ticket it.
If you have trouble with agent trying to make it work, let them know the above.
I wish I found this out earlier when I was trying to get some trans-atlantic EI flights and the agent was telling me she could not see the availability I had online and gave up. If you get that message, then explain to them about the bucket mappings.
If you have trouble with agent trying to make it work, let them know the above.
I wish I found this out earlier when I was trying to get some trans-atlantic EI flights and the agent was telling me she could not see the availability I had online and gave up. If you get that message, then explain to them about the bucket mappings.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 27
Help! Repeated ticketing issues with UA/EI
I am trying to reserve Saver award travel from NYC to Ireland. There are multiple qualifying flyings on the dates of my travel, but between Saturday and today I have now made three different reservations that don't get ticketed and when I call I am told they were cancelled (although online it still says they are pending confirmation from Aer Lingus and I never get any cancellation emails).
This is getting really frustrating, especially explaining it to the call center people. I've been on the phone about 3 hours in total today to no avail. No one knows why it was pending or cancelled and why these flights are all available online.
My current reservation is now one leg UA and one EI (I was hoping United would work "harder" on this one since only half of it is a code-share...)
Is there anything else I can do?
I did call Aer Lingus and gave them the confirmation code UA gave me for them, and they can only see cancelled reservations with no itineraries... How could that happen?
Sorry this is a RANT of sorts but it's been a very frustrating 12 hours.
(FYI, I am an award travel noob. This experience had put a bad taste in my mouth and I sort of want to stick to my Sapphire Preferred points going forward and be content with 20% off with points.)
Mods notified of cross-posting.
This is getting really frustrating, especially explaining it to the call center people. I've been on the phone about 3 hours in total today to no avail. No one knows why it was pending or cancelled and why these flights are all available online.
My current reservation is now one leg UA and one EI (I was hoping United would work "harder" on this one since only half of it is a code-share...)
Is there anything else I can do?
I did call Aer Lingus and gave them the confirmation code UA gave me for them, and they can only see cancelled reservations with no itineraries... How could that happen?
Sorry this is a RANT of sorts but it's been a very frustrating 12 hours.
(FYI, I am an award travel noob. This experience had put a bad taste in my mouth and I sort of want to stick to my Sapphire Preferred points going forward and be content with 20% off with points.)
Mods notified of cross-posting.
Last edited by l etoile; Sep 28, 2015 at 6:53 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Tri Valley Area Northern CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 579
I am trying to reserve Saver award travel from NYC to Ireland. There are multiple qualifying flyings on the dates of my travel, but between Saturday and today I have now made three different reservations that don't get ticketed and when I call I am told they were cancelled (although online it still says they are pending confirmation from Aer Lingus and I never get any cancellation emails).
This is getting really frustrating, especially explaining it to the call center people. I've been on the phone about 3 hours in total today to no avail. No one knows why it was pending or cancelled and why these flights are all available online.
My current reservation is now one leg UA and one EI (I was hoping United would work "harder" on this one since only half of it is a code-share...)
Is there anything else I can do?
I did call Aer Lingus and gave them the confirmation code UA gave me for them, and they can only see cancelled reservations with no itineraries... How could that happen?
Sorry this is a RANT of sorts but it's been a very frustrating 12 hours.
(FYI, I am an award travel noob. This experience had put a bad taste in my mouth and I sort of want to stick to my Sapphire Preferred points going forward and be content with 20% off with points.)
This is getting really frustrating, especially explaining it to the call center people. I've been on the phone about 3 hours in total today to no avail. No one knows why it was pending or cancelled and why these flights are all available online.
My current reservation is now one leg UA and one EI (I was hoping United would work "harder" on this one since only half of it is a code-share...)
Is there anything else I can do?
I did call Aer Lingus and gave them the confirmation code UA gave me for them, and they can only see cancelled reservations with no itineraries... How could that happen?
Sorry this is a RANT of sorts but it's been a very frustrating 12 hours.
(FYI, I am an award travel noob. This experience had put a bad taste in my mouth and I sort of want to stick to my Sapphire Preferred points going forward and be content with 20% off with points.)
After making the reservation, I checked on this reservations for the next few days. The ticket was never issued. The reservation said "Not Ticketed". After 3 days, I called United reservations about the ticketing delay. The agent was surprised and researched what may be the problem.
Eventually, she found there was a discrepancy of $1 which was not allowing the ticketing to go through. They got my approval for the revised amount (IIRC it was a dollar more) and the reservation was ticketed.
I never was told if it was an Aer Lingus problem or United problem. My guess it is Aer Lingus, as I never had a problem with other code share flights. Since you have an award ticket, I'm not sure if this applies. My guess is that there may be a discrepancy on taxes/fees.
#12
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Eco-Conscious Travel, United and Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,823
#13
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 81
Admittedly it's been 2 years+ since my last EI award ticket reservation so YMMV, but there was some archaic system in place at the time where you had to call UA reservations who would set up the reservation and send it off to EI for confirmation - the agent said to call back in 24 hours to see if it had been confirmed
When i checked the UA website the following day the EI segment showed confirmed so I didn't bother calling UA back until approx 36 hours after the first call only to be told that the segment had been canceled and I should have called back to have the ticket issued :-(
Then the availability for my BHD-LHR segment disappeared and I ended up having to go BHD-LGW much earlier than originally planned so as to get up to LHR for my onward travel...
lesson: the description "confirmed" on the UA website with an EI segment doesn't mean it's ticketed - the agent explained that you actually have to call back again to get the ticket issued - ticketing is NOT automatically processed even if EI confirms the space
When i checked the UA website the following day the EI segment showed confirmed so I didn't bother calling UA back until approx 36 hours after the first call only to be told that the segment had been canceled and I should have called back to have the ticket issued :-(
Then the availability for my BHD-LHR segment disappeared and I ended up having to go BHD-LGW much earlier than originally planned so as to get up to LHR for my onward travel...
lesson: the description "confirmed" on the UA website with an EI segment doesn't mean it's ticketed - the agent explained that you actually have to call back again to get the ticket issued - ticketing is NOT automatically processed even if EI confirms the space
Last edited by exupery; Sep 28, 2015 at 8:33 pm Reason: to clarify my cumbersome Irish English
#14
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: Ex. Somebody, now a disloyal Nobody
Posts: 317
Aerlingus (EI) award booking experiences [Consolidated]
I could use some advice here. On united.com, I booked the following business class award:
LAX-IST-AYT,AYT-SAW-TBS,IST-DUB-LAX
All legs are on TK except DUB-LAX. When I booked on united.com, I got an email that said it could take up to 24 hours to confirm the DUB-LAX on EI. A couple of days later, I came back to united.com to find the reservation entirely gone with no warning, no email.
I called them and was told by two different reps that the EI leg was "unconfirmed". They told me that actually means "unavailable". It still shows as available on united.com.
I would be happy to sidestep EI, but I've searched and it's my only option to get back from IST on an award ticket in my time frame (early July 2016).
1) How does the EI award booking process really work?
2) How can I tell if an EI award is actually available?
3) Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Greg
LAX-IST-AYT,AYT-SAW-TBS,IST-DUB-LAX
All legs are on TK except DUB-LAX. When I booked on united.com, I got an email that said it could take up to 24 hours to confirm the DUB-LAX on EI. A couple of days later, I came back to united.com to find the reservation entirely gone with no warning, no email.
I called them and was told by two different reps that the EI leg was "unconfirmed". They told me that actually means "unavailable". It still shows as available on united.com.
I would be happy to sidestep EI, but I've searched and it's my only option to get back from IST on an award ticket in my time frame (early July 2016).
1) How does the EI award booking process really work?
2) How can I tell if an EI award is actually available?
3) Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Greg
Last edited by gregas; Nov 7, 2015 at 8:36 am Reason: Corrected IE<->EI Error