No More Starnet Filtering??
Oct 16, 2008, 10:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 98
No More Starnet Filtering??
I am flying ORD-MAA in one week on an award reservation. The only possible best routing I got was ORD-IST-DXB-MAA and on the return MAA-DXB-IAD-ORD. I thought that it was the Starnet filtering that blocked any trip via Europe (since luthansa is about the only carrier that will fly to MAA from Europe).
Today I called to put in request for special meals. Got a wonderful agent who started of with a greeting and How may i help you? I thought I had reached the HNL center and asked to check for flights to MAA via FRA. To my surprise he found PLENTY of availability for my dates and was ready to make the changes!!!!!!
I changed my inbound and kept my outbound the same since we have plans to stopover in istanbul and did not want to change plans again...
Finally, he asked me if I had any other question. Curiosity got the better of me and I asked him if I had reached the HNL call center. To my amazement he said "No sir, this is the call center in CHICAGO!!!!!!"
Still cannot believe it.. but a happy camper.
Today I called to put in request for special meals. Got a wonderful agent who started of with a greeting and How may i help you? I thought I had reached the HNL center and asked to check for flights to MAA via FRA. To my surprise he found PLENTY of availability for my dates and was ready to make the changes!!!!!!
I changed my inbound and kept my outbound the same since we have plans to stopover in istanbul and did not want to change plans again...
Finally, he asked me if I had any other question. Curiosity got the better of me and I asked him if I had reached the HNL call center. To my amazement he said "No sir, this is the call center in CHICAGO!!!!!!"
Still cannot believe it.. but a happy camper.
Oct 16, 2008, 10:39 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 98
I agree.. I had not seen the recent posts on that thread that talks about successful bookings on LH.. looks like the power of the press is working.......
Oct 16, 2008, 10:43 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Reutlingen, Germany
Programs: LH FTL, UA 1K MM, Lifetime Marriott Platinum, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 558
Was succesfull yesterday...
booking two I Class Awards on LH & NH including european and domestic Japan flights.
However was 6 month ahead.
Thomas
However was 6 month ahead.
Thomas
Oct 16, 2008, 10:56 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Interesting timing. I tried to make a change to an LH intra-Europe award segment about a month ago, and nothing was available. I tried again yesterday, and all LH segments for GVA-FRA were available in Biz. Didn't think much of it, but now that you mention it....
Oct 17, 2008, 12:04 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
This may explain why I was able to get a seat in OZ F one week prior to departure! 
And I thought I finally found an agent to perform a manual sell!
I tried calling 20 times in one day and I couldn't get it...until my 27th time last afternoon!
Kudos to UA! ^
And I thought I finally found an agent to perform a manual sell! I tried calling 20 times in one day and I couldn't get it...until my 27th time last afternoon!
Kudos to UA! ^
Last edited by nov11; Oct 17, 2008 at 12:10 am
Oct 17, 2008, 12:08 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Hmmm, well before we break out the party hats and balloons isn't it possible that right now the "balance" is just in such a way that people are having some success? I think we need a much larger sample size before getting too excited, that said it would certainly be nice.
Oct 17, 2008, 12:13 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2002
Programs: The opinions expressed here are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the airlines I worked for.
Posts: 1,894
Just called to get 2 business seats on an OZ flight from ICN-SIN. NH shows it as available. UA Rez agent (who was extremely helpful btw) could not even see it. In fact the only way she could see it is if she tried to sell me a revenue seat. I asked her if the flight was just zeroed out for award availability and she said no - it literally doesn't even appear when searching for award tickets.
I'm afraid StarNet filtering is still alive and well folks
I'm afraid StarNet filtering is still alive and well folks
Oct 17, 2008, 1:07 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat Amb, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,146
Hmm.... I called 2 days ago to try to change dates on an LH award from SFO-KUL (via FRA) in November, and the agent found nothing, in spite of my seeing availability on LH using the ANA tool.
Motivated by this thread, I tried again just now, and today's agent found availability on LH flights that yesterday's agent didn't! I was especially surpised to find availability on the non-stop from FRA-SFO on LH, because UA usually always wants to put you on their metal. Could be coincidence (maybe I just won the agent lottery), but either way, I'm very happy with the result!
Motivated by this thread, I tried again just now, and today's agent found availability on LH flights that yesterday's agent didn't! I was especially surpised to find availability on the non-stop from FRA-SFO on LH, because UA usually always wants to put you on their metal. Could be coincidence (maybe I just won the agent lottery), but either way, I'm very happy with the result!
Last edited by mikew99; Oct 17, 2008 at 1:15 am Reason: Clarify timing & routing
Oct 17, 2008, 7:18 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
I am leaving for KUL next week after an agent successfully changed my flights to a day earlier...thanks to the removal of Starnet filtering. I am now in OZ F/C and LH F BKK-KUL instead of SQ F all the way.
Oct 17, 2008, 8:57 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,969
Perhaps *Net restrictions were lifted for some LH metal.
Oct 17, 2008, 9:30 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
Programs: Wouldn't you like to know?!
Posts: 23,822
Oct 17, 2008, 10:34 am
#13
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,742
Three days ago, I called UA to try to tweak two tickets. Nothing was available on LH. Yesterday, I was able to get two F seats on MUC-CLT, a route for which agents had consistently told me were never available for award redemption. Further, I was able to get the feeder routes in Europe.
While it will be wonderful news if UA has actually lifted Starnet filtering, my hunch is that it simply is the on/off switch UA uses for LH being turned to on again.
While it will be wonderful news if UA has actually lifted Starnet filtering, my hunch is that it simply is the on/off switch UA uses for LH being turned to on again.
Oct 17, 2008, 10:50 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA EXP with lots of BA. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat - No longer chase hotel loyalty
Posts: 6,698
Still can't book an LAX-FRA outbound in LH F, ANA shows it and I can go ALL the way through paying for the res on ANA.
Oct 17, 2008, 11:25 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1kMM; AA EX Plat, Hilton Diamond and SPG Plat
Posts: 2,012
Yeah worked for me too!!! Nice find OP. I had a intra Europe tix that ANA has shown LH flights available in spades, but UA res could never find availibility.
This was going on for a month plus and I had checked every other day. Today the agent found all four flights from MUC-CDG on LH had 2 seats and she even commented that she was surprised at how many were available.
Now if only i qcoulg find SQ availibility!!!
This was going on for a month plus and I had checked every other day. Today the agent found all four flights from MUC-CDG on LH had 2 seats and she even commented that she was surprised at how many were available.
Now if only i qcoulg find SQ availibility!!!