I am hoping there might be some folks here that could shed some light for me.

I have a friend from Europe who is flying non-rev as friends and family on United. He knows how to use the system and has been doing so for two years. Unfortunately he lost his domestic partnership status and another friend put him on as friends and family.

So anyway, he was trying to get from Frankfurt to Denver yesterday via Chicago and the two flights when I looked on United.com showed over 50 seats available, including the entire First Class cabin (11 of 12 seats) and about 20 in Biz Class, about 30+ in economy.

But inside the non-rev system it was showing him there was -9 and there were about 8 people on the list above him.

So he wouldn't take the chance because the system was showing him no availability.

I tried to convince him to do it anyway as there were 50+ seats and he just wouldn't take the chance, and now he is screwed and lost in limbo-land in DC going back and forth between IAD and DCA trying to get flights. It's stupid.

Can anyone explain what the deal is with this?

Thanks much!!