Originally Posted by
weirdlyndon
This is the tricky part - they do have to call AA to confirm space.
A couple of options:
a) if you have elite status with AA call them up on a second line, while UA remains on hold trying to call AA themselves. Whoever gets through first conference the other in. I had to do that this past Saturday where I used my girlfriend's phone to call the AA Plat line, and then when I got through, put my iPhone and her iPhone together and let AA/UA work it out amongst themselves.
b) call up AA separately and have them put the rest you want, in full Y, on a hold, stating that UA will push the ticket over. Get the AA agent's employee code (not to be confused with employee number - it's a known request when pushing tickets amongst carriers.) and location (i.e. DFW for an AA agent.) Call UA back with the AA PNR and agent info and have the ticket pushed through.
^^^
This is powerful advice... goes in my personal tool-box. IME, it seems that when UA calls DL, they are using the regular access line, elite access lines can get there faster. Also, if calling during a weather "event" such as yesterday, don't be scared to try the international or other language numbers, the wait time is uaully much lower, and they are always, again, IME, willing to help, in English.