Originally Posted by
kenn0223
Most (all?) award tickets are endorsed "NON-END/-TRAN/-REF/UAONLY" or something similar so, if that was the case, the agent was right and the ticket could not be used on another carrier.
It may say that, but that doesn't mean it can't be reissued and sent over. The existing ticket (as it is) can't be endorsed, but it can certainly be reissued to something else.
Originally Posted by
kenn0223
What, if anything, is in the endorsement box on your e-ticket receipt?
Doesn't matter. Like Rule 240, the days of endorsing a ticket over and another carrier taking it as is are long gone.
Originally Posted by
kenn0223
In addition, the fare rules of most award tickets including the following statement in the Refunds/Changes section of the fare rules "INVOLUNTARY REROUTING WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY VIA THE SERVICES OF UA/UAX ONLY."
I don't see any such language on my last few mileage ticket receipts.
Originally Posted by
kenn0223
I am sure others have had their award tickets endorsed over to *A or other carriers but I don't technically think it's allowed.
It's most definitely allowed. In fact, *A has an agreement in place amongst each other to take each others' award tickets in IRROPS situations.
Originally Posted by
kenn0223
To be clear,
there is no rule 240. It was an FAA rule that went away during deregulation. If you want to cite something that actually exists, the current applicable rule is Rule 24 in the
United Contract of Carriage and, while similar to Rule 240, it it not the same. First off, if the delay is due to Force Majeure (weather, ATC, etc) UA, in
its sole discretion, may either reroute you however it sees fit or refund your money (Rule 24.D). It is not under any obligation to put you on another carrier (*A or otherwise). If its due to another Flight Irregularity under UA's control they are obligated to rebook you on their own flights to your destination (subject to availability) or,
upon the passenger's request and if the fare rules allow, rebook you on other carriers (Rule 24.E). UA may have more detailed and/or lenient internal guidelines, but it's crystal clear in the CoC what they are
obligated to do. In the OP's case, they only have to reroute on UA due to the fare rules of the award ticket (unless the OP's was not endorsed as noted above).
That draconian language doesn't matter, because Star Alliance rules are far more customer oriented, and as long as UA wants to put that Star on their website and planes, and take the bookings that come with, they have to follow Star Alliance rules.
Star Alliance requires OAL rebooks if there is no inline or alliance rebook in the customer's best interest. It does not differentiate award tickets from revenue tickets, and they require rebooking in all irregularity situations, regardless of the cause of the irregularity (e.g., weather, mechanical, etc.).