Originally Posted by
PiperAtGatesofDawn
Yes it was at the time of purchase.
Here's what I suspect (though not sure) happened in your case. You logged in while purchasing the ticket - and AI added your AI FFP by default to your ticket. Most airlines don't allow changing FFPs online till OLCI or allow it only at airport check-in, gate check-in and sometimes through phone till gate check-in.
If you already had a FFP# in your ticket and given this is AI - your phone agent was probably correct in saying you need to get it changed at the airport.
Nope ! This is NOT what happened to me. I had the number BLANK in the reservation when I purchased it
online. During the OLCI window I could not add the United number via "Manage my booking" OR "web check-in".
In both cases the ONLY option was to put AI FF number. (The interface was poorly designed to suggest that
you could put some other FF number when you can not)
Here is what happened at the check-in desk. They explained to me that I need to
show them the original United FF card or some proof that the number belongs to me.
Looks like they have no way of matching the name on the United FF account with the
name on the ticket automatically. Looks like people with SAME last name were
taking advantage of this situation and adding a *G number of relative with same
last name. They could not verify this and were now giving lounge access to
non *G customers. So their fix is to not allow this online.
I find that to be a very weak explanation. Most of the other airlines in
*alliance network can match it correctly so why can't they ? Is the IT
system of AI not smart enough to do this ? This creates a huge burden on
legit *G members to make sure that the number is added at the
check-in desk if somehow they do not add it at the time of booking or
want to change it due to error etc...