Originally Posted by
emcampbe
this is not correct. UA is not a travel agent, and can not and will not book ‘any carrier fare’.
first, BR is one of multiple carriers, many of which are Asia-based, that simply do not allow discount fares to be ticketed on OAL stock. That means that unless you are booking direct through BR, or a travel agent (which again, UA is not), you will only find full Y fares - or close to it - if UA will book it at all. There may also be POS restrictions which again can have an impact on fares - TG, for example, will only sell full-fare on some regional routes if booked using a US point-of-sale - I’ve seen India-Thailand fares, for example, using Orbitz or trying to use Chase UR, and the fares are astronomical compared to booking direct or with a local OTA.
That said, I’ve definitely seen discount fares with BR flights show up in conjunction with long-haul UA on UA.com. YMMV.
third, the above has zero to do with using an ETC for a BR flight, nor an “AC fare”. Truth is a ticket booked on UA.com for an AC flight is indeed not an ‘AC fare’ - it is a UA fare for an AC flight - everything up until day of flight follows UA - it’s UAs fare, UAs rules (which is why you still get free changes/cancel even for AC flights which wouldn’t necessarily apply if you book direct via AC), and you’d call UA if you want to make a change - and can get a UA ETC when you cancel. That ETC can still be used for any flight you can book via UA. The only thing AC does is operate the flight, and for flight things - seat assignments, bag fees, etc. that is all AC rules since it is their flight - any of the fare rules are based on UAs fare. It’s only not if UA is a travel agent selling an AC fare, which again, they are not.
much bad info. in this thread.
UA can if they choose book a fare of an interline agreement carrier, as long as rhey have an interline agreement. Now as a practical business consideration, UA like most carriers will generally not sell fares of non-aligned carriers. This is as you note, cause theyre functioning as a TA when doing so. The CoC (at least for UA/DL/AA) mention that they're selling ticket as a TA in cases like this.
In fact I just bought CM GRU-PTY-AUS all CM coded and on UA tickey stock, with a CM fare. (Last month)
Yes some carrier fares have plating restrictions. However this would be a business class ticket, which usually don't. (Thiugh by no means is a hard rule)