Originally Posted by flyingindian
...when I call United MP, they will only route be through the pacific IAD->LAX->ICN-> CMB = 48 hours of travel.
However, using Austrian Airlines, they can route me from IAD->VIE->CMB = 20 hours of travel. United wants 115K miles for this routing.
It's quite simple, actually (well sort of). In the Terms & Conditions section of the chart, under Routing, you can read this:
If award travel crosses a geographic area to reach another region, member is subject to the higher of the two award levels. Most direct routing applies.
In the OS routing, you are crossing Europe, and as the Europe to South-Asia award is higher, you'd be subject to that level (which should be 105k, not 115k miles).
In the Pacific routing (via ICN), you are crossing North-Asia, and since that award level is lower (30k), you are only subject to the higher (90k) North-America to South-Asia award.
I agree that 90k is an awesome deal for C to CMB... I also agree that the 115k seems off and that talking with another agent may be in order.