Is A3 using OA flight numbers to deny *A benefits?
Jul 7, 2018, 11:23 pm
#151
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
What else is frustrating about the OA/A3 trips(aside from the elite mileage aspect), is the fact that you still have to pick up your bags and re-check back in.....due to "OA not having an agreement with UA". It's one thing going into ATH from another country, and doing customs in ATH(which makes sense, this is the first point of entry).....but this "non-agreement" slows things down, going home in the other direction.
Jul 11, 2018, 8:50 am
#152
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: lounge next door
Programs: *A Gold / ST Elite+ / OWS / EK G / HH Diam. / MR Tit / Hyatt GLOB / IHG Diam. / SL Jade / GHA Tit.
Posts: 1,527
Had all the Gold benefits on IST-ATH : lounge and business class checkin.
But it's only working for Aegean Gold as I understood, I had TK gold card on ticket and have been refused lounge, accepted when showed A3 card.
But it's only working for Aegean Gold as I understood, I had TK gold card on ticket and have been refused lounge, accepted when showed A3 card.
Jul 23, 2018, 10:33 am
#153
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
This is ridiculous BS
I've had different answers multiple times from different agents.
I have split itineraries where for example Rhodes->Athens->Malta or Thessaloniki->Athens->Tirana or Tel Aviv->Athens->Thessaloniki.
One leg is "Olympic" and the other is Aegean.
They want to charge 27 euro for luggage even though on the international segment I have * gold benefits and free luggage.
One guy (rudely) tells me I have to pay 27.
Another lady (very nicely) talks to her supervisor and charges me "only" 18 euro which is the domestic fee, and waives the phone agent fee (8 euro) since the website doesn't give me the option to pay 18.
Yet another lady (also nice, but apparently not as resourceful) talks to her supervisor and is authorized to charge me "only" 18 euro, but because it's over the phone has to charge the 8 euro, maybe not as nice a supervisor. Still, 18+8=26, one euro less, and there is the principle of the matter.
I think I will avoid flying Aegean in the future. The same itineraries through IST on TK or on Adria were all-*A and with none of this nonsense.
If only we could get enough travelers to boycott this airline over this horrible policy.
I have split itineraries where for example Rhodes->Athens->Malta or Thessaloniki->Athens->Tirana or Tel Aviv->Athens->Thessaloniki.
One leg is "Olympic" and the other is Aegean.
They want to charge 27 euro for luggage even though on the international segment I have * gold benefits and free luggage.
One guy (rudely) tells me I have to pay 27.
Another lady (very nicely) talks to her supervisor and charges me "only" 18 euro which is the domestic fee, and waives the phone agent fee (8 euro) since the website doesn't give me the option to pay 18.
Yet another lady (also nice, but apparently not as resourceful) talks to her supervisor and is authorized to charge me "only" 18 euro, but because it's over the phone has to charge the 8 euro, maybe not as nice a supervisor. Still, 18+8=26, one euro less, and there is the principle of the matter.
I think I will avoid flying Aegean in the future. The same itineraries through IST on TK or on Adria were all-*A and with none of this nonsense.
If only we could get enough travelers to boycott this airline over this horrible policy.
Jul 23, 2018, 4:35 pm
#154
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Jul 23, 2018, 8:05 pm
#155
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
Jul 24, 2018, 4:20 am
#157
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: ARN
Programs: A3*G, SK*G
Posts: 336
I've had different answers multiple times from different agents.
I have split itineraries where for example Rhodes->Athens->Malta or Thessaloniki->Athens->Tirana or Tel Aviv->Athens->Thessaloniki.
One leg is "Olympic" and the other is Aegean.
They want to charge 27 euro for luggage even though on the international segment I have * gold benefits and free luggage.
One guy (rudely) tells me I have to pay 27.
Another lady (very nicely) talks to her supervisor and charges me "only" 18 euro which is the domestic fee, and waives the phone agent fee (8 euro) since the website doesn't give me the option to pay 18.
Yet another lady (also nice, but apparently not as resourceful) talks to her supervisor and is authorized to charge me "only" 18 euro, but because it's over the phone has to charge the 8 euro, maybe not as nice a supervisor. Still, 18+8=26, one euro less, and there is the principle of the matter.
I think I will avoid flying Aegean in the future. The same itineraries through IST on TK or on Adria were all-*A and with none of this nonsense.
If only we could get enough travelers to boycott this airline over this horrible policy.
I have split itineraries where for example Rhodes->Athens->Malta or Thessaloniki->Athens->Tirana or Tel Aviv->Athens->Thessaloniki.
One leg is "Olympic" and the other is Aegean.
They want to charge 27 euro for luggage even though on the international segment I have * gold benefits and free luggage.
One guy (rudely) tells me I have to pay 27.
Another lady (very nicely) talks to her supervisor and charges me "only" 18 euro which is the domestic fee, and waives the phone agent fee (8 euro) since the website doesn't give me the option to pay 18.
Yet another lady (also nice, but apparently not as resourceful) talks to her supervisor and is authorized to charge me "only" 18 euro, but because it's over the phone has to charge the 8 euro, maybe not as nice a supervisor. Still, 18+8=26, one euro less, and there is the principle of the matter.
I think I will avoid flying Aegean in the future. The same itineraries through IST on TK or on Adria were all-*A and with none of this nonsense.
If only we could get enough travelers to boycott this airline over this horrible policy.
Given that some OA GoLight tickets cost something like 30Eur or so, it is not surprising that *A benefits do not carry over. Think of the cost of (third-party) lounge access, gold track, etc... They would definitely make a loss selling at these prices!
The problem IMHO is that they do not always communicate this in a very clear way. Although nowadays they have admittedly improved a lot: I remember some years ago (when I was still SK*G) that we had a connection flight with “OA”: booked on A3’s website, A3 ticket number (390...), first leg A3, second (“OA”) leg with A3 flight number showing on the confirmation email and as turned out A3 metal. Arrived in ATH to find out that we were not eligible to access any lounge... In the end I used one of my A3*S vouchers to get in.
But even then I don’t recall paying extra for my luggage...
Jul 24, 2018, 6:54 am
#158
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: lounge next door
Programs: *A Gold / ST Elite+ / OWS / EK G / HH Diam. / MR Tit / Hyatt GLOB / IHG Diam. / SL Jade / GHA Tit.
Posts: 1,527
My experience : if using my A3 gold card = no problem, I don't even feel that I fly olympics (100% same experience end to end than flying A3 metal).
When using TK gold card : priority check in / boarding yes but no lounge access (even in Athens Schengen and non Schengen).
When using TK gold card : priority check in / boarding yes but no lounge access (even in Athens Schengen and non Schengen).
Jul 24, 2018, 6:56 am
#159
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: lounge next door
Programs: *A Gold / ST Elite+ / OWS / EK G / HH Diam. / MR Tit / Hyatt GLOB / IHG Diam. / SL Jade / GHA Tit.
Posts: 1,527
But it's quite commun, you got the same with LUXAIR, THAI Smiles, Andalujet, etc (all benefits for Miles and More members, no benefits for gold, even priority boarding and checkin).
You got the benefits if you are gold with the mother program but not with star alliance as those airlines are not in the alliance, sounds logical but of course should be nice that star alliance ask the airlines to include those airlines as "member partners" and bring the benefits for star alliance members.
You got the benefits if you are gold with the mother program but not with star alliance as those airlines are not in the alliance, sounds logical but of course should be nice that star alliance ask the airlines to include those airlines as "member partners" and bring the benefits for star alliance members.
Jul 24, 2018, 7:52 am
#160
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Singapore
Programs: A3 Gold, SQ Gold, AT Gold, Accor Silver, HHonors Diamond, I Prefer Elite, DISCOVERY Titanium
Posts: 472
Jul 24, 2018, 9:59 am
#161
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Anyway I am crediting my next flight to A3 even though I earn substantially more with LH, just to make sure I keep my A3 Gold for next year. The thing is, I can't even get around the issue by booking J as far too many of A3 flights I take don't even have J.
I've done my cost-benefit analysis and decided it's worth losing some LH miles by crediting a flight early to ensure I keep the A3 status (quite likely I'll have enough with just A3 flights but I wanted 'insurance'), despite LH miles being much easier to use. (I'm going to use A3 miles to book my husband's flight in Y...)
I guess A3's policy is working, and I am led by the nose by it. However, my view is that no-one is holding a gun to my head so it's all a fair game on A3's side!
Aug 29, 2018, 12:31 am
#162
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 9
This is precisely the reason. From what I have been told, even if you book with A3 flight number flying A3 metal, your boarding pass will still show OA flight number (maybe with "Sold As A3xxx" underneath?), consistent with flight being an OA codeshare flight. Perhaps this is the clue people should follow when determining whether it's a Star flight or not. Who operates the flight in a wet lease situation, strictly speaking, is irrelevant.
Vice versa, I know OA also operates some flights for A3 to/from Turkey and these flights are considered A3 and Star flights even thought they are operated by OA metal.
Don't forget. Star Alliance now has a Connecting Partner Model, where Star Gold will have access to benefits on a connecting itinerary, OA may be considering joining.
Vice versa, I know OA also operates some flights for A3 to/from Turkey and these flights are considered A3 and Star flights even thought they are operated by OA metal.
Don't forget. Star Alliance now has a Connecting Partner Model, where Star Gold will have access to benefits on a connecting itinerary, OA may be considering joining.
Aug 29, 2018, 1:24 am
#163
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,374
I am flying ATH-IST on A3 994, which is operated by Olympic. Checking in on the Aegean app, I got a notification that the free baggage allowance for *G is valid only for segments operated by Aegean. This is unexpected, esp after they recognized my status on two domestic flights operated by Olympic with OA flight numbers...
Sep 20, 2018, 5:19 am
#165
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,567
The "OA flights" to IST (A3 992-995) are all A3 flights flown in a wet-leased OA turboprop. There is, therefore, no special agreement between A3/OA and TK as these count as regular *A flights. *G benefits are available to all *Gs, independent of the program their FF programme as long as it's *A.