Is A3 using OA flight numbers to deny *A benefits?
Jun 20, 2019, 10:59 pm
#196
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,567
Yep, this is well-known. There is even a dedicated thread on FT:
Is A3 using OA flight numbers to deny *A benefits?
Understandably this can be quite frustrating the first time, since this is rather poorly communicated, especially when it is a connecting flight you booked on A3's website. You see an A3 flight number on tour booking, you get to enter your *A FFP number, and so on. Even more so when after being denied the benefits you believe you are entitled to, you find out that it's in fact an A3 metal flight, with A3 crew. I have experienced that too as SK*G. But see it as an LH flight operated by Air Dolomiti, an LX flight operated by Edelweiss, a TG flight operated by Thai Smiles, etc.
As a rule of thumb:
-Greek domestic flights on OA (A3) - no benefits for non-A3*Gs
-Intra-European/international domestic flights on A3 (OA) - *G benefits for non-A3*Gs
Is A3 using OA flight numbers to deny *A benefits?
Understandably this can be quite frustrating the first time, since this is rather poorly communicated, especially when it is a connecting flight you booked on A3's website. You see an A3 flight number on tour booking, you get to enter your *A FFP number, and so on. Even more so when after being denied the benefits you believe you are entitled to, you find out that it's in fact an A3 metal flight, with A3 crew. I have experienced that too as SK*G. But see it as an LH flight operated by Air Dolomiti, an LX flight operated by Edelweiss, a TG flight operated by Thai Smiles, etc.
As a rule of thumb:
-Greek domestic flights on OA (A3) - no benefits for non-A3*Gs
-Intra-European/international domestic flights on A3 (OA) - *G benefits for non-A3*Gs
Jun 23, 2019, 4:08 am
#197
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Texas
Programs: UA 1K, UA MM, Hilton Gold, SPG lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Maker's Mark Ambassador
Posts: 158
Yep, this is well-known. There is even a dedicated thread on FT:
Is A3 using OA flight numbers to deny *A benefits?
Understandably this can be quite frustrating the first time, since this is rather poorly communicated, especially when it is a connecting flight you booked on A3's website. You see an A3 flight number on tour booking, you get to enter your *A FFP number, and so on. Even more so when after being denied the benefits you believe you are entitled to, you find out that it's in fact an A3 metal flight, with A3 crew. I have experienced that too as SK*G. But see it as an LH flight operated by Air Dolomiti, an LX flight operated by Edelweiss, a TG flight operated by Thai Smiles, etc.
As a rule of thumb:
-Greek domestic flights on OA (A3) - no benefits for non-A3*Gs
-Intra-European/international domestic flights on A3 (OA) - *G benefits for non-A3*Gs
Is A3 using OA flight numbers to deny *A benefits?
Understandably this can be quite frustrating the first time, since this is rather poorly communicated, especially when it is a connecting flight you booked on A3's website. You see an A3 flight number on tour booking, you get to enter your *A FFP number, and so on. Even more so when after being denied the benefits you believe you are entitled to, you find out that it's in fact an A3 metal flight, with A3 crew. I have experienced that too as SK*G. But see it as an LH flight operated by Air Dolomiti, an LX flight operated by Edelweiss, a TG flight operated by Thai Smiles, etc.
As a rule of thumb:
-Greek domestic flights on OA (A3) - no benefits for non-A3*Gs
-Intra-European/international domestic flights on A3 (OA) - *G benefits for non-A3*Gs
Jun 24, 2019, 4:16 am
#198
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
According to the Olympic Air website, miles can be credited to United (I picked one airline at random) except for fare classes I, X, N, R and F. In my experience with Aegean, it can also depend on the individual route.
Dec 26, 2019, 3:51 pm
#201
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia and Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: VA Platinum, SQ Gold, TK Gold, Hhonors Gold, Accor Plus Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Premium
Posts: 1,022
Not quite correct. (And this applies to TK only, not *A in general.) TK has a separate alliance with OA. I often fly OA and using my TK Gold card access the lounge etc.
https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-i...s/olympic-air/
https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-i...s/olympic-air/
Dec 27, 2019, 6:06 am
#203
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 114
Not quite correct. (And this applies to TK only, not *A in general.) TK has a separate alliance with OA. I often fly OA and using my TK Gold card access the lounge etc.
https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-i...s/olympic-air/
https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-i...s/olympic-air/
Thanks for replying
Seems like the TK and QA alliance are not stated officially anywhere, although the above link points to the ability to earn miles while flying on OA.
Dec 28, 2019, 3:24 am
#204
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia and Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: VA Platinum, SQ Gold, TK Gold, Hhonors Gold, Accor Plus Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Premium
Posts: 1,022
Dec 28, 2019, 7:35 am
#205
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,567
Wrong: there are indeed bona fide domestic OA flights, all of which are flown in OA turboprops and maybe having code-share A3 flight numbers. The remaining OA domestic flights (e.g. ATH-SKG/HER/RHO/CFU/etc) are all flown on "wet-lease" A3 busses; they're code-shared with A3 but they count as OA flights. Not only you get no lounge access and 0 miles as a *G (unless there is an agreement between OA and the *A partner), you also have to check-in on OA's site when the flight is not sold as a connection to an international flight flying into Greece. There is a dedicated thread on this subject that is full of complaints, descriptions, rumours, you name it. The bottom line is that there are no (zero, zilch) regular domestic A3 flights that have regular, no code-share flight numbers neither to islands nor to anywhere else.
Jan 15, 2020, 1:10 pm
#206
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Bay Area, California
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Amb., A3 *G, QF Plat
Posts: 107
Damn, wish I had bothered to read this thread before booking some flights 
Traveling in a few months with family of 4, all on the same PNR, I'm the A3 *G and they are all OZ *G, guess no lounge access in Athens for them.
Just booked BUD-ATH-JTR, with BUD-ATH ticketed as A3 877 (A3 Metal), and connecting flight ATH-JTR ticketed as A3 7368 (OA metal).
It was weird, the online booking tool said we all got 1 piece of baggage BUD-JTR despite it being a Go Light fare, so I wrongly assumed all our *G benefits were being provided. Guess not. Great, now I can look forward to the check-in agent at BUD extracting his/her pound of flesh for the ATH-JTR leg.
I haven't booked the return JTR-ATH yet, should I just book a low cost carrier instead of wasting time with A3? JTR-ATH looks to be upwards of 110 euro for a 45 minute flight, as a Go Light fare excluding baggage etc on OA, so might as well save money I guess.
Traveling in a few months with family of 4, all on the same PNR, I'm the A3 *G and they are all OZ *G, guess no lounge access in Athens for them.Just booked BUD-ATH-JTR, with BUD-ATH ticketed as A3 877 (A3 Metal), and connecting flight ATH-JTR ticketed as A3 7368 (OA metal).
It was weird, the online booking tool said we all got 1 piece of baggage BUD-JTR despite it being a Go Light fare, so I wrongly assumed all our *G benefits were being provided. Guess not. Great, now I can look forward to the check-in agent at BUD extracting his/her pound of flesh for the ATH-JTR leg.
I haven't booked the return JTR-ATH yet, should I just book a low cost carrier instead of wasting time with A3? JTR-ATH looks to be upwards of 110 euro for a 45 minute flight, as a Go Light fare excluding baggage etc on OA, so might as well save money I guess.
Jan 15, 2020, 4:26 pm
#208
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Bay Area, California
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Amb., A3 *G, QF Plat
Posts: 107
@cuzzybro I thought A3 *G were allowed one guest in the lounge for free (if travelling together) plus you have some lounge vouchers that your family could use (I mean if not family, what do you have them for?) or am I missing something?
haha cheers for saving the day somewhat!
Jan 15, 2020, 6:36 pm
#209
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Bay Area, California
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Amb., A3 *G, QF Plat
Posts: 107
So just had a look at my account, and unless I'm missing the obvious, all I see are parking/valet parking vouchers for Athens, and Business class upgrade vouchers, no lounge vouchers...Am I missing something? I vaguely do remember lounge vouchers being a thing though...
Jan 15, 2020, 10:34 pm
#210
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,323
Just took a bit of a more careful look at the website and I probably mistook some other voucher offered to golds as being a lounge voucher... To my defense they do offer various vouchers. Silvers get 4x lounge access, then there are the 2x (S) and 4x (G) seat upgrades etc. I probably misread either one... Sorry
(maybe you can upgrade the family and get them even more psyched
)
(maybe you can upgrade the family and get them even more psyched
)