AC/United booking class confusion
Jul 24, 2016, 5:20 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YHZ | YYZ | YHM
Programs: AC 50K (*G), Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 636
AC/United booking class confusion
Booked YHZ-TYS return last night on United.com. Purchased into the W Fare class. First flight operated by Air Canada. Messages AC on Facebook to get seats selected for free, and am told that my W fare is equivalent to Tango, S. That is extremely misleading as every other codeshare flight I've booked through United has gone into the same fare class on AC. It even says my fare is W on AC.com yet I was informed by the social media team it's essentially S. I find this extremely frustrating as what I most wanted was a fare that would earn 100% miles, hence why I purchased the W fare. If I wanted an S fare, which was offered by United as well I would have payed $300 less. I see absolutely no documentation that warns me that my United W fare is essentially Tango with Air Canada, and with the recent fare class alignment the ought to be the same. Do I have a chance at getting this upfared to a true flex fare? Or is it with biting the bullet and paying $100 + to get this changed to a V fare.
Last edited by YHZ_Flyer; Jul 24, 2016 at 5:27 am
Jul 24, 2016, 5:47 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ, MNL, WAW
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Lifetime Plat, (now an AC nobody)
Posts: 1,978
First off, I understand your frustration. It's extremely difficult to understand even for guys who fly a lot.
From what I can see, since your first flight is operated by AC, the chart to look at would be this.
https://www.aircanada.com/en/aeropla...milesChart.pdf
W would earn you 50% when operated by AC, but it's the cheapest 100% earning fare class when operated by United and credited to AP.
https://www3.aeroplan.com/earn_miles...Partner=United
What's the length of the AC operated flight segment? Is it long enough to justify the increase in price?
From what I can see, since your first flight is operated by AC, the chart to look at would be this.
https://www.aircanada.com/en/aeropla...milesChart.pdf
W would earn you 50% when operated by AC, but it's the cheapest 100% earning fare class when operated by United and credited to AP.
https://www3.aeroplan.com/earn_miles...Partner=United
What's the length of the AC operated flight segment? Is it long enough to justify the increase in price?
Jul 24, 2016, 7:48 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YHZ | YYZ | YHM
Programs: AC 50K (*G), Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 636
AC operated flight is domestic YHZ-YYZ. It's only 800 miles, but I'm not really happy earning only 25% miles when I paid for a W fare which should earn 100% miles. As well since I'm traveling with an E50K member on the booking we should also be getting free preferred seats if it would have booked into Flex W, but because it somehow mapped to Tango S I need to pay for seats.
Jul 24, 2016, 7:55 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Only J via Peasant Points, 777HDPeasant or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance and Narcissism.
Posts: 5,953
AC operated flight is domestic YHZ-YYZ. It's only 800 miles, but I'm not really happy earning only 25% miles when I paid for a W fare which should earn 100% miles. As well since I'm traveling with an E50K member on the booking we should also be getting free preferred seats if it would have booked into Flex W, but because it somehow mapped to Tango S I need to pay for seats.
Where should have become maybe
Jul 24, 2016, 5:39 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Providence RI
Programs: American Exec Plat, Hyatt Refugeeist, Marriot Gold, Air Canada Cattle Class, Korean Air Morning Plat
Posts: 988
Booked YHZ-TYS return last night on United.com. Purchased into the W Fare class. First flight operated by Air Canada. Messages AC on Facebook to get seats selected for free, and am told that my W fare is equivalent to Tango, S. That is extremely misleading as every other codeshare flight I've booked through United has gone into the same fare class on AC. It even says my fare is W on AC.com yet I was informed by the social media team it's essentially S. I find this extremely frustrating as what I most wanted was a fare that would earn 100% miles, hence why I purchased the W fare. If I wanted an S fare, which was offered by United as well I would have payed $300 less. I see absolutely no documentation that warns me that my United W fare is essentially Tango with Air Canada, and with the recent fare class alignment the ought to be the same. Do I have a chance at getting this upfared to a true flex fare? Or is it with biting the bullet and paying $100 + to get this changed to a V fare.
Sadly this is par for the course with this airline. They don't 'bait-and-switch', it is more of 'bait-and-you-are-out-of-luck'. Anytime there is confusion between Star Alliance Airline and Air Canada, the fault is almost always with AC.
The only saving grace is you are on United metal for the second flight. I wouldn't upgrade to V fare either. This company will find a way to either forget you upgraded and give you S class miles anyways or dream up another way to mess up the 'upgrade'.
It is a lesson we've all learned. Sadly in the school of flying, the cruelest lessons come from Mr. AC, otherwise known as Mr. Adversity.
Jul 24, 2016, 5:58 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YQR
Posts: 2,741
AC operated flight is domestic YHZ-YYZ. It's only 800 miles, but I'm not really happy earning only 25% miles when I paid for a W fare which should earn 100% miles. As well since I'm traveling with an E50K member on the booking we should also be getting free preferred seats if it would have booked into Flex W, but because it somehow mapped to Tango S I need to pay for seats.
Personally, I've completely given up on chasing status and/or miles of any kind whereas when the program was still relatively decent it was worth it to buy up to higher earning fares for the benefits. I just don't see them being worth it now for anyone but the highest tiers...
Jul 25, 2016, 6:52 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,803
Sadly this is par for the course with this airline. They don't 'bait-and-switch', it is more of 'bait-and-you-are-out-of-luck'. Anytime there is confusion between Star Alliance Airline and Air Canada, the fault is almost always with AC.
The only saving grace is you are on United metal for the second flight. I wouldn't upgrade to V fare either. This company will find a way to either forget you upgraded and give you S class miles anyways or dream up another way to mess up the 'upgrade'.
It is a lesson we've all learned. Sadly in the school of flying, the cruelest lessons come from Mr. AC, otherwise known as Mr. Adversity.
The only saving grace is you are on United metal for the second flight. I wouldn't upgrade to V fare either. This company will find a way to either forget you upgraded and give you S class miles anyways or dream up another way to mess up the 'upgrade'.
It is a lesson we've all learned. Sadly in the school of flying, the cruelest lessons come from Mr. AC, otherwise known as Mr. Adversity.
Usually we get the opposite complains, about booking codeshares on aircanada.com that map onto a booking code that yields nothing.
Bottom line, we should be consistent and blame whichever airline mapped into an unexpected code.
Consistently blaming AC, and very emotionally at that, does little to enhance the poster's credibility. At the end of the day, does not help in those cases where criticism is actually warranted.
Jul 25, 2016, 6:58 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,548
Except, in this instance, it's UA which sold him a fare that mapped into a non-earning fare and did not tell him. Problem is with UA, not AC.
Usually we get the opposite complains, about booking codeshares on aircanada.com that map onto a booking code that yields nothing.
Bottom line, we should be consistent and blame whichever airline mapped into an unexpected code.
Consistently blaming AC, and very emotionally at that, does little to enhance the poster's credibility. At the end of the day, does not help in those cases where criticism is actually warranted.
Usually we get the opposite complains, about booking codeshares on aircanada.com that map onto a booking code that yields nothing.
Bottom line, we should be consistent and blame whichever airline mapped into an unexpected code.
Consistently blaming AC, and very emotionally at that, does little to enhance the poster's credibility. At the end of the day, does not help in those cases where criticism is actually warranted.
Jul 25, 2016, 7:02 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Providence RI
Programs: American Exec Plat, Hyatt Refugeeist, Marriot Gold, Air Canada Cattle Class, Korean Air Morning Plat
Posts: 988
Consistently blaming AC has not happened. I praised AC on their new phone app about 3 weeks ago and an FA who helped a pax with a tight connection
The fact AC strives to make itself an easy target with poor service, inconsistent execution and a near constant ability to shoot itself in the foot dies not make my comments unwarranted.
The fact AC strives to make itself an easy target with poor service, inconsistent execution and a near constant ability to shoot itself in the foot dies not make my comments unwarranted.
Jul 25, 2016, 8:08 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,422
I have a similar experience. Purchased a EVA ticket in PE. One leg from LAX-YYZ was booked in AC high flex. Even AC system confirmed it and I upgraded for 4 credits with the AC promo. AE credited 50% of the miles as according to them its a Tango fare. Submitted a claim and no luck. Dont have the time to spend hours calling AC and AE to sort it out.
Jul 25, 2016, 2:08 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YHZ | YYZ | YHM
Programs: AC 50K (*G), Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 636
In the end I payed $60 to have the booking upfared to V. Looked at cancelling and rebooking in V class, but the price they quoted me to upfare was for some reason cheaper than cancelling and rebooking in V. It was going to cost the same thing to buy preferred seats for 2 people, and I was interested in the 100% miles.
In my opinion United should have waived the fare difference all together, however knowing United I had very low expectations. Both companies seemed very confused over the whole situation. United couldn't understand why their W fare would map into Tango S, as United W is very similar to Air Canada W when you look at the fare rules. I had called Air Canada first and they didn't seem to understand the situation either. If airlines as closely integrated as United and Air Canada are going to sell codeshare flights, I expect that the booking classes should be aligned better.
In my opinion United should have waived the fare difference all together, however knowing United I had very low expectations. Both companies seemed very confused over the whole situation. United couldn't understand why their W fare would map into Tango S, as United W is very similar to Air Canada W when you look at the fare rules. I had called Air Canada first and they didn't seem to understand the situation either. If airlines as closely integrated as United and Air Canada are going to sell codeshare flights, I expect that the booking classes should be aligned better.
Jul 25, 2016, 2:34 pm
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,324
Air Canada has PY. United does not.
United has F. Air Canada does not.
So already, there's going to be some cabin mismatches with fare classes, unless the entire alliance can decide that F/A/O must only be used for F, E/N must only be used for PY, etc.
W should be a little simpler, but I would just be very careful buying a codeshare if you actually need it to work out to a specific fare class on the other airline.
Jul 25, 2016, 4:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Providence RI
Programs: American Exec Plat, Hyatt Refugeeist, Marriot Gold, Air Canada Cattle Class, Korean Air Morning Plat
Posts: 988
Then there is a Star Alliance CEO summit/meeting with all member airlines. Air India held the first, United held 2015 and Swiss held 2016. The 2016 meeting was moved up from December to June to get in front of issues surrounding pending legislation in some countries, Brexit + Heathrow issues and preparation for the Olympics especially with the recent addition of Avianca Brasil.
They have been trying to get common processes pushed through at the last 3 meetings. Everyone is on board (no pun intended) as long as
1/ everyone else adopts their system
or
2/ improvements are kept under ___X___ number of dollars.
It is a two day meeting with another day of fun or touristic events the day after. (Zurich they flew around on a Bombardier CS 100 and they did a tour of the Jungfrau in the Swiss alps for the day).
Its on the list of things to do........just how much money and effort it will take to do it.