Star Gold / Silver (*G / *S) seating policy (2018 onwards)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 101
Star Gold / Silver (*G / *S) seating policy (2018 onwards)
I am planning flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver. The more suitable flights are a United Express flight from Los Angeles, and an Air Canada flight from Vancouver. So I have the option of booking either using the United or AC website.
Which would you recommend I book from? Does Air Canada recognize Star Alliance Gold status (Krisflyer, actually) if you use their website to book and does this give any privileges such as seat selection?
Thank you for your advice
Which would you recommend I book from? Does Air Canada recognize Star Alliance Gold status (Krisflyer, actually) if you use their website to book and does this give any privileges such as seat selection?
Thank you for your advice
#2
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Use whichever is cheaper, probably UA. If in Y (seems likely based on your question) check the fare code if relevevant to avoid Basic Economy and Economy Basic.
You get a free checked bag, Z2 boarding and priority services at airport including MLL. Preferred seats are not reduced. You should need to add your KrisFlyer number with status into the ticket to get these benefits. Whether OLCI lets you check a bag for free is another question, but you always say zero then goto checkin again at the airport.
http://www.staralliance.com/en/gold-status
You get a free checked bag, Z2 boarding and priority services at airport including MLL. Preferred seats are not reduced. You should need to add your KrisFlyer number with status into the ticket to get these benefits. Whether OLCI lets you check a bag for free is another question, but you always say zero then goto checkin again at the airport.
http://www.staralliance.com/en/gold-status
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,454
Preferred seats are not free for *G on AC operated flights. That said, you would be added to the upgrade list where you can go from Y to J cabin.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ottawa
Programs: Altitude E50K / *G
Posts: 924
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
There is no United basic economy to Canada.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: I'm From Here
Programs: AC*SE & MM/*Wood Gold/HHonors Diamond/Marriott Silver/AirMiles Gold
Posts: 4,562
I have done 40 segments this year on AC and have received a total of 0 OpUps. Both in full and half full planes.
On average, I will get 2-3 a year if that, averaging anywhere from 60-80 flights.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
2018 YUL-PVG. L fare ->PY
2018 SFO-YYZ Y fare ->J
2017 BOS-YYZ K fare -> J (back not full)
2016 YYZ-CDG K fare ->PY
2016 BOS-YYZ Tango -> J
2015 JFK-YYZ Y fare -> J (back not full)
2015 YUL-LHR Tango -> J
#10
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
While I am delighted for rankourabu and his remarkable success in being op-upped without being a member of AC's altitude program and a UA *G member, I think we should be extremely careful of suggesting to the OP and indeed any other *G members out that that this is in any way normal, expected, or actually AC policy.
ACs official policy is to fly with empty seats rather than op-upping even SEMM members (maybe this changes as an unpublished SE3MM or higher level). AC even happily flies with empty J seats when Y pax are left behind due to weather.
While I've seen reports here of people here getting the occasional opup, it seems a lot rarer than 50% of the time (and is mainly for people on non-Tango fares) and none of the FF's with AC directly I know have ever had one without using eUps.
While UA doesn't fly Basic Economy to Canada, AC does fly Economy Basic across Canada so I'd be careful what a domestic AC segment booked via UA goes into if you need any of the Tango/Flex 'advantages'.
ACs official policy is to fly with empty seats rather than op-upping even SEMM members (maybe this changes as an unpublished SE3MM or higher level). AC even happily flies with empty J seats when Y pax are left behind due to weather.
While I've seen reports here of people here getting the occasional opup, it seems a lot rarer than 50% of the time (and is mainly for people on non-Tango fares) and none of the FF's with AC directly I know have ever had one without using eUps.
While UA doesn't fly Basic Economy to Canada, AC does fly Economy Basic across Canada so I'd be careful what a domestic AC segment booked via UA goes into if you need any of the Tango/Flex 'advantages'.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
It's easy to see which AC flights will oversell in Y.
When they sell <$400 fares from the US to Asia/Europe, the back fills up quickly.
on my YUL PVG flight, the back was oversold by 31. I m sure lots of Altitude members got OPUP to J/PY ahead of me.
When they sell <$400 fares from the US to Asia/Europe, the back fills up quickly.
on my YUL PVG flight, the back was oversold by 31. I m sure lots of Altitude members got OPUP to J/PY ahead of me.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
While I am delighted for rankourabu and his remarkable success in being op-upped without being a member of AC's altitude program and a UA *G member, I think we should be extremely careful of suggesting to the OP and indeed any other *G members out that that this is in any way normal, expected, or actually AC policy.
ACs official policy is to fly with empty seats rather than op-upping even SEMM members (maybe this changes as an unpublished SE3MM or higher level). AC even happily flies with empty J seats when Y pax are left behind due to weather.
While I've seen reports here of people here getting the occasional opup, it seems a lot rarer than 50% of the time (and is mainly for people on non-Tango fares) and none of the FF's with AC directly I know have ever had one without using eUps.
While UA doesn't fly Basic Economy to Canada, AC does fly Economy Basic across Canada so I'd be careful what a domestic AC segment booked via UA goes into if you need any of the Tango/Flex 'advantages'.
ACs official policy is to fly with empty seats rather than op-upping even SEMM members (maybe this changes as an unpublished SE3MM or higher level). AC even happily flies with empty J seats when Y pax are left behind due to weather.
While I've seen reports here of people here getting the occasional opup, it seems a lot rarer than 50% of the time (and is mainly for people on non-Tango fares) and none of the FF's with AC directly I know have ever had one without using eUps.
While UA doesn't fly Basic Economy to Canada, AC does fly Economy Basic across Canada so I'd be careful what a domestic AC segment booked via UA goes into if you need any of the Tango/Flex 'advantages'.
As mentioned, a domestic Basic or Tango (or whatever it's called today) AC fare booked through the UA website yields 25% PQMs for UA's MP members.
#13
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: YQR
Programs: Nexus/GE, UA/MPG, Bonvoy Tit, LTP
Posts: 1,294
As UA *G I find AC frequently assigns me the worst seats on the aircraft, typically in the last few rows. OTOH my wife and I, both UA*G, have been upgraded on approximately 30-40% of the AC flights where this was possible in the last 2-3 years. I say where possible because many of our flights on AC are short haul connectors on a Q400 with no J seats, or, alternatively, we are already in paid J on longer AC segments. In fact we observed that we get UG on AC more than we do on UA.
As for being lucky, perhaps we are. We were once UG by SQ from LHR-SIN on a reward ticket , which is apparently unheard of. We then received a $100 compensation voucher because they didn't have a diabetic meal in the business class cabin and wouldn't serve the pre ordered economy meal in that cabin. We never complained and my wife was happy to choose from the fish meals offered and watch her own diet but they kept apologizing for not having a diabetic meal loaded in a cabin that we hadn't paid for. My wife chose a piece of jewellery from their in flight selection on the journey home, paying with the voucher.
As for being lucky, perhaps we are. We were once UG by SQ from LHR-SIN on a reward ticket , which is apparently unheard of. We then received a $100 compensation voucher because they didn't have a diabetic meal in the business class cabin and wouldn't serve the pre ordered economy meal in that cabin. We never complained and my wife was happy to choose from the fish meals offered and watch her own diet but they kept apologizing for not having a diabetic meal loaded in a cabin that we hadn't paid for. My wife chose a piece of jewellery from their in flight selection on the journey home, paying with the voucher.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
So perhaps its not horseshoes, its a trend
#15
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ/YUL
Programs: UA 1K, AC nadda, DL, WS-Nadda
Posts: 1,476
Not True, I have not missed a flight I was on the stand by list for in 3 years. In NYC two weeks ago I was 60 on the SBY list when i asked to take a flight 3 hrs earlier. Asked at the MLL and was told had not cleared but looked good. 10 minutes later i shot past the list and was number 2 with a check beside my name, when I got to they gate the issued me a seat in one of the preferred rows.