Redeeming from spouse's account over the phone?
Mar 18, 2016, 7:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 319
Redeeming from spouse's account over the phone?
Hi all-
I'm planning on booking two Etihad tickets before the devaluation. The miles are in my wifes account, but I don't know how to go about this over the phone. Will they let me? Is there a way she can add me as an authorized user to book on her behalf? She's out of town, so I can't just hand the phone over and not sure if she's comfortable calling herself.
Thanks!!
I'm planning on booking two Etihad tickets before the devaluation. The miles are in my wifes account, but I don't know how to go about this over the phone. Will they let me? Is there a way she can add me as an authorized user to book on her behalf? She's out of town, so I can't just hand the phone over and not sure if she's comfortable calling herself.
Thanks!!
Mar 18, 2016, 7:20 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,527
If she is on the trip as well, this should (I say *should*) work. I have certainly applied SWUs from mrs. brp's account to trips that we're both taking without her present.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Mar 18, 2016, 7:37 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: YYC, SFO, OAK
Programs: AS MVP 75K, AA Platinum, IHG Platinum, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 734
Hi all-
I'm planning on booking two Etihad tickets before the devaluation. The miles are in my wifes account, but I don't know how to go about this over the phone. Will they let me? Is there a way she can add me as an authorized user to book on her behalf? She's out of town, so I can't just hand the phone over and not sure if she's comfortable calling herself.
Thanks!!
I'm planning on booking two Etihad tickets before the devaluation. The miles are in my wifes account, but I don't know how to go about this over the phone. Will they let me? Is there a way she can add me as an authorized user to book on her behalf? She's out of town, so I can't just hand the phone over and not sure if she's comfortable calling herself.
Thanks!!
Mar 18, 2016, 7:45 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: some premium cabin...
Posts: 390
I book flights for my family using miles from my spouse's account all the time. Never had a problem. No agent had even asked me any verification questions. Maybe I always use my home phone which matches the number on record. Since most agents told me that the name on the credit card needs to matches the account where the miles come from, I would just give them my spouse's credit card info and they are cool with that too.
Mar 19, 2016, 7:46 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,527
Cheers.
Mar 19, 2016, 11:04 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,109
We generally use miles from my account but once in a while we'll use hers when her balance gets big enough. Never had a problem doing it for her. I never apply them to my tickets but only to her so maybe that takes care of any issues. I setup and manage my wife's account anyhow - she has no idea of how to long in or what her balance is.
Mar 20, 2016, 12:11 am
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
EXP Agent tonight told me that since my wife was on the same flights that it was OK for me to have them use her miles without her being on the call. If it had been a reservation that did not include her travelling then she would need to talk to them.
Mar 20, 2016, 12:22 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
Just did some of these in the last 2 days. Even did a ticket for a third person from my wife's account. No problem at all. I basically started the call with "I want to book an award ticket using miles from my wife for a third person...."
They will ask you a few qualifying questions (like address etc) and ask for a credit card in your wife's name.
They will ask you a few qualifying questions (like address etc) and ask for a credit card in your wife's name.
Mar 20, 2016, 1:05 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
Other than that I booked awards out from his account all the time. AA Agents never ever ask qualifying questions probably we are the "travelers" in each others' profiles.
OTOH, when I canceled a BA booking in husband's name over the phone (within the 24 hours time frame), BA agent indeed asked a few qualifying questions even though he is in my Household Account.
Mar 24, 2016, 3:22 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 3
redeeming with my CC on my moms miles
I had major issues redeeming my moms miles with my CC. This wasn't an issues a few months ago!
It took me 10 calls or so to get it fixed. Because my mom doesn't have a CC they told us we had to go to the airport to pay cash/in person.
This was sunday, so we planned on going tuesday morning...
The airport is/was Brussels airport which got blown up
I used this to get an exception on the CC issue.
It the took me 6 more calls to fix what they promised!
Should be OK now...
It took me 10 calls or so to get it fixed. Because my mom doesn't have a CC they told us we had to go to the airport to pay cash/in person.
This was sunday, so we planned on going tuesday morning...
The airport is/was Brussels airport which got blown up
I used this to get an exception on the CC issue.
It the took me 6 more calls to fix what they promised!
Should be OK now...
Mar 24, 2016, 6:39 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
The first time I tried to do this, a couple years ago, the AAgent actually made me get my SO on the line, answer questions, and then basically make me an "authorized user" of their account. He had a rather formal-sounding script he followed in doing this. Ever since I have had no issue booking from their account. I have no idea if this initial conference call and authorization was something that is supposed to happen and most AAgents simply ignore, or if it was something that an overzealous/bored AAgent had unilaterally come up with. Given the prevalence of award booking services, etc. that book tickets from others' accounts without issue, I'm kind of figuring that it was the latter.