Risky Air China LifeMiles Award
Apr 29, 2019, 12:30 pm
#46
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
Great post. In addition, you are able to access it on the Air China app in the same manner (just a mobile skin of this system).
Unfortunately for me, it does not show seat information despite selecting the seat via phone. And also the app doesn't allow you to pull the reservation into mobile wallet, which would have been nice for obsessive checking/paranoia.
Unfortunately for me, it does not show seat information despite selecting the seat via phone. And also the app doesn't allow you to pull the reservation into mobile wallet, which would have been nice for obsessive checking/paranoia.
Apr 29, 2019, 2:44 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: USA
Programs: AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 310
Apr 29, 2019, 3:02 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,656
This ticket can be seen in the Thai airways website (it includes Thai segments), and Checkmytrip. Air China has a record of it (I called to check).
Apr 29, 2019, 6:11 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
I suspect that is the reason. Tickets on the website are issued as 202 tickets. Tickets on the phone are issued as 134 tickets. As to why 202 tickets validate online and 134 tickets do not I have no clue. Perhaps there was some agreement with TACA but not Avianca that resulted in the 202 tickets being supported online? Not a huge deal I guess as there are other ways to validate but a puzzle.
May 11, 2019, 3:34 am
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
If you want to book Air China, make sure you have selected 'Air China' fmo the list of airlines rather than using 'smart search' or 'star alliance'.
if you select 'Air China' the booking should take you through to the passenger details to complete the booking.
If there is still a problem, let us know.
May 20, 2019, 3:55 am
#53
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Brisbane
Programs: QF gold, HH Diamond, VA plat, Aegean Gold
Posts: 683
I suspect that is the reason. Tickets on the website are issued as 202 tickets. Tickets on the phone are issued as 134 tickets. As to why 202 tickets validate online and 134 tickets do not I have no clue. Perhaps there was some agreement with TACA but not Avianca that resulted in the 202 tickets being supported online? Not a huge deal I guess as there are other ways to validate but a puzzle.
May 20, 2019, 9:29 am
#54
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
No, you do not have to validate tickets. If the booking process worked as it should then the tickets are valid and there is no need to validate them on your own. Validating tickets is an extra optional step you can take to make sure everything has gone properly. It should happen by itself but I always like to double-check. If there is a problem for some reason and you spot it early you have a much better chance of fixing it than if you show up to the airport and find there is a problem.
Aug 16, 2019, 7:23 pm
#55
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: UR, MR, United, SPG
Posts: 78
Just thought I'd post my experience in case anyone else stumbles across this thread. This certainly had a lot of useful information that was helpful and relived some of my doubts about booking Air China tickets using LifeMiles. Earlier this week I booked JFK-PEK-BKK in Air China business class using LifeMiles online and didn't have any issues. The next day I started reading all the previous issues with Air China canelling *A award tickets and began to have concerns. I ended up deciding to keep my reservation and make sure I had a seat assignment. Used CheckMyTrip, as suggested on this thread, and entered in my Avianca record locator, which then showed me my Air China reservation number. I did call the Air China US phone number (1-800-882-8122) and was only hold for 45 minutes (called at ~5PM PST 
), but when I got through the agent did find my ticket using my Air China record locator and assigned me a seat. So I am likely good to go, but I will absolutely be double-checking my reservation up until my departure date!
Unfortunately, I will likely have to do this over the phone as I did not have any luck confirming my reservation on Air China's website or Ticket Validating. Admittedly, I did not try very hard, but attempted a few iterations of my name and could not get the system to find or confirm my reservation. As also mentioned on this thread, since I booked it online with LifeMiles, it was a ticket number starting in 202-xxxxxxxxxx. Also, CheckMyTrip shows my status as confirmed, but does not show my seat number, even after Air China assigned me a seat. However, when I click on the seat map, my seat is indeed shown as occupied. Again, I take this as a good sign and that I am likely good to go.
The last complicating factor was that I booked my wife on the same flights, but used SQ Krisflyer miles instead
. Fortunately, I followed the exact same process and have her seat assignments as well. And if anyone is curious, SQ ticket numbers booked online are 618-xxxxxxxxxx. Ultimately, as much as I would love to check and re-confirm everything online, I am comfortable enough with where things are at now. I am also glad that we are on Air China on both legs, so when we check-in at JFK, we should be able to make sure that we have confirmed seat assignments on both flights and reduce the risk that we get stuck in PEK.
), but when I got through the agent did find my ticket using my Air China record locator and assigned me a seat. So I am likely good to go, but I will absolutely be double-checking my reservation up until my departure date!Unfortunately, I will likely have to do this over the phone as I did not have any luck confirming my reservation on Air China's website or Ticket Validating. Admittedly, I did not try very hard, but attempted a few iterations of my name and could not get the system to find or confirm my reservation. As also mentioned on this thread, since I booked it online with LifeMiles, it was a ticket number starting in 202-xxxxxxxxxx. Also, CheckMyTrip shows my status as confirmed, but does not show my seat number, even after Air China assigned me a seat. However, when I click on the seat map, my seat is indeed shown as occupied. Again, I take this as a good sign and that I am likely good to go.
The last complicating factor was that I booked my wife on the same flights, but used SQ Krisflyer miles instead
. Fortunately, I followed the exact same process and have her seat assignments as well. And if anyone is curious, SQ ticket numbers booked online are 618-xxxxxxxxxx. Ultimately, as much as I would love to check and re-confirm everything online, I am comfortable enough with where things are at now. I am also glad that we are on Air China on both legs, so when we check-in at JFK, we should be able to make sure that we have confirmed seat assignments on both flights and reduce the risk that we get stuck in PEK.
Aug 16, 2019, 7:33 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
You can only access the manage booking function on Air China's website if you booked yuor flight through Air China. If you book through lifemiles, singapore or a third party (expedia or the like) you have to call Air China for seat selection and other serivces.
The problems with Air China reservations and awards do not concern Lifemiles and Singapre airlines. Never had any problems, or read any problems, when booked through these channels.
What you do need to keep an eye out for is equipment changes, particularly if flying First class. Air China swaps flights around, although these are part of scheduled changes, not 'day of departure'.
The problems with Air China reservations and awards do not concern Lifemiles and Singapre airlines. Never had any problems, or read any problems, when booked through these channels.
What you do need to keep an eye out for is equipment changes, particularly if flying First class. Air China swaps flights around, although these are part of scheduled changes, not 'day of departure'.
Aug 16, 2019, 7:39 pm
#57
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: UR, MR, United, SPG
Posts: 78
You can only access the manage booking function on Air China's website if you booked yuor flight through Air China. If you book through lifemiles, singapore or a third party (expedia or the like) you have to call Air China for seat selection and other serivces.
The problems with Air China reservations and awards do not concern Lifemiles and Singapre airlines. Never had any problems, or read any problems, when booked through these channels.
What you do need to keep an eye out for is equipment changes, particularly if flying First class. Air China swaps flights around, although these are part of scheduled changes, not 'day of departure'.
The problems with Air China reservations and awards do not concern Lifemiles and Singapre airlines. Never had any problems, or read any problems, when booked through these channels.
What you do need to keep an eye out for is equipment changes, particularly if flying First class. Air China swaps flights around, although these are part of scheduled changes, not 'day of departure'.