Earning Miles on Code Share Flights
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2007
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Earning Miles on Code Share Flights
Tried to find an answer to this by calling OPSC and I keep getting different responses.
Are miles earned for CO number flights, operated by LH on L Class? I see these flights on CO.com but there is not a clear guideline posted (like we had when CO was with ST) on how many RDM/EQM you would earn for code-share flights. Someone had mentioned that usually the operating carrier equivalent fare determines if you earn miles. If that is the case, since LH does not have an L class earning fare for CO, you would get no miles. However, CO.com when you make the reservation shows 100% RDM/EQM.
To complicate matters more, what do you earn with UA flight numbers operated by LH or CO in L and/or S fare class?
Any insight will be greatly appreciated. Trying to finalize travel plans and want to make sure I get the miles needed for Plat.
Thanks
Are miles earned for CO number flights, operated by LH on L Class? I see these flights on CO.com but there is not a clear guideline posted (like we had when CO was with ST) on how many RDM/EQM you would earn for code-share flights. Someone had mentioned that usually the operating carrier equivalent fare determines if you earn miles. If that is the case, since LH does not have an L class earning fare for CO, you would get no miles. However, CO.com when you make the reservation shows 100% RDM/EQM.
To complicate matters more, what do you earn with UA flight numbers operated by LH or CO in L and/or S fare class?
Any insight will be greatly appreciated. Trying to finalize travel plans and want to make sure I get the miles needed for Plat.
Thanks
#2
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#3
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Welcome to *A!
CO Insider has confirmed that earnings follow the operating carrier, so this will map to a LH fare class. Not sure what fare class that would be, but I would think there is a very good chance it will map to W, as this is the lowest TATL fare class, IIRC. LH does have an L fare, but it seems to be only for cheapo intra-European flights.
Of course, without a definitive map being published, then you are kind of flying blind. If the miles are critical, I would avoid a codeshare.
MODS: Might be a good idea to start a thread where folks can post what they earn for various codeshares? Perhaps enough info can be collected here on FT to provide some sort of clue?
CO Insider has confirmed that earnings follow the operating carrier, so this will map to a LH fare class. Not sure what fare class that would be, but I would think there is a very good chance it will map to W, as this is the lowest TATL fare class, IIRC. LH does have an L fare, but it seems to be only for cheapo intra-European flights.
Of course, without a definitive map being published, then you are kind of flying blind. If the miles are critical, I would avoid a codeshare.
MODS: Might be a good idea to start a thread where folks can post what they earn for various codeshares? Perhaps enough info can be collected here on FT to provide some sort of clue?
#4
Original Poster

Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: UA, AA, AF, IB
Posts: 388
Welcome to *A!
CO Insider has confirmed that earnings follow the operating carrier, so this will map to a LH fare class. Not sure what fare class that would be, but I would think there is a very good chance it will map to W, as this is the lowest TATL fare class, IIRC. LH does have an L fare, but it seems to be only for cheapo intra-European flights.
Of course, without a definitive map being published, then you are kind of flying blind. If the miles are critical, I would avoid a codeshare.
MODS: Might be a good idea to start a thread where folks can post what they earn for various codeshares? Perhaps enough info can be collected here on FT to provide some sort of clue?
CO Insider has confirmed that earnings follow the operating carrier, so this will map to a LH fare class. Not sure what fare class that would be, but I would think there is a very good chance it will map to W, as this is the lowest TATL fare class, IIRC. LH does have an L fare, but it seems to be only for cheapo intra-European flights.
Of course, without a definitive map being published, then you are kind of flying blind. If the miles are critical, I would avoid a codeshare.
MODS: Might be a good idea to start a thread where folks can post what they earn for various codeshares? Perhaps enough info can be collected here on FT to provide some sort of clue?
Agree that a thread on code shares will be needed given that CO has not published (will publish?) a complete accrual table like previosuly with ST.
Also, CO.com needs to update the mileage earning accrual displayed when making reservations. It is misleading that CO flight numbers, booked in CO.com, that show 100% miles, will only provide you half or no miles.
You're right, welcome to *A. I miss the earning miles in all DL code shares with ST flights, not to mention the bonuses...
#5
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Thanks pbarnette, I remember reading about 'following the operating carrier'. but as you mention this still leaves you in the blind. I called the OPSC and they said that L in CO flight/operated by LH would equate to LH L, thus no miles accrued. This really does not make any sense.
Agreed, though they never really cared too much about this with the old DL/NW code-shares so I'm not sure that they'll start to fix it now.
#7
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It looks like the LH fares are not in line with the others that CO switched to map. So be it. At best the L fare will map to an S fare on LH. Or you can just buy the S fare from LH and know exactly what you are going to get. With the flight being on CO metal you don't really have any compelling reason to buy it on CO stock other than it showing up on your profile on co.com, right?
#8
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And that makes a difference of getting 50% to no miles at all.
Yes, but again the mapping of CO to LH fares is not clear. I hope we get some clarification sometime soon.
#9
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The booking portion of co.com didn't always have this right, but I remember there being a nice list of codeshare mileage under each airline (e.g., XX flight operated by YY).
#10
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Yeah...that was there in many cases, but not all. That was more important when the marketing carrier's rules determined the credit. That is no longer the case. It'd be nice if they had a list of all the mappings or if the agents actually got the answer correct when asked, but in this case the answer is still the same, I think. Book on the LH code and be assured of the 50% rather than likely the 0%.
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