I today booked two United award tickets through Flying Returns
BOS-DEN (30K miles + INR 1,387 / USD 20)
DEN-EWR-BOS (30K miles + INR 2,387 or USD 35)
For each ticket, INR 387 were taxes and 1000 convenience charge per segment

The latter was a single PNR
- while booking the agent put me on hold and confirmed that it is possible to put them on a single PNR
- while making the payment 5 hrs later, the agent cautioned that it may error out and in that case I may have to pay the INR 387 taxes again - though he did not mention (and I didn't ask) if I would have to use an additional 5k miles too

Some additional points,
- The process overall took almost 2 hours to complete (1hr to put the tickets on hold - generate a booking number and then another to make the payment)
- Since I did not have access to my registered Indian mobile number, I had to send an email from my registered email address stating that "I would like to make the payment of so-and-so booking reference number". I called back 4-5 hours later to allow them time (at the request of the first agent)
- For the payment, the agent initially sent me an email to make the payment through HDFC bank payment gateway. Since I wanted to use Chase Reserve (US card) to pay, I asked and he obliged with an IVR.

Does anybody know how much time Air India allows between booking a ticket and making the payment for United flights? If a couple of days or so, I would like to put the ticket on hold (book it) and then transfer miles into my account from Citi Prestige to make the payment.

The call center rep did not know and would not hazard a guess for United. For Air India, he mentioned 5hrs or so, which sounded low to me.

Bonus point for Silver member
 

Hi, I am wondering how would the 15% Silver membership bonus be calculated ? does it apply to distance? or apply to the factor of the fare? for example, F class AI ticker with factor of 300%, the membership bonus = 15% x 300% = 45% of the distance? or just 15% x distance?
For G class factored with 50%, 15% membership bonus = 50% x 15% x distance? or just 15% x distance?

I could not find the specification on the FR website about how this to be calculated, could someone advice... Thanks you

The tier bonus (15% in case SEC) is on the base FR points. AI uses distance not fare for awards. So it's 15% x distance.

Also only base points & cabin bonus contributes towards your tier status. Tier bonus, web bonus and other bonuses don't.

So even a fare factored lower than 100% would also just use distance for calculation? Not distance x factor before apply the bonus percentage?

Distance in this case means the eligible base miles. So if you earned 50% miles on a U fare class... you'll get 50% x 15%.

A silly question. Does AI boarding pass still has a printed note"award ticket" for tickets booked using miles? I remember it used to show something like that atleast 2-3 years ago. I could not understand for whom this message aimed at? Cabin crew didn't treat me any differently (which I was dreading they would).

Result of the Feb 13, AI 339 BKK - BLR being delayed by 15 hours. Since the plane was on the tarmac for 15 hours in BKK I assume it was either crew related or mechanical.

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Bit urgent. Does anyone has a phone number to reach Flying Returns customer service (within India)? None of the numbers listed on the website is working. I need to urgently change a ticket. Travel is coming up in less than 4 days. What is the best way to get it done? Phone / Email?

1860 233 1407 is usually the best way to get in touch with them and do this.

agreed....i just used this number to change a ticket last week....

AI Upgrade with miles availability
 

Hi,
Has anyone had any luck upgrading AI flights with miles (domestic and international) every time I try all it says is inventory not available when business class is untouched on some of these flights. Thank you.