Any experience booking with Vayama.com?
Jul 4, 2008, 3:04 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
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Any experience booking with Vayama.com?
I searched and couldn't come up with even my own post from some time ago in which I mentioned Vayama, so my apologies if this duplicates some previous query...
Anyway, any experience booking UA flights using Vayama.com? I'm looking at Z fares for an itinerary that's mainly UA flights, one of which is UA metal but LH code share. Am interested about its reliability and whether, buying through Vayama, I'd get the EQMs and redeemable miles that I'd normally accrue if buying directly from UA.
Thanks for any help.
Anyway, any experience booking UA flights using Vayama.com? I'm looking at Z fares for an itinerary that's mainly UA flights, one of which is UA metal but LH code share. Am interested about its reliability and whether, buying through Vayama, I'd get the EQMs and redeemable miles that I'd normally accrue if buying directly from UA.
Thanks for any help.
Jul 4, 2008, 8:02 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
I searched and couldn't come up with even my own post from some time ago in which I mentioned Vayama, so my apologies if this duplicates some previous query...
Anyway, any experience booking UA flights using Vayama.com? I'm looking at Z fares for an itinerary that's mainly UA flights, one of which is UA metal but LH code share. Am interested about its reliability and whether, buying through Vayama, I'd get the EQMs and redeemable miles that I'd normally accrue if buying directly from UA.
Thanks for any help.
Anyway, any experience booking UA flights using Vayama.com? I'm looking at Z fares for an itinerary that's mainly UA flights, one of which is UA metal but LH code share. Am interested about its reliability and whether, buying through Vayama, I'd get the EQMs and redeemable miles that I'd normally accrue if buying directly from UA.
Thanks for any help.
Jul 4, 2008, 8:38 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N Charleston South Carolina
Programs: UA PM (by 2MM), DL GM (by 3.5MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,655
I've bought from them once. Only issue is that I was told by united that it was a "bulk" fare, and could not be changed by UA, but only through Vayama. They charge an additional $100 in addition to UA's change fee - I decided not to change.
No problems with booking, flying or credit.
Billy
No problems with booking, flying or credit.
Billy
Jul 4, 2008, 9:09 am
#6
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
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Let's see if the readers of our on-line travel booking forum can shed some added light on the issues. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, United M+.
Jul 4, 2008, 2:02 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver, CO USA
Programs: UA-Gold, 1MM, Marriott Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 1,086
I don't have any first hand experience with Vayana, but I appreciate the OP bringing this site & thread location to my attention. Good Luck!
Jul 4, 2008, 3:03 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I guess one other question I didn't flag was any experience with Vayama in the event of missed connections? One or two of the connections on the itinerary I might fly are tight. Does that mean I'd have to try to contact Vayama to rebook me if I miss the connecting flights?
Jul 5, 2008, 6:31 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,472
I have a flight that I am about to book with Vayama because it is $200 per passenger cheaper than on Orbitz, Expedia, etc.
Once you get the flight booked, can you select your seats online w/the Airline's website, etc?
Once you get the flight booked, can you select your seats online w/the Airline's website, etc?
Jul 12, 2008, 7:18 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BNA
Posts: 234
A friend of mine booked BNA-PRG through Vayama, he flew NW/KL/OK and only got credit for the outgoing flight.
When it was questioned, NW informed him that his returning vayama booked travel was a contract "negotiated" fare similar to Priceline/Hotwire and that points could not be earned.
When it was questioned, NW informed him that his returning vayama booked travel was a contract "negotiated" fare similar to Priceline/Hotwire and that points could not be earned.
Jul 21, 2008, 3:37 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: NRT/PDX
Programs: Willamette Valley Cropdusters Silver Elite, National Tent Frequent Stay program, Ed's Rent-a-tractor
Posts: 3,357
Had no problem selecting seats on nwa.com on a booking made through Vayama. Once Vayama had my NW FF# in the reservation, it was a simple matter to access the reservation on nwa.com and select seats.
Jul 24, 2008, 2:36 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2
I didn't have any problems buying tickets to Russia at vayama or changing seats online at AA.com afterwards (which had this reservation on their site almost immediately). One big complain I have is that apparently tickets I got are not eligible for frequent flier miles. I couldn't find information about ticket class and their eligibility anywhere on vayama so I discovered it only after I got the boarding pass. Worst of all American ran a promotion a month after I purchased the tickets so I could end up buying tickets at nearly the same price, get full miles credit, and get bonus miles as well. Oh well, lesson learned.
Jul 24, 2008, 4:18 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slightly to the left of center
Posts: 3,475
An earlier posted said it simply comes down to fare class. But some are reporting earning miles and some are reporting not earning miles utilizing Vayama. Is it possible they sell different types of fares; consolidator, group, and published fares, and that only some of these actually earn miles?
Jul 25, 2008, 6:05 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2
Is it possible they sell different types of fares; consolidator, group, and published fares, and that only some of these actually earn miles?
Jul 27, 2008, 4:42 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: UA 1K- RCC
Posts: 457
I booked a flight from IAD to South Africa for November. UA flights and SAA flights. Booked in S on UA and L on SAA which should both earn miles on UA MP. Was able to see the UA fare classes before buying but only saw the SAA fare class once it posted on my united.com page.
There was a schedule change on a UA flight which changed my layover in LHR to 45min which wasn't legal or plausible at all. As mentioned, UA can't change the ticket but called Vayama and only took them 15 minutes to change me to a later UA flight I preferred. There was no S fare available on the next flight so they booked me in W.
Hope this helps.
There was a schedule change on a UA flight which changed my layover in LHR to 45min which wasn't legal or plausible at all. As mentioned, UA can't change the ticket but called Vayama and only took them 15 minutes to change me to a later UA flight I preferred. There was no S fare available on the next flight so they booked me in W.
Hope this helps.