I called UA to book a CPSTAR2. Routing is ICN-SFO-HNL-SFO-SYD-AKL-NRT-ICN (first SFO is a layover and the second SFO a stopover, I just don't know how to show it here). Online Star Booking tool calculates the trip at 25,449 miles and states it to be a valid itinerary. Agent admitted she hadn't done a CTP in awhile so she had to enlist the Help Desk. After a 15 minute wait, she comes back on the line and says the itinerary is not valid. If I start at ICN, then the trip can only be 15,000 or 18,000 miles (gee that sounds like a Circle Asia not a CTP) or if I start at SFO then it can be 22,000 or 26,000 miles. What!?

I ask to speak with another supervisor because I know the logic thus far is wacky. So after another 20 minute wait, the agent agrees with me that the mileage from ICN is the 22K or 26K, but my itinerary is not a circle because it includes a backtrack (SFO-HNL) so I have to route ICN-NRT-HNL-SFO-AKL.... This makes no sense to me as I have done this trip before. It's not like I'm trying to go back and forth between regions.

Okay I haven't done many CTP (2) but I have completed 17 RTWs. I have read the rules here [http://www.airnzagent.co.nz/assets/a...c-14jul11.pdf] and I do not see anything except "Fares governed by this rule can be used to create circle trip journeys." Travelling on RTWs allow for backtracking within a region and I didn't think CTPs were any different. Am I wrong?

I have done many bookings directly with UA and not had this problem before. I'm guessing that CTPs are not used that often vs RTWs or did I get the CO reservation team. I thought about starting over with a new agent but since it is more than one person not understanding the rules, I figure I might as well follow this through. I am waiting to hear back from the Rate Desk with a price on the original routing. Hopefully that person will not get distracted with the ill-informed notes already in the file and price the trip as I want.

Your itin is a valid one. UA rate desk likely to recognize that and price it correctly. As these are mileage based Star fares, baclktracking isn't a constraint. Crossng betwen regions more than once would be a no-no, but HNL and SFO are the same region.

Yeah, rate desk did call last night with a fare and confirmed my itinerary. Fortunately I had asked the first agent to send it through to the rate desk in spite of her statement "just to let you know, I doubt it is valid". Fortunately FlyerTalk has made me an informed flyer.^

Over the weekend the first itinerary disappeared from my online account so I called to re-book a new itinerary. Got an agent that was knowledgeable and handled my request with no issues. Waiting to see if the itineraries are priced the same