Hello,

I am currently booking a NRT-NAN business award flight with a stopover in CGK on the way back. To reach CGK I must stop in either SIN or BKK last, but BKK is not a direct routing method. So SIN is the sole option, I believe.

There is currently no business award space on the direct AKL-SIN for the week February 3-8.

The website shows availability through MEL, SYD, PER and CHC. The customer service rep, though, tells me any such routing is invalid and I must fly the non-stop route to keep my current price. They cannot suggest any other places to layover. Three such reps have said this, even though MEL is directly on the AKL-SIN flight path.

Does this sound right?

why not book the direct chc - sin. there is usually a lot more award availability

Or What about TG AKL BKK, heaps of awards in both I and X class usually

I attempted to do both of those. I was told CHC, MEL, PER, SYD, BKK etc are "indirect routings".

There is only availability from NAN to AKL, so I have to start from there. From AKL to CGK, I was told I may only connect through Singapore and it HAS to be the non-stop from AKL. Anything else would be considered out of the way, and I would need a RTW ticket. I spoke with a supervisor who seemed annoyed and unwilling to budge. I mentioned MEL is on the flight path from AKL to SIN and he was unimpressed.

They seem to have an overly strict interpretation of direct routing

Welcome to FlyerTalk, drewp123. ALL award questions depend entirely on the rules of the FFP whose points / miles you are using to make the booking, so your query is more appropriate for the forum devoted to that programme (which, by the way, you haven't even deigned to tell us ). Good luck.

cheers,

Henry

Hello Henry,

Thanks for the welcome. I am using united miles. Sorry for not saying sooner!

You can always call at another time and see if someone else may be able to do book what you want.

Perhaps a moderator could transfer this to the United forum, if it would be more appropriate there? Thanks!

I tried with three different agents and they all received the same error message. I escalated to a supervisor and he said the routing was invalid. At this point they have notes on all my calls and any attempt is met with "You already tried that and were told no."

One theory I have seen is that perhaps my itinerary is too long. The total mileage for this itinerary is 21,117. The supervisor said the only way to do my routing would be to convert to a RTW ticket. Perhaps this is the issue? Unfortunately, the supervisor had poor english and couldn't really convey the issue and I think a lot of my explanation's nuances were lost on him.