Cathay Pacific???
 

So I was looking to book SFO-MNL and one of the options was SFO-HKG on United then HKG-MNL on Cathay Pacific. (on the United.com website)

Isn't Cathay Pacific OneWorld??? Why is this non Star Alliance airline showing up on a United website? I won't get the PQM from this leg right?

I know its only 699 miles, but I need every PQM possible to hit Gold this year =(

Ual.com offers other carriers every once in a while. Miles on other carrier won't count.

I often see BA flights on ua.com

There are a lot of non Star Alliance flights on United.com and other Star Alliance carrier's websites as well. It's quite common when you have a segment and no Star carrier flies the route (like HKG-MNL for example)

If you're not happy with that then either take the connection via NRT with NH or via GUM with UA. They may be more expensive but both will credit the PQMs you need.

Most departures from CLT and MIA on LH will allow you to add AA/US operated flights as feeders. Nothing unusual. Remember people want to get from A to B and not necessarily care about the mileage earning all the time ;)

Because it is in UA's interest to sell any interline routing where they collect most of the revenue, especially in markets where they don't operate nonstop.

No UA miles for the CX segment, of course. But you can earn miles for it into another plan.

Airline alliances are not straight jackets; airlines often have partnerships beyond alliances.

Qantas and Emirates have a very deep alliance despite Qantas being part of OneWorld, while Air NZ have a number of partnerships to cover areas they might be weak in or want to grow inward traffic.

Similarly you have the likes of Delta and United having partnerships with Gol and Azul in Brazil.

Even beyond these partnerships it often makes sense (for the same reasons above - driving inward traffic, providing onward domestic/regional connections for your passengers) to sell flights on other airlines.

PQM vs RDM
 

Just to clarify: you will not earn your Premier qualifying miles, however you will earn redeemable miles exactly as if you were flying UA, as long as you booked via UA.

-G

Sorry, that is incorrect. You will only accrue miles on flights operated by UA or its partners. CX is not a UA partner, therefore no earning of any kind - RDM, PQM, or PQD.

Earning Miles on United Flights.