Star Award Chart Problem/Question
 

I confirmed a Star Alliance award from the US (DFW) via the Atlantic (FRA) to South Asia (HKG). The chart indicates this is 120,000 miles. I gave the credit card to ticket my reservation. I later checked my MP balance on line and saw they had deducted 120,000 miles and the put them back into my account. They then deducted 140,000 miles. I called MP and asked why. The advised the Star Alliance awards charge the highest mileage for whatever zone you are passing through. In my case, I am passing through Europe and though I am originating in the US where the award is 120,000 miles, I am transiting Europe (FRA) and even though there is no stopover they are charging the Europe to South Asia level of 140,000 miles.
A couple of questions...
Is this fair? United MP didn't even have the courtesy to call or write to advise they were deducting an additional 20,000 miles than promised. I know that partner awards are subject to quality control but I thought this would a least warrant some type of courtesy contact.

On the Star Alliance award chart in Apollo, it indicates the following..

- WHEN CONNECTING IN A HIGHER GEOGRAPHIC REGION...
THE HIGHER OF THE TWO AWARD LEVELS APPLY (I.E.
ORIGIN REGION TO CONNECTION/STOPOVER REGION -OR-
ORIGIN REGION TO FINAL DESTINATION REGION).

But another place says this...


-- TO/FROM SOUTH ASIA AND NORTH AMERICA ----

MILES CLASS DESIGNATOR
----- -----
60K ECONOMY
90K BUSINESS
120K FIRST

* OK TO ROUTE THROUGH EUROPE / JAPAN
OR NORTH ASIA FOR A SINGLE AWARD *
* CIRCLE PACIFIC ROUTINGS NOT PERMITTED *
)‡
So...this is the situation..
1. Originally quoted 120,000 miles.
2. Actually charged 140,000 miles without notice.
3. One Place says 140,000 should be charged
4. Another place says 120,00 should be charged.

Do I ask for 20,000 miles back to my account?

Will also post on STAR board so sorry for any duplications.

I went through some horrible misery trying to ticket 3 in C from PHX – BKK on a *A award from UA MP. I wont editorialize but suffice it to say that I wont set foot on a UA aircraft other than Sky West any time soon.

The details - I had asked about going over Europe due to the convenience of a LH NS to FRA then BKK but was told the same thing you were. That since I was passing over another zone they had to charge the higher of the two. I will spare you the sordid details ( will fish out the link if you want ).

UA and TG have a bad IT link. TG had never heard of our party and they advised not to appear at the gate with the UA tickets because we ill be denied travel. Nice. In BKK and no way to get home.

UA res mgr. advised me while I was discussing the matter with her that I would accept routing over Europe if need be and she confirmed for me 3 separate times that the award chart was internally revised and not made public. The award in C from PHX – BKK ( or HKG in your case ) was the same either way. Over Europe or over the Pacific. Same mileage cost.

I would start the process by calling res. and not referring to your PNR. And MP. Keep calling until you get someone there who understands this and then and only then give them your PNR and get it corrected.

I finally had to get the Sr. VP of RES to intervene and get MP to honor our seats.

Will check back here for your updates.

Were you charged the correct amount of miles according to the rules for Star Awards? I believe you were.

Are the rules "fair?" Maybe, maybe not. Are any of the award rules fair? You need the same number of miles for an award COS-DEN or ORD-MKE as for one MIA-SEA. Fair?