CarefulBuilder14

I asked this question in the "simple question" thread and got no response. It's not really a MP question, but I'm not sure which other forum would be more appropriate.

I might book a United metal domestic close-in award flight (SFO-ONT). I'm looking for a way around the $75 fee.

I don't have the Chase United Club CC, or United status. I'm not particularly interested in the gamble of booking far into the future and then calling them to change dates, hoping the CSR forgets the $75 fee (or any other fees).

What I'd really like would be a Star Alliance partner where booking a United flight online is easy, and there's no close-in award fee. It's an itinerary I expect to repeat every few months (sometimes on short notice) so I do place some value on simplicity (not having to call and just fish around for different dates, or worry the CSR will make an error). My alternative is to fly out of LAX, which involves more complicated ground transportation but is otherwise reasonable.

Does that exist? I have lots of MR/UR/SPG and a few TY, so can access a lot of award charts.

WineCountryUA

As the question is about which *A partner (other than UA), will move this to the *A forum.

WineCountryUA
UA coModerator

eefor jfp

As far as I know, Lufthansa does not levy a late booking fee. SFO-ONT would 12,500 miles (they don't have a discount for short flights) one way. But partner awards are not available online so you would have to call in each time.

Can you possibly work out something on from Northern to Southern Cal on AA? BA would be 7500 Avios each way for a flight like that and they also don't have close-in booking fees. And you can easily do domestic AA bookings online. The main disadvantage is that I've heard that availability on AA isn't very good.

zeer0

Almost every other *A program other than UA will work. A caveat would be OZ (Asiana) as you have to book your award at least 3 days ahead of flight day. But I believe that's the only program with such a restriction.

oliver2002

M&M is currently implementing an update to their website to allow online booking of UA awards later this year.

zeer0

Correction: I just realized I skipped over the part where you wanted it to be online. I believe there are still a good number of programs that allow you to book online. Aeroplan & ANA definitely allow you to book United awards online. OZ does too (>3 days) but it's a very convoluted process through their Korean website. So I would stick with the two above, as both are also transferrable currencies, if that matters to you.

returnoftheyeti

Fyi - OAK to ONT ow for next week is $114 on Southwest.
OAK does not typically see the delays that SFO does, it might be worth it for such a short flight.

CarefulBuilder14

Thanks, I overlooked this section.

Flying AA from LAX-SFO is an option. But getting to ONT is easier, and United is the only carrier that flies ONT-SFO. I've seen LAX-SFO on Delta for as little as 5k each way, and that is another good option to have.

Good to know.

Aeroplan.com works well! I was trying to use aircanada.com before and was getting error messages when trying to book a domestic USA flight. I've linked Aeroplan on Amex as a transfer partner.

SFO is closer to my destination...and has the Cent lounge convenient for United flights.

Thanks, everyone!