Why I hate e-tickets (Star3 change problem)
 

Well, I posted a similar thread over at Oneworld forum for a OWE, but I actually also have the exact same problem with an electronic Star 3 ticket...

Well, in the past, all my Star alliance tickets were issued on paper tickets and it was only until recently that I had my first one issued on e-ticket.. And boy, what a nightmare it has been so far to get a date/flight change for a single segment... Not sure if it has been mentioned here before, but i did a quick search and didn't find anything...

Basically I have a Star3 issued by SQ, and I need to get a segment LAX-SFO moved forward by one day and to an daytime flight instead of afternoon flight. Before with paper tickets, all I had to do was get my agent change and input my paper ticket number into the record.. and it was all done. Now, with e-tickets, I've been told that the ticket has to be reissued since UA would not be able to capture the e-ticket number (because it is on SQ stock), unless I reissue the ticket. Which means I have to pay whatever the fuel surchage difference is, any fare changes, as well as the reissue fee...

Is this really the case? Or is the agent giving me a runaround?

UA can't revalidate it because it's SQ stock. SQ can't revalidate it as they don't hold the live segments and it's a UA flight. (IATA and/or Star *really* need to get their act together to allow interline reval of ETKTS).

The normal procedure would be a even exchange reissue with no fee to get the correct flight/date on the ticket - it's a free "reissue" as it is in effect a reval.
Some carriers seem happy to input a message to the check-in at that segment to accept the current coupon for travel - same routing, just a different flight/date so they still get paid for it.

If all else fails and you have started the journey, please direct the agent or the airline to the changes paragraph in the rules.
"AFTER DEPARTURE
FOR ALL REMAINING SECTORS CHANGES TO CARRIERS / FLIGHTS /
DATES LEADING TO REBOOKING/REVALIDATION PERMITTED AT NO
CHARGE - ALSO IN CASE OF E-TICKET

- CHANGES IN TICKETED POINT / FARE BASIS / FARE AMOUNT
LEADING TO REROUTING/REISSUE PERMITTED AT A CHARGE OF
USD 125 (CHILD/INFANT USD 125) PER REISSUE"

You're not doing any of the second paragraph so it should be the first paragraph that applies, especially the part about no charge - also in case of E-Ticket. There may be some sort of local service fee/charge, but certainly no recalculation of fare/tax and no reissue fee.

I agree with you the e-tickets do not yet work well for RTWs: too many different, not-very-compatible, systems in play.

That said, the rules seem very clear that you can change flights/dates without charge, whether an e-ticket or paper ticket. Rule 16.A of the fare rule says this about changes after ticketing:
I think the problem may be with the term "re-issue." The *RTW rules use the term re-issue to mean any change that requires a change in itinerary. But most airlines (incl. UA) also use the term re-issue to mean revalidating an e-ticket for a changed date/flight, but no changed itinerary. On a RTW, there is no fee for the latter type of "re-issue," but many travel agents and airline personnel don't seem to fully understand the distinction.

The problem also seems to be that changes in dates, carriers etc now actually require a re-issue and not a re-validation (see the same thread in the OW forum).

Note: I don't know about UA, but I know for a fact that AA does not support revalidation of their e-tickets and if any changes are made, a reissue (exchanging old ticket for new ticket, but keeping the same fare/taxes) is needed.

On the other hand, BA, LH (both hosted in Amadeus) supports revalidation. BA seems to be slowly increasing the number of carriers where even "interline revalidation" is possible.

LH has 'etix' interlining with:
AA, AB, A3, AC, AF, AI, AM, AP, AS, AT, AV, AY, AZ, BA, BD, BT, B2, C9, CA, CI, CM, CO, CX, DE, DL, EN, ET, EY, FI, FM, GF, IB, IC, IG, JJ, JK, JL, JP, JU, JZ, KA, KC, KE, KF, KL, KM, LA, LG, LO, LP, LR, LT, LY, LX, MA, MH, MI, MS, MX, NH, NZ, NW, OA, OK, OL, OS, OU, OZ, QI, OV, PG, PR, PU, PZ, QF, QI, QR, RJ, SA, SK, SN, SQ, S7, TA, TG, TK, TP, TU, UA, US, VN, VS, WF, XL, 4M, 7B, 9U, 9W

LH doesn't allow manual revalidation, but forces its own automatic process. Rebooking from a LH operated flight to another triggers automatic restickering, but from LH onto OAL or OAL to new OAL operated flight requires manual sticker.

Thanks guys... after pushing SQ a bit they finally relented and allowed the date and flight change on UA free of charge... Although it certainly took more effort than I wanted to... This whole interline e-ticket thing really needs to get worked out asap...

Still no luck on my OWE reissue though....

I will need to see your paper ticket or you cannot board
 

[QUOTE=wideman;10188281]I agree with you the e-tickets do not yet work well for RTW's: too many different, not-very-compatible, systems in play.

UA/EK RTW E-ticket

WHY I HATE E-TICKETS:

Last month I was boarding an EK flight in DXB bound for MRU.

The boarding process was a disaster as is Usual in DXB. We were flying first class so I waited with my wife to board last.

My wife boarded no problem, but the gate agent demanded a paper ticket for that segment from me. My wife and I were transiting DXB from LHR and we had our boarding passes and at LHR they recognized we were on E-tickets. However in DBX EK said they needed a paper ticket. I showed the agent my e-ticket receipt from UA but he said EK had my ticket listed as Paper. He still would not let me board. Stalemate.

I produced my documents and calmly took a seat in the boarding area. I diplomatically informed the agent that if I was not allowed to board EK was obliged to off load my luggage immediately. I also insisted they do so.

It was now 10 minutes past departure. (If push came to shove I could fly to My final destination: JNB in a few hours and bypass MRU and get an extra day in South Africa. (And get a refund on my SA MRU-JNB J ticket)

Checkmate. As usual there in no one in a decision making capacity working at EK DXB. My wife ran off the airplane with a flight attendant in hot pursuit trying to calm her. My wife was frantic. ( I guess she thought I was going to an Arab jail for using cheap RTW tickets.)

Finally I calmly but firmly directed the agent to "UNLOAD OUR BAGS IMMEDIATELY! Your rules state If I am not on board my bags cannot fly!!" ( I just made that up, In UAE I do not know what the rules are....)

Finally the agent let me board and to "kindly clear up the problem in the morning with reservations"


It would have taken time to find our bags that were routed SFO-DXB-MRU, and the flight was full and late as usual.

This entire problem would have been averted if I had the paper ticket in my hot, sweaty, hand.

I was on the edge of rage however, I knew that a little graceful diplomacy and respect for the agent would get me on the airplane. Also rage might end me up in a Arab Jail.

I do not trust airline computer systems to interface with other airline systems. In this case was I was allowed to board, However a infrequent flier may have been stranded in DXB waiting for UA London to open many hours latter to resolve EK's screw up on the record and they might be days behind on their journey.

[QUOTE=2old4coach;10250124]So, this was a UA/EK RTW. I'm sure the experience is relevant to *A tickets, too, but this post really needs to be in the EK Skywards forum, where there's a good deal of chatter about the mysteries of the UA/EK RTW fares.

Mebbe a Mod could move it?

I am planning to fly RTW C in October. Is it possible to request paper tickets for extra fee? I think it was an option before.