What makes this illegal?
 

Hey Gang,

I was told by a United agent that this ticketing was illegal. I was wondering what made it illegal. She then told me I was OK as long as customs did not stop me.

It was booked by our corporate agent Rosenbluth.

Air Canada Jan 11 Rochester to Toronto

United Jan 11 Toronto to San Diego

United Jan 14 San Diego to Toronto (codeshare on Air Canada metal)

Air Canada Jan 14 Toronto to Rochester

I used all legs in the order ticketed.

In fact, the Canadian customs guy asked me about whether or not I was driving or flying back from Toronto... and joked about the tickets being cheap.

Curious for your advice on why this would be an illegal ticket.

Thanks

William



[This message has been edited by wharvey (edited 01-15-2001).]

Unless I missed something, these are two normal r/t tickets. One on AC, the other on UA. Why on earth would they be illegal? There is no hidden city and non-used legs involved you say. Or pulled coupons. Regular as clockwork it looks to me.

Just seems like the Government of Canada thanks you for the taxes would be my only other comment!

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~ Glen ~

Obviously the UA agent somehow thought connecting in Canada when your start and end destination are both in the USA was illegal. I've never done this myself, but I can't imagine it being illegal, and I'm surprised that a UA agent would tell you it is.

Did you actually have to pass through US or Canadian immigration? Did you need proof-of-citizenship to fly this route?

I have absolutely no idea. In fact, I'm taking advantage of the Canada sale right now and booking BWI-YYZ-ORD-DCA-BWI round-trips instead of BWI-ORD-BWI. It's cheaper and I get twice as many miles and segments.

The BWI-YYZ leg is operated by Air Canada. Actually, the ticket shown above can be booked as a single RT, taking advantage of the Canada sale.

Plus, I planned a nice layover so I can take advantage of Canada's third-world currency. Maybe I'll get bumped and stay for a while!

[This message has been edited by Tino (edited 01-15-2001).]

I did not have to pass thru customs going to San Diego... but did have to go through both Canadian and USA customs on the way back.

William

It probably would technically be illegal if Air Canada flew you the entire way (because it would be a foreign carrier transporting you from one point in the US to another point in the US), but the way it's ticketed it appears to be perfectly legal and since it's on two separate tickets with two separate carriers, I don't see how it would violate the rules of either United or Air Canada.

I do the same thing all the time (2 tickets to get to one destination.

Nothing illegal unless it was on the same airline and there were various fare rules against this.

In fact, I get AC to put on my file that I am connecting on to other airlines (e.g. AF). AC checks my bag all the way through on both tickets (ie AC and AF).

I am not sure how the code sharing works on this issue. I was actually on Air Canada metal on the San Diego to Toronto flight... but had a United flight number.

Perhaps that is what was "illegal" with my routing?

Not sure.

i did this with the fare sale after the strike in 98. i flew ac ny-yyz and then flw yyz-bos. i had to buy the tickets that way as ac does not fly direct from nyc-bos, nor would they normally book that ticket. i went through customs both ways, explained the fare differential, and that was that.

William, I just had a difference of opinion with one of the UA agents at ROC airport. They seem to have some new employees - the first one passed me over to a second who passed to a third.

I wonder if it may have just been confusion on the agent's part - the agents that I dealt with were no rocket scientists.

Larry

[This message has been edited by Larrude (edited 01-16-2001).]

Larry,

That is normal operating procedure to me.... had problems with two of them... and one had a badge that said "Concergie" (forgive my spelling).

Nice to see a fellow Rochesterian travelling and on the board!

William