Oct 28, 19, 1:32 am
Last edit by: sammyg901
Last Updated: 21 AUG 2021
Due to various changes to the TK IT-system booking partner awards has taken a great step back. Details below.
Online: Potentially working?
See recent (July 2022) posts - it seems possible to ticket *A online IF you can find availability. A lot of availability does not show. If you can see X or I class on ua.com but not on turkishairlines.com then likely a ticket office can assist
Since August 2021 the online *A ticket payment flow is broken ("continue" button does not appear on the credit card entry page) so transactions cannot be completed. No known workarounds
From 18 Nov 19, you may continue to book partner awards online for selected airlines, routes and options. Not all options that you could book with another partner is bookable through the TK website.
Availability could be checked online via the United website without being a MileagePlus member with the book with miles tool at the flight search engine. Note: For UA flights, check 'X' fare bucket, for other airlines check Saver Award.
TK Hotline: Partially working
From recent reports ( fall 2020 ) in this thread, it is now possible to book *A awards from the TK hotline although still, not all agents are capable to do it; you might need to HUACA multiple times to find an agent that knows how to book *A awards. Although, it's strongly suggested to make your own research on availability before calling them.
Sales Office: Working
A sales office could book *A award tickets. You could call, e-mail or visit them in person. Some offices do not answer phones or do not reply to e-mails so visiting them in person would improve your chances to book a *A award ticket.
First class award: Not working
TK has stopped issuing first class awards since at least September 2019.
Due to various changes to the TK IT-system booking partner awards has taken a great step back. Details below.
Online: Potentially working?
See recent (July 2022) posts - it seems possible to ticket *A online IF you can find availability. A lot of availability does not show. If you can see X or I class on ua.com but not on turkishairlines.com then likely a ticket office can assist
Availability could be checked online via the United website without being a MileagePlus member with the book with miles tool at the flight search engine. Note: For UA flights, check 'X' fare bucket, for other airlines check Saver Award.
TK Hotline: Partially working
From recent reports ( fall 2020 ) in this thread, it is now possible to book *A awards from the TK hotline although still, not all agents are capable to do it; you might need to HUACA multiple times to find an agent that knows how to book *A awards. Although, it's strongly suggested to make your own research on availability before calling them.
Sales Office: Working
A sales office could book *A award tickets. You could call, e-mail or visit them in person. Some offices do not answer phones or do not reply to e-mails so visiting them in person would improve your chances to book a *A award ticket.
First class award: Not working
TK has stopped issuing first class awards since at least September 2019.
Everything You need to know about booking Star Alliance awards with Miles&Smiles
Aug 16, 23, 3:57 am
#1846
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,090
Try call TK again explaining that there is no TK ticket office in your country. (somehow I find it hard to believe that there is no TK office in your country (unless your country is not served by TK) you don't need to show up in person, try call or email first)
Aug 25, 23, 12:05 pm
#1848
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 41
Question - I've been searching for Star Alliance availability thru the Aeroplan, Lifemiles, and United websites, since it seems to some extent that all 3 give partial info at times. United has the benefit that you can clearly see fare class so when Business is offered as the I fare class. However, I've been having trouble finding AC awards on United/Lifemiles and meanwhile on the Aeroplan website, I'm seeing pretty low redemption rates for AC metal from India-US (85K) BOM-LHR-YYZ-LGA, but I am unsure if the fare is I class. Is there any way to know for sure what the fare class is before I bother calling?
Aug 26, 23, 2:48 am
#1849
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: East Coast
Programs: All major Airlines, Hotel Chains, Credit Cards and Car Rentals
Posts: 1,257
Question - I've been searching for Star Alliance availability thru the Aeroplan, Lifemiles, and United websites, since it seems to some extent that all 3 give partial info at times. United has the benefit that you can clearly see fare class so when Business is offered as the I fare class. However, I've been having trouble finding AC awards on United/Lifemiles and meanwhile on the Aeroplan website, I'm seeing pretty low redemption rates for AC metal from India-US (85K) BOM-LHR-YYZ-LGA, but I am unsure if the fare is I class. Is there any way to know for sure what the fare class is before I bother calling?
Aug 26, 23, 1:40 pm
#1850
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: GEG/DEN/ATL
Programs: UA 1K, TK E+, AS MVPG, SPG&Marriott Plat, HHD, Hertz PC
Posts: 385
This is incorrect. F used to be ticketable. They used to work at least until 2018. I had ticketed LH and OZ F on TK miles several times. I've had no luck since.
Sep 1, 23, 8:49 pm
#1851
Join Date: Sep 2023
Posts: 1
Cash upgrade with economy award ticket?
Hi all,
First post. Been researching a cash upgrade (to J) from an economy award ticket from LAX -> IST for next Wednesday (September 6). Seeing there are currently 3 cash J seats available currently for this flight.
Been evaluating booking with miles (45k economy vs 105k business) and feel like it might be more cost effective to use miles to book the economy ticket but then subsequently cash upgrade. Any thoughts on this? I've researched some cash upgrade prices prior to check in around ~$1200 (?).
Curious if anyone has any thoughts or experiences with this.
Thanks,
First post. Been researching a cash upgrade (to J) from an economy award ticket from LAX -> IST for next Wednesday (September 6). Seeing there are currently 3 cash J seats available currently for this flight.
Been evaluating booking with miles (45k economy vs 105k business) and feel like it might be more cost effective to use miles to book the economy ticket but then subsequently cash upgrade. Any thoughts on this? I've researched some cash upgrade prices prior to check in around ~$1200 (?).
Curious if anyone has any thoughts or experiences with this.
Thanks,
Sep 2, 23, 12:19 am
#1852
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,090
You are looking at the expensive TK standard award tickets which TK will sell until the very last seats are sold. Promotional award tickets would be 30k miles for Economy and 45k miles Business but are incredibly difficult to get from/to LAX even only a few days out (NYC is much easier, try to search for the next days to see the price difference between TK promotional award and standard awards).
To me TK standard awards only makes sense for o/w tickets and if the fares are very high, but I dont know how you value your miles and how many you have available etc. But 105k miles + taxes etc for a o/w ticket in C/J is insane IMO.
With only 3 C/J seats available now there is a high chance that cash upgrades will not be available (neither online or at the airport). There is a separate thread about airport upgrades with TK but as I recall it from recent posts upgrading is from 1100 to 1500 USD for US flights (the first is airport upgrades and the latter price is upgrade sold in the app/website from a couple of days before dept). So if you are looking for a cheap upgrade to J/C it is not going to happen.
To me TK standard awards only makes sense for o/w tickets and if the fares are very high, but I dont know how you value your miles and how many you have available etc. But 105k miles + taxes etc for a o/w ticket in C/J is insane IMO.
With only 3 C/J seats available now there is a high chance that cash upgrades will not be available (neither online or at the airport). There is a separate thread about airport upgrades with TK but as I recall it from recent posts upgrading is from 1100 to 1500 USD for US flights (the first is airport upgrades and the latter price is upgrade sold in the app/website from a couple of days before dept). So if you are looking for a cheap upgrade to J/C it is not going to happen.
Sep 7, 23, 4:09 am
#1853
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sky
Posts: 210
Amazingly I was able to reserve a Asiana flight (ICN-USA) through the telephone hotline without going through a ticket office! The first telephone agent was able to find and reserve the flight within minutes.
However, my title is showing as Ms instead of Mr on the booking. The telephone agent claims I am female but my Miles&Smiles profile shows Mr. Is this going to cause any issues if it is not fixed before ticketing?
The telephone agent asked me to create a Miles&Smiles program feedback to fix my gender for both, but does not know how long it will take.
The reservation (and my Miles&Smiles account) is also missing my middle name. Should I expect any issues with Asiana if my passport has a middle name that is not on the boarding pass?
What is the maximum length of a stopover? Can I tack on a USA-Canada flight for free?
However, my title is showing as Ms instead of Mr on the booking. The telephone agent claims I am female but my Miles&Smiles profile shows Mr. Is this going to cause any issues if it is not fixed before ticketing?
The telephone agent asked me to create a Miles&Smiles program feedback to fix my gender for both, but does not know how long it will take.
The reservation (and my Miles&Smiles account) is also missing my middle name. Should I expect any issues with Asiana if my passport has a middle name that is not on the boarding pass?
What is the maximum length of a stopover? Can I tack on a USA-Canada flight for free?
Sep 7, 23, 1:00 pm
#1854
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 154
I have Star Alliance miles on Aegean account. For first time there is 0 availability on TK flights from ATH to KUL. For the next 8 months. TK always had available flights for many dates. But now nothing.
Last edited by MixalisK.; Sep 7, 23 at 1:10 pm
Sep 23, 23, 10:02 pm
#1855
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,305
Blank screen of death
So online booking for Star awards is allegedly back. But twice this week when I tried booking one, I got the payment page and saw this monstrosity! Of course, they had already pulled the space so the seat was gone but with nothing to show for it! So is this a known issue? Is there a workaround? And since a pnr is presumably being created, is there a way to get the confirmation code or otherwise ticket it? Caused me heart attack levels of stress! And yes, I'm a TK newbie haha.
blank tk payment page
blank tk payment page
Sep 24, 23, 4:04 am
#1856
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,608
So online booking for Star awards is allegedly back. But twice this week when I tried booking one, I got the payment page and saw this monstrosity! Of course, they had already pulled the space so the seat was gone but with nothing to show for it! So is this a known issue? Is there a workaround? And since a pnr is presumably being created, is there a way to get the confirmation code or otherwise ticket it? Caused me heart attack levels of stress! And yes, I'm a TK newbie haha.
Apparently, TK phone agents are now more able to see the award space that you can see online. So call... No other workarounds.
Sep 24, 23, 8:36 pm
#1858
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 718
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Diamond
Posts: 939
Is it possible to book a united flight with TK miles and then somehow change the FFN to united (instead of Turkish) on the ticket to get status benefits?
Sep 25, 23, 1:20 am
#1859
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ G, AZ E
Posts: 1,731
Of course you can. Either online on UA website using UA PNR which you should get from TK, online check in, agent checkin, any non-contracted longe or the departure gate.
Sep 25, 23, 1:10 pm
#1860
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia and Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: TK Gold, ITA Gold, VA Platinum, Hhonors Gold, Accor Plus Gold, Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Premium
Posts: 972
If that fails you can always show your UA card in order to receive your benefits (lounge, business class check in etc.)
