Oct 28, 2019, 12:32 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
Oct 7, 2016, 10:07 am
#91
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Radisson Rewards Gold, Best Western Diamond Select
Posts: 1,856
OK, so I was worried about my award ticket not going through, but have 3 good things to report, firstly I enlisted the help of my company's travel agent (Vision Travel), who have offices in Toronto, so figured worst case scenario they could physically visit on my behalf. But, they were able to settle it over the phone with the local sales office, when I was told multiple times this was not possible - so perhaps travel agents get better service?
Secondly, a day after the ticket was booked I did get a phone call from the sales staff to follow up re: my email (thanks Slickvik), so that may also work, but in this case the travel agent got it done faster.
The third good part is they booked me a RT award ticket YYZ-YVR for only 15k miles, which I believe is half the award chart price - nice!
As a side note, doing the ANA website and having the exact flight numbers is necessary, they kept saying "I see no availability" until they plugged in the exact details, so if anyone is trying to repeat this, come with all of the info.
Thanks for the help!
Secondly, a day after the ticket was booked I did get a phone call from the sales staff to follow up re: my email (thanks Slickvik), so that may also work, but in this case the travel agent got it done faster.
The third good part is they booked me a RT award ticket YYZ-YVR for only 15k miles, which I believe is half the award chart price - nice!
As a side note, doing the ANA website and having the exact flight numbers is necessary, they kept saying "I see no availability" until they plugged in the exact details, so if anyone is trying to repeat this, come with all of the info.
Thanks for the help!
Oct 31, 2016, 7:16 am
#93
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: TK Elite, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver
Posts: 967
I called the tollfree number today. I wanted to fly BR from CDG-TPE but the agent could only see the schedule, it is not bookable. He advised me to call again tomorrow and maybe it will be bookable in their system. On United's website, there's at least one saver seat available. Could it be that EVA Air is not releasing award seats to TK? Or TK not having access to BR?
Last edited by thefilipinotraveler; Nov 1, 2016 at 9:42 am
Jan 5, 2017, 11:19 am
#94
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
Yesterday I successfully issued my second Star Alliance award ticket. FRA-HND in All Nippon Airways First Class for 65700 miles + €87,07 in taxes. Sadly it took the staff at the Frankfurt ticket office 5 hours to figure out how to issue the ticket, and I had to sit around and wait the whole time.
Jan 6, 2017, 8:35 am
#97
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,120
Took the same flight last year but redeemed A3 miles.
Taxes are
Germany Airport Security Charge (DE)
€9.56
Germany Air Transport Tax (OY)
€41.99
German Passenger Service Charge (RA)
€33.61
NH YQ surcharge (YQ)
€1.92
Enjoy the flight LH4116!
Taxes are
Germany Airport Security Charge (DE)
€9.56
Germany Air Transport Tax (OY)
€41.99
German Passenger Service Charge (RA)
€33.61
NH YQ surcharge (YQ)
€1.92
Enjoy the flight LH4116!
Jan 6, 2017, 11:04 am
#98
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
I booked TK home with a friend's expiring miles, and the taxes set me back around €56. Had I chosen TK on the outbound it would have cost me around four times as much.
Jan 13, 2017, 5:20 pm
#99
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
Hi! Can anyone confirm – does TK allow mixed cabins on one-way Star Alliance awards? Example:
LH OSL-FRA (business)
LH FRA-JNB (first)
Will this combination be ok?
I also have a question about the miles overdraft function for Elite Members. Does it only apply to TK awards? Not for *A awards?
LH OSL-FRA (business)
LH FRA-JNB (first)
Will this combination be ok?
I also have a question about the miles overdraft function for Elite Members. Does it only apply to TK awards? Not for *A awards?
Feb 4, 2017, 2:42 am
#100
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HFA
Posts: 1,712
Mixed feelings
I booked a Star award with TK miles for the first time. One-way, JFK-TLV, on Lufthansa, in business class.
The good: I called the TLV city office for the booking. On two out of three calls, they answered immediately. They were competent and completed the transaction smoothly. The reservation can be held for a few days without ticketing. 47K miles for this trip isn't bad.
The bad: I class availability as shown on ExpertFlyer.com does not match the availability they see. They offered me way fewer options than I expected. Once a booking is made, they e-mail you forms which you have to fill in and e-mail back (they won't take a credit card number over the phone). Once confirmed, you get an e-mail with the TK reference number but no Amadeus PNR (so no way to access the reservation on lh.com, for example).
The worst: they managed to screw up my reservation somehow, and if I hadn't found out I'd be stuck without a ticket. I called back and they fixed it within a few hours.
In sum, less smooth than booking a TK award online, but still didn't require too much effort and I'm happy with the results.
Shuly
The good: I called the TLV city office for the booking. On two out of three calls, they answered immediately. They were competent and completed the transaction smoothly. The reservation can be held for a few days without ticketing. 47K miles for this trip isn't bad.
The bad: I class availability as shown on ExpertFlyer.com does not match the availability they see. They offered me way fewer options than I expected. Once a booking is made, they e-mail you forms which you have to fill in and e-mail back (they won't take a credit card number over the phone). Once confirmed, you get an e-mail with the TK reference number but no Amadeus PNR (so no way to access the reservation on lh.com, for example).
The worst: they managed to screw up my reservation somehow, and if I hadn't found out I'd be stuck without a ticket. I called back and they fixed it within a few hours.
In sum, less smooth than booking a TK award online, but still didn't require too much effort and I'm happy with the results.
Shuly
Feb 4, 2017, 12:41 pm
#101
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
I booked a Star award with TK miles for the first time. One-way, JFK-TLV, on Lufthansa, in business class.
The good: I called the TLV city office for the booking. On two out of three calls, they answered immediately. They were competent and completed the transaction smoothly. The reservation can be held for a few days without ticketing. 47K miles for this trip isn't bad.
The bad: I class availability as shown on ExpertFlyer.com does not match the availability they see. They offered me way fewer options than I expected. Once a booking is made, they e-mail you forms which you have to fill in and e-mail back (they won't take a credit card number over the phone). Once confirmed, you get an e-mail with the TK reference number but no Amadeus PNR (so no way to access the reservation on lh.com, for example).
The worst: they managed to screw up my reservation somehow, and if I hadn't found out I'd be stuck without a ticket. I called back and they fixed it within a few hours.
In sum, less smooth than booking a TK award online, but still didn't require too much effort and I'm happy with the results.
Shuly
The good: I called the TLV city office for the booking. On two out of three calls, they answered immediately. They were competent and completed the transaction smoothly. The reservation can be held for a few days without ticketing. 47K miles for this trip isn't bad.
The bad: I class availability as shown on ExpertFlyer.com does not match the availability they see. They offered me way fewer options than I expected. Once a booking is made, they e-mail you forms which you have to fill in and e-mail back (they won't take a credit card number over the phone). Once confirmed, you get an e-mail with the TK reference number but no Amadeus PNR (so no way to access the reservation on lh.com, for example).
The worst: they managed to screw up my reservation somehow, and if I hadn't found out I'd be stuck without a ticket. I called back and they fixed it within a few hours.
In sum, less smooth than booking a TK award online, but still didn't require too much effort and I'm happy with the results.
Shuly
Feb 6, 2017, 1:05 pm
#103
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: TK Elite ...and blue, lots of blue...
Posts: 746
My experience:
made the reservations over the phone on a Sunday.
1 *A Award on United, 1 ¨*A Award on Ethiopian and one award on TK
Answered immediately, reservation made swiftly, confirmation emails received.
Agent was unable to tell me the tax/YQ on the *A awards.
On Monday I went to the TK offcice in Chicago (city not airport). Very friendly but the process is very slow: first they have to look up the taxes, write it down, add it up, make me pay (cash or CC).
Then they have to issue the tickets, it took 2 people and 20 minutes to issue them, while I had to hear "Ethiad is not part of Star Alliance" (ET= Ethiopian...
). All well in the end.
They said the software is being renewed but if I wouldn't hold my breath.
made the reservations over the phone on a Sunday.
1 *A Award on United, 1 ¨*A Award on Ethiopian and one award on TK
Answered immediately, reservation made swiftly, confirmation emails received.
Agent was unable to tell me the tax/YQ on the *A awards.
On Monday I went to the TK offcice in Chicago (city not airport). Very friendly but the process is very slow: first they have to look up the taxes, write it down, add it up, make me pay (cash or CC).
Then they have to issue the tickets, it took 2 people and 20 minutes to issue them, while I had to hear "Ethiad is not part of Star Alliance" (ET= Ethiopian...
). All well in the end.They said the software is being renewed but if I wouldn't hold my breath.
Feb 6, 2017, 8:07 pm
#104
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: TK Elite ...and blue, lots of blue...
Posts: 746
My experience:
made the reservations over the phone on a Sunday.
1 *A Award on United, 1 ¨*A Award on Ethiopian and one award on TK
Answered immediately, reservation made swiftly, confirmation emails received.
Agent was unable to tell me the tax/YQ on the *A awards.
On Monday I went to the TK offcice in Chicago (city not airport). Very friendly but the process is very slow: first they have to look up the taxes, write it down, add it up, make me pay (cash or CC).
Then they have to issue the tickets, it took 2 people and 20 minutes to issue them, while I had to hear "Ethiad is not part of Star Alliance" (ET= Ethiopian...). All well in the end.
They said the software is being renewed but if I wouldn't hold my breath.
made the reservations over the phone on a Sunday.
1 *A Award on United, 1 ¨*A Award on Ethiopian and one award on TK
Answered immediately, reservation made swiftly, confirmation emails received.
Agent was unable to tell me the tax/YQ on the *A awards.
On Monday I went to the TK offcice in Chicago (city not airport). Very friendly but the process is very slow: first they have to look up the taxes, write it down, add it up, make me pay (cash or CC).
Then they have to issue the tickets, it took 2 people and 20 minutes to issue them, while I had to hear "Ethiad is not part of Star Alliance" (ET= Ethiopian...
). All well in the end.They said the software is being renewed but if I wouldn't hold my breath.
Feb 7, 2017, 9:37 am
#105
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
I emailed the YUL & YYZ office. YUL quoted me wrong # of miles for the itinerary and asked me to call general reservation # for reservation & ticketing. YYZ office said they have checked " NH (Malaysian Airlines) and NH (Anna All Nippon Airways for Japan)" and no reward seat is available (though United shows availability).
Not too optimistic about the prospects.....