damofrk

Hi,

I originally was planning on booking a reward trip to taiwan with a week stopover in korea. This itinerary is possible, but only if I have a few connections.

So this led me to thinking, would it be possible for me to plan my own connections? I would arrive in the connection city at night and explore while taking an afternoon flight to the next city. I have a few more cities I want to visit as "connection cities". The cities I want to visit are on a direct route to my "destination" of taiwan. However, Iit seems like the website won't let me book this way. Since I'll be on my connected flight within 24 hours, it should be possible, right?

gerald5

If you can find award availability such that the 24 hour rule works, you can call United and see if they will ticket it for you. There's no way you can book it on the website.

MKE-MR

It's definitely possible although the ease of doing it will vary by agent. I've had everything from gleeful willingness to help (yes, really!) to stubborn refusal to ticket without consulting the rule book/supervisor, insisting that it can't possibly be allowed.

Remember that when you smile on the phone, it comes through in your voice--and use the reverse to discern whether you got a good agent or not--if not, don't even try for anything too complex. I actually do my requests in pairs when I call in, starting with an "easy" one to see how the agent reacts, then moving on to the harder one if I'm sure I have a good agent

But yes, the principle you outlined will work just fine and is a great way to get a max-value Asia award given the large number of hubs and airlines available. (I suppose it could be easily done in Europe as well, I've just never explored it)

PDXPremier

On a related note...if you're on a connecting flight within 24 hours, is it therefore not considered your "free" stopover on an international award? For example, I'm flying PDX via SFO to FRA and would like to leave for SFO the evening before (less than 24 hours) but I already have a stopover in Europe (over 24 hours)...would this work?

garykung

As what PDXPremier said, you may be assessed additional miles for that domestic "stopover".

But as soon as the route is valid, have the inventory (XY) available, you can call the agent to book it for you without fee, if you can't book online.

Ancien Maestro

Online bookings you are restricted to what appears online.

I usually get more options calling in.. plus they'll customize and max out your reward ticket ability. Well worth the booking fee in my opinion for the service of getting a customized itinerary.

lrwelsh

CO: Any idea why I see SaverPass award availability when I try to book a one way award ticket but it only shows EasyPass availability when I include the exact same routing & dates in a multi-city connection?

Ancien Maestro

Perhaps the multicity connection isn't offered, and I assume for a return as well.. could be the multicity connection and/or the return that is triggering non availability.. all segments would have to be marked SaverPass in order for the itinerary to be offerd as SaverPass..

lrwelsh

Thanks AM: I priced them individually as one ways and they all offered as SaverPass but only shows EasyPass when I price them together.

Ancien Maestro

Did you price the trips out online?

Perhaps customer service can piece them together for you..