Is this considered backtracking?
Dec 2, 2012 | 10:18 pm
#1
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Is this considered backtracking?
Hi all,
A quick question re: award ticket rules. I am getting ready to book the following ticket:
LAX-SFO-YYZ-IST for the outbound and a different (irrelevant to the question) straight routing on the return.
If I were to try to add CLT-LAX with an under 23 hour connection in LAX, that would be considered backtracking, correct? What about if it was over 24 hours, thereby making it a stopover? Still backtracking?
In a perfect world, the outbound routing would look like this: CLT-LAX-(connect/stop)-SFO-YYZ-IST.
Thanks!
FMLAX
A quick question re: award ticket rules. I am getting ready to book the following ticket:
LAX-SFO-YYZ-IST for the outbound and a different (irrelevant to the question) straight routing on the return.
If I were to try to add CLT-LAX with an under 23 hour connection in LAX, that would be considered backtracking, correct? What about if it was over 24 hours, thereby making it a stopover? Still backtracking?
In a perfect world, the outbound routing would look like this: CLT-LAX-(connect/stop)-SFO-YYZ-IST.
Thanks!
FMLAX
Last edited by flyingmusicianlax; Dec 2, 2012 at 10:23 pm Reason: Clarity
Dec 3, 2012 | 7:12 am
#2
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i don't think so
previously i've successfully done FRA-BKK-TPE-NRT-PVG-ICN-SIN as a single one-way, so my guess is that within a region (NA, Europe etc), those are considered positioning flights and not backtracking
however, JFK-DOH-FRA-BKK would be backtracking
previously i've successfully done FRA-BKK-TPE-NRT-PVG-ICN-SIN as a single one-way, so my guess is that within a region (NA, Europe etc), those are considered positioning flights and not backtracking
however, JFK-DOH-FRA-BKK would be backtracking
Dec 3, 2012 | 7:17 am
#3
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I know people have done the opposite and started @ LA and they returned to LA and then their final flight was say LA-Miami (they did that as a freebe) Now if a person can start out instead of finishing like that sorry I dont have any idea
What did they say when you called and asked them to do such a routing? you did call and ask didnt you for them to book it? if not why not, why ask on FT rather then ask UA worse come sto worse they will tell you you cant do it, then you wait a few mins and call back and try again, then and only then would I come onto FT and ask if anyone had any idea how I could do it
What did they say when you called and asked them to do such a routing? you did call and ask didnt you for them to book it? if not why not, why ask on FT rather then ask UA worse come sto worse they will tell you you cant do it, then you wait a few mins and call back and try again, then and only then would I come onto FT and ask if anyone had any idea how I could do it
Dec 3, 2012 | 7:51 am
#4
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Originally Posted by craz:19786788
I know people have done the opposite and started @ LA and they returned to LA and then their final flight was say LA-Miami (they did that as a freebe) Now if a person can start out instead of finishing like that sorry I dont have any idea
What did they say when you called and asked them to do such a routing? you did call and ask didnt you for them to book it? if not why not, why ask on FT rather then ask UA worse come sto worse they will tell you you cant do it, then you wait a few mins and call back and try again, then and only then would I come onto FT and ask if anyone had any idea how I could do it
What did they say when you called and asked them to do such a routing? you did call and ask didnt you for them to book it? if not why not, why ask on FT rather then ask UA worse come sto worse they will tell you you cant do it, then you wait a few mins and call back and try again, then and only then would I come onto FT and ask if anyone had any idea how I could do it
Also, before I go wasting hours barking up the wrong tree trying to get an agent to ticket something that could later get cancelled because it's not allowed.
Thanks for the replies.
Dec 3, 2012 | 8:30 am
#5
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I have done something similar
I booked a flight PHL-IAH-LAX-FRA-XXX and then XXX-BOS-PHL.
When I booked it, I gave the routing to the agent. She said "backtracking". I said, good...find me 4 BF saver seats. She instantly booked it!
Done and flew it. YMMV-and this was last year!
When I booked it, I gave the routing to the agent. She said "backtracking". I said, good...find me 4 BF saver seats. She instantly booked it!
Done and flew it. YMMV-and this was last year!
Dec 3, 2012 | 8:47 am
#6
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I usually book backtracking if I want to leverage those 23:59 stops or wanting a particular aircraft (e.g. LH A380 F)
Dec 3, 2012 | 8:57 am
#7
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Mostly because I couldn't find a definitive answer on FT (and certainly not on UA.com!) and thought I'd ask the experts on here. I think you and I both know phone reps at UA are like snowflakes re: the rules... no two answers will be alike!
Also, before I go wasting hours barking up the wrong tree trying to get an agent to ticket something that could later get cancelled because it's not allowed.
Thanks for the replies.
Also, before I go wasting hours barking up the wrong tree trying to get an agent to ticket something that could later get cancelled because it's not allowed.
Thanks for the replies.
Dec 3, 2012 | 9:28 am
#8
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Mostly because I couldn't find a definitive answer on FT (and certainly not on UA.com!) and thought I'd ask the experts on here. I think you and I both know phone reps at UA are like snowflakes re: the rules... no two answers will be alike!
Also, before I go wasting hours barking up the wrong tree trying to get an agent to ticket something that could later get cancelled because it's not allowed.
Thanks for the replies.
Also, before I go wasting hours barking up the wrong tree trying to get an agent to ticket something that could later get cancelled because it's not allowed.
Thanks for the replies.
If I get nothing then I will post it to FT to see if anyone has any ideas. In all my yrs between PMCO & PMUA never once did any rep note my acct (no PNR existed yet) that Im trying to do something that isnt allowed, yes once a PNR exiisted and you try to change it to something that shouldnt be allowed a note might be placed but not for simply calling and trying to book something = a call wont be of any harm
Dec 3, 2012 | 10:09 am
#9
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I would try and avoid YYZ personally.
It costs too much to connect and it's already the worst airport in the country.
I would only use it if there are no spaces on any other airports.
It is backtracking but you can find space using other places (SEA, NYC/EWR, DEN)
It costs too much to connect and it's already the worst airport in the country.
I would only use it if there are no spaces on any other airports.
It is backtracking but you can find space using other places (SEA, NYC/EWR, DEN)
Dec 3, 2012 | 10:13 am
#10
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I know international tickets allow for 24-hour connections, but do they allow for them at a domestic connection? I'd expect the CLT-LAX-SFO connection to still be limited to 4 hours?
Dec 3, 2012 | 1:35 pm
#11
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Well, hence my reason for arguing that it's a stopover in LAX instead. My girlfriend and I were originally ticketed on a domestic stopover on the outbound and that seemed to be legal, no problem (no backtracking on that one). However, we had a change of plans, hence the desire to do the (potentially) backtracking itinerary.
Goodness knows what the actual rules are, since the UA site does not address domestic connections/stopovers vs international.
Goodness knows what the actual rules are, since the UA site does not address domestic connections/stopovers vs international.
Dec 3, 2012 | 2:44 pm
#12
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Well, hence my reason for arguing that it's a stopover in LAX instead. My girlfriend and I were originally ticketed on a domestic stopover on the outbound and that seemed to be legal, no problem (no backtracking on that one). However, we had a change of plans, hence the desire to do the (potentially) backtracking itinerary.
Goodness knows what the actual rules are, since the UA site does not address domestic connections/stopovers vs international.
Goodness knows what the actual rules are, since the UA site does not address domestic connections/stopovers vs international.
Dec 3, 2012 | 2:55 pm
#13
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This is the cost of connecting in YYZ:
Toronto Airport Improvement Fee (SQ) $4.00
T1 connections are extremely easy USA->INTL, its just a passport check, you dont even have to go thru security!
Dec 3, 2012 | 4:40 pm
#14
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Do you ever back up any of your posts with facts or just regurgitate something you might have read somewhere?
This is the cost of connecting in YYZ:
Toronto Airport Improvement Fee (SQ) $4.00
T1 connections are extremely easy USA->INTL, its just a passport check, you dont even have to go thru security!
This is the cost of connecting in YYZ:
Toronto Airport Improvement Fee (SQ) $4.00
T1 connections are extremely easy USA->INTL, its just a passport check, you dont even have to go thru security!
It is too expensive if I can get the same product somewhere else for cheaper.
5.6/10 on Skytrax isn't exactly a good rating.
Connecting in any other Canadian airport is free.
Dec 3, 2012 | 7:53 pm
#15
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Just make sure to arrive on the last flight of the day. I booked SLC-IAH-ORD-IAD-FRA-ZRH-DXB as a one way recently. Sadly there was no availability SLC-ORD, so after a 4-5 hour stop in IAH, I connect to ORD, landing in the early evening, staying overnight, then continuing the next morning (not on the first flight of the day) to IAD where I make a connection to FRA, then connect to ZRH as I prefer LX J to LH J on the flight to DXB.