United, Please remove Lufthansa Phantom Awards from United.com
Jan 20, 2013, 12:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Global Services 1MM,, AA Exec Plat. Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 606
United, Please remove Lufthansa Phantom Awards from United.com
For months, United has been displaying phantom Star Alliance Partner award availability on United.com, with Lufthansa awards being the most unreliable (particularly in F, which LH is only releasing 14 days prior to departure).
For those who are not familiar with the issue, United.com is showing award space available for certain partner flights until you finalize the booking at which point you get an error message that suggests contacting MP.
While most of us know that you can do a real search using the ANA tool, UA is doing a disservice to their customers by displaying incredibly misleading information.
UnitedInsider, can you please share when this will be fixed and why we no longer have access to LH F awards prior to 14 days before departure?
For those who are not familiar with the issue, United.com is showing award space available for certain partner flights until you finalize the booking at which point you get an error message that suggests contacting MP.
While most of us know that you can do a real search using the ANA tool, UA is doing a disservice to their customers by displaying incredibly misleading information.
UnitedInsider, can you please share when this will be fixed and why we no longer have access to LH F awards prior to 14 days before departure?
Last edited by globetraveler; Jan 20, 2013 at 12:57 am
Jan 20, 2013, 1:31 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,393
For months, United has been displaying phantom Star Alliance Partner award availability on United.com, with Lufthansa awards being the most unreliable (particularly in F, which LH is only releasing 14 days prior to departure).
For those who are not familiar with the issue, United.com is showing award space available for certain partner flights until you finalize the booking at which point you get an error message that suggests contacting MP.
While most of us know that you can do a real search using the ANA tool, UA is doing a disservice to their customers by displaying incredibly misleading information.
UnitedInsider, can you please share when this will be fixed and why we no longer have access to LH F awards prior to 14 days before departure?
For those who are not familiar with the issue, United.com is showing award space available for certain partner flights until you finalize the booking at which point you get an error message that suggests contacting MP.
While most of us know that you can do a real search using the ANA tool, UA is doing a disservice to their customers by displaying incredibly misleading information.
UnitedInsider, can you please share when this will be fixed and why we no longer have access to LH F awards prior to 14 days before departure?
It is LHs action which affects all star alliance partners and not specific to UA. US has it worst with no LH F at all.
Feb 18, 2013, 4:56 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,860
Will UA EVER Correct the Phantom LH Availability ?
We know that for years there has been phantom LH availability for MP tickets on the UA website. Will their IT department EVER get this sorted out? It is a real joke, and frustrating.
Feb 18, 2013, 5:08 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
They've had much bigger problems with the website and systems that have been around for much longer than this.
Given all the problems they have, this has to be way down on their priority list.
Given all the problems they have, this has to be way down on their priority list.
Feb 18, 2013, 5:18 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Feb 18, 2013, 5:20 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
Feb 18, 2013, 6:16 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: WAS, LAX
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,330
Originally Posted by TonyBurr:20272608
We know that for years there has been phantom LH availability for MP tickets on the UA website. Will their IT department EVER get this sorted out? It is a real joke, and frustrating.
Feb 18, 2013, 7:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
This was something that was reported as in the process of being addressed at the United DO in Chicago (sorry - on my phone so not going to provide a link). They essentially said it's on their to-do list and the only other alternative in the meantime is to eliminate all visible (phantom and real) LH award inventory on UA.com. Of course, the roomful of frequent fliers were in favor of maintaining the status quo until a workaround is reached.
Mar 22, 2013, 7:20 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,393
If youre referring to UA.com allowing u to waitlist, yes, thats great.
Mar 22, 2013, 8:28 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,454
I'm not sure why/how ANA's query engine is different, but it's always the best way to confirm whether the space actually exists. In the majority of situations, if there is premium-cabin LH space on a flight to/from North America (and other regions, but most commonly in NA) >2 weeks prior to departure, it's not real.
Aeroplan suffers the same issue.
Aeroplan suffers the same issue.
Apr 4, 2013, 6:06 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 231
Jun 12, 2013, 10:13 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 29
Phantom LH Award Availability on UA Website Is Back
Lately I've seen posts indicating that the phantom award availability for LH FC seats that was showing up on UA's website had been cured.
In the last few days as I've been tweaking an itinerary for about 10 days from now, it's clear the phantoms are back.
For several days, UA's site was showing LH 433 (ORD-FRA) available in FC, but on calling UA, they didn't see it.
From doing this enough, looks that when a LH FC phantom award seat pops up on the site, the seat does eventually become available in a few days.
Also, LH FC seats for North Atlantic to Europe routes appear to be showing up at MOST 13 days before departure. On other routes they are showing up 14-15 days in advance, from what I have seen.
In the last few days as I've been tweaking an itinerary for about 10 days from now, it's clear the phantoms are back.
For several days, UA's site was showing LH 433 (ORD-FRA) available in FC, but on calling UA, they didn't see it.
From doing this enough, looks that when a LH FC phantom award seat pops up on the site, the seat does eventually become available in a few days.
Also, LH FC seats for North Atlantic to Europe routes appear to be showing up at MOST 13 days before departure. On other routes they are showing up 14-15 days in advance, from what I have seen.
Jun 12, 2013, 10:30 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
I've been a CO Elite for over 10 years. I can think of dozens of bugs that have been fixed just to return months or sometimes years later.
It's probably a safe bet that this issue will be off and on for years to come.
It's probably a safe bet that this issue will be off and on for years to come.