Booked a standard, watching for saver
Apr 13, 2013, 5:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,431
Booked a standard, watching for saver
So I'm going with Mr. Ericka on a work trip and we want to fly together. He bought his ticket. I booked mine as a standard biz award, figuring I would change it to a saver when that became available. (The biz cabin continues to be pretty open).
We are within a week of travel now so I am checking the flights very regularly. The int'l leg could open up soon.....but I noticed the 1 hr. domestic leg is selling out.
If the int'l leg opens up saver award space, but the domestic leg does not.....does that mean I will not be able to change this to a saver award (and remain on the same flights as Mr. Ericka?)
We are within a week of travel now so I am checking the flights very regularly. The int'l leg could open up soon.....but I noticed the 1 hr. domestic leg is selling out.
If the int'l leg opens up saver award space, but the domestic leg does not.....does that mean I will not be able to change this to a saver award (and remain on the same flights as Mr. Ericka?)
Apr 13, 2013, 7:59 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SNA
Programs: UA 1MM, Global Entry, Avis President's Club
Posts: 274
I do this all the time (book standard award and wait for saver to open up), but only for nonstop (i.e., single segment itineraries) because the chance of multiple legs opening up saver availability at the same time is so low.
Apr 13, 2013, 11:24 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,721
You can also purchase standard domestic Y tickets and usually switch to saver first for the same amount of miles when I space opens up within 24 hours of the flight.
Apr 13, 2013, 7:32 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
But, you can book a saver Y and waitlist for saver I or O, or book a saver I and waitlist a saver O? Or book a saver O and waitlist a saver I? In other words you can waitlist between saver classes (I think based on what I've seen here, correct me if I'm mistaken).
Apr 18, 2013, 5:22 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,431
This worked out after all.
One day before departure, I saw the business saver award space open up on the int'l leg. The domestic leg opened up a coach seat. So I called it in, had the agent make the changes, and had 75,000 miles put back in my account. I lost my domestic first class seat, but it is only one hour and I am still in E+. Well worth it, I think. ^
One day before departure, I saw the business saver award space open up on the int'l leg. The domestic leg opened up a coach seat. So I called it in, had the agent make the changes, and had 75,000 miles put back in my account. I lost my domestic first class seat, but it is only one hour and I am still in E+. Well worth it, I think. ^
Apr 18, 2013, 10:25 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,431
Wow! And now, the original first class seat that I had on the domestic leg got put back in the bucket and became available as a saver business award. So I called it in, and voila....I have everything as orginally booked. I have to say I am surprised. It was the last available seat up front.
Apr 18, 2013, 10:49 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 1,017
Wow! And now, the original first class seat that I had on the domestic leg got put back in the bucket and became available as a saver business award. So I called it in, and voila....I have everything as orginally booked. I have to say I am surprised. It was the last available seat up front.
Apr 18, 2013, 10:54 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,147
Wow! And now, the original first class seat that I had on the domestic leg got put back in the bucket and became available as a saver business award. So I called it in, and voila....I have everything as orginally booked. I have to say I am surprised. It was the last available seat up front.
(In truth, you likely would have still had to call - but at least they would have notified you rather than being the other way around)
Apr 18, 2013, 3:49 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,431
You could have avoid this extra step. When you rebooked in saver, you should have asked them to put you on the waitlist for the domestic leg in F. It wouldn't have cost any more miles as you were already paying the F price (based on the international leg being in C), and the moment a seat became available in the right class then it would have been yours without you having to watch for it/call.
(In truth, you likely would have still had to call - but at least they would have notified you rather than being the other way around)
(In truth, you likely would have still had to call - but at least they would have notified you rather than being the other way around)
Anyway, I just want flyertalkers to know that this is all very possible. Risky perhaps, but possible.
