United charged full fare for award ticket
Jun 4, 2013, 4:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Healdsburg CA and Provincetown MA
Programs: UA 1K and MM.
Posts: 135
United charged full fare for award ticket
Last week, we "purchased" a round trip from SFO to FAT with a few days notice. We chose the dates and flights that had saver seats (10K miles, $2.50 per leg). We chose and checked out using 20,000 miles and $5.
Once we checked in at SFO and got the receipt, we noticed that the price was over $600. Sure enough, checking in online for the return showed we were "earning miles."
I am positive we bought with miles. We chose inconvenient days and flights to get saver seats. When calling, the CSR states they have screenshots that we bought the tickets. I think she was fibbing as we didn't purchase this (we have 100s and 100s of thousands of miles).
Has anyone experienced such an issue???
Once we checked in at SFO and got the receipt, we noticed that the price was over $600. Sure enough, checking in online for the return showed we were "earning miles."
I am positive we bought with miles. We chose inconvenient days and flights to get saver seats. When calling, the CSR states they have screenshots that we bought the tickets. I think she was fibbing as we didn't purchase this (we have 100s and 100s of thousands of miles).
Has anyone experienced such an issue???
Jun 4, 2013, 4:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Last week, we "purchased" a round trip from SFO to FAT with a few days notice. We chose the dates and flights that had saver seats (10K miles, $2.50 per leg). We chose and checked out using 20,000 miles and $5.
Once we checked in at SFO and got the receipt, we noticed that the price was over $600. Sure enough, checking in online for the return showed we were "earning miles."
I am positive we bought with miles. We chose inconvenient days and flights to get saver seats. When calling, the CSR states they have screenshots that we bought the tickets. I think she was fibbing as we didn't purchase this (we have 100s and 100s of thousands of miles).
Has anyone experienced such an issue???
Once we checked in at SFO and got the receipt, we noticed that the price was over $600. Sure enough, checking in online for the return showed we were "earning miles."
I am positive we bought with miles. We chose inconvenient days and flights to get saver seats. When calling, the CSR states they have screenshots that we bought the tickets. I think she was fibbing as we didn't purchase this (we have 100s and 100s of thousands of miles).
Has anyone experienced such an issue???
Jun 4, 2013, 4:34 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
And I'm positive that's what happened here. It's on the final screen, where normally on a revenue ticket, it offers a flexible fare. But for awards, it lets you know how much a revenue ticket is.
I'm pretty sure that's what happened.
I'm pretty sure that's what happened.
Jun 4, 2013, 4:34 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
When you book an award ticket, there is a box at the top of the screen which says "You can purchase this itinerary for $x." Possible you clicked this box by mistake?
Jun 4, 2013, 4:40 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Healdsburg CA and Provincetown MA
Programs: UA 1K and MM.
Posts: 135
The United CSR says that they have screenshots that we actually searched for a revenue fare and not an award ticket. There is no way I was doing that. (In fact, the first flight noted a $70+ charge because it was so close. It got lowered to a total of $5 as we are Platinum/1Ks. We remembered seeing this.)
Jun 4, 2013, 4:44 pm
#7
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Interesting that they claim to have screenshots. They've always denied any ability to recreate a screenshot when I've said "but I got a screen that said . . . ."
Jun 4, 2013, 5:02 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,941
Huh??? UA has screen shots of our searches?
Can you ask to see them?
Can you ask to see them?
Thanks. I suppose that is possible, but unlikely.
The United CSR says that they have screenshots that we actually searched for a revenue fare and not an award ticket. There is no way I was doing that. (In fact, the first flight noted a $70+ charge because it was so close. It got lowered to a total of $5 as we are Platinum/1Ks. We remembered seeing this.)
The United CSR says that they have screenshots that we actually searched for a revenue fare and not an award ticket. There is no way I was doing that. (In fact, the first flight noted a $70+ charge because it was so close. It got lowered to a total of $5 as we are Platinum/1Ks. We remembered seeing this.)
Jun 4, 2013, 5:12 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
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Posts: 12,521
Sigh. I'm sure they didn't say "screenshots" and mean "pdf renderings of every screen". But they probably have some form/entry data, especially as award searches go through different processing at the end versus revenue.
Jun 4, 2013, 5:20 pm
#12
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
The ability to cash purchase an award ticket is there and you will not be the first to have miss-selected.
most probably but there do have the transaction history.
Jun 4, 2013, 5:32 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This can go on forever. OP, shortly after you booked, you received an email from UA containing an e-ticket receipt. That will show any actual cash paid.
More to the point, what does the CC you used to pay fees, etc. show for a debit item?
More to the point, what does the CC you used to pay fees, etc. show for a debit item?
Jun 4, 2013, 7:14 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AS MVP, HH Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,848
I'll admit to having clicked the wrong button. Fortunately, I pretty quickly noticed the $17,000 charge for a TATL in Global First with partners, and managed to get it refunded within 24 hours and rebooked with miles.
Jun 4, 2013, 7:49 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: UA PremExec
Posts: 732
Thanks. I suppose that is possible, but unlikely.
The United CSR says that they have screenshots that we actually searched for a revenue fare and not an award ticket. There is no way I was doing that. (In fact, the first flight noted a $70+ charge because it was so close. It got lowered to a total of $5 as we are Platinum/1Ks. We remembered seeing this.)
The United CSR says that they have screenshots that we actually searched for a revenue fare and not an award ticket. There is no way I was doing that. (In fact, the first flight noted a $70+ charge because it was so close. It got lowered to a total of $5 as we are Platinum/1Ks. We remembered seeing this.)
As others have said, just look at the email you got when you bought the ticket. That would answer all questions.