Will UA issue ticket (016 ticket) w/ partner airline only, no UA/UX flight on itin?
Dec 6, 2016, 1:51 pm
#226
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
I used to use the award space search. But that seems to not work these days!
Dec 6, 2016, 1:54 pm
#227
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,273
No, not hidden city.
If you call United, they will ticket you LIS-EWR (TP) -BOS, as it includes a UA segment. But they won't ticket LIS-EWR alone.
So you set up the LIS-EWR-BOS ticket via google flights. But before the ticket is issues, you call United and have them drop the EWR-BOS flight. Because the reservation is already in the system, the agent won't tell you it can't be done. They will simply drop the segment, reprice the flight, and issue the ticket.
No hidden city. No violation of rules.
If you call United, they will ticket you LIS-EWR (TP) -BOS, as it includes a UA segment. But they won't ticket LIS-EWR alone.
So you set up the LIS-EWR-BOS ticket via google flights. But before the ticket is issues, you call United and have them drop the EWR-BOS flight. Because the reservation is already in the system, the agent won't tell you it can't be done. They will simply drop the segment, reprice the flight, and issue the ticket.
No hidden city. No violation of rules.
Dec 6, 2016, 3:59 pm
#228
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,089
No, not hidden city.
If you call United, they will ticket you LIS-EWR (TP) -BOS, as it includes a UA segment. But they won't ticket LIS-EWR alone.
So you set up the LIS-EWR-BOS ticket via google flights. But before the ticket is issued, you call United and have them drop the EWR-BOS flight. Because the reservation is already in the system, the agent won't tell you it can't be done. They will simply drop the segment, reprice the flight, and issue the ticket.
If you call United, they will ticket you LIS-EWR (TP) -BOS, as it includes a UA segment. But they won't ticket LIS-EWR alone.
So you set up the LIS-EWR-BOS ticket via google flights. But before the ticket is issued, you call United and have them drop the EWR-BOS flight. Because the reservation is already in the system, the agent won't tell you it can't be done. They will simply drop the segment, reprice the flight, and issue the ticket.
Dec 6, 2016, 4:13 pm
#229
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: STL
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA Plat, SPG/M P75 and few from CC
Posts: 341
Dec 6, 2016, 4:21 pm
#230
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
Agree. This doesn't work for me either anymore. In the past I was always able to get an agent to do this manually but, as mentioned, lately they have really cracked down and are refusing to do it.
Dec 6, 2016, 4:37 pm
#231
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Dec 6, 2016, 4:46 pm
#232
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,089
If you call UA and ask them, multiple phone agents will tell you the first international leg has to be on UA to plate a ticket on UA. I'm not saying phone agents are always, or even often, correct; I'm just relaying what I have been told multiple times.
Those of us who used to be travel agents also recall this as the UA (and many other legacy carriers') policy on plating int'l tickets. Again, this doesn't say it has to be "true." It's a statement of experience. But I bet if you walk into a random travel agency today and ask for an all *A ticket, or any int'l ticket that has UA only on a tail end domestic segment (as per OP's suggestion), they will tell you that they can only plate on UA if the first overwater segment is on UA. OP appears to be reporting a way to exploit google flights and united.com to do something, regardless of "policy," which is fine with me. Good for him!
The example you give doesn't test this theory about intended corporate policy, but rather shows that united.com can sometimes write such a ticket, even if that is not what company policy intended.
Those of us who used to be travel agents also recall this as the UA (and many other legacy carriers') policy on plating int'l tickets. Again, this doesn't say it has to be "true." It's a statement of experience. But I bet if you walk into a random travel agency today and ask for an all *A ticket, or any int'l ticket that has UA only on a tail end domestic segment (as per OP's suggestion), they will tell you that they can only plate on UA if the first overwater segment is on UA. OP appears to be reporting a way to exploit google flights and united.com to do something, regardless of "policy," which is fine with me. Good for him!
The example you give doesn't test this theory about intended corporate policy, but rather shows that united.com can sometimes write such a ticket, even if that is not what company policy intended.
Dec 6, 2016, 5:02 pm
#233
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
If you call UA and ask them, multiple phone agents will tell you the first international leg has to be on UA to plate a ticket on UA. I'm not saying phone agents are always, or even often, correct; I'm just relaying what I have been told multiple times.
Those of us who used to be travel agents also recall this as the UA (and many other legacy carriers') policy on plating int'l tickets. Again, this doesn't say it has to be "true." It's a statement of experience. But I bet if you walk into a random travel agency today and ask for an all *A ticket, or any int'l ticket that has UA only on a tail end domestic segment (as per OP's suggestion), they will tell you that they can only plate on UA if the first overwater segment is on UA. OP appears to be reporting a way to exploit google flights and united.com to do something, regardless of "policy," which is fine with me. Good for him!
The example you give doesn't test this theory about intended corporate policy, but rather shows that united.com can sometimes write such a ticket, even if that is not what company policy intended.
Those of us who used to be travel agents also recall this as the UA (and many other legacy carriers') policy on plating int'l tickets. Again, this doesn't say it has to be "true." It's a statement of experience. But I bet if you walk into a random travel agency today and ask for an all *A ticket, or any int'l ticket that has UA only on a tail end domestic segment (as per OP's suggestion), they will tell you that they can only plate on UA if the first overwater segment is on UA. OP appears to be reporting a way to exploit google flights and united.com to do something, regardless of "policy," which is fine with me. Good for him!
The example you give doesn't test this theory about intended corporate policy, but rather shows that united.com can sometimes write such a ticket, even if that is not what company policy intended.
Dec 6, 2016, 5:44 pm
#234
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,044
I've had no problem buying LH only flights on a UA ticket.
Dec 6, 2016, 7:37 pm
#235
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,432
...
Dec 6, 2016, 8:14 pm
#236
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
There are many instances in which UA will sell partner flights with no UA segment or codeshare on the itinerary. Though typically not if UA offers an alternative on its own metal.
Last edited by Kacee; Dec 6, 2016 at 8:24 pm
Jan 16, 2017, 10:51 am
#238
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: San Fransisco, CA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 172
Is the any way to book LOT on 016 stock? I'm flying to Budapest for a conference in April and they have the cheapest tickets, but I'd really hate to give up on PQDs.
Jan 16, 2017, 12:37 pm
#239
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
Yes, by calling United and asking to be ticketed on the specific flights. There is no guarantee, however, that the low fare you are seeing may be plated on 016 - this process may generate a higher price.
Jan 16, 2017, 2:18 pm
#240
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480