Booking o/w award travel and converting to r/t with stopover later
Oct 12, 2013, 11:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Programs: United Platinum & 2.0MM; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium and Lifetime Gold; Hyatt and Hilton Honors peon
Posts: 251
Booking o/w award travel and converting to r/t with stopover later
Hi,
I am looking at booking two premium award tickets for next year. There appear to be some seats available now on the outbound (331 days away). I want to fly roundtrip ultimately.
Can I book a o/w award ticket now and then, assuming availability for my return in a few weeks, convert it to a round-trip (and add a stopover)? Will I get charged a change fee for each ticket if I convert to a roundtrip, which I would need to do if I want a stopover)?
If I don't want a stopover is there any disadvantage to booking o/w flights (other than changing the entire itinerary would cost me twice as much for the roundtrip if I had to rebook both legs)?
Thanks.
I am looking at booking two premium award tickets for next year. There appear to be some seats available now on the outbound (331 days away). I want to fly roundtrip ultimately.
Can I book a o/w award ticket now and then, assuming availability for my return in a few weeks, convert it to a round-trip (and add a stopover)? Will I get charged a change fee for each ticket if I convert to a roundtrip, which I would need to do if I want a stopover)?
If I don't want a stopover is there any disadvantage to booking o/w flights (other than changing the entire itinerary would cost me twice as much for the roundtrip if I had to rebook both legs)?
Thanks.
Oct 12, 2013, 12:06 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,557
Looking at a one-way award e-ticket, it says NOT VALID AFTER 7/3/2014 - for a ticket I booked on on 07/03/2013.
I would be interested to know if I will get a new 365 day clock on the re-ticketing date by paying the $100 award change fee (Making any change less than 21 days prior to the date of travel; or changing origin/destination at any time, as General Member).
I would be interested to know if I will get a new 365 day clock on the re-ticketing date by paying the $100 award change fee (Making any change less than 21 days prior to the date of travel; or changing origin/destination at any time, as General Member).
Last edited by Colin; Oct 12, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Oct 12, 2013, 12:09 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Programs: United Platinum & 2.0MM; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium and Lifetime Gold; Hyatt and Hilton Honors peon
Posts: 251
Oct 12, 2013, 12:12 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Looking at a one-way award e-ticket, it says NOT VALID AFTER 7/3/2014 - for a ticket I booked on on 07/03/2013.
I would be interested to know if I will get a new 365 day clock on the re-ticketing date by paying the $100 award change fee (Making any change less than 21 days prior to the date of travel; or changing origin/destination at any time, as General Member).
I would be interested to know if I will get a new 365 day clock on the re-ticketing date by paying the $100 award change fee (Making any change less than 21 days prior to the date of travel; or changing origin/destination at any time, as General Member).
Oct 12, 2013, 12:20 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,919
I cannot speak to the fees involved with doing this as a non-1k/Plat, however my one caution would be to make sure you have an agent who knows what they're doing. I ended up accidentally losing one of my original/ticketed NH J award segments earlier this year when converting an one-way award into a roundtrip. If the agent doesn't sound confident, I recommend politely hanging-up and calling again. YMMV.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Oct 12, 2013, 12:42 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,922
I tried with two agents recently starting with existing TG oneway segment and both said they could not do it without releasing that segment first.
YMMV I am sure this is doable with UA segments though.
YMMV I am sure this is doable with UA segments though.