Changes to *A Awards Without Incurring Additional Miles after 3-Feb-2014
Feb 5, 2014, 5:28 pm
#1
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
Changes to *A Awards Without Incurring Additional Miles after 3-Feb-2014
I thought it would be helpful for other FTers if we can provide examples of successful changes to *A awards booked before devaluation without incurring additional miles under the new award chart.
Without any official word and confused by all the assumptions made in the other thread, I was under the impression that changes in routing would trigger the new award chart. Apparently not.
Today I was successful in changing the following:
Original Routing: FRA-YVR-SFO
Original Carrier/Class: LH/F, UA/F
New Routing: FRA-MUC*-SFO
Carrier/Class: LH/I (intra-Europe), LH/F
Rubber duckies here I come!
Without any official word and confused by all the assumptions made in the other thread, I was under the impression that changes in routing would trigger the new award chart. Apparently not.
Today I was successful in changing the following:
Original Routing: FRA-YVR-SFO
Original Carrier/Class: LH/F, UA/F
New Routing: FRA-MUC*-SFO
Carrier/Class: LH/I (intra-Europe), LH/F
Rubber duckies here I come!
Last edited by Pat89339; Feb 5, 2014 at 7:53 pm
Feb 5, 2014, 5:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Whoa. So that involved a carrier change, too? Presumably YVR-SFO was UA/AC before and they're now not on the ticket at all. How much hassle? I was just shot down on rerouting IAD-ORD-NRT-SIN to IAD-NRT-SIN with NRT-SIN on UA in both and the TPAC sector on NH for both.
Feb 5, 2014, 5:39 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,893
Here are two other examples buried in that thread:
I have a proprietary interest in this because I have an upcoming itinerary BOS-FRA-BKK-HKG (LH J, LH F, TG F) and will be trying to move the LH J portion to LH F. There should be no change in the taxes except for foreign exchange, but later in the trip there is a SQ J segment and I'm hoping that won't cause huge problems with the pricing record.
Adding my data point...
My partner and I were booked SAT-IAH-LOS-JNB-CPT in J, except LOS-JNB was in Y. I called up today and rebooked SAT-IAH-IAD-JNB-CPT for the same departure date, all J. The rep initially asked for 60,000 additional miles for both of us, I pushed back and he consulted with a supervisor. Something like an hour later, I pay the change fee (no status) and slight difference in taxes. No extra miles!
FWIW, I knew exactly which flights I wanted, that they had two seats, and that I (maybe) should not be charged additional miles. I have no idea how a less informed traveler is supposed to navigate this system.
My partner and I were booked SAT-IAH-LOS-JNB-CPT in J, except LOS-JNB was in Y. I called up today and rebooked SAT-IAH-IAD-JNB-CPT for the same departure date, all J. The rep initially asked for 60,000 additional miles for both of us, I pushed back and he consulted with a supervisor. Something like an hour later, I pay the change fee (no status) and slight difference in taxes. No extra miles!
FWIW, I knew exactly which flights I wanted, that they had two seats, and that I (maybe) should not be charged additional miles. I have no idea how a less informed traveler is supposed to navigate this system.
Was just able to price out the following change online:
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH X)
BKK-SYD (TG O)
to
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH I) - different flight, same date
BKK-SYD (TG O) - different flight, same date
There was no change in the amount of miles required, only charging me the change fee (and surprisingly since I wasn't changing cities, a refund of some taxes).
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH X)
BKK-SYD (TG O)
to
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH I) - different flight, same date
BKK-SYD (TG O) - different flight, same date
There was no change in the amount of miles required, only charging me the change fee (and surprisingly since I wasn't changing cities, a refund of some taxes).
Feb 5, 2014, 5:40 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
Thanks for sharing with us, can you give us more detail? Like original carrier/cabin, new carrier/cabin.
Feb 5, 2014, 5:51 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
Here are two other examples buried in that thread:
I have a proprietary interest in this because I have an upcoming itinerary BOS-FRA-BKK-HKG (LH J, LH F, TG F) and will be trying to move the LH J portion to LH F. There should be no change in the taxes except for foreign exchange, but later in the trip there is a SQ J segment and I'm hoping that won't cause huge problems with the pricing record.
I have a proprietary interest in this because I have an upcoming itinerary BOS-FRA-BKK-HKG (LH J, LH F, TG F) and will be trying to move the LH J portion to LH F. There should be no change in the taxes except for foreign exchange, but later in the trip there is a SQ J segment and I'm hoping that won't cause huge problems with the pricing record.
Feb 5, 2014, 6:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: LA,NYC
Programs: AA-EXP 2.8 MM,UA-GS 1.3 MM,DL-PL,HH-DM,LH-SEN,Bonvoy-GL
Posts: 296
Without any official word and confused by all the assumptions made in the other thread, I was under the impression that changes in routing would trigger the new award chart. Apparently not.
Today I was successful in changing the following:
Carrier/Class: LH/F
Original Routing: FRA-YVR-SFO
New Routing: FRA-MUC*-SFO
_________________
*FRA-MUC is in business, of course
Today I was successful in changing the following:
Carrier/Class: LH/F
Original Routing: FRA-YVR-SFO
New Routing: FRA-MUC*-SFO
_________________
*FRA-MUC is in business, of course
Feb 5, 2014, 6:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: EWR
Posts: 680
I too am curious about people's success with changes. I have an itinerary next January of
HKG-BKK in TG I
BKK-FRA in TG O
FRA-LIS in LH I
LIS-EWR in TAP I
Am hoping to be able to change the FRA-LIS-EWR segments to a direct FRA-JFK on LH F at T-10 without incurring an additional miles fee.
HKG-BKK in TG I
BKK-FRA in TG O
FRA-LIS in LH I
LIS-EWR in TAP I
Am hoping to be able to change the FRA-LIS-EWR segments to a direct FRA-JFK on LH F at T-10 without incurring an additional miles fee.
Feb 5, 2014, 6:36 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Excellent idea for this thread. I think it will be very helpful. My data points so far.
US>JPN OW non-stop in F on NH. Successfully changed date and flight but on the same route.
HKG>BKK>HND RT in C/F on TG. Successfully changed date (nothing else) on the outbound.
In both cases, agent at first said it would require more miles. I politely asked the agents to double check and both came back and said they could do it with no extra miles. Took about 20 minutes both times.
US>JPN OW non-stop in F on NH. Successfully changed date and flight but on the same route.
HKG>BKK>HND RT in C/F on TG. Successfully changed date (nothing else) on the outbound.
In both cases, agent at first said it would require more miles. I politely asked the agents to double check and both came back and said they could do it with no extra miles. Took about 20 minutes both times.
Feb 5, 2014, 6:56 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
Excellent idea for this thread. I think it will be very helpful. My data points so far.
US>JPN OW non-stop in F on NH. Successfully changed date and flight but on the same route.
HKG>BKK>HND RT in C/F on TG. Successfully changed date (nothing else) on the outbound.
In both cases, agent at first said it would require more miles. I politely asked the agents to double check and both came back and said they could do it with no extra miles. Took about 20 minutes both times.
US>JPN OW non-stop in F on NH. Successfully changed date and flight but on the same route.
HKG>BKK>HND RT in C/F on TG. Successfully changed date (nothing else) on the outbound.
In both cases, agent at first said it would require more miles. I politely asked the agents to double check and both came back and said they could do it with no extra miles. Took about 20 minutes both times.
Great idea for this thread. I really hope it will be limited to actual reports of what happened when efforts were made to change an itinerary, as opposed to yet more of these endless questions about what might happen if someone tries to change xyz itinerary.
Feb 5, 2014, 8:04 pm
#10
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
No hassle at all. I called and said I needed some assistance because I don't understand the new rules. I told the agent that I see space on the MUC-SFO flight and rather than fly FRA-YVR-SFO would it be possible to fly FRA-MUC-SFO without incurring additional miles. She said she thought it would be possible but wanted to confirm that she should change it only if there was no additional mile requirement. It took 17 minutes on hold and it was confirmed and emails received for both of us on two separate PNRs
Original routing: LH F FRA-YVR connecting to UA F YVR-SFO
New routing: LH I FRA-MUC connecting to LH F MUC-SFO
I called.
Yes. The intent is to show successful changes. By example others can see what is possible. Please feel free to post your successful changes to itineraries booked prior to February 3 and changed after February 3.
Feb 5, 2014, 8:16 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
Thanks for the data point.
Great idea for this thread. I really hope it will be limited to actual reports of what happened when efforts were made to change an itinerary, as opposed to yet more of these endless questions about what might happen if someone tries to change xyz itinerary.
Great idea for this thread. I really hope it will be limited to actual reports of what happened when efforts were made to change an itinerary, as opposed to yet more of these endless questions about what might happen if someone tries to change xyz itinerary.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Feb 5, 2014 at 8:56 pm Reason: merge
Feb 5, 2014, 8:25 pm
#12
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
Feb 5, 2014, 8:42 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA1K .455 MM, Hilton and Marriott Gold
Posts: 397
My Two Successful Changes
With a saver first award from WAS to BKK booked before 1 FEB, I was able to change the following flights for the same dates:
IAD-UA Y>YUL-LH f > MUC to IAD-LH F> FRA-LH C > MUC
and
FCO-LH C > FRA-UA F to FCO-LH C > FRA-LH F > IAD
There was no mileage change required, though there were some issues with recalculating the taxes, but the agent worked it all out and knew the new rules.
IAD-UA Y>YUL-LH f > MUC to IAD-LH F> FRA-LH C > MUC
and
FCO-LH C > FRA-UA F to FCO-LH C > FRA-LH F > IAD
There was no mileage change required, though there were some issues with recalculating the taxes, but the agent worked it all out and knew the new rules.
Feb 5, 2014, 9:05 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
With a saver first award from WAS to BKK booked before 1 FEB, I was able to change the following flights for the same dates:
IAD-UA Y>YUL-LH f > MUC to IAD-LH F> FRA-LH C > MUC
and
FCO-LH C > FRA-UA F to FCO-LH C > FRA-LH F > IAD
There was no mileage change required, though there were some issues with recalculating the taxes, but the agent worked it all out and knew the new rules.
IAD-UA Y>YUL-LH f > MUC to IAD-LH F> FRA-LH C > MUC
and
FCO-LH C > FRA-UA F to FCO-LH C > FRA-LH F > IAD
There was no mileage change required, though there were some issues with recalculating the taxes, but the agent worked it all out and knew the new rules.
Feb 5, 2014, 9:14 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA1K .455 MM, Hilton and Marriott Gold
Posts: 397
I was holding my breath the change would go through, but the 1K agent was great!