Apr 21, 2014, 11:37 am
Last edit by: Pat89339
A number of folks with award flights booked on CA (Air China) found their reservations cancelled. The only notification of cancellation appears to be an email in from UA written in chinese. UA reps confirmed that cancellations were made online and CA award space was no longer available. UA can rebook on other flights when award space is available.
It is plausible that a third party with access to PNR and pax name on the flight can fraudulently cancel an existing itinerary and book the reopened award seat.
Affected FlyerTalk members — with links to where in this discussion they posted their experiences — include:
It is plausible that a third party with access to PNR and pax name on the flight can fraudulently cancel an existing itinerary and book the reopened award seat.
Affected FlyerTalk members — with links to where in this discussion they posted their experiences — include:
- MikeMpls
- nihaoa
- lewende Reported 4 friends with this issue
- ordbkk
- twebst
- kb1992
- litesleeper
- zombietooth
- critten Reported 2/3 confirmations (3 people CA Business class) cancelled at the same time
- skyvanman Also 1 friend with the issue
- chris1234
- atiger29
- bubble o bill
- genemk2
- jefftiger
- CuddlyFlyer
- gpeso8
- imm2b
- acf1270
- dgxoxo
- ACM two passengers
It seems everybody wants to see the message.. here was mine:
united.com 通知 - 航班预订取消
2014年4月17日 (星期四)
united.com | 优惠促销 | 预订 | 赢取前程万里 (MileagePlus®) 奖励里程 | 我的帐户
先生 ORDBKK
您的预订 MYRES123 已取消，我们已收到您的退款申请。申请信用卡退款需 7 个工作日。如果信用卡退款未在一个付款周期内寄出，请联系信用卡公司。对于包括现金退款在内的 所有其他形式 的付款，需要 20 个工作日。
如需详细信息或查看退款的状态，请访问 united.com 并提供您的机票号码。
感谢您使用 united.com
电子邮件信息
请不要使用“回复”地址回复此邮件。
此电子邮件中的信息仅供原接收人使用。
如果您遇到技术问题，请通过电子邮件或电话联系 united.com 服务支持。
通知：机票取消确认
电子邮件地址: ORDBKK@MYEMAIL
2014年4月17日 (星期四)
united.com | 优惠促销 | 预订 | 赢取前程万里 (MileagePlus®) 奖励里程 | 我的帐户
先生 ORDBKK
您的预订 MYRES123 已取消，我们已收到您的退款申请。申请信用卡退款需 7 个工作日。如果信用卡退款未在一个付款周期内寄出，请联系信用卡公司。对于包括现金退款在内的 所有其他形式 的付款，需要 20 个工作日。
如需详细信息或查看退款的状态，请访问 united.com 并提供您的机票号码。
感谢您使用 united.com
电子邮件信息
请不要使用“回复”地址回复此邮件。
此电子邮件中的信息仅供原接收人使用。
如果您遇到技术问题，请通过电子邮件或电话联系 united.com 服务支持。
通知：机票取消确认
电子邮件地址: ORDBKK@MYEMAIL
Originally Posted by ordbkk View Post
For tracking purposes, I went through the 27 pages of this thread and compiled a list of those affected:
MikeMpls
nihaoa
lewende (reported 4 friends with this issue)
ordbkk
twebst
kb1992
litesleeper
zombietooth
critten
skyvanman (also 1 friend with the issue)
jefftiger (but, happened during October 2013)
So we're at 13 people affected, although some like critten have had multiple trips canceled.
From what I understand, all of these occurred in the last 3 weeks.
For tracking purposes, I went through the 27 pages of this thread and compiled a list of those affected:
MikeMpls
nihaoa
lewende (reported 4 friends with this issue)
ordbkk
twebst
kb1992
litesleeper
zombietooth
critten
skyvanman (also 1 friend with the issue)
jefftiger (but, happened during October 2013)
So we're at 13 people affected, although some like critten have had multiple trips canceled.
From what I understand, all of these occurred in the last 3 weeks.
2014 UA Issued Awards on Air China (CA) Are Mysteriously Being Canceled (Hacked?)
Apr 21, 2014, 11:25 am
#436
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: AS: MVPG, Hyatt: P, SPG: G, Marriott: G, IHG: P
Posts: 305
The dangerous part is also on the baggage tags, there's full name and PNR on baggage tags. So if I have a return trip on UA with checked luggages, I will need to be very very careful with my baggage tag after the outbound, as if I just dispose it randomly, someone can cancel or change my unfinished segments with informations only from the baggage tag.
Apr 21, 2014, 11:42 am
#438
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Posts: 1,976
Apr 21, 2014, 11:47 am
#439
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
Were all the surnames one of the 100 or so common Chinese surnames? The fact that there is so little diversity of surnames may make it easier to guess the names associated with PNRs.
Apr 21, 2014, 11:53 am
#440
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
And:
Were all the surnames one of the 100 or so common Chinese surnames? The fact that there is so little diversity of surnames may make it easier to guess the names associated with PNRs.
Were all the surnames one of the 100 or so common Chinese surnames? The fact that there is so little diversity of surnames may make it easier to guess the names associated with PNRs.
Apr 21, 2014, 12:13 pm
#441
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 83
And:
Were all the surnames one of the 100 or so common Chinese surnames? The fact that there is so little diversity of surnames may make it easier to guess the names associated with PNRs.
Were all the surnames one of the 100 or so common Chinese surnames? The fact that there is so little diversity of surnames may make it easier to guess the names associated with PNRs.
Apr 21, 2014, 12:18 pm
#442
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,160
Thank you for contacting United Airlines.
I have reviewed the records for your parents-in-law and have confirmed the information regarding the cancellation. I can confirm, our system indicates someone logged in as a guest, canceled XXXXXX at 10:42pm and then canceled XXXXXX at 10:50pm. I regret the records were canceled, however, we are unable to solicit Air China to give us additional mileage seats.
I have reviewed Air China's mileage availability for several weeks to the mainland, and at this time, there is no availability in First class or coach. The only option is to retain the routing currently indicated in each record.
Again, I regret the situation. We try to provide this value through a mix of safety, on-time performance, courteous and professional service, and a wide range of destination options. We want to make travel with us a convenient and trouble-free experience for our passengers.
Our goal is to provide exceptional service every time your parents travel with United. Your support is important to United, our regional carriers, and all Star Alliance member carriers. We appreciate your business and look forward to welcoming your parents on board for the flight to California.
Regards,
XXX XXX
United Airlines
I have reviewed the records for your parents-in-law and have confirmed the information regarding the cancellation. I can confirm, our system indicates someone logged in as a guest, canceled XXXXXX at 10:42pm and then canceled XXXXXX at 10:50pm. I regret the records were canceled, however, we are unable to solicit Air China to give us additional mileage seats.
I have reviewed Air China's mileage availability for several weeks to the mainland, and at this time, there is no availability in First class or coach. The only option is to retain the routing currently indicated in each record.
Again, I regret the situation. We try to provide this value through a mix of safety, on-time performance, courteous and professional service, and a wide range of destination options. We want to make travel with us a convenient and trouble-free experience for our passengers.
Our goal is to provide exceptional service every time your parents travel with United. Your support is important to United, our regional carriers, and all Star Alliance member carriers. We appreciate your business and look forward to welcoming your parents on board for the flight to California.
Regards,
XXX XXX
United Airlines
I would say "unbelievable"....but with the "new" United, it is altogether too believable.
And just as an aside; it is very poorly written, especially when supposedly coming from a CEO office.
Apr 21, 2014, 12:18 pm
#443
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 83
Question.
Who has access to passenger lists that include PNRs and last names? Only the airlines, or can a TA see that as well. More specifically to the point, how much detail can they see? Can a TA see from some manifest that Smith/J booked a ticket on a CA using UA miles on PRN xxxxxx.
Who has access to passenger lists that include PNRs and last names? Only the airlines, or can a TA see that as well. More specifically to the point, how much detail can they see? Can a TA see from some manifest that Smith/J booked a ticket on a CA using UA miles on PRN xxxxxx.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passeng...ivacy_concerns
I hope for our sake that most of this never leaves United's systems.
Apr 21, 2014, 12:21 pm
#444
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
http://www.flyertea.com/forum.php?mo...26typeid%3D341
Text:
Warning: several reports that CA award ticket using MP miles got cancelled. Received email confirmations in Chinese.
Discussion: Someone sneaked into CA system and cancelled these tickets to grab award inventory. Nasty. Nasty. etc. etc.
Apr 21, 2014, 12:21 pm
#445
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
When people say "PNR" in this thread, they are mostly just talking about the record locator, not the record itself. I agree this is a slight misuse of terminology. I do think your PNR gets shared with partner airlines when you fly on an itinerary that includes airlines other than UA (and perhaps even when you don't).
Apr 21, 2014, 1:01 pm
#446
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Delta Plat, UA Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 258
I found this
http://www.flyertea.com/forum.php?mo...26typeid%3D341
Text:
Warning: several reports that CA award ticket using MP miles got cancelled. Received email confirmations in Chinese.
Discussion: Someone sneaked into CA system and cancelled these tickets to grab award inventory. Nasty. Nasty. etc. etc.
http://www.flyertea.com/forum.php?mo...26typeid%3D341
Text:
Warning: several reports that CA award ticket using MP miles got cancelled. Received email confirmations in Chinese.
Discussion: Someone sneaked into CA system and cancelled these tickets to grab award inventory. Nasty. Nasty. etc. etc.
I, on the other hand, have an asian last name and did not get cancelled. Maybe they spared me, or maybe they didn't need the one first seat :P
Apr 21, 2014, 1:03 pm
#447
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Delta Plat, UA Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 258
When people say "PNR" in this thread, they are mostly just talking about the record locator, not the record itself. I agree this is a slight misuse of terminology. I do think your PNR gets shared with partner airlines when you fly on an itinerary that includes airlines other than UA (and perhaps even when you don't).
Apr 21, 2014, 1:34 pm
#448
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
No, the PNR ("Passenger Name Record") is the traveler's information, including all of that data. The six-character code that is used to reference that PNR is properly called the "record locator". But people often abuse terminology and simply refer to the record locator as a PNR.
Apr 21, 2014, 2:06 pm
#449
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Posts: 100,417
And:
Were all the surnames one of the 100 or so common Chinese surnames? The fact that there is so little diversity of surnames may make it easier to guess the names associated with PNRs.
Were all the surnames one of the 100 or so common Chinese surnames? The fact that there is so little diversity of surnames may make it easier to guess the names associated with PNRs.
Apr 21, 2014, 2:36 pm
#450
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
You appear to be right. I had no idea that this existed, and it's insane, but good on the UK. Now it makes even less sense to be how little my UK friends use credit cards compared to Americans.
Sadly, no breach of contract claim because it's (probably) preempted by federal law, and specific performance is an unlikely extraordinary remedy.
Sadly, no breach of contract claim because it's (probably) preempted by federal law, and specific performance is an unlikely extraordinary remedy.
I'm sure the law isn't like this in the US, but even if it were, I don't see how it helps. It's helpful to the customer in the case of insolvency of the merchant. But UA is not insolvent, any remedy that you could pursue against your credit card issuer you could also pursue directly against UA. If you could get a court to order specific performance against the credit card company then it would be equally easy (i.e., likely impossible, in a few weeks for a cancelled trip worth a few thousand dollars, and in any case would cost more in legal fees than the value of the trip) to get a similar order against UA.