Apr 21, 2014, 11:37 am

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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:

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by ordbkk

It seems everybody wants to see the message.. here was mine:

Quote:

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
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Quote:

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.

2014 UA Issued Awards on Air China (CA) Are Mysteriously Being Canceled (Hacked?)

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Apr 24, 2014, 2:27 pm

#601

ordbkk

Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: Chicago

Programs: UA 1k

Posts: 83

It seems everybody wants to see the message.. here was mine:

Quote:

Apr 24, 2014, 2:46 pm

#602

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,454

Quote:

Originally Posted by ordbkk

It seems everybody wants to see the message.. here was mine:

Thanks. That explains everything

Apr 24, 2014, 2:52 pm

#603

ajGoes

Join Date: Jul 2013

Location: DAY/CMH

Programs: UA MileagePlus

Posts: 2,474

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Thanks. That explains everything

Google Translate does an amazing job on that one -- it's 100% comprehensible and, even more impressive, almost completely grammatically correct.

Apr 24, 2014, 2:54 pm

#604

Szamboti

Join Date: Jul 2013

Posts: 121

is it possible to lock the united award reservation going through china air?

im really starting to sweat this since I have IAH-PEK on CA in november and its a family of four 2J/2F awards.

Apr 24, 2014, 2:57 pm

#605

DaviddesJ

Suspended

Join Date: May 2011

Location: SFO

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 1,961

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajGoes

Google Translate does an amazing job on that one -- it's 100% comprehensible and, even more impressive, almost completely grammatically correct.

It does do a good job, and they deserve credit, but one reason is that it was (I believe) originally written in English, and translated fairly mechanically (although by a human) from English into Chinese. Translating it back tends to return to the original formulation. That's especially true for systems like Google Translate that are generally trained on bilingual text that is written in parallel in two different languages. If you started with something that had been composed from scratch by a Chinese speaker, with no original English formulation, then translating it into English would be harder.

Apr 24, 2014, 3:01 pm

#606

ordbkk

Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: Chicago

Programs: UA 1k

Posts: 83

Quote:

Originally Posted by Szamboti

is it possible to lock the united award reservation going through china air?

im really starting to sweat this since I have IAH-PEK on CA in november and its a family of four 2J/2F awards.

If I were you, I would rebook it now, using anything but CA. Don't wait for it to get poached closer to departure, when rebooking it might be more difficult or impossible. I would also ask United to change your confirmation number if they can.. tell them your information was exposed and you need a new one.

Apr 24, 2014, 3:24 pm

#607

satz

Join Date: Jun 2011

Programs: DL, Amex MR

Posts: 287

Quote:

Originally Posted by ordbkk

Most likely there is little to no award space for the next 3-6 months on most flights unless United is willing to open additional award space to accommodate...

Apr 24, 2014, 4:06 pm

#608

IAHUArunner

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: India, & Great State of TEXAS

Programs: AA EX-Plat ** , UA 1K, IHG platinum

Posts: 102

WOW. ..this is unbelievable. UA still don't have a Clue. Even after 3 weeks no defense!!

Apr 24, 2014, 4:11 pm

#609

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,454

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

Most likely there is little to no award space for the next 3-6 months on most flights unless United is willing to open additional award space to accommodate...

Award availability is highly route and carrier dependent. Depending on the route, there may well be plenty of availability on TG, OZ, and/or BR, all of which are quite generous with award space.

Apr 24, 2014, 4:23 pm

#610

critten

Join Date: May 2012

Programs: Delta Plat, UA Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold

Posts: 258

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

Most likely there is little to no award space for the next 3-6 months on most flights unless United is willing to open additional award space to accommodate...

I would book elsewhere if you can as well.

Well United did open up space for me, the only issue would be if the flight is fully booked (no award inventory whatsoever)+ 4+hrs on the phone to explain. I would book OZ or TG if available in a heartbeat rather than wait it out. I haven't tried EVA airlines, but they have alot of routes on the award system (don't book an MD80, so old!)

Apr 24, 2014, 4:23 pm

#611

satz

Join Date: Jun 2011

Programs: DL, Amex MR

Posts: 287

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Award availability is highly route and carrier dependent. Depending on the route, there may well be plenty of availability on TG, OZ, and/or BR, all of which are quite generous with award space.

I'm aware of this but the next 3-6 months correspond to the summer period where travel is usually busy. I'd love to be wrong but I think that you will find very little award space if any on long haul star alliance flights.

I have 2 ressie with a long haul CA leg in the end of June, I was not able to find any alternative.

Apr 24, 2014, 4:36 pm

#612

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,454

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

It really depends on the route. I'm sorry to hear that you're not finding availability on yours. I know how frustrating that can be.

Apr 24, 2014, 4:43 pm

#613

IAHUArunner

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: India, & Great State of TEXAS

Programs: AA EX-Plat ** , UA 1K, IHG platinum

Posts: 102

Quote:

Originally Posted by Szamboti

is it possible to lock the united award reservation going through china air?

im really starting to sweat this since I have IAH-PEK on CA in november and its a family of four 2J/2F awards.

UA should be able to place hold or or remove online cancellation on these reservations. They are aware of the issue and are still leaving the pax vulnerable! Are they opening up any extra inventory to accommodate the victims?

Apr 24, 2014, 5:19 pm

#614

EmailKid

Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now

Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold

Posts: 14,429

Well,

I'm flying back in 1st on the last day of November, and am concerned, but there are no seats at all within several days

So I keep checking at least every day

Apr 24, 2014, 6:40 pm

#615

critten

Join Date: May 2012

Programs: Delta Plat, UA Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold

Posts: 258

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAHUArunner

they are opening up space manually. If there is standard awards, they will open up saver seats for ya. Unfortunately, it takes a LOT of time on the phone explaining to each department and researching to finally get it done. I'd advise you make sure you get what you want as a replacement locked down before rebooking, as there is no easy way to get them to change flights.