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 30, 2014, 2:10 pm
#781
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885
Does someone even need a record locator? It used to be an agent would pull up your reservation with just a flight #, date of travel and a last name. It would be nice if you always had to have a pin.
Apr 30, 2014, 2:12 pm
#782
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
Really? Clearly calling and cancelling worked for whoever impersonated acf1270. Now that the perpetrators of this crime know it works, they'll try it again. And unless UA increases its security by requiring the PIN for cancellation of all reservations associated with a MP account, they will succeed again.
Apr 30, 2014, 2:16 pm
#783
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: UA
Posts: 255
Update 04/30/2015
Eventually UA was able to get the two reservations reinstated. Thanks for this great FT community to bring it up to the UA and they are making effort to have those issues resolved.
During the conversion, he told me that it is because of the system glitch from the CA side, and CA sent the cancellation message to UA, and that's why "CA is willing to cooperate in this matter..."
Eventually UA was able to get the two reservations reinstated. Thanks for this great FT community to bring it up to the UA and they are making effort to have those issues resolved.
During the conversion, he told me that it is because of the system glitch from the CA side, and CA sent the cancellation message to UA, and that's why "CA is willing to cooperate in this matter..."
Apr 30, 2014, 2:21 pm
#784
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: UA
Posts: 255
Interestingly, just received from 1K voice
==============================
Dear Mr. Nihaoa,
Thank you for contacting United.com Web Support.
1 - The time advised is Central Standard Time [my note: I was asking the time zone of when the cancellation was made.]
2 - The confirmation number becomes available to anyone when it is sent outside the original United Airlines email link. (We request that you call with private and confidential information for this reason).
3 - United Airlines and China Airlines are a member of the Star Alliance, however, we do not control one another's businesses. We do all we can to work together as a team and they have advised that the space was released to other passengers.
4 - Has United Airlines security system been breached? If it had been, we would have thousands of cancellations and we would be sending out alerts. United Airlines has 3500 flights a day that leave the ground with approximately 150 people.
We will be happy to look for other days to rebook your family with out any additional fees.
I am very sorry to see what has happened and look forward to making alternate preparations for your family.
Thank you for using united.com.
Regards,
XXX XXX
United.com Web Support
==============================
Dear Mr. Nihaoa,
Thank you for contacting United.com Web Support.
1 - The time advised is Central Standard Time [my note: I was asking the time zone of when the cancellation was made.]
2 - The confirmation number becomes available to anyone when it is sent outside the original United Airlines email link. (We request that you call with private and confidential information for this reason).
3 - United Airlines and China Airlines are a member of the Star Alliance, however, we do not control one another's businesses. We do all we can to work together as a team and they have advised that the space was released to other passengers.
4 - Has United Airlines security system been breached? If it had been, we would have thousands of cancellations and we would be sending out alerts. United Airlines has 3500 flights a day that leave the ground with approximately 150 people.
We will be happy to look for other days to rebook your family with out any additional fees.
I am very sorry to see what has happened and look forward to making alternate preparations for your family.
Thank you for using united.com.
Regards,
XXX XXX
United.com Web Support
Apr 30, 2014, 2:27 pm
#785
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
I find anything GPU related results in a request for a PIN 75% of the time. Not sure why!
Apr 30, 2014, 2:37 pm
#786
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
Really? Clearly calling and cancelling worked for whoever impersonated acf1270. Now that the perpetrators of this crime know it works, they'll try it again. And unless UA increases its security by requiring the PIN for cancellation of all reservations associated with a MP account, they will succeed again.
Apr 30, 2014, 3:05 pm
#787
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Wow, guess we were just one of the first (an "early adopter"? 
) out of quite a few to have this issue.
Nobody knew our PNR identifiers except myself & the UA/CA booking systems. The only info I ever disclosed publicly was "Depart SYD 5/29 CA 174" in the Oz Fest 2014 thread. Any hacking had to have been done from the inside.
My real last name is not "Mpls". Someone had to have access to booking info by flight to pull this off.
) out of quite a few to have this issue.Nobody knew our PNR identifiers except myself & the UA/CA booking systems. The only info I ever disclosed publicly was "Depart SYD 5/29 CA 174" in the Oz Fest 2014 thread. Any hacking had to have been done from the inside.
My real last name is not "Mpls". Someone had to have access to booking info by flight to pull this off.
Last edited by MikeMpls; Apr 30, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Apr 30, 2014, 3:54 pm
#788
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Got a voice mail from UA just a few minutes ago wanting to know if we want them to try to restore the China flights or if we are happy with the itin as previous repaired.
I'm not going to ask for any further changes, but it appears that they are working to restore people's China Air flights if they can.
I'm not going to ask for any further changes, but it appears that they are working to restore people's China Air flights if they can.
Apr 30, 2014, 7:52 pm
#789
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
^
Apr 30, 2014, 8:33 pm
#790
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,124
Got a voice mail from UA just a few minutes ago wanting to know if we want them to try to restore the China flights or if we are happy with the itin as previous repaired.
I'm not going to ask for any further changes, but it appears that they are working to restore people's China Air flights if they can.
I'm not going to ask for any further changes, but it appears that they are working to restore people's China Air flights if they can.
"China Airlines" is a Skyteam member based out of Taiwan.
Why do people always get the two confused?
Apr 30, 2014, 10:28 pm
#792
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
And praying my reservation will stick
Apr 30, 2014, 11:42 pm
#794
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,142
Apr 30, 2014, 11:43 pm
#795
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,142