Aer Lingus (EI) award booking experiences using UA miles [Consolidated]
#106
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Here today gone tomorrow
Programs: *G, ow Saph
Posts: 2,865
Has anyone have success booking EI and SN, in one PNR, using UA miles?
If yes, I presume this requires a phone call? Waiveable fees? Any caveats I should be aware of?
At present, I can see EI space on UA website, but not SN (which apparently is quite typical)
I can see SN space on AP website, but obviously not EI space
So I want to book EI and SN using UA miles.
Any past experience in doing similar bookings will be appreciated.
If yes, I presume this requires a phone call? Waiveable fees? Any caveats I should be aware of?
At present, I can see EI space on UA website, but not SN (which apparently is quite typical)
I can see SN space on AP website, but obviously not EI space
So I want to book EI and SN using UA miles.
Any past experience in doing similar bookings will be appreciated.
However, there are two big caveats: 1) probably necessary to call to force it through, and it may not all go through since there is definitely some phantom inventory out there; 2) more importantly, CHECK whether EI INTERLINES with the other carrier. Since they are not Star, they do not have agreements with many of UA's partners. That means you will need to go out, clear customs and immigration, collect bags, and re-check. This is not mentioned anywhere in the booking confirmation and if your connection is short, can trip you up. And if this comes up at checkin, EI can't help at all since it's a ticket issued on UA stock.
EI does not interline with LH or SN. Airlines they DO interline baggage with:
MAY CHECK BAGGAGE TO: AA AC AF AS AY BA BE BR B6 CA CI CX DL EI EK EY GF HR IB JL KL KQ LY MH NZ QF QR SA SK SQ TG TK UA VS WF WS YO
#107
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
I have had an EI-LH itinerary ticketed. As per above posts, not all inventory is phantom.
However, there are two big caveats: 1) probably necessary to call to force it through, and it may not all go through since there is definitely some phantom inventory out there; 2) more importantly, CHECK whether EI INTERLINES with the other carrier. Since they are not Star, they do not have agreements with many of UA's partners. That means you will need to go out, clear customs and immigration, collect bags, and re-check. This is not mentioned anywhere in the booking confirmation and if your connection is short, can trip you up. And if this comes up at checkin, EI can't help at all since it's a ticket issued on UA stock.
EI does not interline with LH or SN. Airlines they DO interline baggage with:
MAY CHECK BAGGAGE TO: AA AC AF AS AY BA BE BR B6 CA CI CX DL EI EK EY GF HR IB JL KL KQ LY MH NZ QF QR SA SK SQ TG TK UA VS WF WS YO
However, there are two big caveats: 1) probably necessary to call to force it through, and it may not all go through since there is definitely some phantom inventory out there; 2) more importantly, CHECK whether EI INTERLINES with the other carrier. Since they are not Star, they do not have agreements with many of UA's partners. That means you will need to go out, clear customs and immigration, collect bags, and re-check. This is not mentioned anywhere in the booking confirmation and if your connection is short, can trip you up. And if this comes up at checkin, EI can't help at all since it's a ticket issued on UA stock.
EI does not interline with LH or SN. Airlines they DO interline baggage with:
MAY CHECK BAGGAGE TO: AA AC AF AS AY BA BE BR B6 CA CI CX DL EI EK EY GF HR IB JL KL KQ LY MH NZ QF QR SA SK SQ TG TK UA VS WF WS YO
#108
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Here today gone tomorrow
Programs: *G, ow Saph
Posts: 2,865
The problem is that United *can* issue on a single ticket, even though EI wouldn't have been able to. And United doesn't know or care about EI's agreements, so they're perfectly happy to issue a single ticket that EI and partners can't fulfill.
#109
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
No interline agreement means no interline baggage. Nothing to do with how it was ticketed, they literally never negotiated with any other carriers beyond those listed. It's not a grey area, it's 100% clear zero chance because it's not a "policy" it's as if those airlines completely don't exist to EI's systems.
The problem is that United *can* issue on a single ticket, even though EI wouldn't have been able to. And United doesn't know or care about EI's agreements, so they're perfectly happy to issue a single ticket that EI and partners can't fulfill.
The problem is that United *can* issue on a single ticket, even though EI wouldn't have been able to. And United doesn't know or care about EI's agreements, so they're perfectly happy to issue a single ticket that EI and partners can't fulfill.
i dont think i have been on a through ticket where i cant check my bags through to final destination.
and that's with whatever combo of airlines OTA come up with.
I guess EI is on its own island
#111
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
#113
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SBP
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 533
Use United Miles on Aer Lingus ex-DUB?
I'm going to Dublin in early April and I have an "emergency" that came up yesterday and I need to make a quick stop in Boston the day after I arrive in Dublin (yeah, I know, that makes no sense at all). Problem is I have a can't-miss activity in Dublin on April 6, but need to be in Boston for another can't-miss event on April 7 in the afternoon. United's connections via EWR/IAD won't work at all, but Aer Lingus flies non-stop DUB/BOS and gets me to Boston in plenty of time for the event I want to see. I was looking at rewards flights from BOS to DUB and United has all kinds of availability on Aer Lingus to Ireland, but I can't find any availability from Ireland. Is this just random with my dates, or is there something more to it? I also noticed that United lists economy rewards flights on Aer Lingus, but no premium cabin tickets. Is this also how this typically works?
Slightly related, I was trying to go to Isle of Man from Dublin but again, I found no aware availability with United miles even though Aer Lingus flies this route. Tickets were cheap enough that I didn't care, but I prefer to redeem United miles on flights that wouldn't earn me elite qualification, rather than on flights that could help me get it.
I know Aer Lingus isn't a * Alliance Partner, but they do have some sort of loose affiliation with United, so I'm just trying to see what I can reasonably expect to get.
--------
Slightly related, just how stupid is it to fly from California to Ireland, and then 24 hours later fly to Boston for 24-72 hours and then fly back to Ireland?
Slightly related, I was trying to go to Isle of Man from Dublin but again, I found no aware availability with United miles even though Aer Lingus flies this route. Tickets were cheap enough that I didn't care, but I prefer to redeem United miles on flights that wouldn't earn me elite qualification, rather than on flights that could help me get it.
I know Aer Lingus isn't a * Alliance Partner, but they do have some sort of loose affiliation with United, so I'm just trying to see what I can reasonably expect to get.
--------
Slightly related, just how stupid is it to fly from California to Ireland, and then 24 hours later fly to Boston for 24-72 hours and then fly back to Ireland?
Last edited by catbox9; Mar 28, 2022 at 10:15 pm
#114
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
I'm going to Dublin in early April and I have an "emergency" that came up yesterday and I need to make a quick stop in Boston the day after I arrive in Dublin (yeah, I know, that makes no sense at all). Problem is I have a can't-miss activity in Dublin on April 6, but need to be in Boston for another can't-miss event on April 7 in the afternoon. United's connections via EWR/IAD won't work at all, but Aer Lingus flies non-stop DUB/BOS and gets me to Boston in plenty of time for the event I want to see. I was looking at rewards flights from BOS to DUB and United has all kinds of availability on Aer Lingus to Ireland, but I can't find any availability from Ireland. Is this just random with my dates, or is there something more to it? I also noticed that United lists economy rewards flights on Aer Lingus, but no premium cabin tickets. Is this also how this typically works?
Slightly related, I was trying to go to Isle of Man from Dublin but again, I found no aware availability with United miles even though Aer Lingus flies this route. Tickets were cheap enough that I didn't care, but I prefer to redeem United miles on flights that wouldn't earn me elite qualification, rather than on flights that could help me get it.
I know Aer Lingus isn't a * Alliance Partner, but they do have some sort of loose affiliation with United, so I'm just trying to see what I can reasonably expect to get.
--------
Slightly related, just how stupid is it to fly from California to Ireland, and then 24 hours later fly to Boston for 24-72 hours and then fly back to Ireland?
Slightly related, I was trying to go to Isle of Man from Dublin but again, I found no aware availability with United miles even though Aer Lingus flies this route. Tickets were cheap enough that I didn't care, but I prefer to redeem United miles on flights that wouldn't earn me elite qualification, rather than on flights that could help me get it.
I know Aer Lingus isn't a * Alliance Partner, but they do have some sort of loose affiliation with United, so I'm just trying to see what I can reasonably expect to get.
--------
Slightly related, just how stupid is it to fly from California to Ireland, and then 24 hours later fly to Boston for 24-72 hours and then fly back to Ireland?
#115
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SBP
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 533
Still no business inventory, but I'm guessing EI doesn't open that up to United flyers?
#116
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
I believe you can book business inventory with UA miles, but EI doesn't really open it up to anyone.
#117
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: United 1K, AC 50K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 684
Phantom Award Space on Aer Lingus
I''ve been trying to book flights from Toronto to and from Southern Africa and am finding some award space in J come up with either the first or last leg through through Dublin on Aer Lingus. When I go to pay I get an error message. I've tried calling United and it seems as if the award space I'm seeing for Aer Lingus either to or from Toronto isn't available. United.com shows award space available in J for YYZ-DUB-YYZ for pretty much all of July but none of it appears to be bookable. Has anyone else had experience with phantom award space on Aer Lingus? The agent I spoke to seemed to think that Aer Lingus had designated these flights for awards space but hadn't opened them up yet. I'm not so sure about this explanation.
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
I''ve been trying to book flights from Toronto to and from Southern Africa and am finding some award space in J come up with either the first or last leg through through Dublin on Aer Lingus. When I go to pay I get an error message. I've tried calling United and it seems as if the award space I'm seeing for Aer Lingus either to or from Toronto isn't available. United.com shows award space available in J for YYZ-DUB-YYZ for pretty much all of July but none of it appears to be bookable. Has anyone else had experience with phantom award space on Aer Lingus? The agent I spoke to seemed to think that Aer Lingus had designated these flights for awards space but hadn't opened them up yet. I'm not so sure about this explanation.
#119
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Essex, UK
Programs: BA Executive Club, AZ, VS, AA, UA
Posts: 602
I''ve been trying to book flights from Toronto to and from Southern Africa and am finding some award space in J come up with either the first or last leg through through Dublin on Aer Lingus. When I go to pay I get an error message. I've tried calling United and it seems as if the award space I'm seeing for Aer Lingus either to or from Toronto isn't available. United.com shows award space available in J for YYZ-DUB-YYZ for pretty much all of July but none of it appears to be bookable. Has anyone else had experience with phantom award space on Aer Lingus? The agent I spoke to seemed to think that Aer Lingus had designated these flights for awards space but hadn't opened them up yet. I'm not so sure about this explanation.
#120
Join Date: May 2018
Location: DEN
Programs: UA, AA, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 53
Running into the same issue now - a flight connecting through Toronto to Dublin showing award availability in business, but when I go to book, I get an error on United's site. I've called United twice and they can't seem to book it either. They even claimed to have sent a message to Aer Lingus and received a message back that it is not available.
gspurr Did you finally have any luck? If so, what was the magic touch?
gspurr Did you finally have any luck? If so, what was the magic touch?