Can't book Canada-Asia flight unless you have a Canadian address credit card
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: UA-1K, AA-Gold, H GP-LIfeTime Diamond
Posts: 802
Can't book Canada-Asia flight unless you have a Canadian address credit card
Using Google Flight and found some descent P fare from our neighbor up north to Asia. After entered payment info, UA.bomb rejected the purchase since I don't have a Canadian base credit card. Price doubled for the same flights after you change the residency to USA.
Looks like I will have to fly AC for the same price and $0 toward 2016 PQD. This maybe the end of my 1K status.....
Looks like I will have to fly AC for the same price and $0 toward 2016 PQD. This maybe the end of my 1K status.....
#3
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,481
The correct title of this is that you cannot purchase a Canada-Asia flight for the CAD $ price if you have a US address.
There are probably ways around it using travel agencies, but may be a hassle.
There are probably ways around it using travel agencies, but may be a hassle.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA 1K/MM, EK Gold, CX Silver
Posts: 877
There is an option to change the country of billing at the bottom of the Advanced Search page, so you can choose, and still book your flight. As mentioned above, the price will change, sometimes significantly, sometimes not. No way to predict, even different fare classes might behave differently in the same markets (called Point of Sale (POS))
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,855
Can't book Canada-Asia flight unless you have a Canadian address credit card
UA will change point of sale and adjust the price you pay based on what that is in the new country by credit card billing address. Most airlines don't determine POS this way, but UA does. There are countless number of threads that have this exact same complaint (this may get merged into one of them).
Your choices are to use a Canadian credit card if you have one, or as also mentioned, use a Canadian travel agency (Travelocity.ca or Expedia.ca may let you book these with a US card. Or to do what you did - book with another carrier.
Your choices are to use a Canadian credit card if you have one, or as also mentioned, use a Canadian travel agency (Travelocity.ca or Expedia.ca may let you book these with a US card. Or to do what you did - book with another carrier.
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
And there are carriers which sell AAA-BBB-AAA at a different price point than BBB-AAA-BBB. Different markets = different pricing. It's called price discrimination. Or, "why can I purchase products from my home country for mess when I travel abroad?"
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
I faced exactly this scenario last summer.
Google Flights showed a great option for combined AC/UA itinerary originating in CA and then it jumped to UA site for booking. Could not book with my c/c on UA site.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Plat, UA Plat 1MM, AS MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, Avis Presidents Club, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,938
At times I've had success getting these booked through a travel agent, requesting 016 stock, but at the AC prices. At other times, this was not successful. YMMV as always.
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,110
Not new at all. It's been happening for at least two years, and probably longer (two years is just the farthest back that I've had reason to check with multiple billing addresses).
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,008
If using a travel agent, that agent would need to have their GDS registered in Canada to generate the same fare - a US TA could not price it out the same way if the fare is specifically restricted (not all are, but I don't know about this specific fare).
The suggestion about expedia.ca or travelocity.ca is probably the best option.
The suggestion about expedia.ca or travelocity.ca is probably the best option.