Booking S* partners on united.com, unable to comfirm?
Dec 12, 2015, 9:07 am
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SFO/SJC -> UME/ARN -> IAD/DCA
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Booking S* partners on united.com, unable to comfirm?
Hi, I booked an intra-European trip yesterday on United.com that does not contain any United segments, just SAS and SWISS. I just got an email saying SWISS is unable to confirm my flight and told me to tall, and the CSR told me that I was not allowed to booked a trip with S* partners without UA segments, and that the fact the system allowed it was a mistake, and cancelled it for me.
Is this the case? Do I just need to book it on another website?
Also, if I made a nonrefundable booking during this trip and I can't take it, am I just out of luck because I technically should've waited for the confirmation?
Is this the case? Do I just need to book it on another website?
Also, if I made a nonrefundable booking during this trip and I can't take it, am I just out of luck because I technically should've waited for the confirmation?
Dec 12, 2015, 9:57 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
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Hi, I booked an intra-European trip yesterday on United.com that does not contain any United segments, just SAS and SWISS. I just got an email saying SWISS is unable to confirm my flight and told me to tall, and the CSR told me that I was not allowed to booked a trip with S* partners without UA segments, and that the fact the system allowed it was a mistake, and cancelled it for me.
Is this the case? Do I just need to book it on another website?
Also, if I made a nonrefundable booking during this trip and I can't take it, am I just out of luck because I technically should've waited for the confirmation?
Is this the case? Do I just need to book it on another website?
Also, if I made a nonrefundable booking during this trip and I can't take it, am I just out of luck because I technically should've waited for the confirmation?
There have been problems from time to time with Swiss (LX) flights getting properly ticketed through UA. Swiss is particularly finicky about ticketing and UA's process doesn't always meet their standards. So the part about UA being "unable to confirm" was sort of legit.
Whether to complain about the agent's improper conduct is a separate question and up to you. I would, but it may not be worth the hassle.
Dec 12, 2015, 11:26 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SFO/SJC -> UME/ARN -> IAD/DCA
Programs: AAPLT, SK/G, A3/G
Posts: 721
Knowing what I know of UA, I think complaining will do zero good.
Dec 12, 2015, 2:19 pm
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This has nothing to do with alliances. Any carrier with an interline agreement with another carrier may book a ticket on that other carrier. But, under IATA rules that other carrier has 72 hours in which to accept the booking. Most often, bookings are relatively instant, but not always.
In an ideal world, if you can find the fare you want, I would suggest ticketing through the operating carrier of the first segment. All kinds of reasons for not doing that, but if there are none, that's my default.
In an ideal world, if you can find the fare you want, I would suggest ticketing through the operating carrier of the first segment. All kinds of reasons for not doing that, but if there are none, that's my default.
Dec 12, 2015, 2:40 pm
#5
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Thanks Kacee. I called and they can't give me the old fare back. When I booked it yesterday it was $318 but today it is $400. For some reason SAS is not showing that flight and SWISS is erroring out. I ended up booking it on Expedia before your reply with the $400 and it is showing confirmed.
Knowing what I know of UA, I think complaining will do zero good.
Knowing what I know of UA, I think complaining will do zero good.
Dec 12, 2015, 3:01 pm
#6
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
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Posts: 14,890
Thanks Kacee. I called and they can't give me the old fare back. When I booked it yesterday it was $318 but today it is $400. For some reason SAS is not showing that flight and SWISS is erroring out. I ended up booking it on Expedia before your reply with the $400 and it is showing confirmed.
Knowing what I know of UA, I think complaining will do zero good.
Knowing what I know of UA, I think complaining will do zero good.