why can't UA post flight miles just a couple of hours after the flight?(like Delta)
Apr 5, 2016, 12:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 380
why can't UA post flight miles just a couple of hours after the flight?(like Delta)
I've always flown on UA. I recently took 5 Delta flights. I've not flown on Delta in many, many years.
One thing that surprised me was how quickly the miles were posted. When I flew LAX-DTW, the flight miles were posted to my Delta account while I was waiting for my connecting flight at DTW. On the other 4 flights, the miles were posted around 2 to 5 hours after the flights took off or landed.
Why can't UA do the same? Is it by design or is their IT system just outdated?
One thing that surprised me was how quickly the miles were posted. When I flew LAX-DTW, the flight miles were posted to my Delta account while I was waiting for my connecting flight at DTW. On the other 4 flights, the miles were posted around 2 to 5 hours after the flights took off or landed.
Why can't UA do the same? Is it by design or is their IT system just outdated?
Apr 5, 2016, 12:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, MR Titanium
Posts: 459
I've always flown on UA. I recently took 5 Delta flights. I've not flown on Delta in many, many years.
One thing that surprised me was how quickly the miles were posted. When I flew LAX-DTW, the flight miles were posted to my Delta account while I was waiting for my connecting flight at DTW. On the other 4 flights, the miles were posted around 2 to 5 hours after the flights took off or landed.
Why can't UA do the same? Is it by design or is their IT system just outdated?
One thing that surprised me was how quickly the miles were posted. When I flew LAX-DTW, the flight miles were posted to my Delta account while I was waiting for my connecting flight at DTW. On the other 4 flights, the miles were posted around 2 to 5 hours after the flights took off or landed.
Why can't UA do the same? Is it by design or is their IT system just outdated?
Apr 5, 2016, 12:41 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Good question!
To answer the OP's question, I think you could say UA's IT is subpar, although I don't think that the example here really has anything to do with that. If I were running the shop, I wouldn't spend the money to make the miles post faster than they are. Whether it's easy or difficult to do isn't the question, there is a cost to any type of programming change. I wouldn't use a single hour of someone's time to change this.
To answer the OP's question, I think you could say UA's IT is subpar, although I don't think that the example here really has anything to do with that. If I were running the shop, I wouldn't spend the money to make the miles post faster than they are. Whether it's easy or difficult to do isn't the question, there is a cost to any type of programming change. I wouldn't use a single hour of someone's time to change this.
Apr 5, 2016, 12:43 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Apr 5, 2016, 12:47 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA Gold; AA; Amtrak Select Plus;HH Diamond;Hyatt Disc;Hertz PC; Total Wine Grand Reserve!
Posts: 2,402
I don't think the current time frame for posting (48 hours) is unreasonable, and UA should concentrate on fixing the truly bad aspects of their IT before worrying about this issue.
Other loyalty programs take longer to post - Amtrak usually a week, and Hilton usually 72 hours, in my experience.
Other loyalty programs take longer to post - Amtrak usually a week, and Hilton usually 72 hours, in my experience.
Apr 5, 2016, 12:48 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: UA SP, DL SM MM, AS 75K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond.
Posts: 2,596
Delta has been this way for years. 10 years ago, my flights on DL would post to my account by the time I got to my hotel or home and logged on.
Does it matter? Questionable, but there were times I was curious what credit would be given, when I'd been rerouted. Also, yes, I think it lends confidence to IT robustness in general.
Does it matter? Questionable, but there were times I was curious what credit would be given, when I'd been rerouted. Also, yes, I think it lends confidence to IT robustness in general.
Apr 5, 2016, 12:55 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1K 2 MM, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,627
Back in the day, before the internet, one could call the UAL toll-free MP line, and the miles would usually have already posted by the time one got off the plane and into the RCC (also before cellphones).
Now it takes days?
Now it takes days?
Apr 5, 2016, 12:56 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,162
Sometimes it matters. Let's not forget that United was perfectly capable of posting miles within a few hours after completion of flights. Once all the systems went Continental, it started taking 3 days. Now it takes 2 days. I'm curious whether it's a system capability or policy problem.
Apr 5, 2016, 1:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: UA SP, DL SM MM, AS 75K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond.
Posts: 2,596
Sometimes it matters. Let's not forget that United was perfectly capable of posting miles within a few hours after completion of flights. Once all the systems went Continental, it started taking 3 days. Now it takes 2 days. I'm curious whether it's a system capability or policy problem.
Apr 5, 2016, 1:17 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 380
on the other hand, it also process refunds extremely quickly. I refunded
a recent UA ticket and the refund posted to my credit card account within
48 hours. (compared to normal refunds from returning stuff to local retailers
which always take 4 or 5 days)
Apr 5, 2016, 1:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
but UA's system takes money from my credit/debit card account really fast.
on the other hand, it also process refunds extremely quickly. I refunded
a recent UA ticket and the refund posted to my credit card account within
48 hours. (compared to normal refunds from returning stuff to local retailers
which always take 4 or 5 days)
on the other hand, it also process refunds extremely quickly. I refunded
a recent UA ticket and the refund posted to my credit card account within
48 hours. (compared to normal refunds from returning stuff to local retailers
which always take 4 or 5 days)
And things like mile redeposits when upgrades fail seem to be pretty fast.
Apr 5, 2016, 2:41 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: CHI - LIS
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 453
Sometimes it matters. Let's not forget that United was perfectly capable of posting miles within a few hours after completion of flights. Once all the systems went Continental, it started taking 3 days. Now it takes 2 days. I'm curious whether it's a system capability or policy problem.
Apr 5, 2016, 2:59 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,318