Dec 27, 2016, 9:23 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United's Announcement and FAQ
Kacee's Interpretation
Main Impact Since October 6
Useful Links
This is an archive thread, the active thread is Award booking questions/ issues/ routing/ excursionist problems / help
Kacee's Interpretation
Main Impact Since October 6
- Fee Changes such as platinum members are subject to various award fees
- No more free stopover - replaced with Excursionist Perk
- Agents no longer have the ability to find routings that do not show up on united.com
- Manually constructing trips using multi-city search results in multiple award fares being charged
- Changing any segment MIGHT require current availability for all existing Os&Ds in the PNR (as if a brand new booking is made) - YMMV
- Singapore Airlines segments are priced separately (add-ons)
Useful Links
This is an archive thread, the active thread is Award booking questions/ issues/ routing/ excursionist problems / help
UA award booking,change questions/fees/issues/routing/excursionist problems {Archive}
Dec 26, 2016, 9:58 pm
#931
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
These are all stories of either SHARES dropping segments or partners cancelling segments after SHARES fails to push updated ticket information over. Does not provide any compelling reasoning for why UA should be unable to process a simple I->O upfare on an existing award ticket. It would've been no problem before October, but it's longer possible with the new UA award policies.
SHARES has a knack for dropping partner segments (especially for airlines which use 1A as CRS), but once a valid ticket has been issued against inventory, the partner airline has no right to cancel the segment. It's only when the segment is dropped and UA tries to resell it on the reservation that the partner has the option to say no.
SHARES has a knack for dropping partner segments (especially for airlines which use 1A as CRS), but once a valid ticket has been issued against inventory, the partner airline has no right to cancel the segment. It's only when the segment is dropped and UA tries to resell it on the reservation that the partner has the option to say no.
Dec 26, 2016, 11:28 pm
#932
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,969
Booked an BR/AC TPAC ticket (originating in Asia) today with an excursion segment in I. It worked great online but did not ticket due to AC availability.
Called and the agent said it priced out to 185,000 miles instead of 160,000. She had to get help and store the fare manually and ticket.
Called and the agent said it priced out to 185,000 miles instead of 160,000. She had to get help and store the fare manually and ticket.
Dec 27, 2016, 6:50 am
#933
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
This is starting to get beyond my understanding of the details, not going to claim great in-depth knowledge of the awards process but it is my understanding if a ticket gets re-issued it can be viewed as a new ticket and the partner can refuse to accept the re-issue. But I may be confused / mis-applying terminology..
Dec 27, 2016, 6:52 am
#934
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
Partners don't get to accept or not accept tickets, they only get to accept or not accept reservations, within 24 hours of the reservation initially being made. When a reissue is done based on an existing reservation, the only carrier which can decide not to accept the reservation is the one which operates the changed segments. Since those changed segments must have current inventory for UA to be processing the change, I'm just generally confused where you got the idea that changing tickets with partners is dangerous because they can randomly say no.
Dec 27, 2016, 6:57 am
#935
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
Yeah, UA is saying that because of the way they changed the pricing system. It's the exact same problem as the guy who had PHL-ORD-NRT and wanted to change it to DEN-ORD-NRT. Massive devaluation by UA.
Dec 27, 2016, 7:01 am
#936
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
Gotcha...so no way around this? Huge devaluation of benefits not being able to freely change or in this case upgradevsegments
Dec 27, 2016, 7:44 am
#937
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 951
So, in practice, what do you advise to say to the phone agent to help them through the process of re-issuing the ticket without problems? Or are we all just SOL?
Dec 27, 2016, 8:07 am
#938
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
I think we're all SOL. I'm curious is UA will allow manual pricing in the case of schedule changes or whether we're going to be SOL there too.
Dec 27, 2016, 8:10 am
#939
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
I tried numerous times for what should be a simple change - switching out a United flight for a United Flight at the beginning of my existing itinerary. (needed to start the trip from a different city). The United flight showed award availability, but no one would switch it out.
Basically, the agent plugs in the origin and destinations cities and date of travel. Whatever the computer says is available is what goes. Just like when you search UA.com on your own.
Dec 27, 2016, 8:20 am
#940
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
Mostly SOL in my experience.
I tried numerous times for what should be a simple change - switching out a United flight for a United Flight at the beginning of my existing itinerary. (needed to start the trip from a different city). The United flight showed award availability, but no one would switch it out.
Basically, the agent plugs in the origin and destinations cities and date of travel. Whatever the computer says is available is what goes. Just like when you search UA.com on your own.
I tried numerous times for what should be a simple change - switching out a United flight for a United Flight at the beginning of my existing itinerary. (needed to start the trip from a different city). The United flight showed award availability, but no one would switch it out.
Basically, the agent plugs in the origin and destinations cities and date of travel. Whatever the computer says is available is what goes. Just like when you search UA.com on your own.
Dec 27, 2016, 8:27 am
#941
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Massive degradation in the usefulness of miles for me...and I would think many others as well.
Dec 27, 2016, 8:30 am
#942
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
the frustrating thing is about 3 weeks ago i changed from an Aer Lingus flight to the lufthansa flight i now want to upgrade and they did it no issue-- when i know for a fact the Swiss flight hasnt had award seats since i booked 6 months ago.
Dec 27, 2016, 9:53 am
#943
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AA EXP, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,252
Just to make sure I'm following this discussion correctly...I have a SYD-BKK-NRT-IAD itinerary booked in F-C-F. You all are saying that if F availability opens up on the middle leg on the same flight I have now, that I won't be able to get a UA agent to upgrade that segment?
Dec 27, 2016, 9:57 am
#944
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
Just to make sure I'm following this discussion correctly...I have a SYD-BKK-NRT-IAD itinerary booked in F-C-F. You all are saying that if F availability opens up on the middle leg on the same flight I have now, that I won't be able to get a UA agent to upgrade that segment?
not sure if this applies on only UA metal flights or partner operated flights only.
Dec 27, 2016, 10:12 am
#945
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
anyone here managed to redeem AKL-PPT-AKL Air NZ business class flights using United MP miles before?
i could only get economy, so wondering if business is a unicorn. the CSR i spoke to claimed that business seats will open up as the departure date gets closer (but i find that a little hard to believe) - and if that happens, i can call in to change without any fees since the rest of my flight segments are already business.
i could only get economy, so wondering if business is a unicorn. the CSR i spoke to claimed that business seats will open up as the departure date gets closer (but i find that a little hard to believe) - and if that happens, i can call in to change without any fees since the rest of my flight segments are already business.