Sep 17, 2016, 6:19 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Booking on United.com (016 ticket)
Pro
-Category bonus with United Chase Credit cards (ie- the Explorer Card earns two miles per dollar spent on United.com but not on Lufthansa.com, for example)
- Deal directly with UA on UA schedule changes
- UA change rules are generally more generous
Con
- Many partner flights will be booked as UA codeshare and this can make some things more difficult or impossible -- such as *A upgrades, seat assignments, actual partner fare class is hidden, ..
- While not a major thing, in irrops, codeshares can be an extra issue for the agent
= Due to plating restrictions, partners may not allow UA access to the partners best fares
Partner site
Pro
- Native flight numbers (No codeshare issues)
- Deal directly with partner for partner schedule changes
- Access to partner's lowest fares
Unclear
- partner flights will earn PQPs based on miles and multiple and UA operated flights will earn PQPs in the fare method -- which may be hard to determine in advance
Not hard rule which is better but a good chance for higher cost tickets PQPs on 016 ticket are better, and also for lower cost fares, you need to run the numbers.
Does not matter
-PQP earning & UA Lifetime mileage earning is unaffected by booking method
- On UA operated flight your UA elite benefits fully apply and you can use PlusPoints or miles to upgrade
Pro
-Category bonus with United Chase Credit cards (ie- the Explorer Card earns two miles per dollar spent on United.com but not on Lufthansa.com, for example)
- Deal directly with UA on UA schedule changes
- UA change rules are generally more generous
Con
- Many partner flights will be booked as UA codeshare and this can make some things more difficult or impossible -- such as *A upgrades, seat assignments, actual partner fare class is hidden, ..
- While not a major thing, in irrops, codeshares can be an extra issue for the agent
= Due to plating restrictions, partners may not allow UA access to the partners best fares
Partner site
Pro
- Native flight numbers (No codeshare issues)
- Deal directly with partner for partner schedule changes
- Access to partner's lowest fares
Unclear
- partner flights will earn PQPs based on miles and multiple and UA operated flights will earn PQPs in the fare method -- which may be hard to determine in advance
Not hard rule which is better but a good chance for higher cost tickets PQPs on 016 ticket are better, and also for lower cost fares, you need to run the numbers.
Does not matter
-PQP earning & UA Lifetime mileage earning is unaffected by booking method
- On UA operated flight your UA elite benefits fully apply and you can use PlusPoints or miles to upgrade
Pro/Cons of booking flights on partner site vs united.com
Apr 2, 2019, 3:49 pm
#106
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: DEN / SEA
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 132
Please correct me if I 'm wrong but I believe UA likes to price all partner (but not JV) tickets based 100% mileage accrual, so these tend to be higher fare classes than if you were buying straight from said partner.
I see that JV partners like ANA actually pricing is very similar if not identical to UA, but other carriers like OZ will be a lot more expensive on UA website. I'm guessing SQ doesn't have JV with UA?
I see that JV partners like ANA actually pricing is very similar if not identical to UA, but other carriers like OZ will be a lot more expensive on UA website. I'm guessing SQ doesn't have JV with UA?
Apr 2, 2019, 5:36 pm
#107
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
SQ is a classical example of this limitation -- created by SQ, not UA.
Apr 2, 2019, 6:25 pm
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
Please correct me if I 'm wrong but I believe UA likes to price all partner (but not JV) tickets based 100% mileage accrual, so these tend to be higher fare classes than if you were buying straight from said partner.
I see that JV partners like ANA actually pricing is very similar if not identical to UA, but other carriers like OZ will be a lot more expensive on UA website. I'm guessing SQ doesn't have JV with UA?
I see that JV partners like ANA actually pricing is very similar if not identical to UA, but other carriers like OZ will be a lot more expensive on UA website. I'm guessing SQ doesn't have JV with UA?
Apr 3, 2019, 10:09 am
#109
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL MM (thanks PMNW!), DL PM, UA PLT, just about every darn hotel program-generally GOLD type level
Posts: 783
Jan 24, 2022, 1:23 pm
#110
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 64
Booking United Flights with Star Alliance Partner
I’ve been tracking the price of a UA flight on Google flights that happens to also be a codeshare available on Air Canada. The price of the AC-stock flight is 25% less than the 016-stock flight on United.
1. If I book this UA flight via Air Canada, will I get to use my 1K benefits?
2. Curious, who sets the price on the codeshare tickets? Never have seen such a big price discrepancy before.
I’m sure this has been answered before, apologies in advanced.
1. If I book this UA flight via Air Canada, will I get to use my 1K benefits?
2. Curious, who sets the price on the codeshare tickets? Never have seen such a big price discrepancy before.
I’m sure this has been answered before, apologies in advanced.
Jan 24, 2022, 1:37 pm
#111
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Codeshares have access to different inventory and if the lower fare class has sold out on UA, you can see this. It will likely readjust soon.
Jan 24, 2022, 2:47 pm
#112
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 64
Thanks! I couldn’t tell what fare class the AC ticket was during the booking process. Don’t know if there is an “expert flyer mode” equivalent over there.
Interesting on the codeshare inventory access.. didn’t know that. Now I’ll be sure to check UA codeshares on partners before booking.
Interesting on the codeshare inventory access.. didn’t know that. Now I’ll be sure to check UA codeshares on partners before booking.
Jan 24, 2022, 4:48 pm
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,074
I’ve been tracking the price of a UA flight on Google flights that happens to also be a codeshare available on Air Canada. The price of the AC-stock flight is 25% less than the 016-stock flight on United.
1. If I book this UA flight via Air Canada, will I get to use my 1K benefits?
2. Curious, who sets the price on the codeshare tickets? Never have seen such a big price discrepancy before.
I’m sure this has been answered before, apologies in advanced.
1. If I book this UA flight via Air Canada, will I get to use my 1K benefits?
2. Curious, who sets the price on the codeshare tickets? Never have seen such a big price discrepancy before.
I’m sure this has been answered before, apologies in advanced.
Jan 13, 2023, 11:12 am
#114
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: PHL
Posts: 38
Looking at 2 RT tickets in premium economy EWR-LHR in August. I can currently buy United flights on the Lufthansa website $360 cheaper (per person) than buying direct on the United site. Any downside to booking via Lufthansa? These are the cheapest tickets I've seen thus far beating any other airline on the route.
I have no status on either airline. I haven't bought premium economy on any airline before and usually don't purchase this far out for economy, but the PE cabins are small and I'm presuming (maybe wrongly) that prices won't drop much and I should grab the tickets now.
I have no status on either airline. I haven't bought premium economy on any airline before and usually don't purchase this far out for economy, but the PE cabins are small and I'm presuming (maybe wrongly) that prices won't drop much and I should grab the tickets now.
Jan 13, 2023, 11:30 am
#115
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Looking at 2 RT tickets in premium economy EWR-LHR in August. I can currently buy United flights on the Lufthansa website $360 cheaper (per person) than buying direct on the United site. Any downside to booking via Lufthansa? These are the cheapest tickets I've seen thus far beating any other airline on the route. ....
Another advantage booking with UA, is it has better policies on voluntary cancellation and rebooking. Not sure what the LH fees are nowadays but UA has none. And any flight credit will have to be reused with the ticketing carrier .
If you have no schedule changes by the carrier or yourself and fly without any issues, then there is no difference. However if you or carrier starts making changes or irrops happen, the can be a difference. Whether the risk of those situations are worth the higher fare is a decision for you