Jan 5, 2017, 11:10 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Welcome to this thread to ask your basic, simple questions about United Airlines, its operations, or the MileagePlus program. We know that the airline is complex and we’ve created this thread for new and veteran members to ask those basic questions about United Airlines that you think must have an easy answer but just can’t find it or aren’t sure where to look.

UA Moderator Team
Ocn Vw 1K, l'etoile, J.Edward, goalie, Pat89339, WineCountryUA

These are the two rules for this thread:

Use this thread for a simple, basic question. Moderators may move posts to other threads if the question deserves its own thread.
Any member who can post a constructive, patient answer is welcome to reply.

Generally there are not long discussions of an issue in this thread. If it appears that is needed, the posts will be moved to an existing thread or used as the start of a new separate thread.

Additional tools for members seeking information about MileagePlus:

United MileagePlus Master Wiki

"New" United Airlines Forum Glossary

Here is a link to recent previous threads:
Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2016 Part II]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2016 Part I]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2015 -Part II]...

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2015 Thread]...

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2017]

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Dec 14, 2017, 11:56 pm

#1861

findark

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MSP

Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found

Posts: 14,393

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

UA's N fare class is non-mileage earning for many*A programs.

This. Triple-check your crediting program as most *A programs give zero credit for N.

Dec 15, 2017, 8:34 am

#1862

puchong

Join Date: Mar 2017

Posts: 1,716

Thanks everybody for the heads up; I was aiming for a 'G' class fare, which I thought is eligible for mileage earning.

Dec 15, 2017, 8:38 am

#1863

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,420

Quote:

Originally Posted by puchong

Thanks everybody for the heads up; I was aiming for a 'G' class fare, which I thought is eligible for mileage earning.

G is just a cheap fare. It's not basic economy.

Dec 15, 2017, 11:02 am

#1864

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,769

Quote:

Originally Posted by puchong

Thanks everybody for the heads up; I was aiming for a 'G' class fare, which I thought is eligible for mileage earning.

While not Basic Economy, UA G fares earn reduced miles when crediting to many *A programs, LH M&M will credit as 25% of the distance, A3 will credit 30%, ANA/NH as 50%, TK as 50%, ......

Dec 15, 2017, 1:49 pm

#1865

Paddy60

Join Date: Apr 2016

Programs: United Delta

Posts: 10

Having trouble matching a purchased ticket with an award ticket

I travel to China and Thailand for work. Often my wife will join up when I'm done, either Shanghai or Bangkok. All to often she will find a good Saver award option for a return, but it does not show as an option for my purchased ticket. Or worse, her lowest cost return, i.e. saver award, is one of the more expensive purchase tickets. Logic would be if its a Saver award it would also be the lower cost ticket to purchase. Go figure

Current issue is her saver award options do not show up at all for purchased tickets. Should I just book her saver award and call united and have them match it? I'm Gold if that maters.

Dec 15, 2017, 2:12 pm

#1866

threeoh

Join Date: Sep 2014

Posts: 2,531

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paddy60

Or worse, her lowest cost return, i.e. saver award, is one of the more expensive purchase tickets. Logic would be if its a Saver award it would also be the lower cost ticket to purchase. Go figure

The words "logic" and "revenue management" don't always go hand in hand.

Quote:

Current issue is her saver award options do not show up at all for purchased tickets. Should I just book her saver award and call united and have them match it? I'm Gold if that maters.

Can you give an example of an itinerary that is showing availability for Saver award but not for a cash purchase? Might be easier to troubleshoot with a specific example.

Also is this Y or J you're looking at?

Dec 15, 2017, 2:29 pm

#1867

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,769

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paddy60

.... Current issue is her saver award options do not show up at all for purchased tickets. Should I just book her saver award and call united and have them match it? I'm Gold if that maters.

Likely you are using partner flights and nowadays many partners are describing on whose ticket stock their paid discount fares can be ticketed (the term for this is plating restrictions). This does not affect award tickets. Additionally, UA will not always offer all partner flights for reason beyond plating. Try booking via online ticket agency like Expedia or Orbitz or one of the Asian versions or book via the partner.

You can still try calling UA but the pricing may be outrageous or not at all possible or it might work out.

Dec 15, 2017, 2:46 pm

#1868

Paddy60

Join Date: Apr 2016

Programs: United Delta

Posts: 10

Thanks, that explains it. I'll look outside the UA site

Dec 15, 2017, 3:29 pm

#1869

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,420

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paddy60

Thanks, that explains it. I'll look outside the UA site

The best tools for trying to match the flights are Google Flights and/or ITA Matrix. There's no direct booking option for Matrix, though there are ways to book a Matrix created itinerary.

Note that it is possible to create an award itinerary that cannot be matched on a revenue ticket at reasonable cost.

Dec 15, 2017, 10:35 pm

#1870

Kerry Kittles

Join Date: Dec 2017

Programs: mileage plus

Posts: 22

i'm looking to book a rt economy from kix-dps. I'm primarily looking at 2 options, given that i'm trying to fly star alliance.
* KIX-DPS via. SIN with singapore airlines for ~$800 with 100% redeemable miles to mileage plus
* KIX-DPS direct with garuda indonesia for ~$460. I see that ANA codeshares with garuda on this specific route

my question, is if i take the direct route via garuda (skyteam), but they codeshare through ANA, will I be able to get that as pqm all the way through to my mileage plus account?

Dec 15, 2017, 10:50 pm

#1871

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,364

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerry Kittles

Welcome to FT!

Star Alliance rules in general, and MileagePlus rules in particular, use the operating carrier to determine mileage eligibility. Flights operated by Garuda will not be eligible for MileagePlus credit even if they're purchased with an ANA flight number.

Kerry Kittles likes this.

Dec 15, 2017, 10:51 pm

#1872

mahasamatman

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: 52,121

Welcome to FT, Kerry Kittles!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerry Kittles

if i take the direct route via garuda (skyteam), but they codeshare through ANA, will I be able to get that as pqm all the way through to my mileage plus account?

Star Alliance doesn't care about codeshares. If the operator is not in Star Alliance, you get no mileage or benefits.

Kerry Kittles likes this.

Dec 15, 2017, 11:06 pm

#1873

Kerry Kittles

Join Date: Dec 2017

Programs: mileage plus

Posts: 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsloan

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahasamatman

Welcome to FT, Kerry Kittles!

Star Alliance doesn't care about codeshares. If the operator is not in Star Alliance, you get no mileage or benefits.

Understood. Thanks a bunch for the speedy responses and for the warm welcome

Dec 18, 2017, 7:39 am

#1874

Walso9

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 3

Not showing up as 'checked in'?

Booked a BKK-NRT-DEN flight through united.com. The BKK-NRT portion of the trip is operated by Thai Airways, the NRT-DEN part is operated directly via United. I checked in at the airport in BKK and got boarding passes for both legs of the trip. However, my united app does not see me as 'checked in'. This matters only because I'm not showing up on the United upgrade list for the NRT-DEN leg and business class is half empty on this flight. I tried checking in again via the united app, but it won't let me because the first leg of my journey is operated by Thai Air and not United. What do I do?

Dec 18, 2017, 8:10 am

#1875

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,769

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walso9

This not uncommon, when first flight is a partner flight. You should be able to finish the check-in at the United site at some point after boarding the TG flight and the ticket coupon for BKK-NRT has been used.
As the UA upgrade list is not used until boarding of the UA flight, you delayed inclusion will only be affected by the third prioritization item, time of check-in.

Walso9 likes this.