jsloan

Unfortunately, this has been standard since the introduction of the updated booking system in October 2016. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try making the change online. It might work, or it might not -- and if it doesn't work, it can mess up your itinerary in a way that can be difficult (or even impossible) to fix.

WineCountryUA

First, this is not married segments
Second, this has been true for the past 30 months

For all practical purpose, you cannot add or change a single segment on award tickers. To make a change, you essentially have to rebook the new itin including the segments you don't need to change

So if you have BBB-CCC and want AAA-BBB-CCC, there needs to be NEW availability for both AAA-BBB, and BBB-CCC. Which means in many cases you can not add the AAA-BBB because the BBB-CCC is not availability.

A few have reported some agents seem to get around this but they are likely breaking the rules.

Ericka

GordonGordon

First, after u made our reply here, I called UA the 3rd time, and the 3rd agent still said they are married segments and said she just couldn't add the 1st segment on my existing booking; she emphasized they are married segments and both must have award seats available in order to make change. I politely hanged up the phone and thought I had enough of {this} since I had been doing it for many years and never had any issue, probably because this year is the very 1st time I didn't make it to 1K after being more than 20 years of 1K, so the previous 3 calls were transferred to non 1K desk, and I think only 1K desk knows better what they are doing.

Later I decided to called the 1K toll free number and asked the 1K desk agent to transfer me to the web support, the web support agent knew exactly what to do and did it in less than 10 minutes without bringing out any "married segment" issue.

findark

Possible, but may require HUCA. The default thing would be to reprice the entire itinerary.

jsloan

Had you done this since October, 2016? They changed the booking systems at that time. They were specifically trying to stop people from building awards the way that you described.

There is no 1K desk, and hasn't been for quite a few years. The phone queue is prioritized by status, but an agent may answer a call from a 1K, then a call from a Platinum, and then a call from a general member.

Thank you for the tip. ^ I don't think calling the 1K line made any difference -- the phone system is still supposed to recognize your current status and route you appropriately. But it's nice to know that web support agents might still be using the old booking system.

They would definitely have to divide out one traveler and reticket. Availability on the HA flight might or might not be required (but assume yes).

They can't do it without repricing the itinerary. They wouldn't just credit the mileage difference and then leave it a standard award -- it has to be re-ticketed as a saver award, if only to prevent an unscrupulous person from then going in and cancelling the original and getting a big mileage bonus.

findark

Oh, that's a good point. I have had recent success doing things like editing an interior segment (changed CPH-OSL to CPH-BGO without losing unavailable TATL partner I space) but I guess it was an even exchange. Not sure if they can hold the HA segment here.

entrada

I want to fly LAX to VIE in J. For my preferred date there is currently no J option shown for a LAX-VIE routing. However, there is J space for LAX-ORD-FRA. There is also J space for ORD-FRA-VIE. I would be willing to fly LAX-ORD-FRA-VIE (2 stops) and all flights have saver J or Y availability on an individual basis but UA.com isn't putting this together. Am I understanding this discussion to say that a phone agent would also be unable to do this? Or is my situation different because currently saver space is available on all flights?

jsloan

Your understanding is correct, for the most part.

However, there are sporadic reports of agents being willing to add a domestic connector on UA to an existing international reservation, so I would try booking ORD-FRA-VIE and then calling within 24 hours to see if you can get LAX-ORD added on. If you can't get an agent to agree, you would still be able to cancel and get a full refund within that 24 hour period.

abaheti

Pretty much. The agents now seem mostly limited to whatever the computer tells them as opposed to before. Could the excursionist perk work for you since you see availability (vs booking logically like you tried)? LAX-FRA, excursionist to VIE, then VIE-LAX? I've never used it so still get confused, but I think that works.

jsloan

If OP is planning a round-trip flight, and doesn't have another use for the excursionist perk, yes, this will work.

Ericka

JHake10

Is there married segment logic on award bookings?

Looking at a date in Jan. I see NRT-LAX. However, if I search MNL-LAX then noting. Can I just call UA and get them to put an award together?

WineCountryUA

Is MNL-NRT available?

JHake10

MNL-NRT is currently only available in X (which is fine, I can put an alert out for I).




NRT-LAX is available in I.




MNL-NRT only shows 2 stop mixed connections through BKK.

This is for Jan 23 2020 for 2 people.