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}
#2281
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
It’s almost certainly a routing issue. The excursionist segments have more strict routing rules than normal. In a dummy search, all of the IKA-CAI flights route through Europe which isn’t allowed. However replacing that segment with DXB-CAI on an MS direct flight does work.
Did Any of your affected routings for the IKA-CAI segment stay within that region and still price incorrectly?
#2282
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
It’s almost certainly a routing issue. The excursionist segments have more strict routing rules than normal. In a dummy search, all of the IKA-CAI flights route through Europe which isn’t allowed. However replacing that segment with DXB-CAI on an MS direct flight does work.
Did Any of your affected routings for the IKA-CAI segment stay within that region and still price incorrectly?
I'd call and ask for it, and if they try to charge you the extra miles, ask them to price it manually since, by the rules, it seems that it should be eligible for the Excursionist Perk.
#2283
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
I knew it was 2 waitlists per PNR, but this clarifies...
I don't know what the CSR was looking at. When I search for HNL-NRT in that timeframe, I see F0 J9 on every flight. This is almost certainly a result of UA removing the ability to purchase first-class tickets as they anticipate retrofitting the remaining fleet to remove the first-class cabin. Now, I'm not saying the retrofit will be complete by then, or that you'll get an updated plane -- I think this is just UA keeping their options open.
#2284
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Premier members should have last-seat availability for F or J awards using FN or JN, respectively. The problem in this case is that F isn't being sold, so F=FN=0.
#2285
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: CVG, originally LAX/SNA
Programs: UA MileagePlus Premier Platinum, Hilton Honors Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 77
I read that part of the Premier Benefits wrong then. Re-read the chart and Plats and 1K's have better availability for F and J saver awards (I've seen none of this so far, but that's probably United being super stingy with these awards as well)
#2286
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
J only; Plat/1K/GS can book into IN, whereas everyone else books into I. I is usually equal to IN, but occasionally there's extra inventory in IN. For F, everyone books into O, regardless of status. ON is an upgrade class, not an award class.
#2287
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
Right, to summarize required inventory:
Code:
Status Economy Business First (3-cabin) saver/standard saver/standard saver/standard ================================================================ Member X / HN I / ZN O / FN CC/Silver/Gold XN / YN I / JN O / FN Plat/1K XN / YN IN / JN O / FN Global Services T / YN R / JN O / FN
#2288
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
A warning for anyone trying to waitlist an award flight.
In the past few weeks I've had two cases where waitlists didn't clear, despite inventory being available.
First case was a UA->UA flight which I was waitlisted on the direct flight. A few days after waitlisting I checked and there was space. Waited until the next morning and the waitlist still hadn't cleared so I called and they were confused why it hadn't cleared and made the change.
Second case was CA->UA, again waitlisted on the direct UA flight. Again didn't clear despite the direct flight being IN4. Called in and the agent was again confused, and claimed she'd need to call the helpdesk to get it sorted (possibly because it would have required a reprice from partner to UA-only rates?). In the end I just re-booked the direct flight and had we cancel the original ones.
In the past few weeks I've had two cases where waitlists didn't clear, despite inventory being available.
First case was a UA->UA flight which I was waitlisted on the direct flight. A few days after waitlisting I checked and there was space. Waited until the next morning and the waitlist still hadn't cleared so I called and they were confused why it hadn't cleared and made the change.
Second case was CA->UA, again waitlisted on the direct UA flight. Again didn't clear despite the direct flight being IN4. Called in and the agent was again confused, and claimed she'd need to call the helpdesk to get it sorted (possibly because it would have required a reprice from partner to UA-only rates?). In the end I just re-booked the direct flight and had we cancel the original ones.
#2289
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
A warning for anyone trying to waitlist an award flight.
In the past few weeks I've had two cases where waitlists didn't clear, despite inventory being available.
First case was a UA->UA flight which I was waitlisted on the direct flight. A few days after waitlisting I checked and there was space. Waited until the next morning and the waitlist still hadn't cleared so I called and they were confused why it hadn't cleared and made the change.
Second case was CA->UA, again waitlisted on the direct UA flight. Again didn't clear despite the direct flight being IN4. Called in and the agent was again confused, and claimed she'd need to call the helpdesk to get it sorted (possibly because it would have required a reprice from partner to UA-only rates?). In the end I just re-booked the direct flight and had we cancel the original ones.
In the past few weeks I've had two cases where waitlists didn't clear, despite inventory being available.
First case was a UA->UA flight which I was waitlisted on the direct flight. A few days after waitlisting I checked and there was space. Waited until the next morning and the waitlist still hadn't cleared so I called and they were confused why it hadn't cleared and made the change.
Second case was CA->UA, again waitlisted on the direct UA flight. Again didn't clear despite the direct flight being IN4. Called in and the agent was again confused, and claimed she'd need to call the helpdesk to get it sorted (possibly because it would have required a reprice from partner to UA-only rates?). In the end I just re-booked the direct flight and had we cancel the original ones.
#2290
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
Nice & concise
Right, to summarize required inventory:
Code:
Status Economy Business First (3-cabin) saver/standard saver/standard saver/standard ================================================================ Member X / HN I / ZN O / FN CC/Silver/Gold XN / YN I / JN O / FN Plat/1K XN / YN IN / JN O / FN Global Services T / YN R / JN O / FN
#2291
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
A warning for anyone trying to waitlist an award flight.
In the past few weeks I've had two cases where waitlists didn't clear, despite inventory being available.
First case was a UA->UA flight which I was waitlisted on the direct flight. A few days after waitlisting I checked and there was space. Waited until the next morning and the waitlist still hadn't cleared so I called and they were confused why it hadn't cleared and made the change.
Second case was CA->UA, again waitlisted on the direct UA flight. Again didn't clear despite the direct flight being IN4. Called in and the agent was again confused, and claimed she'd need to call the helpdesk to get it sorted (possibly because it would have required a reprice from partner to UA-only rates?). In the end I just re-booked the direct flight and had we cancel the original ones.
In the past few weeks I've had two cases where waitlists didn't clear, despite inventory being available.
First case was a UA->UA flight which I was waitlisted on the direct flight. A few days after waitlisting I checked and there was space. Waited until the next morning and the waitlist still hadn't cleared so I called and they were confused why it hadn't cleared and made the change.
Second case was CA->UA, again waitlisted on the direct UA flight. Again didn't clear despite the direct flight being IN4. Called in and the agent was again confused, and claimed she'd need to call the helpdesk to get it sorted (possibly because it would have required a reprice from partner to UA-only rates?). In the end I just re-booked the direct flight and had we cancel the original ones.
#2292
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
#2293
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
Just make your otiginal reservation with the waitlist for for UA noted. Then set an EF alert for I or O inventory. You will first be likely informedt by EF, and then you call UA to complete the transaction.
#2294
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
Ahhh, good to know. I just finally put together a trip to the US, and sure could have used even I & O availability alerts. Great to know for next time, though!
#2295
Formerly known as cagalindo
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MCO TPA
Programs: Citi AA/HH/TYP Amex SPG/HH & Chase SP/PC
Posts: 1,335
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Roundtrip and it's gone...
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- One-way search shows a Saver Award is available
- When I make it RT or Multi-city the Saver Award for the first leg is no longer available
- Any ideas?
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Roundtrip and it's gone...
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Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 9, 2018 at 4:54 pm Reason: Moved to exisiting thread