Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the master thread is UA MP Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) -when is it released?
United Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) - when is it released? [Archive]
#3616
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#3617
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United, BA, FlyingBLue, AA
Posts: 99
Thanks.
Do you know if "last seat availability" obtainable through the Chase Saaphire card (associated with UA)?
Do you know if "last seat availability" obtainable through the Chase Saaphire card (associated with UA)?
#3618
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
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If you have UA miles, then you book with UA and UA.com. Seats are indeed available on partner airlines, just not every flight, every day especially at peak travel times. And since SFO is a hub and a large market, award travel from SFO is not as good as from other markets. You'll have to be flexible and try other west coast gateways like SEA, YVR or DEN. Then try to improve as departure date approaches and last minute award seats are released.
#3619
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No. Only UA branded cards. Explorer and Club card are the two currently available cards which provide this benefit. But again, this does not apply to LH operated flights.
#3620
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,038
No current status on UA, but had accumulated a pile of miles. I have never booked TATL award seats before. The MileagePlus' award chart specifies the number of miles needed for UA and *A tickets, but I am wondering if award seats are really available on LH.. Looking to use up some miles for a summer trip. Problaby SFO-FRA or LAX-FRA (maybe EWR-FRA). I haven't tried booking anything yet on UA (although on some flights EWR to BGO,United.com says that there are NOT ANY award economy seats available - which doesn't make any sense unless UA has changed its policy of allowing booking of award seats available IF ANY seats are available for purchase - Can entire economy sections be sold out already for July flights?). I have heard/read that booking award tickets on LH using UA miles can be difficult. What is the best process for trying to book award seats on LH? Calling LH? Using their website? UA's website? Does LH make award seats available to airline partner members months in advance? Weeks? Is it necessary to use ExpertFlyer or similar to find award seats on LH?
#3621
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I would start by doing searches from places you can get to easily from SFO on the US side and Germany on the European side. Some of this may be easier in Europe because trains and buses are good and there are ULCC's in any event.
#3622
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Montgomery, Alabama, USA
Programs: UA Gold 1mm, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 662
Most of my tatl award flights have been on LH. ATL, IAH, and DEN usually have plenty. You will do better searching for two one ways than a round trip. Go to the award calendar and search for all the dates available on the out bound. Then go back and search for all the dates available on the return. Pick a combination you can live with. Sometimes you may have to lengthen or shorten your trip by a few days to get something you like. I have found that by searching for a round trip for a definite # of days often results in no availability. Simply adding or subtracting a day or two or three will result in availability.
I don't think the Chase Saphire offers extra availability. Being Elite or having a United credit card really adds significant availability. It would definitely be beneficial to have the card plus you get a sign up bonus miles.
I don't think the Chase Saphire offers extra availability. Being Elite or having a United credit card really adds significant availability. It would definitely be beneficial to have the card plus you get a sign up bonus miles.
Last edited by mgmsteven; Mar 24, 2019 at 6:53 pm Reason: added info
#3623
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: 66,580
Might help on positioning flights.
#3624
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Location: Danville, CA, USA;
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And since SFO is a hub and a large market, award travel from SFO is not as good as from other markets. You'll have to be flexible and try other west coast gateways like SEA, YVR or DEN. Then try to improve as departure date approaches and last minute award seats are released.
It's late to be trying to book saver award tickets for summer transatlantic travel, but you might try looking for flights on Swiss via BOS or EWR and on Austrian via IAD or EWR. You can get to Germany or very close to Germany (Austria; Switzerland) without using LH. In any case, award flights using United miles can only be booked through United.
#3625
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
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Depends on how flexible you are. Many of the best award deals are within 14 days of departure.
#3626
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
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I am am not suggesting OP give up - many suggestions on this thread.
#3627
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 47
Out of curiosity I have been checking UAL site for flight to Far East , there used to be a lot of availability for both BR and OZ in J , they don't seem to exist anymore. When I flew last year I could find almost every day with availability but now with 300+days out there is nothing. Was there a change where premium classes are no longer offered on those flights?
#3628
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Out of curiosity I have been checking UAL site for flight to Far East , there used to be a lot of availability for both BR and OZ in J , they don't seem to exist anymore. When I flew last year I could find almost every day with availability but now with 300+days out there is nothing. Was there a change where premium classes are no longer offered on those flights?
#3629
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 47
I agree availability on both has dropped significantly. It's particularly noticeable with the OZ TPAC awards, as those have almost completely dried up. BR has become quite a bit tighter as well but still offers occasional availability (though the release pattern is much less predictable). Note that this is not a UA issue, it's what BR and OZ are releasing to their *A partners.
Unless I am missing something how would be the best way to use UAL miles to get to Far East? Were there any particular reasons why BR and OZ decided to not offer any more availability to their partners?
#3630
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