Jul 10, 2021, 10:16 am
Last edit by: beltway
Seat selection: As of July 2021, TK’s website does not allow pax to manage award bookings made through United. Even if you enter the separate TK PNR provided by United, the website returns an error.
However, the TK app will work using your ticket number(s) and passenger surname(s). Make certain there are no trailing spaces in either field, as the app will error out. Don’t bother with the PNR; the app demands ticket numbers to authenticate even if you start with the PNR.
However, the TK app will work using your ticket number(s) and passenger surname(s). Make certain there are no trailing spaces in either field, as the app will error out. Don’t bother with the PNR; the app demands ticket numbers to authenticate even if you start with the PNR.
Turkish Airlines (TK) award booking experiences using United miles
May 29, 2018, 11:03 am
#151
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Now awards not showing up - that can be a whole host of issues. Some carriers (SQ, LH, AF, etc.) make more awards available to their own FF members than partners. Not sure if TK does this. If the award is available on other partners (for example, the TK award is showing using ANA or SQ), then it means either TK or UA are blocking it. There's a thread on a recent issue with LH awards. Unfortunately there's no work around. If online doesn't show it, you can try calling UA to see if they see the availability, but in most experiences - this doesn't yield anything different. Then you just have to keep checking, or book it with other miles (e.g., buy Avianca miles and use those, transfer to SQ or ANA, etc.).
May 29, 2018, 4:30 pm
#152
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 9
Two separate issues. Buying with $$ - UA will steer you to their JV partners (in this case, LH group). UA doesn't code share on all (any?) TK flights. UA can sell you a ticket with TK on it, but prefers not to (to get this, you'd go through google flights).
Now awards not showing up - that can be a whole host of issues. Some carriers (SQ, LH, AF, etc.) make more awards available to their own FF members than partners. Not sure if TK does this. If the award is available on other partners (for example, the TK award is showing using ANA or SQ), then it means either TK or UA are blocking it. There's a thread on a recent issue with LH awards. Unfortunately there's no work around. If online doesn't show it, you can try calling UA to see if they see the availability, but in most experiences - this doesn't yield anything different. Then you just have to keep checking, or book it with other miles (e.g., buy Avianca miles and use those, transfer to SQ or ANA, etc.).
Now awards not showing up - that can be a whole host of issues. Some carriers (SQ, LH, AF, etc.) make more awards available to their own FF members than partners. Not sure if TK does this. If the award is available on other partners (for example, the TK award is showing using ANA or SQ), then it means either TK or UA are blocking it. There's a thread on a recent issue with LH awards. Unfortunately there's no work around. If online doesn't show it, you can try calling UA to see if they see the availability, but in most experiences - this doesn't yield anything different. Then you just have to keep checking, or book it with other miles (e.g., buy Avianca miles and use those, transfer to SQ or ANA, etc.).
May 29, 2018, 5:59 pm
#153
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
And my point about it being a separate issue is this - you will almost never see a TK flight TATL flight on UA when paying with money (will only see them as intra-europe connections). This has to do with the economics UA has with TK (or rather, does not have). This has no impact on what kind of TK award availability UA will or will not show.
May 29, 2018, 6:24 pm
#154
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 9
If you give us the flights and days in question, we can look up a few other sources to see what they see (EF, SQ, AV, etc.).
And my point about it being a separate issue is this - you will almost never see a TK flight TATL flight on UA when paying with money (will only see them as intra-europe connections). This has to do with the economics UA has with TK (or rather, does not have). This has no impact on what kind of TK award availability UA will or will not show.
And my point about it being a separate issue is this - you will almost never see a TK flight TATL flight on UA when paying with money (will only see them as intra-europe connections). This has to do with the economics UA has with TK (or rather, does not have). This has no impact on what kind of TK award availability UA will or will not show.
May 30, 2018, 10:21 am
#155
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
The best option I can see now would be leave on June 21st - there are 2 J seats on KBP-FRA-BOS. LH has been known to release more availability closer to departure so if you don't mind change fees, I'd book that and see what opens up. Or if you're a gambling man, wait all together but always risk not having anything.
May 30, 2018, 1:28 pm
#156
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: San Francisco Area, CA
Programs: UA - Always
Posts: 307
I booked a long haul TK flight from SFO. I never could get SFO-IST route but I had options through ORD and IAH. This was in February and flew in April. Ended up doing SFO-IAH-IST-XXX-IST-ORD-SFO. Had many options though for April.
May 31, 2018, 5:29 pm
#157
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Radisson Rewards Gold, Best Western Diamond Select
Posts: 1,856
United definitely shows less than partners. I’ve seen availability on LH and SQ for several flights that UA won’t show, it may be a middle finger to UA from TK.
Jun 1, 2018, 4:26 pm
#158
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 9
@jmanirish Yea, I looked as far into the future as I could for IST-BOS but they're not to be found anywhere, even though in the past I booked that route easily via United with tons of availability. I did however start the transfer of a bunch of SPG points into aeroplan miles for KBP-FRA-BOS which I also found a couple days back. It's a bit unfortunate since that route comes with more expensive fees and overall Turkish is nicer than LH, but oh well.
Jul 6, 2018, 1:02 pm
#159
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 836
Trouble Booking Award Flights on TK Metal?
Looking at several dates that shows available TK Business Award Availability, but when I go to select it, it errors out.
Is anyone else having trouble booking TK Availability?
Error Screen
Is anyone else having trouble booking TK Availability?
Error Screen
Jul 17, 2018, 4:10 pm
#160
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 308
As disappointed as I am, I do take some solace in knowing the award availability issues aren't happening to just me. Was looking for I availability from JFK > IST in late May of next year for two people. Can't find a single day in May of next year with any award availability? Tried looking on United as well and not a single day the entire month has anything. Pretty bummed because I wanted to plan a trip then specifically on TK. I assume others are still experiencing the same thing still (since the last DP on this was a little while ago)?
Aug 12, 2018, 2:59 pm
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,916
Aug 14, 2018, 1:02 pm
#163
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In between
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, SPG/Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 564
Does anyone have any experience with TK opening up J availability to JRO from IST? I'm looking at next July and I'm seeing J availability to IST from both IAH and ORD, but it looks like everything to JRO (via ZNZ) is all in Y. I'm seeing J availability on ET via ADD (and only two stops), but I was hoping to try out TK in J if possible. Thanks!
Feb 5, 2019, 1:06 pm
#164
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: SPG platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 41
Unable to use UA rewards to book Turkish flight
I am trying to book some flights from US to Middle east. Turkish Airline got some routes perfect for me. Surprisingly that although Turkish and United are both part of Star Alliances, there is ABSOLUTELY no Turkish Airline tickets availability at all, no matter coach or business.
UA used to have plenty of Turkish Airline tickets last year, even for business class. Anybody got any ideas about what's going on? Is that something similar to the case with Thai Airline and Singapore Airline?
UA used to have plenty of Turkish Airline tickets last year, even for business class. Anybody got any ideas about what's going on? Is that something similar to the case with Thai Airline and Singapore Airline?
Feb 5, 2019, 2:19 pm
#165
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SLC
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Silver, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 768
I am trying to book some flights from US to Middle east. Turkish Airline got some routes perfect for me. Surprisingly that although Turkish and United are both part of Star Alliances, there is ABSOLUTELY no Turkish Airline tickets availability at all, no matter coach or business.
UA used to have plenty of Turkish Airline tickets last year, even for business class. Anybody got any ideas about what's going on? Is that something similar to the case with Thai Airline and Singapore Airline?
UA used to have plenty of Turkish Airline tickets last year, even for business class. Anybody got any ideas about what's going on? Is that something similar to the case with Thai Airline and Singapore Airline?