PQM 300% Bonus Not Showing on J Fare on SA (SAA)
Feb 23, 2018, 5:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 14
PQM 300% Bonus Not Showing on J Fare on SA (SAA)
I am trying to book a ticket from JNB to JFK for May. There is a nonstop flight UA7225, which is operated by South Africa Airways. When I go to book it (I suspect because I am booking one-way) the cheapest fare is the J fare, which according to the PQM rules on United, should be 300% PQM. However, on this route, it only shows up as 100% PQM. I was also looking at a flight through FRA operated by Lufthansa (again, same J fare) and that appears to get the full 300% PQM. It's not a whole lot longer, nor more expensive to go through FRA on Lufthansa, so all things being equal, the ~20K PQM seem to be worth quite a bit. The lack of a nonstop flight is a bummer though. As an aside, booking directly with South African Airways is a lot cheaper, which is a real kick to the teeth.
Is this all because South African Airways is operating on different codeshare rules than Lufthansa?
Is this all because South African Airways is operating on different codeshare rules than Lufthansa?
Feb 23, 2018, 6:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
As you can see on the MileagePlus chart in the following link, J class on South African only earns 100% PQM: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...n-airways.html
Feb 23, 2018, 6:13 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
I am trying to book a ticket from JNB to JFK for May. There is a nonstop flight UA7225, which is operated by South Africa Airways. When I go to book it (I suspect because I am booking one-way) the cheapest fare is the J fare, which according to the PQM rules on United, should be 300% PQM. However, on this route, it only shows up as 100% PQM. I was also looking at a flight through FRA operated by Lufthansa (again, same J fare) and that appears to get the full 300% PQM. It's not a whole lot longer, nor more expensive to go through FRA on Lufthansa, so all things being equal, the ~20K PQM seem to be worth quite a bit. The lack of a nonstop flight is a bummer though. As an aside, booking directly with South African Airways is a lot cheaper, which is a real kick to the teeth.
Is this all because South African Airways is operating on different codeshare rules than Lufthansa?
Is this all because South African Airways is operating on different codeshare rules than Lufthansa?
Feb 23, 2018, 6:14 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA Premier Silver
Posts: 311
As you can see on the MileagePlus chart in the following link, J class on South African only earns 100% PQM: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...n-airways.html
Feb 23, 2018, 6:16 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 14
MileagePlus miles are awarded based upon the operating carrier, no matter whose code is on it. You can't get more PQM for the same flight by booking on UA vs. booking directly with SA. They only difference is that flights ticketed on 016 stock (issued by United, that is) will accrue PQD, whereas those issued on other airlines won't.
Feb 23, 2018, 6:22 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
You'll earn the same PQM that you would if you booked on United. You'll earn redeemable miles based upon distance, instead of price, and you won't earn PQD, but those are the only differences.
Feb 24, 2018, 7:25 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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which on a full J ticket will be quite substantial. 10k miles vs. 75k miles ... or something like that? I would book via ZRH or FRA on LH or LX.
Feb 24, 2018, 1:18 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
Well, yes, but presumably the reason to book on SA was to avoid paying full-fare J prices. OP mentioned it was much cheaper. For expensive tickets, if there's no price difference, you should book UA, but when there is a substantial price difference, you're normally better off booking the other carrier. You can buy the extra miles from Award Accelerator cheaper than the difference in fare between discount J and full-fare J.