Denied Seat on Award Flight (Partner Airline did not confirm booking)
May 10, 2018, 8:55 pm
#61
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Former 1KMM now free as UA Gold MM, former HH D, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,121
LIke someone upthread, I’m a million miler, but it’s largely irrelevant.
I’d strongly suggest complaining vigorously to Chase to have them reverse your transaction. Lots of apologies here for United and their disclaimer about 24 hours to ticket, but in my experience they hide behind that for lots of other failings and defects in award bookings.
United won’t do anything, and the DOT won’t do anything, but enough complaints to Chase, as undoubtedly the largest single purchaser of Mileage Plus miles might eventually affect a change.
I’d strongly suggest complaining vigorously to Chase to have them reverse your transaction. Lots of apologies here for United and their disclaimer about 24 hours to ticket, but in my experience they hide behind that for lots of other failings and defects in award bookings.
United won’t do anything, and the DOT won’t do anything, but enough complaints to Chase, as undoubtedly the largest single purchaser of Mileage Plus miles might eventually affect a change.
May 10, 2018, 10:36 pm
#62
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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.....So long story short, I got a call from a very nice United rep that seemed to be based in the US and was much more helpful than prior reps that I spoke with. Since the flight is nearly 5 months away, she suggested booking the direct United flight in economy for the lower point value, and waitlisting the upgrade to business. I think that is what others have suggested above? She said that I am likely to get a seat (if there are open ones on the flight, but won't find out until 3 days prior to departure) if I waitlist since the flight is 5+ months away, and since the order of priority for waitlist upgrades is based off of first come, first serve on the waitlist (unless you are a United Elite, which I think is a rare status to have?).....
The waitlisting for the business seat is iffy at best -- with no status, you will be at the bottom of the list. There are more UA elites than you might imagine -- about 2 million. Would not be surprised if 1/3 or more of the flight's passengers on a TATL might have status.
If it is so likely you will clear, then UA can open up a seat today.
While I agree with others that is unlikely, the spin the UA rep presented was very disingenuous.
May 10, 2018, 11:58 pm
#63
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
IMHO, unless it's Lufthansa, Air Canada or ANA, it takes a while for partner seats to get ticketed on 016 stock. It can take a while on some partner airlines for a flight to ticket when you're paying for it. With awards, it's dicier since every airline's award inventory shifts very rapidly. There may be 20 C seats open at one instance for one a flight, but only one seat is available for reward. If you're paying for the seat, a delay of 24 hours is not a concern. They're not going to sell 19 seats in that short period of time, be it 5 days or 5 months out. But, that one award seat, it could be easily snagged while the flight is being ticketed. Throwing in that the OP is looking for saver business, that is, again, even dicier, since there are a small number of those from a small pool of overall award seats.
I've had issues with award reservations never ticketing on TAP and TAM (8 years ago when they were Star Alliance). On the other hand, whether it's award seats or paid seats, on ANA, AC and LH, they ticket just as fast as on UA. A few minutes in most cases for me. A flight on Austrian (paid business) took about 8 hours once.
I think the plan of booking the non-stop MUC-ORD with a saver economy seat with a request to upgrade to saver business is the way to go.
I've had issues with award reservations never ticketing on TAP and TAM (8 years ago when they were Star Alliance). On the other hand, whether it's award seats or paid seats, on ANA, AC and LH, they ticket just as fast as on UA. A few minutes in most cases for me. A flight on Austrian (paid business) took about 8 hours once.
I think the plan of booking the non-stop MUC-ORD with a saver economy seat with a request to upgrade to saver business is the way to go.
May 11, 2018, 12:32 am
#64
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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IME, it's the opposite. There are a handful of partners with consistent reports of ticketing issues. Recently, these would include LO, OS, ET, and EI. In years past, LX, TK, and SK have been problematic. Personally, I've had no problem ticketing TG, OZ, BR, LH, SQ, AV, CM, LH, and even CA.
May 11, 2018, 6:49 am
#65
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: United Airlines
Posts: 10
Not to be a downer, but I would not have let UA off so easily.
The waitlisting for the business seat is iffy at best -- with no status, you will be at the bottom of the list. There are more UA elites than you might imagine -- about 2 million. Would not be surprised if 1/3 or more of the flight's passengers on a TATL might have status.
If it is so likely you will clear, then UA can open up a seat today.
While I agree with others that is unlikely, the spin the UA rep presented was very disingenuous.
The waitlisting for the business seat is iffy at best -- with no status, you will be at the bottom of the list. There are more UA elites than you might imagine -- about 2 million. Would not be surprised if 1/3 or more of the flight's passengers on a TATL might have status.
If it is so likely you will clear, then UA can open up a seat today.
While I agree with others that is unlikely, the spin the UA rep presented was very disingenuous.
Do you have any specific suggestions as to what I should complain about that will actually get them to concede and put me in a ticketed business class seat for the lower saver fare amount?
May 11, 2018, 9:19 am
#66
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
i can still cancel the flight since i am within the 24 hour window. But I’m not sure how to get United to comp me. I’ve complained to them for nearly 3 hours on 3 separate calls and they aren’t willing to make any concessions for this glitch.
Do you have any specific suggestions as to what I should complain about that will actually get them to concede and put me in a ticketed business class seat for the lower saver fare amount?
May 11, 2018, 11:56 am
#67
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
I had the same issue.
The only alternative they offered was other flights that had saver award availability.
i can still cancel the flight since i am within the 24 hour window. But I’m not sure how to get United to comp me. I’ve complained to them for nearly 3 hours on 3 separate calls and they aren’t willing to make any concessions for this glitch.
Do you have any specific suggestions as to what I should complain about that will actually get them to concede and put me in a ticketed business class seat for the lower saver fare amount?
Not. Going. To. Happen.
Call up and bellyache all you want however it's not going to change anything. It's the nature of the game. Don't like it? Cancel your Chase card and accrue miles in another program.
I transferred 140k UR over to book two tickets in LOT Business about a week ago. Got the email saying it was processing, 12 hours later another email saying it hasn't ticketed (which ended up in my junk mail) and the ticket hung in a processing state for five days until UA canceled it. Called up UA and they said that LOT rejected the booking just a few minutes after I made the reservation. Nothing I can do except look for other saver award availability.
As a FYI I never saw the availability on Aeronplan, just UA. Aeroplan blocked LOT awards months back because they were showing phantom availability and reinstated once the issue has been fixed. It just seems that United is late to the fix. If you want to see what's "really" available do a search on Aeroplan.
The only alternative they offered was other flights that had saver award availability.
i can still cancel the flight since i am within the 24 hour window. But I’m not sure how to get United to comp me. I’ve complained to them for nearly 3 hours on 3 separate calls and they aren’t willing to make any concessions for this glitch.
Do you have any specific suggestions as to what I should complain about that will actually get them to concede and put me in a ticketed business class seat for the lower saver fare amount?
Call up and bellyache all you want however it's not going to change anything. It's the nature of the game. Don't like it? Cancel your Chase card and accrue miles in another program.
I transferred 140k UR over to book two tickets in LOT Business about a week ago. Got the email saying it was processing, 12 hours later another email saying it hasn't ticketed (which ended up in my junk mail) and the ticket hung in a processing state for five days until UA canceled it. Called up UA and they said that LOT rejected the booking just a few minutes after I made the reservation. Nothing I can do except look for other saver award availability.
As a FYI I never saw the availability on Aeronplan, just UA. Aeroplan blocked LOT awards months back because they were showing phantom availability and reinstated once the issue has been fixed. It just seems that United is late to the fix. If you want to see what's "really" available do a search on Aeroplan.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 12, 2018 at 12:37 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
May 11, 2018, 12:12 pm
#68
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,617
Thanks for everyone's input.
So long story short, I got a call from a very nice United rep that seemed to be based in the US and was much more helpful than prior reps that I spoke with. Since the flight is nearly 5 months away, she suggested booking the direct United flight in economy for the lower point value, and waitlisting the upgrade to business. I think that is what others have suggested above? She said that I am likely to get a seat (if there are open ones on the flight, but won't find out until 3 days prior to departure) if I waitlist since the flight is 5+ months away, and since the order of priority for waitlist upgrades is based off of first come, first serve on the waitlist (unless you are a United Elite, which I think is a rare status to have?). THIS IS ONLY PARTLY TRUE. AS TO HOW LIKELY, NO ONE REALLY KNOWS, BUT I WOULD GUESS AT MORE THE A 50% CHANCE. THIS COULD CLEAR AT ANY TIME, BUT MORE LIKELY WITHIN 3 DAYS AND RIGHT UP TO DEPARTURE (MY WIFE RECENTLY CLEARED FROM PARIS TO NEWARK AFTER BOARDING). STATUS, WHICH IS NOT RARE AT ALL, COUNTS TO SOME DEGREE UNTIL 24 HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT WHEN IT SHOULD BE FIRST COME - FIRST SERVED.
I do not understand how this is the case, but she said with the current upgrade requirement, if I were to be granted a seat in business, that I would actually be refunded 10,000 points? I'm not sure how that is the case. Does anyone know if the upgrade point or cash requirement for waitlist upgrades can change? For example, what if, 2 days prior to the flight, I am notified that my upgrade request has been accepted but I need to pay 60,000 miles and I do not have that many miles? Right now, that is not the case.....but can it change? THAT'S SIMPLE...YOU ALREADY PAID 70,000 MILES WHICH IS THE FEE FOR TRANSATLANTIC PARTNER FLIGHTS. THE FEE FOR FLIGHTS ON UNITED METAL IS ONLY 60,000 MILES.
It seems that I have a good chance for my waitlist upgrade request to actually work-out, I looked and there are currently 22 open business class seats. My only concern is that, this is a direct flight from Munich to Chicago right at the tail end of Oktoberfest, so it will likely be a crowded flight.....but with it being on a Tuesday, that probably helps my cause. THE NUMBER OF OPEN BUSINESS SEATS NOW MEANS VERY LITTLE. THEY'RE OFTEN SOLD IN THE LAST WEEK AND DAYS BEFORE THE FLIGHT, OR GIVEN TO HIGHER STATUS FLYERS WHO ARE ON A MILEAGE UPGRADE LIST AFTER PAYING FOR A REVENUE ECONOMY SEAT (R VS I)
So long story short, I got a call from a very nice United rep that seemed to be based in the US and was much more helpful than prior reps that I spoke with. Since the flight is nearly 5 months away, she suggested booking the direct United flight in economy for the lower point value, and waitlisting the upgrade to business. I think that is what others have suggested above? She said that I am likely to get a seat (if there are open ones on the flight, but won't find out until 3 days prior to departure) if I waitlist since the flight is 5+ months away, and since the order of priority for waitlist upgrades is based off of first come, first serve on the waitlist (unless you are a United Elite, which I think is a rare status to have?). THIS IS ONLY PARTLY TRUE. AS TO HOW LIKELY, NO ONE REALLY KNOWS, BUT I WOULD GUESS AT MORE THE A 50% CHANCE. THIS COULD CLEAR AT ANY TIME, BUT MORE LIKELY WITHIN 3 DAYS AND RIGHT UP TO DEPARTURE (MY WIFE RECENTLY CLEARED FROM PARIS TO NEWARK AFTER BOARDING). STATUS, WHICH IS NOT RARE AT ALL, COUNTS TO SOME DEGREE UNTIL 24 HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT WHEN IT SHOULD BE FIRST COME - FIRST SERVED.
I do not understand how this is the case, but she said with the current upgrade requirement, if I were to be granted a seat in business, that I would actually be refunded 10,000 points? I'm not sure how that is the case. Does anyone know if the upgrade point or cash requirement for waitlist upgrades can change? For example, what if, 2 days prior to the flight, I am notified that my upgrade request has been accepted but I need to pay 60,000 miles and I do not have that many miles? Right now, that is not the case.....but can it change? THAT'S SIMPLE...YOU ALREADY PAID 70,000 MILES WHICH IS THE FEE FOR TRANSATLANTIC PARTNER FLIGHTS. THE FEE FOR FLIGHTS ON UNITED METAL IS ONLY 60,000 MILES.
It seems that I have a good chance for my waitlist upgrade request to actually work-out, I looked and there are currently 22 open business class seats. My only concern is that, this is a direct flight from Munich to Chicago right at the tail end of Oktoberfest, so it will likely be a crowded flight.....but with it being on a Tuesday, that probably helps my cause. THE NUMBER OF OPEN BUSINESS SEATS NOW MEANS VERY LITTLE. THEY'RE OFTEN SOLD IN THE LAST WEEK AND DAYS BEFORE THE FLIGHT, OR GIVEN TO HIGHER STATUS FLYERS WHO ARE ON A MILEAGE UPGRADE LIST AFTER PAYING FOR A REVENUE ECONOMY SEAT (R VS I)
OR IN ARTICLES LIKE THIS....https://millionmilesecrets.com/2017/...ss-award-seat/ AND https://www.dansdeals.com/points-tra...ed-thing-ever/
May 11, 2018, 12:19 pm
#69
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
Also, prior to departure, it's possible that upgrade requests for paid passengers can clear prior to waitlisted business awards. That's because upgrades clear into the PN or R inventory bucket, whereas waitlisted business awards clear into IN or I, and it's entirely possible to see inventory levels of PN > 0 (or PN > 0 and R > 0) while IN = 0 and I = 0 -- the upgrade classes are considered "higher" fare classes by UA.
On the day of departure, there are mixed reports as to whether passengers with no status on waitlisted business awards will clear ahead of or behind passengers waitlisted for upgrades.
May 11, 2018, 12:29 pm
#70
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
You are not being wait listed for the LOT flights you're being wait listed for the direct ORD - MUC flight on United Airlines. Instead of going ORD - BUD - MUC as you originally booked, it would be ORD - MUC direct on a United Airlines airplane.
May 11, 2018, 12:37 pm
#71
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Not to be a downer, but I would not have let UA off so easily.
The waitlisting for the business seat is iffy at best -- with no status, you will be at the bottom of the list. There are more UA elites than you might imagine -- about 2 million. Would not be surprised if 1/3 or more of the flight's passengers on a TATL might have status.
If it is so likely you will clear, then UA can open up a seat today.
While I agree with others that is unlikely, the spin the UA rep presented was very disingenuous.
The waitlisting for the business seat is iffy at best -- with no status, you will be at the bottom of the list. There are more UA elites than you might imagine -- about 2 million. Would not be surprised if 1/3 or more of the flight's passengers on a TATL might have status.
If it is so likely you will clear, then UA can open up a seat today.
While I agree with others that is unlikely, the spin the UA rep presented was very disingenuous.
May 11, 2018, 12:58 pm
#72
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
i can still cancel the flight since i am within the 24 hour window. But I’m not sure how to get United to comp me. I’ve complained to them for nearly 3 hours on 3 separate calls and they aren’t willing to make any concessions for this glitch.
Do you have any specific suggestions as to what I should complain about that will actually get them to concede and put me in a ticketed business class seat for the lower saver fare amount?
Do you have any specific suggestions as to what I should complain about that will actually get them to concede and put me in a ticketed business class seat for the lower saver fare amount?
May 11, 2018, 2:15 pm
#73
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
I see business saver award availability MUC-ORD for pretty much any date I've been searching between now and many months ahead (60K on UA, 70K on various *A partners). There are always at least a few options, so something should ticket. Out of curiosity - what dates are you looking at?
May 11, 2018, 3:22 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,908
telling ppl to buy their fake currency and a day later letting them know that said currency can not be used is a rather questionable practice imho...
May 11, 2018, 3:29 pm
#75
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
IMO, the problem with LO inventory isn't a batching issue. I've tried to redeem on LO multiple times. I've booked the flight, and gotten the 24h 'rejection' notice multiple times. In each case, an awards search continues to show LO availability on the flight. If it's a batching/timing issue, then LO is advertising then withdrawing the seat multiple times a day over the course of more than a week. Methinks something else has gone wrong between UA and LO.