Jan 25, 2019, 10:30 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Message on UA.com when searching for awards outside USA
updated evening (PST) 27 Feb 2019 to
previously
Plus ANA(now restored).
updated evening (PST) 27 Feb 2019 to
Award travel on Singapore Airlines is temporarily unavailable. Our airline partner is diligently working with us to address this situation.
Award travel on Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal and THAI is temporarily unavailable through MileagePlus.
— We’re working on making these awards available, and you may still be able to find awards on other partners.
— We’re working on making these awards available, and you may still be able to find awards on other partners.
All UA award space for TP&TG (gone - now back?) & SQ still gone??
Jan 26, 2019, 10:59 am
#91
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I wonder if this problem exists in the opposite direction? In other words, are TP, TG and SQ frequent flier program members unable to book space on United flights using their FF points/miles? If it is a reciprocal difficulty, that might provide a greater motivation for both parties to fix the problem, as opposed to if it is just a one-way blockage. Anyone know whether this IT disruption is bi-directional?
Jan 26, 2019, 11:07 am
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
I wonder if this problem exists in the opposite direction? In other words, are TP, TG and SQ frequent flier program members unable to book space on United flights using their FF points/miles? If it is a reciprocal difficulty, that might provide a greater motivation for both parties to fix the problem, as opposed to if it is just a one-way blockage. Anyone know whether this IT disruption is bi-directional?
No problem there.
Jan 26, 2019, 11:08 am
#93
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 973
I was able to book a TG flight on Mileageplus last week after these problems starting coming up by calling United.com support. May be I was lucky.
Jan 26, 2019, 12:23 pm
#95
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
I wonder if this problem exists in the opposite direction? In other words, are TP, TG and SQ frequent flier program members unable to book space on United flights using their FF points/miles? If it is a reciprocal difficulty, that might provide a greater motivation for both parties to fix the problem, as opposed to if it is just a one-way blockage. Anyone know whether this IT disruption is bi-directional?
Jan 26, 2019, 12:56 pm
#96
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
TP still doesn’t work, but I had luck booking TG over the phone this week — had a conversation with an agent who said the TP integration is still not resolved. I even had problems with a LH codeshare revenue ticket on TP’s own website - didn’t ticket in 24 hours and they called me to say the fare wasn’t available and had gone up. Frustrating.
Jan 26, 2019, 5:14 pm
#97
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 312
I booked a UA award flight with TP segments with .com support over the phone a few days ago, all confirmed on TP website too
Jan 26, 2019, 5:23 pm
#98
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
So then the technical incompatibility issue between Amadeus and SHARES is a moot point. If the IT was not compatible, SQ wouldn't be able to book any more seats on UA than UA can book on SQ, for example. But if SQ can book UA inventory for its KrisFlyer members, then the systems can communicate just fine.
Jan 26, 2019, 8:23 pm
#99
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
So then the technical incompatibility issue between Amadeus and SHARES is a moot point. If the IT was not compatible, SQ wouldn't be able to book any more seats on UA than UA can book on SQ, for example. But if SQ can book UA inventory for its KrisFlyer members, then the systems can communicate just fine.
Simple example -- have you ever been on a phone call where you can hear the other person but they can not hear you? Worked in one direction but fails in the other.
Jan 26, 2019, 8:45 pm
#100
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
From a pure logic point of view and past experiences with communications between distinct systems, success in one direction does not assure success in the other direction. Not claiming that is the underlying issue with UA but the success of others to book UA flights does not eliminate the possibility of UA is unable to book those other carriers' awards.
Simple example -- have you ever been on a phone call where you can hear the other person but they can not hear you? Worked in one direction but fails in the other.
Simple example -- have you ever been on a phone call where you can hear the other person but they can not hear you? Worked in one direction but fails in the other.
It seems to me that, over time, the distribution of IT "glitches" that prevent award booking has been biased toward United. I know that Aeroplan also has had some IT problems, but are other *A carriers prone to these disruptions?
Jan 28, 2019, 10:10 am
#101
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
I think the main factor is that most *A carriers are on the same CRS platform (Amadeus), so they have the advantage of pooled development resources from a variety of carriers when starnet issues come up. In contrast, the likes of UA/TK off on their own system probably have to do a lot more maintenance to keep their systems tied in with partner carriers' CRSs properly.
Jan 31, 2019, 6:52 pm
#102
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: San Diego
Programs: Oneworld Emerald, Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus
Posts: 61
There might be hope after all...
Jan 31, 2019, 9:20 pm
#103
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA Gold; AA; Amtrak Select Plus;HH Diamond;Hyatt Disc;Hertz PC; Total Wine Grand Reserve!
Posts: 2,401
UA has to resolve this situation one way or the other! As things stand now, it is not possible to book an award ticket between Hong Kong and Singapore! At least it wasn't for the days I was searching.
Jan 31, 2019, 11:17 pm
#104
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
Jan 31, 2019, 11:53 pm
#105
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Programs: BAEC Silver, UA2MM, QF Platinum, VA Platinum., Volare Executive Club
Posts: 2,512