Booking reward / award flights for others (if not also traveling)
Feb 27, 2019, 6:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 209
Booking reward / award flights for others (if not also traveling)
my husband and I have lots of united air miles which we are unlikely to use. Can these be used to book flights for my daughter and her soon to be husband? They would like to start their honeymoon by flying to JNB from Heathrow. It seems like the only higher cabins available are Ethiopian and Egyptair which doesn’t sound too great, has anybody any experience with these airlines? I remember flying Egyptair years ago and most of the passengers were smoking, it was gross.
I am not sure United miles can be used to book for other people, any advice would be much appreciated
ironically, I am cabin crew and could get standby with the airline I work for, but JNB flights are often overbooked. Too risky for a honeymoon trip.
thank you
I am not sure United miles can be used to book for other people, any advice would be much appreciated
ironically, I am cabin crew and could get standby with the airline I work for, but JNB flights are often overbooked. Too risky for a honeymoon trip.
thank you
Feb 27, 2019, 6:34 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
Yes you can book for whoever you want.
Ethiopian is quite nice on their 787s/A350s - not so nice on the 737s. On par with European carriers.
Egyptair is fine (better than BA for example), but its not flat beds, and no alcohol, avoid 737s again.
Using United miles, there arent that many options from London to SA. Turkish would be best - but availability is worst.
Ethiopian is quite nice on their 787s/A350s - not so nice on the 737s. On par with European carriers.
Egyptair is fine (better than BA for example), but its not flat beds, and no alcohol, avoid 737s again.
Using United miles, there arent that many options from London to SA. Turkish would be best - but availability is worst.
Feb 27, 2019, 7:16 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
Yes you can book for whoever you want.
Ethiopian is quite nice on their 787s/A350s - not so nice on the 737s. On par with European carriers.
Egyptair is fine (better than BA for example), but its not flat beds, and no alcohol, avoid 737s again.
Using United miles, there arent that many options from London to SA. Turkish would be best - but availability is worst.
Ethiopian is quite nice on their 787s/A350s - not so nice on the 737s. On par with European carriers.
Egyptair is fine (better than BA for example), but its not flat beds, and no alcohol, avoid 737s again.
Using United miles, there arent that many options from London to SA. Turkish would be best - but availability is worst.
Feb 27, 2019, 7:54 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
my husband and I have lots of united air miles which we are unlikely to use. Can these be used to book flights for my daughter and her soon to be husband? They would like to start their honeymoon by flying to JNB from Heathrow. It seems like the only higher cabins available are Ethiopian and Egyptair which doesn’t sound too great, has anybody any experience with these airlines? I remember flying Egyptair years ago and most of the passengers were smoking, it was gross.
I am not sure United miles can be used to book for other people, any advice would be much appreciated
ironically, I am cabin crew and could get standby with the airline I work for, but JNB flights are often overbooked. Too risky for a honeymoon trip.
thank you
I am not sure United miles can be used to book for other people, any advice would be much appreciated
ironically, I am cabin crew and could get standby with the airline I work for, but JNB flights are often overbooked. Too risky for a honeymoon trip.
thank you
Feb 27, 2019, 8:19 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
Also look for routing to CPT which is much more likely of a honeymoon destination than JNB (unless it's only for safari). SAA requires a layover in JNB but ET flies direct into CPT as do LH and LX (I believe).
As to availability, I've had success out of London with SA in Business (not the best but it gets you into the South African mood from the get-go). I flew Egyptair on the way back once and I wouldn't recommend it - it's dry, the plane on the JNB-CAI sector had an ancient interior and changing in CAI was more than unpleasant.
As to availability, I've had success out of London with SA in Business (not the best but it gets you into the South African mood from the get-go). I flew Egyptair on the way back once and I wouldn't recommend it - it's dry, the plane on the JNB-CAI sector had an ancient interior and changing in CAI was more than unpleasant.
Feb 27, 2019, 8:29 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,858
Premium cabin award availability on SAA usually opens up 1 month to a few day out. If your dates are set book whatever you can find and then pay the $100 fee to change up to 24 hours before flight, the direct flight is better than connecting in Cairo or Addis. The hard product on the SAA A330-300 used on this route is good.
Feb 27, 2019, 8:37 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,362
The fee, for members without status, is $125 for changes within 60 days of departure, not $100, and note that it is per ticket -- so $250 for the couple. Also, if going this route, and not trying to make use of the Excursionist Perk (which would allow a free one-way flight within a single region), it's probably best to book the flights as two one-ways rather than a round-trip. There are several reports of people not being able to make changes to the outbound part of a round-trip flight if there is no longer availability on the return leg. (This does have the downside of requiring two separate cancellation fees, should that be necessary).
Feb 27, 2019, 9:28 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,858
The fee, for members without status, is $125 for changes within 60 days of departure, not $100, and note that it is per ticket -- so $250 for the couple. Also, if going this route, and not trying to make use of the Excursionist Perk (which would allow a free one-way flight within a single region), it's probably best to book the flights as two one-ways rather than a round-trip. There are several reports of people not being able to make changes to the outbound part of a round-trip flight if there is no longer availability on the return leg. (This does have the downside of requiring two separate cancellation fees, should that be necessary).
Last edited by escapefromphl; Feb 27, 2019 at 9:42 am
Feb 27, 2019, 10:48 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,260
United lets you book award tickets for others from your account, provided you get nothing in return for that gift of a plane ticket. Do note that there are some people who do try to sell their frequent flyer miles or award tickets to others in violation of the terms of the frequent flyer program, so if the person booking the ticket lives in neither the UK nor South Africa, it would not be the oddest thing in the world to be contacted to ask about your relationship to the people who are flying on the tickets.
Feb 27, 2019, 12:01 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 209
Also look for routing to CPT which is much more likely of a honeymoon destination than JNB (unless it's only for safari). SAA requires a layover in JNB but ET flies direct into CPT as do LH and LX (I believe).
As to availability, I've had success out of London with SA in Business (not the best but it gets you into the South African mood from the get-go). I flew Egyptair on the way back once and I wouldn't recommend it - it's dry, the plane on the JNB-CAI sector had an ancient interior and changing in CAI was more than unpleasant.
As to availability, I've had success out of London with SA in Business (not the best but it gets you into the South African mood from the get-go). I flew Egyptair on the way back once and I wouldn't recommend it - it's dry, the plane on the JNB-CAI sector had an ancient interior and changing in CAI was more than unpleasant.
thank you you for your help
United lets you book award tickets for others from your account, provided you get nothing in return for that gift of a plane ticket. Do note that there are some people who do try to sell their frequent flyer miles or award tickets to others in violation of the terms of the frequent flyer program, so if the person booking the ticket lives in neither the UK nor South Africa, it would not be the oddest thing in the world to be contacted to ask about your relationship to the people who are flying on the tickets.
All this information, my head is buzzing. I have never heard of the excursionist perk. ��
thank you you all for the very helpful information, I had never given a thought to connecting flights, and are best avoided at all costs
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 27, 2019 at 3:23 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Feb 27, 2019, 1:39 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hiding under the trees in Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.5MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,306
I recommend looking for the longer international segments first (e.g. FRA-JNB, ZRH-JNB), then work on connections to London once you find space. You can also call United to get help piecing a trip together.
Feb 28, 2019, 10:15 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 209
Oh, I wouldn't say avoid connections at all costs, especially if the connections are in Europe and you allow plenty of time between flights. They certainly open up a lot of options.
I recommend looking for the longer international segments first (e.g. FRA-JNB, ZRH-JNB), then work on connections to London once you find space. You can also call United to get help piecing a trip together.
I recommend looking for the longer international segments first (e.g. FRA-JNB, ZRH-JNB), then work on connections to London once you find space. You can also call United to get help piecing a trip together.
Thanks, I agree, i was looking at the flights you mention, just a pity they are all economy. But hey, they will be getting free flights so they can’t really grumble
