Do you use a different *A carrier to book domestic mileage award flights on UA?
Apr 28, 2019, 9:07 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Jackson, WY
Posts: 543
Do you use a different *A carrier to book domestic mileage award flights on UA?
Title says it all.
If so, why?
Does UA only release saver availability to its partners?
Ive redeemed close to 2M points through UA, probably 50% of which was domestic saver tickets, 25% domestic non-saver, and 25% international non-saver and saver. I’m looking to see if I should up my game and learn another *A carrier.
If so, why?
Does UA only release saver availability to its partners?
Ive redeemed close to 2M points through UA, probably 50% of which was domestic saver tickets, 25% domestic non-saver, and 25% international non-saver and saver. I’m looking to see if I should up my game and learn another *A carrier.
Apr 28, 2019, 9:22 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
Title says it all.
If so, why?
Does UA only release saver availability to its partners?
Ive redeemed close to 2M points through UA, probably 50% of which was domestic saver tickets, 25% domestic non-saver, and 25% international non-saver and saver. I’m looking to see if I should up my game and learn another *A carrier.
If so, why?
Does UA only release saver availability to its partners?
Ive redeemed close to 2M points through UA, probably 50% of which was domestic saver tickets, 25% domestic non-saver, and 25% international non-saver and saver. I’m looking to see if I should up my game and learn another *A carrier.
My understanding is that partners only book into saver. Not sure how this works for dynamic awards. Anyone?
Apr 28, 2019, 9:24 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 856
My only one experience says it is the same inventory for Mileage Plus and for other *A partners. Was looking to redeem a domestic flight for my family of 4, saw 2 at Mileage Plus and 2 from A3. Proceeded to book the 2 seats from A3 and the Mileage Plus seats are gone (could have been other factors also), but at least, this is my one and only experience. Ended up booking VX using SQ miles and cancelling the A3 award tickets on UA.
Apr 28, 2019, 9:38 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,390
All UA members have access to X and I; additionally, UA members with Premier status or a qualifying United-branded Chase credit card have access to XN (economy), which is often greater than X.
My only one experience says it is the same inventory for Mileage Plus and for other *A partners. Was looking to redeem a domestic flight for my family of 4, saw 2 at Mileage Plus and 2 from A3. Proceeded to book the 2 seats from A3 and the Mileage Plus seats are gone (could have been other factors also), but at least, this is my one and only experience. Ended up booking VX using SQ miles and cancelling the A3 award tickets on UA.
Apr 28, 2019, 10:43 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 856
This was from me coming from SQ, where SQ does have separate inventory for its own members and for *A partners. For example, I was able to book 2 tickets via *A partners (ie A3 miles) and 2 tickets via SQ miles (same flight), when both sides were each showing 2 tickets available. So was expecting similar behavior from UA, but it was not.
Apr 28, 2019, 12:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Indeed I do. I'm Canadian so all the opportunities for earning award miles are limited to carriers like AC and BA. The redemption costs of a UA domestic flight are the same as UA save for the short haul specials UA now has (5,000-8,000). In addition, AC's Aeroplan allows me the option to make at least one stop over en-route, something which UA discontinued a while ago. In other words, I could book something like ORD > LAX / LAX > SFO / SFO > ORD for the same price as ORD <> LAX. Internationally, the stakes get really interesting with AC's program, as you're allowed 2 stopovers or a stopover and a open jaw. This allowed me to fly the following itinerary for 80K miles in Y: YYZ > DXB on AC, DXB > CAI on MS, CAI > ZRH (via GVA) on MS/LX, ZRH > YYZ (via EWR) on UA which again would of cost the same as booking simply YYZ > DXB roundtrip. Finally, there are some benefits you can sometimes get booking outside UA's program, most notably access to CPU upgrades on domestic award flights. For instance, last month I was flying LAX to DTW (via IAD) on an Aeroplan award and I got a CPU on the segment IAD > DTW. Granted, it was on a CRJ but still was nice to have FA greet me by name and offer me snacks from a basket.
Booking UA and *A award tickets outside the UA program, you can always have your UA frequent flyer number plugged in so you can access the benefits you have whilst travelling on the award ticket. For instance, after booking LAX > DTW on Aeroplan, I imported the award ticket into my MilagePlus profile and was immediately able to get my free E+ seating, along with putting my name on the CPU list for both segments. When I was at LAX, I was able to use the fabulous *A lounge at the Oscar Munőz UA Premier Elite terminal just by scanning my boarding pass.
Does UA only release saver availability to its partners?
Ive redeemed close to 2M points through UA, probably 50% of which was domestic saver tickets, 25% domestic non-saver, and 25% international non-saver and saver. I’m looking to see if I should up my game and learn another *A carrier.
Ive redeemed close to 2M points through UA, probably 50% of which was domestic saver tickets, 25% domestic non-saver, and 25% international non-saver and saver. I’m looking to see if I should up my game and learn another *A carrier.
Safe Travels,
James
Apr 28, 2019, 3:34 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,217
Well I thought this was going to be a thread on booking a UA metal flight with a Star Alliance ticket so you could access the UC on domestic flights. Was looking to see if that was possible as I will be moving away from 016 ticketing and thought that would be a great perk if it works since I am Star Alliance Gold but was not certain if it worked if my Gold Status is earned through UA. Still curious....think the title should make clearer it is talking about Saver awards.
Apr 28, 2019, 3:41 pm
#9
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: 66,832
Well I thought this was going to be a thread on booking a UA metal flight with a Star Alliance ticket so you could access the UC on domestic flights. Was looking to see if that was possible as I will be moving away from 016 ticketing and thought that would be a great perk if it works since I am Star Alliance Gold but was not certain if it worked if my Gold Status is earned through UA. ..
*G from non-UA carrier is eligible for UC admission.
But that issue is not what the OP is querying and so let's leave that for a different thread.
Apr 28, 2019, 3:49 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
To reiterate, when booking an award ticket on another *A FFP (i.e. Aeroplan), you always have the option of attaching your UA FF# to the ticket(s) to access your Premier benefits (i.e. lounge access, additional baggage, priority services). How you do that depends on the airline involved. With a UA booking booked on say Aeroplan, it's a matter adding the record locator as an existing flight to your MilagePlus profile. Other airlines like AC and LX IIRC may require either calling in to the airline to get that added or to add that information in during OLCI.
Safe Travels,
James
Nov 28, 2020, 10:05 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
To reiterate, when booking an award ticket on another *A FFP (i.e. Aeroplan), you always have the option of attaching your UA FF# to the ticket(s) to access your Premier benefits (i.e. lounge access, additional baggage, priority services). How you do that depends on the airline involved. With a UA booking booked on say Aeroplan, it's a matter adding the record locator as an existing flight to your MilagePlus profile. Other airlines like AC and LX IIRC may require either calling in to the airline to get that added or to add that information in during OLCI.
Nov 28, 2020, 11:36 am
#13
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: 66,832
.... Can someone confirm (since I did not see anyone mention AV specifically) that all I need to do is call in after I book the ticket to change the number to my UA one? I did some googling and only saw one article that mentioned it is a pain to do directly with AV, but that UA should be flexible in changing it. ....
Nov 28, 2020, 12:26 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
Right - I guess I was more curious if the option to edit your number once you import the reservation to UA.com is always available or if that is an unintended “feature” that might not always work. I’m try to avoid transferring the miles to AV only to find out this won’t work and I should just stick with the ticket booked via UA.
Nov 28, 2020, 12:51 pm
#15
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: 66,832
Ability to Change MP Number on UAL.COM Removed {Now back @ checkin???}
and you may find it hard to attached the reservation to your account without getting the FF acct changed.
However, while a year old, this may help (concerns AV)
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...l#post31367108