Thai Airways (TG) award booking experiences using UA miles
Feb 5, 2013, 7:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA 1K, DL Platinum, BA Gold
Posts: 181
TG award availability showing on UA.com but agent cannot see it
I'm trying to book a flight on Thai Airways in December 2013 and I just noticed that a bunch of availability shows in different cabins on the flights that I'm looking for on united.com. However, when I call and speak to a UA agent they say that they can't see the space, let alone the flight at all. It's a multi segment trip, so I can't do it online.
What would be going on here? I don't see it on ANA tool either. Is this "real" availibility? Any way I can get it booked?
What would be going on here? I don't see it on ANA tool either. Is this "real" availibility? Any way I can get it booked?
Feb 5, 2013, 7:54 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, UA Platinum, Alaksa MVP 75K, Air Berlin Gold, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,389
I'm trying to book a flight on Thai Airways in December 2013 and I just noticed that a bunch of availability shows in different cabins on the flights that I'm looking for on united.com. However, when I call and speak to a UA agent they say that they can't see the space, let alone the flight at all. It's a multi segment trip, so I can't do it online.
What would be going on here? I don't see it on ANA tool either. Is this "real" availibility? Any way I can get it booked?
What would be going on here? I don't see it on ANA tool either. Is this "real" availibility? Any way I can get it booked?
Feb 5, 2013, 7:54 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
I'm trying to book a flight on Thai Airways in December 2013 and I just noticed that a bunch of availability shows in different cabins on the flights that I'm looking for on united.com. However, when I call and speak to a UA agent they say that they can't see the space, let alone the flight at all. It's a multi segment trip, so I can't do it online.
What would be going on here? I don't see it on ANA tool either. Is this "real" availibility? Any way I can get it booked?
What would be going on here? I don't see it on ANA tool either. Is this "real" availibility? Any way I can get it booked?
When I called United Awards Desk , CSR said sometimes it shows up but it is not available to United.
Feb 5, 2013, 7:56 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA 1K, DL Platinum, BA Gold
Posts: 181
very strange!
Feb 5, 2013, 8:22 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
I would assume that this is a .bomb issue with phantom availability.
There is a thread on the Thai Airways forum talking about how TG has not released award inventory for November and December of 2012 at this time.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thai-...tion-thai.html
There is a thread on the Thai Airways forum talking about how TG has not released award inventory for November and December of 2012 at this time.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thai-...tion-thai.html
Last edited by cheltzel; Feb 5, 2013 at 9:04 am Reason: fix typo
Feb 5, 2013, 8:55 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: IAH, HOU
Programs: MileagePlus 1K, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,073
Known problem
This is a known problem with many partner awards. In December of last year, I tried to make an award booking on LH and I needed this done manually and the agent could not see it. I ended up booking the segment online and then calling to the UA Premier desk to have it ticketed properly.
Feb 5, 2013, 9:44 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
ANA
Check the ANA awards site - no FT pro books an award w/o consulting ANA first....unless they have a paid service like Expert Flier.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Feb 5, 2013, 10:26 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: MDE
Programs: UA 1K - 1MM, DL Gold - 2MM, AA Plat - 2MM
Posts: 279
This is a known problem with many partner awards. In December of last year, I tried to make an award booking on LH and I needed this done manually and the agent could not see it. I ended up booking the segment online and then calling to the UA Premier desk to have it ticketed properly.
Feb 5, 2013, 1:05 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: IAH, HOU
Programs: MileagePlus 1K, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,073
Let me clarify. I booked the award online as I was on the phone with an agent. I had an existing award booking on LH equipment and needed to change flights. The flight to which I wanted tochange was visible on UA.com but was not visible to the agent. To prove the point to the agent, I booked the flight I wanted online and the agent then worked to move other segments from my old existing reservation. Hope this clarifies it.
Feb 6, 2013, 10:37 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: WAS/ Silver Spring, MD,USA
Programs: UA/AA
Posts: 857
Feb 6, 2013, 10:45 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123