FlyingHoustonian

So I might be in the wrong place but appreciate any expert advice before I call the GS line and ask. I have millions of UA-FFlyer miles banked, mainly because most of my travel is/was paid by businesses in business for business reasons, but I have not really used the UA miles in a few years. I am finally looking to cash some in for family use but am no expert on the mileage booking engine side...

When using the pay option to book I can see non-stop flights on LH metal from FRA to various non-hub US cities (which I would like to book) but when trying to book on miles only connections via hubs on UA come up. Can the GS folks book me with miles on the LH non-stops if I call, even if the UA engine does not show the flight as a mileage option? A thousand thanks in advance oh wise ones.

Thanks,
FH

mahasamatman

No. If LH doesn't want to offer the seats, United cannot force them.

WineCountryUA

No, UA agents can not open space on partner flights
however,
perhaps as they may be more proficient at searching, they can try to assist you in finding flights but they have the same availability as you
and
if some of your miles are from Chase MP cards and you still have one, you can use miles as a statement credit against purchase flights (but just 1 cpm redemption).

FlyingHoustonian

Thank you both most of the miles are from flying, some old electric plans and such or others but in the last few years just flying. I used to get the money versus the miles on the travel bank so am just now getting miles through chase versus UA cash.. Thanks again, very helpful and saved me a call.

gnomey

I havent book UA international flights for a while and therefore a little rusty
Does XN award booking to international destination not come with 1 standard check in bag (23kg)?
This is for a flight to Ecuador.

I am now unsure if the passenger needs to pay another $30-40 for the checked bag on the day of check in, because i am seeing extra options to "upgrade" to on the final check out page.

Base - United Economy (XN)
Option 1 - Economy Plus. Travel Options bundle, pay extra $$
Option 2 - Economy Plus, Standard checked bag. Travel Options bundle, pay extra $$$

WineCountryUA

XN on UA comes with the same baggage allowance as standard economy, which is 1 bag x 50 lbs for flights USA-Ecuador flights

Some travel bundles offer additional baggage allowance as an option. Option 2 would provide an additional standard check bag -- making the allowance 2 bags. (a second bag would normally be $40). Option 2 is also adding E+ access.

You can also purchase E+ access only later in the process when selecting seat assignments, the price is more seat specific at that point.

gnomey

ok thank you. so XN is an economy fare, not basic economy?

do I have to pay with the chase credit card to ensure the free 1st checked in bag? or any credit card will work? (actually my credit card is not even an Explorer version anymore.. I have downgraded long ago to the no AF version but still have access to XN space)

WineCountryUA

yes, standard economy

yes, but on international flights you already get 1st bag free in most cases.

gnomey

yeah that's what i thought, 1st checked bag free regardless of payment method.

but this blogpost - 1st table - got me confused (but it could be outdated information) https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/ai...-baggage-fees/ it could be outdated info because it says differently on the link you shared https://www.united.com/en/us/baggage...or/any-flights

i guess what i am trying to say is i think in recent years, UA has gone 'cheap' for certain destinations eg mexico and others and start charging checked bag fee even if it's the 1st bag. so i was concerned that included some south american nations as well

Seph87

I originally bought a ticket to LHR with UA in August, gambling that the UK quarantine requirements would go away. Since it's clear that the quarantine requirements won't be going away by August, I decided to book an add-on LHR-GVA flight with Swiss that departs about four hours after my arrival into LHR.

I know in pre-COVID times the check-in agents could check your bags all the way through on *A partners, even if they were on separate tickets. Is that still the case? I am hoping to have my bags checked through all the way to GVA so that I can avoid going through customs in LHR. I will be flying in business class if that matters at all.

mahasamatman

Most blogs are not worth the paper they're printed on.

I don't think the issue is pre/post-COVID. The real issue is pre/post-Brexit. Since the UK is no longer part of the EU, I suspect you will need to clear customs.

Seph87

My understanding is that if I didn't have checked bags, I could transit airside at LHR without going through customs. That makes me think there must be a way to check the bags through, but I'm not sure if UA would refuse to do so because of COVID? Like they might be worried about me not meeting entry requirements for Switzerland and getting denied boarding? Or maybe it's fine and I'm inventing scenarios to get worried about.

WineCountryUA

No reports so far in the UA forum of UA not interlining bags to separate ticket flights with partners n the COVID era, bags can get pulled if you get dropped from the flight.

Seph87

Thank you, that's what I was hoping to hear!

Kacee

It would still make me nervous. With the strict UK entry restrictions added to the usual LHR hassles, I would hesitate to book through LHR on a single ticket, let alone separate tix.