Nov 13, 2023, 2:54 pm
Last edit by: mahasamatman
Archive file: Will UA issue ticket (016 ticket) w/ partner airline only, no UA/UX flight on itin?
UA in general has stopped offering itins with no UA operated flight, codeshares or JV flights, Asia, Europe, ...
This has gradually been occurring for years and accelerated with "no change fee" decision.
The IATA also passed a resolution discouraging plating / ticketing flights without a carrier operated flight.
Additionally, many partners have instituted plating restrictions that effectively blocks many routes / fares UA used to offer.
These actions related to cash tickets, award tickets have not been affected
This has gradually been occurring for years and accelerated with "no change fee" decision.
The IATA also passed a resolution discouraging plating / ticketing flights without a carrier operated flight.
Additionally, many partners have instituted plating restrictions that effectively blocks many routes / fares UA used to offer.
These actions related to cash tickets, award tickets have not been affected
Booking partner only cash flights on United.com / app
Mar 10, 2022, 12:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, BA Gold, SQ TPP
Posts: 1,487
Booking partner only cash flights on United.com / app
What's the latest on this? Pre-covid I ran into the occasional agent who insisted that there must be at least on UA segment on the ticket, but it seems now every agent is insisting on at least one UA segment?
(Trying to book SQ metal which doesn't come up on united.com searches)
(Trying to book SQ metal which doesn't come up on united.com searches)
Mar 10, 2022, 1:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
What's the latest on this? Pre-covid I ran into the occasional agent who insisted that there must be at least on UA segment on the ticket, but it seems now every agent is insisting on at least one UA segment?
(Trying to book SQ metal which doesn't come up on united.com searches)
(Trying to book SQ metal which doesn't come up on united.com searches)
May 23, 2023, 6:48 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,499
Using an FFC to book partner-only-operated flights
Hi all,
Infrequent UA traveller here (note the British spelling...
)
I have a future flight credit. The United website says:
However, every time I try and use it for a partner-operated flight, I get told that the ticket must have at least one United-operated leg on it. This isn't published anywhere on UA's website, so I was wondering if anyone else has managed to book a ticket without a UA leg?
Infrequent UA traveller here (note the British spelling...
)I have a future flight credit. The United website says:
These credits can be used to book travel on United, United Express, and partner-operated flights...
However, every time I try and use it for a partner-operated flight, I get told that the ticket must have at least one United-operated leg on it. This isn't published anywhere on UA's website, so I was wondering if anyone else has managed to book a ticket without a UA leg?
May 23, 2023, 11:05 am
#4
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,281
However, every time I try and use it for a partner-operated flight, I get told that the ticket must have at least one United-operated leg on it. This isn't published anywhere on UA's website, so I was wondering if anyone else has managed to book a ticket without a UA leg?
May 23, 2023, 3:17 pm
#6
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
Not all LHG-only flights can / will be booked by united.com or UA agents. What are the origin and destination? Codeshares of LHG flights work better. Intra-europe-only flights are a no, per LHG rules
May 23, 2023, 4:01 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,499
Initially I tried to book Air India (*A), but have failed.
No results show online for LHG either (LH and LX have good connections and fares for UK-India).
I've only asked UA agents to try and book Air India. They can see the flights but then I get a no at payment stage, when trying to use the FFC.
May 23, 2023, 4:45 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
I've been trying to book UK/EU-India.
Initially I tried to book Air India (*A), but have failed.
No results show online for LHG either (LH and LX have good connections and fares for UK-India).
I've only asked UA agents to try and book Air India. They can see the flights but then I get a no at payment stage, when trying to use the FFC.
Initially I tried to book Air India (*A), but have failed.
No results show online for LHG either (LH and LX have good connections and fares for UK-India).
I've only asked UA agents to try and book Air India. They can see the flights but then I get a no at payment stage, when trying to use the FFC.
I recently had trouble booking a UA/SQ itin to India (SFO-SIN on UA, SIN-BLR on SQ), but appeared to be a fare rule error. I understand that if the partner immediately denies it (the fare class isn’t actually available, for example), it will look like a payment error, even though it has nothing to do with payment issue.
May 24, 2023, 12:01 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,499
what happens at the payment stage?
I recently had trouble booking a UA/SQ itin to India (SFO-SIN on UA, SIN-BLR on SQ), but appeared to be a fare rule error. I understand that if the partner immediately denies it (the fare class isn’t actually available, for example), it will look like a payment error, even though it has nothing to do with payment issue.
I recently had trouble booking a UA/SQ itin to India (SFO-SIN on UA, SIN-BLR on SQ), but appeared to be a fare rule error. I understand that if the partner immediately denies it (the fare class isn’t actually available, for example), it will look like a payment error, even though it has nothing to do with payment issue.
By "payment error" I mean that if I try and use the FFC over the phone, I get put on hold for a few minutes, and then told that the itinerary has to have at least one UA leg to be able to use the FFC.
May 24, 2023, 12:19 am
#10
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
Generally if not a codeshare or joint venture flight, you will have a hard time building itins on united.com without any UA operated flights (and therefore unable to used the FFC). And you will find neither for UK/EU to India.
Google flights sometimes works better, but doubt it will help in this case.
Google flights sometimes works better, but doubt it will help in this case.
Jul 5, 2023, 6:47 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,135
Booking partner only cash flights on United.com / app
Folks - didn't see a thread on this and google searches were yielding only mileage awards but my question is different. I want to use United to book revenue tickets on other airlines like Avianca. Turns out using FFC has no restrictions anymore but when I called United, they had very poor inventory for Avianca (non-stop flights were not available at all and they show openly available on Avianca's website). My question - which partner airlines share most of their inventory with United? Thank you
Jul 5, 2023, 8:56 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,092
There are lots of plating restrictions these days that limit UAs ability to sell partner airline flights on 016 ticket stock. You can pretty much always get full fare Y/J etc., but that is very expensive and UA is not trying to be a TA, so even if it is technically doable for UA to ticket partner flights, they usually don't. They will do it when in conjunction with UA-coded flights and any UA-coded partner operated flight is possible on 016 ticket.
Jul 5, 2023, 11:49 am
#14
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
UA prefers UA operated flights, codeshares or JV partners (LH, AC. NH, ...). For other partners that do not have plating restricting, UA may be able to book if there is a UA operated flight or codeshare additionally on the itin. An all partner, no JV or codeshare itin are hard / not allowed to be booked.
Sometimes thru services like Google Flights you may be able to get an expanded list of options bookable on UA.com.
Sometimes calling you can get some partner flights but you need other UA flights and partner flights without plating restrictions (those restrictions may be just limited to discount fares and/or longer non-stops)
Sometimes thru services like Google Flights you may be able to get an expanded list of options bookable on UA.com.
Sometimes calling you can get some partner flights but you need other UA flights and partner flights without plating restrictions (those restrictions may be just limited to discount fares and/or longer non-stops)
Jul 5, 2023, 5:19 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: Free agent, UA 1K, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 353
Can someone ELI5 what plating is?
This is my new go to. I find so many more fares that aren't listed on united.com, often times much cheaper and/or with better routings.. Just booked Singapore and Thailand on all NH/SQ/AC metal for significantly less than the J fares listed on UA, bu still getting my PQPs since it's 016 stock thanks to one leg being a UA codeshare flight number.
This is my new go to. I find so many more fares that aren't listed on united.com, often times much cheaper and/or with better routings.. Just booked Singapore and Thailand on all NH/SQ/AC metal for significantly less than the J fares listed on UA, bu still getting my PQPs since it's 016 stock thanks to one leg being a UA codeshare flight number.