My Observations As A GS Newbie
Jan 21, 2024, 10:59 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ, PDX
Programs: UA 1 MM, AA, DL
Posts: 930
Jan 22, 2024, 1:44 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
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Great post -- I want to know what happened to your ANA trip. I presume y
u neglected to cancel before departure and were marked as a no-show with the accompanying penalty.
u neglected to cancel before departure and were marked as a no-show with the accompanying penalty.
Jan 22, 2024, 2:42 am
#20
Moderator, Trip Reports
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,719
Jan 22, 2024, 2:53 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,390
@Xyzzy I tried to cancel it multiple times. Called 3 times. Was told in the most polite way to pound sand. In Japanese. And then I actually found the cancellation form online, filled it in and submitted it before flight departure time. Received an email a day later and said too bad, so sad. Or something to that effect. I have tried calling several times and resigned myself to the fact that I will have to actually fly to NRT for a sushi lunch and to take care of this!
Two key issues you have:
1) "If the reserved flight was not canceled prior to its departure time, the unused award will not be eligible for refunds."
2) You can't cancel online "When the itinerary contains flights departing within 24 hours." - I found this out the hard way too...
I would suggest to NH that according to the rules you have to cancel during normal business hours -- but it was the middle of the night in Japan -- so you could not comply...
Last edited by bmwe92fan; Jan 22, 2024 at 3:02 am
Jan 22, 2024, 3:07 am
#23
Moderator, Trip Reports
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,719
Let me guess -- these were separate tickets (UA/NH)? If so -- to NH you no-showed -- and as you know the Japanese love their rules.... Keep pushing back -- you might get lucky.... Check out the following page for details: ANA Award Ticket -- Changes & Refunds
Two key issues you have:
1) "If the reserved flight was not canceled prior to its departure time, the unused award will not be eligible for refunds."
2) You can't cancel online "When the itinerary contains flights departing within 24 hours." - I found this out the hard way too...
I would suggest to NH that according to the rules you have to cancel during normal business hours -- but it was the middle of the night in Japan -- so you could not comply...
Two key issues you have:
1) "If the reserved flight was not canceled prior to its departure time, the unused award will not be eligible for refunds."
2) You can't cancel online "When the itinerary contains flights departing within 24 hours." - I found this out the hard way too...
I would suggest to NH that according to the rules you have to cancel during normal business hours -- but it was the middle of the night in Japan -- so you could not comply...
Jan 22, 2024, 3:09 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,390
Thanks for the insight bmwe92fan I appreciate it. I'm not going to lose too much sleep over it. It just makes me appreciate UA's website and how easy it is to cancel and change tickets. ANA's website literally makes you want to shove your head in a microwave and yell "crikey" out loud.
We are here in Tokyo heading to our other home in NYC this week -- will miss the weather here!
And yes we can slam UA for many things -- but the App and web interfaces are better than anything else I've used...
Jan 22, 2024, 12:49 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 21,591
I just want to say your business gets mentioned all the time in various Facebook groups geared towards parents with kids at a large school near you.
Jan 22, 2024, 12:52 pm
#27
Moderator, Trip Reports
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,719
Thankfully that part of the business is run by some much smarter people than me and who have a lot more patience!
Jan 23, 2024, 5:39 pm
#28
Moderator, Trip Reports
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,719
Finally got thru to the lovely Vanessa (after 40 mins on hold) this morning who was based in LAX. After explaining my predicament and trying my best to convey that my bottom lip was quivering, she was able to coax the ANA system in giving me back my miles with zero penalty. And I didnt even have to use the F word once.
Sometimes my greatness scares even me
Jan 24, 2024, 7:23 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,943
You would be proud of me bmwe92fan as I persisted and persisted and persisted.
Finally got thru to the lovely Vanessa (after 40 mins on hold) this morning who was based in LAX. After explaining my predicament and trying my best to convey that my bottom lip was quivering, she was able to coax the ANA system in giving me back my miles with zero penalty. And I didnt even have to use the F word once.
Sometimes my greatness scares even me
Finally got thru to the lovely Vanessa (after 40 mins on hold) this morning who was based in LAX. After explaining my predicament and trying my best to convey that my bottom lip was quivering, she was able to coax the ANA system in giving me back my miles with zero penalty. And I didnt even have to use the F word once.
Sometimes my greatness scares even me
I've never tried this tactic but based on your postings seems to work. I'll have to keep it in mind next time I have a difficult ticket to change on UA. Really have difficulty seeing how this worked with NH though. Your poor children.
Jan 24, 2024, 7:51 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: Hyatt Glob; UA 1K; BonVoyage LTT (RIP SPG); HH Dia; JX Insighter
Posts: 1,644