*A Award--Waitlist or Not?
Jul 1, 2003 | 2:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,752
*A Award--Waitlist or Not?
I have had a US-Europe *A award booked for months which I'm about to take...There was a certain UA-operated flight I wanted to change to on one of the portions. From the time I booked it, they told me I could not waitlist, because when there are other carriers on the same ticket, they cannot waitlist me, even if it's UA metal...So the advised me to call back on occasion to see if the flight I wanted had XF availability....I am free to change my ticket, but unable to waitlist.
So, for months, I checked award availability on-line, called back on occasion, nothing, and each time on the phone I asked (knowing the answer) if I could be waitlisted for the alternate flight...Nope, no, nein, nada--all the time...Sure, I guess it's policy, they say for protection of other *A carriers, whatever that means (I heard that line from 2-3 agents over the course of my calls).
Well, low and behold, yesterday, I call again to check availablity, and without me even asking, the agent suggests I waitlist. I even get a little squeamish and tell her that I don't think you can do that. She said, "Let's try". The computer took the waitlist. The waitlist lasted a whole 12 hours and BOOM!, I was CONFIRMED on the flight I've wanted for months now.
What is the policy? Anyone know?
(I did call back to confirm that my complete itinerary is still in tact, and it is).
And the moral of the story...If you don't like the first answer (or second, third, tenth), keep trying! (Even if it is 3-4 months later).
So, for months, I checked award availability on-line, called back on occasion, nothing, and each time on the phone I asked (knowing the answer) if I could be waitlisted for the alternate flight...Nope, no, nein, nada--all the time...Sure, I guess it's policy, they say for protection of other *A carriers, whatever that means (I heard that line from 2-3 agents over the course of my calls).
Well, low and behold, yesterday, I call again to check availablity, and without me even asking, the agent suggests I waitlist. I even get a little squeamish and tell her that I don't think you can do that. She said, "Let's try". The computer took the waitlist. The waitlist lasted a whole 12 hours and BOOM!, I was CONFIRMED on the flight I've wanted for months now.
What is the policy? Anyone know?
(I did call back to confirm that my complete itinerary is still in tact, and it is).
And the moral of the story...If you don't like the first answer (or second, third, tenth), keep trying! (Even if it is 3-4 months later).
Jul 1, 2003 | 4:36 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 42,604
The policy as far as I can ascertain is that once another carrier touches the reservation, that no segment is supposed to be WL. In fact, I just had that issue where the *A partner flight was wide open but the UA flight wasn't. The UA rep WL me for the UA segment but couldn't book the *A connection until (or if) the UA segment cleared.
Jul 2, 2003 | 8:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Programs: UA Nobody (former 1K, 1P, 2P), QFF Nobody, Skywards Nobody
Posts: 1,337
The policy is definitely no WL when using a *A award.
I had a ticketing agent that agreed with me that I should be able to WL the UA segments (C award but only Y seats). The system allowed this okay.
But, I then had to persuade them to open up E+ seats for the Y section. The act of doing that cancelled the WL :-(
Hope yours works out.
[This message has been edited by BrisbanePE (edited 07-02-2003).]
I had a ticketing agent that agreed with me that I should be able to WL the UA segments (C award but only Y seats). The system allowed this okay.
But, I then had to persuade them to open up E+ seats for the Y section. The act of doing that cancelled the WL :-(
Hope yours works out.
[This message has been edited by BrisbanePE (edited 07-02-2003).]