How do you split a "direct" flight to increase miles
 

I was blindsided by one of these same flight number - different airplanes deals on my flight to LHR tomorrow - when I called in to upgrade the domestic portion they said no dice.

I've read through some back threads about flights where you have the same flight number. Apparently you get only the "direct" miles in spite of the fact that you've got hours on the ground somewhere else and you've flown on two different planes.

Leaving aside how I feel about the inability to upgrade SFO-JFK, with the other flights I have booked (at maxiumum mileage of course) if I got my proper mileage (and paid the $100) I would make 1K, but if they cheat me out of my butt in seat miles it would short me by about 1,400 EQM which will leave me high and dry by about 900 miles.

It sounds like from what people have said that you can get the full flown miles if you get two boarding passes (instead of a "reboarding pass"). If you are on two seperate planes, wouldn't that naturally be the case?

Secondly, when I check in, is it possible for the checkin counter to sever the flights?

If so, and I upgrade the domestic portion, would that be sufficient to generate 2 segments for miles?

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I am WAYYYY open here - 6 SWUs are at stake!!!

Cheers and TIA!
Fly2Kayak

Yes, I learned it the hard way doing LAX-IAD-LHR. That added an extra 900 miles or so. For a long while, it was a different flight number, but that changed about nine months ago. I realized I was only getting 5450 miles one way.

If you were a 1K, you could persuade the desk to make it a separate itinerary. Once, my flight from LHR was late and I missed the IAD flight. I got on a different plane... and, bingo, I got my extra miles too.

Others may have better insight than me on this... but can't you go to the airport early, check in for your original flight, and then standby for an earlier flight to IAD? Then the miles will post for what you actually flew.

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"There are those who travel, and those who travel well."

[This message has been edited by JohnnyP (edited Nov 19, 2003).]

I've had success at just calling Reservations and explaining what I wanted to do and why (improve upgrade chances by having separate segments and/or get more mileage). If you get a nice well experienced agent, they know how to do it.

One thing to beware of when you check-in however. Many airport agents will then recombine them thinking they are doing you or their company a favor.

Hi PremEx - I have tried calling reservations twice. Once I got a sympathetic agent who said she couldn't do it for me and the second time I got a snotty jerk who told me that since I was a 1P I should have known this and listened to the agent when she booked my flight (as if I knew all of this).

Both told me that they would have to reprice the ticket. Is there a way around this???

Also the advice about standing by might help too - will they reprice the ticket if I do that?


[This message has been edited by Fly2Kayak (edited Nov 19, 2003).]

I had a similar experience once going from IAD-SFO-NRT on UA. My flight was booked as a "direct" one, i.e. one flight number through to NRT showing a stop enroute. I did try calling reservations to split the itinerary so I could upgrade, and they tried, but my original fare class was not available so they couldn't do it. However, I seem to recall that I got miles for IAD-SFO and then SFO-NRT. Yes, you could stand by for an earlier flight to IAD and no, they would not charge you. Best wishes.

The best way to combat this is during the purchasing stage. The multiple segments option on united.com is a very useful tool for this.

I recently flew SFO-SIN on UA805. Booked as such, one would receive 8,444 miles. I booked my ticket as SFO-HKG-SIN and voila, I was credited for 6913 (SFO-HKG) and 1603 (HKG-SIN). It cost an extra $1.50 for booking via "HKG" instead of direct. Mileage difference isn't that great, but every little bit counts, and I think a buck fifty is a small price to pay for an extra 150 miles.

I'm not quite sure of your itinerary, but I would try to stand by for an earlier flight; or if you are daring, a later flight. I'm guessing that at least part of your itinerary is SFO-JFK-LHR. There are two flights a day JFK-LHR. And either the 0800 or the 0900 AM flight from SFO will get you to JFK for either of the LHR flights. Are you starting in SMF, as your profile indicates to be your domicile? It looks like you have a shot at trying for an earlier flight, or strategically showing up late for one of them. You stand to lose your transatlantic upgrade, but it might clear last minute. And as you point out, you stand to gain 6 more SWUs and other benefits.

I've learnt my lesson - unfortunately the hard way. I will be standing by for the earlier flight tomorrow (and am told it looks good).

I am flying SFO-JFK-LHR on UA956 (and thankfully the return is LHR-IAD-SFO).

I've gathered the information I have from earlier threads and the sage advice here and... in summary, the advice is

1) Don't be a knucklehead, and make sure you are booked on two seperate coupons to start with.

2) If you are a knucklehead but have PremEx's gift of gab, call Reservations and see if they'll seperate your tickets. (I've kissed the Blarney stone and it didn't help me with this one).

3) If you are an unconvincing knucklhead who can't do (1) and (2) above, then stand by on an earlier flight (I confirmed with UA Reservations that this is allowable even on an INTL itin).

4) If you are an unconvincing knucklehead who wants to sleep in, another poster in an earlier thread suggested that upgrading at the gate will force the ticket apart. (Can anyone confirm this?). It might also be possible for the GAs to seperate the flight if they can be convinced to do it (Again any confirmation here). Lastly, it has been suggested that if you have two boarding cards (ie. for different seats this might work (or at least help with (5) below) (confirmation?).

5) If you are an unconvincing knucklehead who got some beauty sleep but has no luck with upgrades - then.... I guess your only hope is to call MP after your flight and beg and plead. Again I suspect the gift of gab will help here - but for those who don't is there some advice from anyone who's made this work? I'm not game to try this one since I'm not sure if a CS rep adds the miles whether they'll count as EQM - and more importantly double EQM.


Thanks again - driving to SFO from SMF for an 8AM is a PITA, so this won't be a lesson I soon forget but I'm sure when I upgrade LHR-NRT next year with my shiny new electronic SWUs it will help me forget http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by Fly2Kayak (edited Nov 19, 2003).]

I routinely have my travel agent do this for me. First, if you don't do it when you make your reservation, you are likely to be subject to change rules. Second, you will usually pay some additional fees because you now have another airport fee.

My recollection is that it takes some effort to do. Let's say I'm flying LAX to LHR through Dulles. What my TA has to do is book the LAX-Dulles flight connecting with a different, later flight number. Then she subs in for the second segment the continuation flight number from Dulles to LHR and Sabre retains it as a separate flight.

The above is a fictitious example, but hpefully provides guidance for those using a TA. There may be other ways to do it, as well.

I have had the best luck in doing the split at the gate. Once the seats are under gate control, you can switch seats for only the first leg which then breaks the flight into two segments. Usually I do this as I'm trying to upgrade the international and domestic portion with a single systemwide upgrade but the same C-seat is not available on both flights so it did not clear in advance. Once the segments are split they can process the upgrades individually (space available of course) and assign you different seats.
At the gate, I usually hang around until I can speak with whoever appears most senior and will know how to do this. Newbie gate agents will not know how to do it in my experience.
Caveat - I haven't had to do it in at least 1 year, so I'm not sure if the computer has changed....

What kind of fare do you have? Have you tried pricing out a new record on ual.com with your itinerary of choice. Obviously, as you are flying tomorrow, fares are limited. But if you can create a new reservation, and it is a price you are willing to pay, you can "buy up" to that fare.

I'm on a Q fare - about $650. A fare now was pricing at around $2,400.

That's the solution the really "helpful" agent had for me, before he got all sarcastic and suggested that just because I'm a 1P I should know all of the ins and outs of mileage generation and upgrades. Thanks to FT I'm coming along, but I'm still just a freshman...

Doing this at time of purchase is the best option as already discussed - I have had a travel agent insert an extra segment for travel by land in the past which has resulted in tickets for each segment.

Additionally, last year Mileage Plus promised to restate my miles if I was short for 1K as a result of segments being combined - in the end I did not need it!

Agree, and I usually try to do this now.

In the past when I booked on the web and got one flight number for the whole she-bang, I'd immediately call to ask for the split. So it could be I was sucessful simply because the fare was still available. But I've never had them say they had to reticket. But perhaps that's what they did and I just was unware of it?