Odd Message on Multi-Segment Itinerary
 

I've been using Frequent Flyer Assistant to schedule/price:

RDU-ORD-NRT-BKK-HKG-PVG-SFO-IAD-RDU.

The UA Create itinerary page gives me these non-UA choices:

BKK-HKG on Thai or Cathay Pacific
HKG-PVG on Dragonair or China Eastern Air

So I select Cathay Pacific and Dragonair flights on those legs, hit Price this selection, and get:

We are unable to continue processing with the airline(s) you have selected.

Same thing if I select Thai. I was able to price it last week with Cathay. Did something change RE UA's relationship with these airlines? Why is it giving me these choices if they're not valid? Thanks.

What type of fare are you trying to use? If it's First, Business, Full Fare Economy, or the highest Economy Excursion (B*EX) fare, then they are all mileage based, so it shouldn't be a problem. If it's a lower fare, then it's a routing based fare, and Shanghai isn't on the routing to Bangkok, your point of turnaround. But it should also price by breaking the fare in Bangkok, and using a Y fare BKK-HKG-SHA on any carrier, then the UA fare back home. It prices fine in Sabre.

Fare was Coach (lowest avail.). I suspect it's just a united.com hiccup, as it worked fine for me last week (in fact several times as I tweaked dates). I called the 1K desk and she could produce an itinerary/fare. It's like it was recognizing the airlines (Thai, Cathay, Dragonair, and China Eastern) when offering airline/flight alternatives, but then not recognizing them on the next step. Knowing united.com, it will probably work again after the next full moon :)

Yeah, I've had that problem too. It's often easier to price it out on travelocity.

-David

Well it's odd as I've done lots of itineraries using FFA/ual.com without ever getting the "You've selected weird airlines message." I've gotten lots of "time sequence errors" messages because the booking engine doesn't seem to understand the international date line, but this is a new ual.com quirk for me :)

I started experiencing the same problem yesterday. Been watching the price on ORD-HKG-MNL and back the same way. Could book a ticket with Cathay on the HKG-MNL route last week. Now it gives me the same message you got.

I've had so many problems booking multi-carrier int'l itin's on ual.com that I no longer bother trying. Just call.

The problem with just calling is that, like linsj, I've been checking the price periodically and not quite ready to book. Calling and describing the eight segments and exact flights I want takes a lot of phone time. It sure was a lot easier just submitting an FFA itinerary to check prices.

Has anyone been able to buy/price international tickets with a segment on another airline not in United's list lately? I'm still getting this weird message. It'll cost me $200 more to buy the tickets separately than as a multi-city flight. Problem with other sites is not being able to see the fare class so I know for sure that I'm eligible for an upgrade.

Expedia will show you all the rules, including fare basis, before you buy.

Make a "tentative booking." Once you have the record locator, you can always call up -- even after it has expired due to the Ticketing Time Limit -- and ask if it is still available or how much it would be on certain dates. You don't have to save the changes each time you call.

Never use the UA website for international fares. You will be put on other airlines, quoted absurdly high fares, and sent on the most improbable routings. Just dial the toll free number. You will save time. You will save money. You will get more miles (remember that there aren't the bonus miles on TG or BD).

I've had some success on domestic itineraries on the UA website. And I'll check the UA website out of curiosity. But it really takes some time-consuming tinkering in the multi city mode.

Just call.