problem with code-share credit
 

With the bonus EQMs that just posted, I'm now 654 miles short of 1K. The reason? I still don't have full credit for a flight I took in September from SFO to CNS, via SYD, with a UA flight number.

The SFO-SYD miles on UA metal posted within a day or two. The SYD-CNS flight on Virgin Blue still hasn't posted. I first requested credit on the website, then two months later, having gotten no response, mailed in the boarding passes just before Thanksgiving. I got a letter dated December 3rd, saying the credit was denied because "The records show this ticket was never used."

Yesterday I called MP, and was told that my record indicates the boarding passes were received, and that I should just ignore the denial letter ("an automated response"), which was probably generated in response to my initial request on the website.

Does this sound likely to anyone? Am I safe to just wait for this credit, even if it takes longer than the end of the year? If I knew for certain that I wouldn't get the credit, I would probably (with extreme annoyance) make a short mileage run before the 31st. Advice?

I definitely would seek clarification, including something in writing from MP.

Too many things just slip between the cracks at MP, and if the end of the year passes without them issuing credit, you won't have any leverage at all in making it right.

I am confused as to what you are saying. Do you expect UA status miles for a flight from SYD to CNS on Virgin Blue? Was this Virgin Blue a codeshare with UA? You can only get status miles on *A flights. I also don't see that Virgin Blue is even a partner with UA much less a code share. Am I missing something? Even if they are a partner you would only earn redeamable miles and not status miles. Please explain in more detail what you are missing and what you are expecting.

Book an MR quick if you want 1K. Flying on DJ will not give you EQMs.

As for the miles for that flight (RDMs), they will post eventually (assuming it was, as you say, booked with a UA flight number as part of a UA revenue itinerary).

edited to add: Welcome to FT ^ and good luck with that run.

Enjoy the MR, and except that DJ is slow to process the redeemable miles, I hope your annoyance level is now reduced.

The flight was booked through United with a United flight number. I thought anything with a UA flight number would give me EQMs. Can someone show me where in UA's policies I should have found this information? I just read through the entire program rules on the website, and I don't see anything about EQMs for codeshare flights.

If you take a look at the UA website on earning miles - the chart will show you when you do and dont get EQM's. Just because its a UA flight number will not necessary result in EQM;s. If you are CA based I suggest you do a real quick hop before the end of the yr. As a non BIS 1K UA might not feel like forgiving you the 654 miles - I sure wouldnt risk 6 SWU's and 8 CR1's on it :)

If you look at the bottom of this page:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,3122,00.html

You will notice it says:

"PLEASE NOTE: The mileage accrual of United marketed code share flights operated by other carriers is based on the accrual rule of the operating carrier."

So the mileage you get is based on Virgin Blue and not UA.

And from this page:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0...,00.html#jump3

It says:

"You can earn miles toward elite status on all the airlines of the global Star Alliance network, including United."

So by piecing together the 2 bits of information you can not earn EQM on code share partners other than *A partners. Virgin Blue is not in the *A so even though it had a UA flight number as a code share it is not eligible for EQM's.

I admit United does not make it easy to figure these things out. And as a member of FlyerTalk you have a wealth of information at your fingertips. First try a search for the information and if you can't find it ask the question. Be sure to state you tried a search or some will immediately say "Try a search".

Sorry for the bad news about the EQM's but now you know.

Just shows how convoluted these rules are. I am a 1k and MM flyer and had no idea.

Do a quick mileage run.

OK, I'm scheduled for a quick drink in LA on the evening of the 30th. That should do it. Thanks for the help, everyone! I easily could have failed to figure out I had a problem until it was too late to fix it.

Though speaking as someone who's paid to communicate highly technical material, I have to say that the information on the website isn't presented in a way that indicates a strong desire to be understood....