MP and the *just one time exception* GRRR
 

So I called MP to get flight credit for my original routing. ORD - SFO - PVG.

First time the agent wasn't so good and couldn't find my record (sad...very sad) and then wanted me to send in my original boarding passes. Since this is a pain as I am overseas, I decided to wait another day and call back.

Next call.
Agent checks with a supervisor and agrees to give me the credit for ORD - SFO - PVG, but very clearly insists that this is a one time exception and will not happen again and I only get flight credit for the route flown.

GRRRRR GRRRR GRRRRR

Doesn't matter that it was UA's fault with the mechanical that would have caused the misconnect

Doesn't matter that I specifically bought the ORD - SFO - PVG routing for the extra miles and the fact that I've done ORD - PVG before and its just a damn long flight for me and I like to break it up

One time exception she says...does this hold water? probably not but its still a pisser.

I'm not sure what exactly "one time exception" means, and hence its real significance. Is being told that by the agent like being told in grade school that something will go on your "permanent record," which is to say it means effectively nothing? Or does it mean that if exactly the same set of circumstances should come about again (a "mechanical" on this particular itinerary caused a "misconnect"), then they will handle the crediting of mileage differently? (You didn't say exactly what happened to your routing and how the miles were affected. Was the "exception" you were seeking truly exceptional, or was it consistent with the way they usually handle such matters?) Or does it mean that you used the once-in-a-lifetime "favor" UA will give you?

As to whether it "hold(s) water," and is or is not "a pisser" (pun intended?), who knows? Does an agent ever look at your UA "permanent record" to see if you have used that once-in-a-lifetime special dispensation favor? That seems impropable to me, as apparently it does to you too.

I have NEVER ever had a problem requesting credit for segments that I did not fly because of a misconnect. However, I have not ever attempted to stand-by for the nonstop and then claim mileage for the original PNR, as I don't see that as being fair. If you have a legitimate intinerary, then you are entitled to the mileage that you should have flown.

I'm wondering if we are missing something.

I think maybe the OP is talking about being on a "Direct" flight number from ORD to PVG?

I think you always have the right to call in and request the original credit if your flights ended up different from your purchased iten (for various reasons).

BUT if you call and ask to get actual flight miles instead of the direct miles when you booked the direct flight, this is a one time exception.

I know because it happened to me. In late 2004 I had a "direct" flight from somewhere in Asia (BKK, I think) that connected through somewhere that screwed me out of a lot of miles (probably direct from NRT to IAD but really stopped in SFO). I called and got the original miles and they told me it was a one time thing.

I then tried to call again for the same thing 11 months!! later and they would not do it and said my record clearly stated I had been informed it was a one time thing.

The moral of the story is don't book the direct flight number and then be sad later if you don't get the miles.

Nope. Didn't stand by for the direct flight, plus I didn't know you could stand for international flights.

My original purchased iten. was UA 139 ORD - SFO then UA 857 SFO - PVG.
UA 139 had mechnical issues which would make me misconnect, so UA put me on the direct ORD - PVG flight.

So I just wanted the miles for my original iten. It wasn't my fault that UA 139 had a mechanical

These additional details are helpful to an understanding of your OP. One more question - how many miles were they originally going to credit you and how many miles did they finally credit you after making that "one time exception"? A substantial difference in EQM and RDM?

I'm not entirely clear what happened to bkc6j, but I assume it too involved a shorting on miles because of a difference in calculating them based on individual legs or segments vs doing it on orgin to destination, as when ticketed with one flight number all the way through, notwithstanding intermediate stop(s), even change of planes along the way. (Right?) I do wonder how great the differences in EQM/RDM yields can be. I take it from bkc6j's experience 11 months after the first one, they do keep and consult a "permanent record" that tells them whether you have previously benefitted from a "one time exception."

So, does "one time exception" mean they will not do this particular "favor"/ concession ever again, or is it still worse, meaning they will never again grant any "favor"/concession? Hmmm...the "permanent record"!

RE:similar, but not the same problem
 

Can you claim credit for actual miles flown when two segments are given the same flight number? For example, UA 914 is both SFO-IAD-CDG and IAD-CDG with another flight number for the 2nd leg, depending on how you book it. The first example seems to yield some 800 or a thousand miles less than the second, although identical flights. If not, can one stand-by for a different SFO-IAD flight that leaves 10 min earlier and claim the additional miles?? I've been booking flights all the way into Sept. and sometimes I'm given the choice of the two flight # pair and sometimes only the single flight #. All advice appreciated.

I take it the same way, but it's a little surprising to me that this exists. I didn't really think the "one time exception" was a reality, but rather something CSRs told you to make you feel grateful. I guess not...

Generally no, if you're booked on Flight 914 throughout, even if you need to change planes at IAD, you only get credit for flight 914, ie, SFO-CDG vs SFO-IAD-CDG.

It sucks to be honest. SAN has a 'direct flight' to FRA via SFO, all via flight 900, so if you're booked on that, expect a loss of ~700 EQM or so.

Even with the same flight number, you will get credit for the two segments if and only if you book them as separate segments. Another advantage of booking a 'direct' flight as separate segments is that your UGs can clear segment by segment (instead of all or nothing). Unfortunately, not all agents are willing/able to book a 'direct' flight segment by segment.

No, because the rules are quite specific about this. If you want the actual mileage credit, don't book a direct flight. Ever.

OK, please 'splain, cuz I wanna be sure I get this:...you pay the same fare and fly the same flights but get substantially different EQM/RDM depending on how you booked it?...you can get the higher rather than lower yield of EQM/RDM by booking it as separate segments rather than as a "direct" flight, doing nothing else, and not paying a higher fare to book it that way?...some agents might not know how to book it as separate segments or balk it doing so for some reason (more work?), but it can be done and we should insist on it?...can this problem be avoided with united.com bookings, perhaps by starting with the "multicity" option, or united.com will force on you what you don't want in this regard?

Thanks, this is potentially useful information. I would like to mazimize EQM/RDM per $ spent, while avoiding problems when possible, so as not to need that once-in-a-lifetime exception.

I'll bet you didn't believe they were keeping a "permanent record" on you in school in either, or at least not before you got to high school and started thinking about going on to college. Let some UA rep sense impatience or disapproval after they have entered your MP number and thereafter the gingerman will be marked for life to get short shrift.

Yup, you pretty much got it.

Multi-city on UA.com is one way to do it. My corporate TA will also do it if I ask nicely. :)

The Original miles credit for the purchased iten. was close to the great circle mapper ORD - PVG so ~7057 mi.

What is now credited is

UA 0857 H Class SFO to PVG 6,168 6,168 12,336
UA 0139 H Class ORD to SFO 1,846 1,846 3,692

The proper amount to credit is 8014; a difference of about ~957mi EQMs.

--

So for my original routing, I would get
for the roundtrip 16,028 EQMs and 32,056 RDMs.
I plan on doing this trip at least 4 times this year so that is 64,112 EQMs and 128,224 RDMs

If I just took the direct flight ORD - SFO, I would get
for the roundtrip ~14,114 EQMs and 28,228 RDMs. Multiple this by 4 trips, it becomes ~56,456 EQMs and ~112,912 RDMs

So for me it is a significant difference