Problem Using 500s Online
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,881
Problem Using 500s Online
Okay, so I have a weird issue. Whenever I try to upgrade flights and click request upgrade on the My Itinearies page, I get a "system error" message. If I go in through the e-upgrades section and hit Request Upgrade, it pulls up the correct screen, but only gives me the option of upgrading using a confirmed instrument. Under each flight, where it would normally let me upgrade using 500s, it always says "500 mile upgrades can only be used to upgrade one travelling companion." Right, I know, but I'm trying to upgrade myself. This used to work fine, but went away at the same time the functionality to sponsor upgrades using 500s did. What the hell?
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ravens Country
Programs: UA-1K, Marriott-Gold, SPG-Gold, IC RA/Plat, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,887
It is prob .com acting up. Just call the 1K desk and they will do it for you
Ben
Ben
#3
Original Poster




Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,881
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ravens Country
Programs: UA-1K, Marriott-Gold, SPG-Gold, IC RA/Plat, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,887
and that I could not change my seat on line. It better not be...
Ben
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
In my case it's the list of upgrade instruments to choose from which is always empty (no, I do have plenty of E-upgrades of all kinds.)
Calling web support and having them "manually" process the on-line sponsored upgrade does at least save me a trip to the airport to write the bluey. Although it's not a great time saver, those cretins take 30-60 minutes on every call thanks to their rudimentary grasp of English and apparent incapacity to do anything other than call the next cretin up the chain.
And as for actually fixing the bug, not a chance. Anyway there are 112 pages of other bugs in line in the FT sticky about dot Bomb
Calling web support and having them "manually" process the on-line sponsored upgrade does at least save me a trip to the airport to write the bluey. Although it's not a great time saver, those cretins take 30-60 minutes on every call thanks to their rudimentary grasp of English and apparent incapacity to do anything other than call the next cretin up the chain.
And as for actually fixing the bug, not a chance. Anyway there are 112 pages of other bugs in line in the FT sticky about dot Bomb
#6
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 502
Yep. Noticed that if there is a codeshare anywhere in the itinerary I get the same error. Oh well.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago - Logan Square
Programs: UAL 1P,HH D, SPG GP, FT Newbie!
Posts: 222
This has been happening to me lately as well...the only way around it I have found is to log out, delete my cookies, then log back in and apply my upgrade.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: UA 1K; SPG Gold
Posts: 414
The Indian Web Help desk said it was a "known problem" they were working on and to straighten it out at the airport. At the airport the counter agent acted like it was my fault. "Well of course it wouldn't let you check in. It didn't know how you wanted to pay for the upgrade!"
#9

Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: South Pacific
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,810
Do you get this problem only on itineraries with more than 4 segments (= 2 ticket numbers needed)? I think that has something to do with this, in my case I am unable to apply E-500 if my ticket has been issued on more than one ticket number (even sequentials).
#10
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: UA 1K; SPG Gold
Posts: 414
It was a 4 segment, same day return itin. The last two segments (the "Return") were the ones that I had confirmed upgrades on.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ketchikan, Alaska
Programs: GSA City-Pair; emeritus AS MVPG/UA 1K/US Plat, etc.
Posts: 2,635
My p.s. Do itinerary is like this too - everything's jumbled up to where it says I'm flying in NC on a CRJ-200 and I've been upgraded to NF on a Ted flight. As if. 
.bomb strikes again

.bomb strikes again
#12
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Feb 2004
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#13
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DC
Programs: UA GS, 2MM
Posts: 208
Speaking of 500 milers... has anyone else noticed how you can no longer sponsor upgrades of friends not flying on the same itinerary with 500 milers? I tried to upgrade a friend recently and was very disappointed to see that. Now I have to actually really try to use them all. I always thought it was so great to be able to surprise my friends with upgrades to F.
#14




Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-SLV, QF-GLD, DL-PM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,353
Speaking of 500 milers... has anyone else noticed how you can no longer sponsor upgrades of friends not flying on the same itinerary with 500 milers? I tried to upgrade a friend recently and was very disappointed to see that. Now I have to actually really try to use them all. I always thought it was so great to be able to surprise my friends with upgrades to F.
They cleared at your window too. ^ Which was good, because if they had to go to the airport they would have been in trouble with an upgrade they couldn't pay for and no seat in Y.
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,227
You need to make a distinction between same itinerary, same PNR, and same flight. You don't need the be on the same itinerary or same PNR, as long as you're on the same flight. I've just called up to make the request in those cases, and never had a problem.

