Award ticket changes question
 

Hi,

I recently flew on an all-United award from the US to Asia. I wanted no Star Alliance partners in the award in order to be able to make routing and date changes once I had flown the outbound. However, when flying on the outbound many of my flights were cancelled due to storms in the US. for the PIT-ORD leg, I was rebooked on US Air because my United flight was cancelled. All other flights remained United.

Now, I need to change my departure city in Asia from SIN to BKK and they won't let me do this. There is availabiliy on a TG flight that will get me home, but they won't let me on it. First of all they told me that I am on a *A award (obviously non-changeable). After explaining to them that I am not, they told me that I cannot change my United award to a Star Alliance award. Is this really a rule? I was told in the past by United CS agents that an all-United award can be altered to include partners (only once obviously because then it becomes a *A award).

Thanks very much for any help or advice :)

just bumping this back onto the 1st page in the hope that anyone can help :)

Call CSR again to check if you can get any US based agaents. No idea who is more knowedgable/helpful but worth a try.

Also, IIRC you can change the dates... but you cannot change the routing.

I thought this was just the case for a *A award? It was my understanding that the routing of an all United award can be changed.

TG is correct
 

I believe TG agent is correct.
If you are claiming your ticket is UA award, not *A award, then you can not change UA award to *A award now. In order to change to *A award, you would have to cancel your UA award, deposit your miles back to your MP account, and start a brand new booking on *A award. However, in your case, since you have started your trip, it is not possible to deposit back your miles now.
If your ticket is a *A award, obviously you can not change it now because you have started your trip.
I am afraid your only option now is to buy a one way ticket from BKK to SIN, which usually does not cost much.

Good luck.

I believe you can change routings but there is a fee for non-1K's.

bummer :(

It was a UA agent not a TG agent. And the reason I thought this was possible is because I asked a UA agent this very question in the past and they told me that it was. I wish there was some way to hold them accountable for incorrect information. Thanks anyway though.

One thing you should take away from this experience is that United is consistently inconsistent. Never hold an agent accountable for what they say, but research it yourself so you know the facts. If you still don't know something, ask here on FT, and I am sure someone will have an answer. This is really the only way to be certain.:p :)

If you have to get to BKK from SIN, there are several low cost carriers. Try Jetstar or Tiger. It is very inexpensive to fly SIN-BKK.

No, we should always hold them accountable. The problem is convincing United that they should do so.

Yeah, my problem is that all the LCCs that fly from BKK to SIN have really low checked baggage limits, so it will end up costing me a ton. This is just really annoying that I now have to figure out how to get to SIN with my bags - after being told that I could change with no problem.

The only reason I booked to leave out of SIN was because of all the uncertainty regarding new visa rules in Thailand. I obvisouly knew that there woud be nothing available on United to get me out - there never is on short notice, but I figured with all the partners here it shouldn't be a problem to find availability on a partner.

What a horrible experience to be told such conflicting things by the same company. Anyway, thanks to all for your help :)