Starnet and Award availability
Apr 10, 2008, 12:56 pm
#151
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SQL
Programs: SPG Platinum; Hyatt Platinum; UA 1K
Posts: 3,170
1) Have a confirmed reservation on a flight
2) Have a ticket (or e-ticket) with a coupon (or e-coupon) that is valid for that flight.
3) Checked in within the required time frame.
Apr 10, 2008, 3:07 pm
#152
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Sweden
Posts: 2,044
While not an expert, I can not imagine any way for the "system" to deny you boarding for a flight in which you:
1) Have a confirmed reservation on a flight
2) Have a ticket (or e-ticket) with a coupon (or e-coupon) that is valid for that flight.
3) Checked in within the required time frame.
1) Have a confirmed reservation on a flight
2) Have a ticket (or e-ticket) with a coupon (or e-coupon) that is valid for that flight.
3) Checked in within the required time frame.
CA denied to check me in even though I:
1) had confirmed reservation. (at least in UA's system)
2) had valid e-ticket which was issued by UA. (an award ticket)
3) came to check in counter in time.(1:15 h before departue time)
Apr 14, 2008, 5:48 am
#153
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,595
Here's another data point as I try to book a NRT-PEK trip.
ANA tool shows two NH flights available, one in both C and Y, the other in C only. They haven't added CA to the website yet, so no way to check on those three nonstops.
UA agent says: Only one flight is available, a CA flight -- in C only!
So it's easier to get CA C than NH Y? What's up with this?
ANA tool shows two NH flights available, one in both C and Y, the other in C only. They haven't added CA to the website yet, so no way to check on those three nonstops.
UA agent says: Only one flight is available, a CA flight -- in C only!
So it's easier to get CA C than NH Y? What's up with this?
Apr 14, 2008, 9:37 am
#154
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United/Star Alliance - 1K
Posts: 2,176
While it's not directly on point, I've been able to refine my mostly-F saver award SFO-LEJ for May 6-13. Originally, it was SFO-LAX (Y) - LHR (F) - FRA (C) - LEJ (C); LEJ-FRA(C), - ORD (F) - SFO (C); then LAX-LHR-FRA became LAX-FRA (though I have to train to LEJ now) and FRA-ORD-SFO became FRA-LAX-SFO(Y); then that became FRA-SFO. ^ Hopefully by the time I go, it'll be SFO-FRA. 
Oh, and I've cut the taxes down by more than 1/2.
Oh, and I've cut the taxes down by more than 1/2.
Apr 14, 2008, 9:42 am
#155
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: The World! Home Base = DCA/IAD
Programs: HHonors, Hyatt GP, Marriott, Varying Levels w/ UA /AF /DL /SQ /AA
Posts: 2,665
I tried to book r/t 1st on TG BKK-JNB (TG 703/704), ANA tool shows availability. Call UA, and the agent says that she can see the flight as available for sale on the res. screen, however when she switches over to look for available flights from award inventory (I'm not sure what the screens contain or look like) not only is the flight not available, the flight isn't even there. As in, it doesn't seem to be just "unavailable" - it doesn't even exist for an award. She was just as confused as I was.
Last edited by TravelinWilly; Apr 14, 2008 at 9:57 am Reason: Typo - fix quote
Apr 14, 2008, 12:21 pm
#156
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: 1P, AA EXP, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,491
Apr 14, 2008, 12:56 pm
#157
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
The guy from SQ was actually on the phone with UA, and told them it was in starnet, and then when that did not work, to try to get it to work he actually did a rebooking for me in I, and gave UA the confirmation number, all that UA had to do according to the SQ guy was take the booking and confirm it. UA would just not do it, even when he sent them the reservation.
Even if the SQ agent was looking at a "Starnet" display, it would not show the same results that a UA agent would see. The UA agent's screen is filtered and limits availability.
There is nothing in the rules that prohibits UA from restricting availability of Star Alliance awards. We may not like it, but UA can do it.
I have a lot of miles in LH and BD. Yes, availability is a LOT better, but you get absolutely murdered with the additional taxes they charge (which are not taxes at all but fuel surcharges). HUGE difference from the "taxes" that UA charges for redemptions on the same routes.
Apr 14, 2008, 4:13 pm
#158
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,595
Denid boarding, I have no idea. But denied check in, yes, it happened to me.
CA denied to check me in even though I:
1) had confirmed reservation. (at least in UA's system)
2) had valid e-ticket which was issued by UA. (an award ticket)
3) came to check in counter in time.(1:15 h before departue time)
CA denied to check me in even though I:
1) had confirmed reservation. (at least in UA's system)
2) had valid e-ticket which was issued by UA. (an award ticket)
3) came to check in counter in time.(1:15 h before departue time)
So I called Japan reservations to get the paper tickets, and the agent said "I'm sorry--those aren't good dates for Air China!"
Looks like I will be using NW miles for this trip.
And possibly many more...
Last edited by joejones; Apr 14, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Apr 14, 2008, 6:18 pm
#159
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 146
I have a lot of miles in LH and BD. Yes, availability is a LOT better, but you get absolutely murdered with the additional taxes they charge (which are not taxes at all but fuel surcharges). HUGE difference from the "taxes" that UA charges for redemptions on the same routes.
Apr 14, 2008, 7:40 pm
#161
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
They most certainly do. I just booked BKK-xSIN-oMNL and return on SQ in F using BD miles. UA wouldn't book it becuase it was over the award maximum permitted mileage (although UA did show the availability).
I did it last year using UA miles and all I paid were the miles and the departure tax out of Bangkok (around US$20.00 at the time).
Using BD miles, it was around £82.00 (US$165.00) and, of course, the £3.00 "convenience" fee for booking with a credit card instead of a debit card.
BD doesn't call it a fuel surcharge, but that is exactly what it is.
I did it last year using UA miles and all I paid were the miles and the departure tax out of Bangkok (around US$20.00 at the time).
Using BD miles, it was around £82.00 (US$165.00) and, of course, the £3.00 "convenience" fee for booking with a credit card instead of a debit card.
BD doesn't call it a fuel surcharge, but that is exactly what it is.
Apr 14, 2008, 11:55 pm
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,404
Ah, Starnet strikes again. 
Looking for an award to MUC in June. Availability on LH flights in F via the ANA tool, but nothing via UA.
Too bad UA doesn't merge with LH; we could get Miles & More -- a frequent flyer program with some integrity.
Looking for an award to MUC in June. Availability on LH flights in F via the ANA tool, but nothing via UA.
Too bad UA doesn't merge with LH; we could get Miles & More -- a frequent flyer program with some integrity.
Apr 15, 2008, 12:04 am
#164
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,540
And 40% more expensive awards. Cut .. nose . . sp . . face
Apr 15, 2008, 12:24 am
#165
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Too many
Programs: Lots
Posts: 5,761
I'd rather have more expensive awards than nonepass-style availability. One (or both), coming soon! 