Washington Times - United Admits to StarNet Blocking!
Jun 21, 2009, 12:09 am
#1501
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,926
Jun 21, 2009, 5:23 am
#1502
Join Date: Feb 2002
Programs: UA *G 1MM, AA Gold, MR Lifetime Titanium, IHG Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 288
Another data point to confirm block
Earlier this week, ANA tool showed LH availability on the routes I needed on the dates I needed, both F and C class. 1K rep couldn't see it. When I mentioned that ANA was showing availability, he said he wasn't surprised and that UA had blocked LH and others. He thought it was just for "the quarter," but he wasn't sure. First time I've had a 1K rep admit to blocking. Subsequent reps (for different routes, also showing availability) fell back to the "must be sold out" mantra.
Jun 21, 2009, 6:33 am
#1503
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: A lovely little town filled with cows
Programs: US2, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,284
I called a few hours ago and was able to switch from an LH flight to an LX flight on the exact day I wanted. As you may recall I posted here perhaps two weeks ago (shortly after the 1st of June) and the agent couldn't get me anything in LX C +/- 2 days of when I wanted.
There are two flights ZRH-JFK and she couldn't get me on the later one (my preference), but both are showing operated by a 333 which should be a new-config (fully-lie-flat) C product. I must say I'm fairly satisfied with the outcome (except for the additional $6 in taxes...
). ^
There are two flights ZRH-JFK and she couldn't get me on the later one (my preference), but both are showing operated by a 333 which should be a new-config (fully-lie-flat) C product. I must say I'm fairly satisfied with the outcome (except for the additional $6 in taxes...
). ^
Jun 21, 2009, 6:46 am
#1504
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
SQ from SFO-SIN has been pretty much been off limits for F/J awards probably as of late 2008 when it was announced that SQ 1/2 was going from the 744 to 77W. SQ 15/16 has been using the 77W or quite some time now.
SQ 1/2 has been using the 77W from about mid-January 2009.
SQ 1/2 has been using the 77W from about mid-January 2009.
Jun 21, 2009, 10:41 am
#1505
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
+1. I've had an agent (although it's a she) and she admitted that United does block award availability. I am glad she knows that it's United that's blocking award availability, not their partners!
Jun 22, 2009, 3:56 am
#1506
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sydney & London
Programs: UA Lifetime Exec Plat (2MM)
Posts: 744
Not sure if this has been reported (it certainly should have been), but it is now impossible to secure an award seat on NZ SYD-AKL direct flights. If you can get an award at all, you will be sent via CHC.
Looking at the ANA website, there is availability every day in Y and C, but UA can't "see" it.
Talk about MP being devalued.
Looking at the ANA website, there is availability every day in Y and C, but UA can't "see" it.
Talk about MP being devalued.
Jun 22, 2009, 9:33 pm
#1507
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
Not sure if this has been reported (it certainly should have been), but it is now impossible to secure an award seat on NZ SYD-AKL direct flights. If you can get an award at all, you will be sent via CHC.
Looking at the ANA website, there is availability every day in Y and C, but UA can't "see" it.
Talk about MP being devalued.
Looking at the ANA website, there is availability every day in Y and C, but UA can't "see" it.
Talk about MP being devalued.
SYD- AKL was in NZ C, but I was surprised
Jun 22, 2009, 11:08 pm
#1508
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
available on UA but not on US ?reverse blocking?
C Class
PHL-FRA-MAA-FRA-PHL in summer peak travel season
Not available on US? but given to me by UA 1 hr later!!
wow!
This starnet blocking exists, so I am trying to burn MP miles
but am I using up my MP miles too fast instead of my DM miles?
This must be random LH blocking, not logical blocking @:-)
Jun 22, 2009, 11:54 pm
#1509
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Here and there...
Posts: 1,501
Not sure if this has been reported (it certainly should have been), but it is now impossible to secure an award seat on NZ SYD-AKL direct flights. If you can get an award at all, you will be sent via CHC.
Looking at the ANA website, there is availability every day in Y and C, but UA can't "see" it.
Looking at the ANA website, there is availability every day in Y and C, but UA can't "see" it.
Last edited by FlyMan; Jun 23, 2009 at 12:09 am
Jun 23, 2009, 1:28 am
#1510
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Yes, you have always needed to book far in advance for late summer (I'm talking August) flights. I've been doing this with both UA and AF miles for about 10 years now and it has always been the case. Maybe the UA blocking is making the situation worse, but it has always been difficult because of so many people taking vacations in August. Both Americans and Europeans.
Jun 23, 2009, 3:47 am
#1511
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,926
Not sure if this has been reported (it certainly should have been), but it is now impossible to secure an award seat on NZ SYD-AKL direct flights. If you can get an award at all, you will be sent via CHC.
Looking at the ANA website, there is availability every day in Y and C, but UA can't "see" it.
Talk about MP being devalued.
Looking at the ANA website, there is availability every day in Y and C, but UA can't "see" it.
Talk about MP being devalued.
Jun 25, 2009, 2:45 am
#1512
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1K 2MM / Marriott LTP
Posts: 5,071
Seriously UA 
SQ flights in Y blocked
Showing as available on ANA. Nada, zilch on multiple calls to UA.
SQ flights in Y blocked
Showing as available on ANA. Nada, zilch on multiple calls to UA.
Jun 25, 2009, 5:07 am
#1513
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sydney & London
Programs: UA Lifetime Exec Plat (2MM)
Posts: 744
I'm really thinking of status matching to AA next year, particularly as I'm currently in Australia and the QF fit would be good. As a MM and 1K next year I have very little to lose. But UA does.
Jun 25, 2009, 8:57 am
#1514
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
Jun 27, 2009, 11:36 pm
#1515
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SF, CA, US
Programs: AA Plat Pro, UA MM Gold, HHonors Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Plat, IHG Ambassador
Posts: 1,236
Has anyone gotten any seats on Air China recently? I can't get anything in any class, domestic or intl. All I'm being offered is Shanghai Airlines, which I'm trying to avoid as it requires a paper ticket.