Washington Times - United Admits to StarNet Blocking!
May 11, 2011, 11:28 am
#2311
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
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Of course, if you're starting from scratch. Not possible if you're altering an already established booking... and a one way award at that.
May 16, 2011, 4:37 am
#2312
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K / CO PLT
Posts: 539
Just attempted to book SFO-NRT-HKG on NH F.... I confirmed the availability on ANA website, but the 1K agent could only see economy. NRT-HKG portion only has business available, not first (since it's 2-class) I guess I will try to call them again later closer to departure date, but I guess this shows Starnet blocking is still available. It's one-way, so I cannot use CO either. On the other hand, I snatched SFO-HKG nonstop on UA F for 2 days later, so it's not the end of the world. Grr. 
May 16, 2011, 9:34 am
#2313
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
No problem for me when I tried to book JFK-FRA-ZRH-BKK-HKG on LH/LX/TG traveling next month. Availability seem to match that of ANA tool. 
May 16, 2011, 9:36 am
#2314
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
Just attempted to book SFO-NRT-HKG on NH F.... I confirmed the availability on ANA website, but the 1K agent could only see economy. NRT-HKG portion only has business available, not first (since it's 2-class) I guess I will try to call them again later closer to departure date, but I guess this shows Starnet blocking is still available. It's one-way, so I cannot use CO either. On the other hand, I snatched SFO-HKG nonstop on UA F for 2 days later, so it's not the end of the world. Grr.
May 16, 2011, 5:42 pm
#2316
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K / CO PLT
Posts: 539
I called UA 1K line today again, and this time I used a different approach. I asked about SFO-NRT first, then the agent said F was available, then I started my dance but tried to stay calm, and then asked about a connection to Hong Kong which only has 2 cabin. Now SFO-NRT F on ANA, 18 hour layover, NRT-HKG J on ANA. Then 3 days in HKG, then to HKG-IST-LAX on TK Y+. My very first redemption on a foreign carrier on F! ^
May 16, 2011, 6:01 pm
#2317
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I had no problem with any availability TPAC, TATL, intra-Europe or Europe-Asia on any carriers.
May 16, 2011, 6:09 pm
#2318
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SAN
Programs: AS 100K, DL MM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,934
Luckily Aeroplan had no problems finding space ^
May 16, 2011, 7:12 pm
#2319
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, Avis CHM, Marriott & SPG & PC Plat., Hyatt & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,547
Grrrrr... I understand (almost) how United blocks award seat on cool airlines, but not when they do it on "themselves" aka Continental. On Continental.com there were award seats available on a EWR-CPH flight, but I wasn't able to book it with my Untied miles.
May 16, 2011, 8:44 pm
#2320
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
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I just couldn't figure out why the 14th was blocked for TG flights but all other days were wide open. And only intra Asia.
May 17, 2011, 2:48 pm
#2321
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Austin
Programs: AA, AS, WN
Posts: 503
I haven't been keeping up with the UA/CO combined forums lately (I switched to AA 
this year...), however are UA and CO using separate "systems" to find award availability/issue award tickets? (I assume so)... Case in point--
This morning I called both UA and CO to look for 2 J tickets from PDX-ZRH and MUC-PDX in November over Thanksgiving. I first checked availability on EF and surprisingly found it. Being a GS/former UA guy, I naturally called UA first. What didn't surprise me was the fact that UA showed nothing available. What DID surprise me was when I called CO and they found availability in on UA/AC/LH. What gives? I went ahead and transferred the miles needed from UA to CO and then booked it.
this year...), however are UA and CO using separate "systems" to find award availability/issue award tickets? (I assume so)... Case in point--This morning I called both UA and CO to look for 2 J tickets from PDX-ZRH and MUC-PDX in November over Thanksgiving. I first checked availability on EF and surprisingly found it. Being a GS/former UA guy, I naturally called UA first. What didn't surprise me was the fact that UA showed nothing available. What DID surprise me was when I called CO and they found availability in on UA/AC/LH. What gives? I went ahead and transferred the miles needed from UA to CO and then booked it.
May 24, 2011, 6:17 pm
#2322
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1
I am new to the site, but have found it very useful in the past. The UA Starnet blocking situation, however, prompted me to register.
I currently live in HKG and wanted to fly to FRA in October. As a UA Gold member I clearly wanted to use my miles. Checking on UA's website, however, the only option was for me to fly HKG - SFO - FRA (on UA metal, of course), taking approximately 29 hours to fly 3/4 of the way around the world, for 175,000 miles for a "standard" award economy ticket. All of this even though LH has several options to fly from HKG to FRA, either directly or through Munich or Zurich. Or, Thai also flies to FRA via BKK.
I then checked CO's website and it gave me the option to fly directly from HKG to FRA on LH, taking approximately 12 hours, for 80,000 miles for a "saver" award economy ticket. In fact, every single day for the month of October offered "saver" award tickets from HKG - FRA on LH.
United really has become a crappy company. I remember back in the 90's I stopped flying United because it was such a horrible company - even though I lived in a UA hub (DEN). I would fly thousands of miles out of my way not to fly UA. UA then really turned things around and became, in my opinion, one of the best American carriers out there. It's a shame that they have fallen back to the bad old days. Unfortunately, as an American living in HKG, UA has some of the best flight options for me to get back to DEN, so for the time being it looks like I'm stuck with them, but I would drop them in a heartbeat if there was a better option. In the meantime I guess I'd better transfer my UA miles to my CO account before they institute UA's policies!
I currently live in HKG and wanted to fly to FRA in October. As a UA Gold member I clearly wanted to use my miles. Checking on UA's website, however, the only option was for me to fly HKG - SFO - FRA (on UA metal, of course), taking approximately 29 hours to fly 3/4 of the way around the world, for 175,000 miles for a "standard" award economy ticket. All of this even though LH has several options to fly from HKG to FRA, either directly or through Munich or Zurich. Or, Thai also flies to FRA via BKK.
I then checked CO's website and it gave me the option to fly directly from HKG to FRA on LH, taking approximately 12 hours, for 80,000 miles for a "saver" award economy ticket. In fact, every single day for the month of October offered "saver" award tickets from HKG - FRA on LH.
United really has become a crappy company. I remember back in the 90's I stopped flying United because it was such a horrible company - even though I lived in a UA hub (DEN). I would fly thousands of miles out of my way not to fly UA. UA then really turned things around and became, in my opinion, one of the best American carriers out there. It's a shame that they have fallen back to the bad old days. Unfortunately, as an American living in HKG, UA has some of the best flight options for me to get back to DEN, so for the time being it looks like I'm stuck with them, but I would drop them in a heartbeat if there was a better option. In the meantime I guess I'd better transfer my UA miles to my CO account before they institute UA's policies!
May 24, 2011, 6:22 pm
#2323
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
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Posts: 10,344
-RM
May 24, 2011, 6:34 pm
#2324
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
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I am new to the site, but have found it very useful in the past. The UA Starnet blocking situation, however, prompted me to register.
I currently live in HKG and wanted to fly to FRA in October. As a UA Gold member I clearly wanted to use my miles. Checking on UA's website, however, the only option was for me to fly HKG - SFO - FRA (on UA metal, of course), taking approximately 29 hours to fly 3/4 of the way around the world, for 175,000 miles for a "standard" award economy ticket. All of this even though LH has several options to fly from HKG to FRA, either directly or through Munich or Zurich. Or, Thai also flies to FRA via BKK.
I then checked CO's website and it gave me the option to fly directly from HKG to FRA on LH, taking approximately 12 hours, for 80,000 miles for a "saver" award economy ticket. In fact, every single day for the month of October offered "saver" award tickets from HKG - FRA on LH.
I currently live in HKG and wanted to fly to FRA in October. As a UA Gold member I clearly wanted to use my miles. Checking on UA's website, however, the only option was for me to fly HKG - SFO - FRA (on UA metal, of course), taking approximately 29 hours to fly 3/4 of the way around the world, for 175,000 miles for a "standard" award economy ticket. All of this even though LH has several options to fly from HKG to FRA, either directly or through Munich or Zurich. Or, Thai also flies to FRA via BKK.
I then checked CO's website and it gave me the option to fly directly from HKG to FRA on LH, taking approximately 12 hours, for 80,000 miles for a "saver" award economy ticket. In fact, every single day for the month of October offered "saver" award tickets from HKG - FRA on LH.
You need to call. CO's site shows more *A airlines, but still isn't the oracle of award space.
United really has become a crappy company. I remember back in the 90's I stopped flying United because it was such a horrible company - even though I lived in a UA hub (DEN). I would fly thousands of miles out of my way not to fly UA. UA then really turned things around and became, in my opinion, one of the best American carriers out there. It's a shame that they have fallen back to the bad old days. Unfortunately, as an American living in HKG, UA has some of the best flight options for me to get back to DEN, so for the time being it looks like I'm stuck with them, but I would drop them in a heartbeat if there was a better option. In the meantime I guess I'd better transfer my UA miles to my CO account before they institute UA's policies!
May 24, 2011, 7:28 pm
#2325
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,169
I am new to the site, but have found it very useful in the past. The UA Starnet blocking situation, however, prompted me to register.
I currently live in HKG and wanted to fly to FRA in October. As a UA Gold member I clearly wanted to use my miles. Checking on UA's website, however, the only option was for me to fly HKG - SFO - FRA (on UA metal, of course), taking approximately 29 hours to fly 3/4 of the way around the world, for 175,000 miles for a "standard" award economy ticket. All of this even though LH has several options to fly from HKG to FRA, either directly or through Munich or Zurich. Or, Thai also flies to FRA via BKK.
I then checked CO's website and it gave me the option to fly directly from HKG to FRA on LH, taking approximately 12 hours, for 80,000 miles for a "saver" award economy ticket. In fact, every single day for the month of October offered "saver" award tickets from HKG - FRA on LH.
United really has become a crappy company. I remember back in the 90's I stopped flying United because it was such a horrible company - even though I lived in a UA hub (DEN). I would fly thousands of miles out of my way not to fly UA. UA then really turned things around and became, in my opinion, one of the best American carriers out there. It's a shame that they have fallen back to the bad old days. Unfortunately, as an American living in HKG, UA has some of the best flight options for me to get back to DEN, so for the time being it looks like I'm stuck with them, but I would drop them in a heartbeat if there was a better option. In the meantime I guess I'd better transfer my UA miles to my CO account before they institute UA's policies!
I currently live in HKG and wanted to fly to FRA in October. As a UA Gold member I clearly wanted to use my miles. Checking on UA's website, however, the only option was for me to fly HKG - SFO - FRA (on UA metal, of course), taking approximately 29 hours to fly 3/4 of the way around the world, for 175,000 miles for a "standard" award economy ticket. All of this even though LH has several options to fly from HKG to FRA, either directly or through Munich or Zurich. Or, Thai also flies to FRA via BKK.
I then checked CO's website and it gave me the option to fly directly from HKG to FRA on LH, taking approximately 12 hours, for 80,000 miles for a "saver" award economy ticket. In fact, every single day for the month of October offered "saver" award tickets from HKG - FRA on LH.
United really has become a crappy company. I remember back in the 90's I stopped flying United because it was such a horrible company - even though I lived in a UA hub (DEN). I would fly thousands of miles out of my way not to fly UA. UA then really turned things around and became, in my opinion, one of the best American carriers out there. It's a shame that they have fallen back to the bad old days. Unfortunately, as an American living in HKG, UA has some of the best flight options for me to get back to DEN, so for the time being it looks like I'm stuck with them, but I would drop them in a heartbeat if there was a better option. In the meantime I guess I'd better transfer my UA miles to my CO account before they institute UA's policies!