Codeshares -- does it matter?
 

I'm going to do a SFO-MEL-Auckland-SFO trip (maybe through SYD).

Looks like there is a three-way codeshare on the OZ & NZ segments (MEL-Auckland-SYD) on Air New Zealand and Ansett metal.

Am I right in assuming it doesn't really matter which airline code I book for these segments? (The whole trip will be in paid business). I get status miles and no (elite)bonus miles, no matter what (even with the United number).

So, should I just pick the combo with the lowest price?

Hi opus17,

I'm not sure why those miles wouldn't count for your elite status on UA. Two years ago I took a flight from SFO to Auckland on Air New Zealand and then on to Sydney, Cairns and Alice on Ansett. All flights counted toward elite status. However, if I remember correctly, Ansett only counted 75% of the miles. That may have changed since when I took the trip, those two carriers had just joined Star Alliance.

------------------
-wl

wanderlust -- I'm sure they count for elite status. I guess I meant the elite status bonus miles (100% for PremEx) which would not be awarded.

in discounted eco you only get 70% of the miles (and no minimum miles) if booked as an AN-flight (only 70% status miles too). As a UA-code-share you would get 100% miles/status-miles and a minimum of 500.

This is the very issue I do not understand about UA code-shares. I was on the phone a couple of evenings ago with a nice UA rep at M+. I asked her about mileage accrual on code-shares. This is what I found out:

- When travelling code-share with a UA flight number on another airline. The operating airline's mileage accrual rules apply. For example, if you fly on ANA with a UA ticket, but at a discounted fare you would "only" receive 70% miles. LH is the big exception to the above.

- When travelling on a code-share with a UA flight number on a non-*A airline (for example, Saudia, Emirates, etc.), your miles do not count towards Premier status! Crazy!

From the above, it seems that there is absolutely no incentive to buy your ticket from UA instead of the operating airline.