Award Travel, booking close to departure
Jun 28, 2002, 3:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SFO, EZE
Programs: UA 1K 2.32 MM
Posts: 2,425
Award Travel, booking close to departure
Here's a question I'm hoping that somebody may have an answer to. How close to departure (especially on International), is it possible to book (online particularly) an award seat, assuming inventory is available.
With both domestic and international award and upgrade availability now accesible on ual.com, has anyone noticed when/if UA adds more seats to the those buckets close to departure?
John
With both domestic and international award and upgrade availability now accesible on ual.com, has anyone noticed when/if UA adds more seats to the those buckets close to departure?
John
Jun 28, 2002, 4:22 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K UA MM
Posts: 97
I noticed many seats being added about 1 week before departure on an international flight I was monitoring. The numbers then seemed to fluctuate daily. Another hint, don't assume that if there are NC seats that there will be XY seats. In other words, do you search by the class you really want, not a lower class as I saw cases where there we many XF/NF/XC/NC seats but NO coach award seats.
Jun 29, 2002, 8:41 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
I don't know about online at the last moment, but you can phone at the last minute and you can even walk right up to the gate and use your miles if space is available. One of the nicer things about Mileage Plus AutoCerts.
I will advise that you don't rely on just the web site for award availablity.
Many times the web says no, yet the phone folks say yes.
I will advise that you don't rely on just the web site for award availablity.
Many times the web says no, yet the phone folks say yes.
Jun 29, 2002, 11:41 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM1K,AA EXP
Posts: 1,190
Just got back from the CTO---trying to change a saver award booked in Jan for a Sept flight to an earlier one. I'm waitlisted, but was advised to call in regularly and that normally more award seats become available one month out. Makes it kind of tense, doesn't it?
Jun 29, 2002, 12:17 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SFO, EZE
Programs: UA 1K 2.32 MM
Posts: 2,425
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PremEx:
I will advise that you don't rely on just the web site for award availablity.</font>
I will advise that you don't rely on just the web site for award availablity.</font>
John
Jun 30, 2002, 9:28 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
Nope.
The web site codes are still buggy.
Had an example just this week. Web has a goose egg in Business, but phone says "sure!" on the exact same flights.
Plus, I've also found the web does not always give you all of the flight options to destination.
But I will repeat that sometimes the reverse is true! Phone sez no but the web has space.
So...don't rely on only one source if you really want that Saver Award/Upgrade space. Use both.
The web site codes are still buggy.
Had an example just this week. Web has a goose egg in Business, but phone says "sure!" on the exact same flights.
Plus, I've also found the web does not always give you all of the flight options to destination.
But I will repeat that sometimes the reverse is true! Phone sez no but the web has space.
So...don't rely on only one source if you really want that Saver Award/Upgrade space. Use both.