Oct 14, 2013, 4:55 pm
Last edit by: NewbieRunner
Update 08APR2014: Star Alliance Awards must have been booked by March 30, 2014. They are no longer available through US. This thread is mostly useful for historic purposes, and discussing issues such as schedule changes/route changes that affect FTers existing *A awards booked before 3/31/2014.
Discussion on using US miles to book oneworld awards is available here.
If you are looking for discussion on US's new partner awards that use various partners not in oneworld (many of whom are former *A partners), see the devoted thread on using US miles to book NON-oneworld partners here.
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Update 07JAN14: American Airlines award tickets bookable online on usairways.com or through reservation.
Please see the devoted thread on using US miles to book AA here.
Discussion on using US miles to book oneworld awards is available here.
If you are looking for discussion on US's new partner awards that use various partners not in oneworld (many of whom are former *A partners), see the devoted thread on using US miles to book NON-oneworld partners here.
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Update 07JAN14: American Airlines award tickets bookable online on usairways.com or through reservation.
- Award travel must be wholly on American Airlines or a combination of American Airlines and US Airways.
- American Airlines awards cannot be combined with any of our current partner.
- American Airlines award travel chart (PDF)
Please see the devoted thread on using US miles to book AA here.
Star Alliance Award Bookings Using US Airways Miles - FAQ and Help Thread [MERGED]
Aug 26, 2013, 1:22 am
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
I have a ticketed US airways *alliance award routing Asia to NA via Europe. No problem getting it ticket but one of my flight (United) from EWR to NRT was put in economy since no seats were available.
Called back after a week and a business class seat did open up, agent then explained that I would have to cancel my ticket and loose all my other seats and pay the 150 fee.
Now I dont have a problem with the fee but I cant loose my other seats and hope they will be rebooked since those flights I specially need (flying with someone else on a paid ticket)
What can I do to get the J seat with UNited? Should I speak to United directly since I have a United PNR?
Called back after a week and a business class seat did open up, agent then explained that I would have to cancel my ticket and loose all my other seats and pay the 150 fee.
Now I dont have a problem with the fee but I cant loose my other seats and hope they will be rebooked since those flights I specially need (flying with someone else on a paid ticket)
What can I do to get the J seat with UNited? Should I speak to United directly since I have a United PNR?
That agent problem sometimes works for you, other times against you. Just keep calling until you get an agent who knows how to do the reissue properly and is willing to do it without a fee.
My advice is to be nice and polite, make no mention of prior conversations with an agent about this issue and say something like, "When I booked this ticket business class was not available on one segment and now one appears to be available. If that's true according to your system, since it's a business class ticket can you please look into moving me into business class now for that remaining segment? I was told that could be done if a seat should open up."
Aug 26, 2013, 1:23 am
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Velocity Gold
Posts: 1,069
according US airways official rule, for my understanding LHR and CDG are not allowed unless you fly to LHR/CDG by US airways
You’re allowed one stopover per US Airways itinerary at a US Airways gateway or international destination, or in a partner hub city if you’re traveling on an award partner.
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/divid...mberguide.html
You’re allowed one stopover per US Airways itinerary at a US Airways gateway or international destination, or in a partner hub city if you’re traveling on an award partner.
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/divid...mberguide.html
Aug 26, 2013, 1:30 am
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: HHonors Gold
Posts: 130
Keep calling. The agent was wrong -- probably because he/she doesn't know how to do it. As long as your ticket is a business class redemption, if a business class seat opens up they will upgrade that segment and reissue the ticket. No charge and they don't have to 'cancel' the ticket. The agent simply didn't know what he/she was talking about.
That agent problem sometimes works for you, other times against you. Just keep calling until you get an agent who knows how to do the reissue properly and is willing to do it without a fee.
My advice is to be nice and polite, make no mention of prior conversations with an agent about this issue and say something like, "When I booked this ticket business class was not available on one segment and now one appears to be available. If that's true according to your system, since it's a business class ticket can you please look into moving me into business class now for that remaining segment? I was told that could be done if a seat should open up."
That agent problem sometimes works for you, other times against you. Just keep calling until you get an agent who knows how to do the reissue properly and is willing to do it without a fee.
My advice is to be nice and polite, make no mention of prior conversations with an agent about this issue and say something like, "When I booked this ticket business class was not available on one segment and now one appears to be available. If that's true according to your system, since it's a business class ticket can you please look into moving me into business class now for that remaining segment? I was told that could be done if a seat should open up."
.
Aug 26, 2013, 3:24 am
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: 127.0.0.1
Posts: 947
I need some help here.
I went on United's site to find availability for a FRA-MCI round-trip award in business class. I found one for 100k round-trip on Lufthansa for the international portion and US/UA for the domestic. Great!
I called US and the rep I spoke to told me that they can't give me that flight because LH didn't give them those seats. I explained to her that the seats show up on the United awards search and she told me that just because it's on United's search doesn't mean that it's valid for a US award ticket.
Did I do something wrong? How am I supposed to find flights with award seats available that will allow US to ticket?
I went on United's site to find availability for a FRA-MCI round-trip award in business class. I found one for 100k round-trip on Lufthansa for the international portion and US/UA for the domestic. Great!
I called US and the rep I spoke to told me that they can't give me that flight because LH didn't give them those seats. I explained to her that the seats show up on the United awards search and she told me that just because it's on United's search doesn't mean that it's valid for a US award ticket.
Did I do something wrong? How am I supposed to find flights with award seats available that will allow US to ticket?
Aug 26, 2013, 3:28 am
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
Similar problem calling US last night... First seat showed up on the ANA website - UA flight FRA-ORD..
US agent said she couldn't see it....
US agent said she couldn't see it....
Aug 26, 2013, 3:42 am
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 175
Do they have the technical ability to do so?
Aug 26, 2013, 6:30 am
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Velocity Gold
Posts: 1,069
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZ Travels the World
Keep calling. The agent was wrong -- probably because he/she doesn't know how to do it. As long as your ticket is a business class redemption, if a business class seat opens up they will upgrade that segment and reissue the ticket. No charge and they don't have to 'cancel' the ticket. The agent simply didn't know what he/she was talking about.
That agent problem sometimes works for you, other times against you. Just keep calling until you get an agent who knows how to do the reissue properly and is willing to do it without a fee.
My advice is to be nice and polite, make no mention of prior conversations with an agent about this issue and say something like, "When I booked this ticket business class was not available on one segment and now one appears to be available. If that's true according to your system, since it's a business class ticket can you please look into moving me into business class now for that remaining segment? I was told that could be done if a seat should open up."
I believe that the $150 change fee is now enforced, through my own personal experience and that of others within this thread. On several award bookings made through US, I have asked this specific question and have always been told that because I was accepting the lower class seat, I would have to change to change into a higher class seat, even if within the same flight. HUACA has never resulted in success for me with this issue .
Originally Posted by AZ Travels the World
Keep calling. The agent was wrong -- probably because he/she doesn't know how to do it. As long as your ticket is a business class redemption, if a business class seat opens up they will upgrade that segment and reissue the ticket. No charge and they don't have to 'cancel' the ticket. The agent simply didn't know what he/she was talking about.
That agent problem sometimes works for you, other times against you. Just keep calling until you get an agent who knows how to do the reissue properly and is willing to do it without a fee.
My advice is to be nice and polite, make no mention of prior conversations with an agent about this issue and say something like, "When I booked this ticket business class was not available on one segment and now one appears to be available. If that's true according to your system, since it's a business class ticket can you please look into moving me into business class now for that remaining segment? I was told that could be done if a seat should open up."
I believe that the $150 change fee is now enforced, through my own personal experience and that of others within this thread. On several award bookings made through US, I have asked this specific question and have always been told that because I was accepting the lower class seat, I would have to change to change into a higher class seat, even if within the same flight. HUACA has never resulted in success for me with this issue .
Aug 26, 2013, 7:00 am
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,151
Keep calling. The agent was wrong -- probably because he/she doesn't know how to do it. As long as your ticket is a business class redemption, if a business class seat opens up they will upgrade that segment and reissue the ticket. No charge and they don't have to 'cancel' the ticket. The agent simply didn't know what he/she was talking about.
That agent problem sometimes works for you, other times against you. Just keep calling until you get an agent who knows how to do the reissue properly and is willing to do it without a fee.
My advice is to be nice and polite, make no mention of prior conversations with an agent about this issue and say something like, "When I booked this ticket business class was not available on one segment and now one appears to be available. If that's true according to your system, since it's a business class ticket can you please look into moving me into business class now for that remaining segment? I was told that could be done if a seat should open up."
That agent problem sometimes works for you, other times against you. Just keep calling until you get an agent who knows how to do the reissue properly and is willing to do it without a fee.
My advice is to be nice and polite, make no mention of prior conversations with an agent about this issue and say something like, "When I booked this ticket business class was not available on one segment and now one appears to be available. If that's true according to your system, since it's a business class ticket can you please look into moving me into business class now for that remaining segment? I was told that could be done if a seat should open up."
Aug 26, 2013, 7:21 am
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
I have a ticketed US airways *alliance award routing Asia to NA via Europe. No problem getting it ticket but one of my flight (United) from EWR to NRT was put in economy since no seats were available.
Called back after a week and a business class seat did open up, agent then explained that I would have to cancel my ticket and loose all my other seats and pay the 150 fee.
Now I dont have a problem with the fee but I cant loose my other seats and hope they will be rebooked since those flights I specially need (flying with someone else on a paid ticket)
What can I do to get the J seat with UNited? Should I speak to United directly since I have a United PNR?
Called back after a week and a business class seat did open up, agent then explained that I would have to cancel my ticket and loose all my other seats and pay the 150 fee.
Now I dont have a problem with the fee but I cant loose my other seats and hope they will be rebooked since those flights I specially need (flying with someone else on a paid ticket)
What can I do to get the J seat with UNited? Should I speak to United directly since I have a United PNR?
FDW
Aug 26, 2013, 7:25 am
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: SYD
Posts: 2,903
It may be worth adding to post #1 that anyone without CP status booking an award reservation would do well to subscribe to AwardWallet, or at the very least log in to their reservation periodically to check for schedule changes, even very minor ones. Increasingly, it's becoming one of the only dependable ways to get change fees waived.
thanks
goodo
Aug 26, 2013, 7:39 am
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,151
I've gotten AwardWallet notifications multiple times for schedule changes that US never informed me about (though that agents were able to see when I called to make changes).
Aug 26, 2013, 7:46 am
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: SYD
Posts: 2,903
Thanks, I signed up for awardwallet but couldn't find any info on the website as to what they actually do with travel plans.
goodo
goodo
Aug 26, 2013, 8:54 am
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
I believe that the $150 change fee is now enforced, through my own personal experience and that of others within this thread. On several award bookings made through US, I have asked this specific question and have always been told that because I was accepting the lower class seat, I would have to change to change into a higher class seat, even if within the same flight. HUACA has never resulted in success for me with this issue .
.The agent still shouldn't have to completely cancel the reservation, though -- putting all the segments at risk. If they know what they're doing, they can do a reissue without jeopardizing all the other segments and simply upgrade the single segment to J. At least the CP agents can, as I do it all the time. So I would definitely suggest calling back until I got one who knew how.
Aug 26, 2013, 11:19 am
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
I seriously believe this is one rule they are quite lax on. I have often had stopovers in airports which are not hubs for the carrier I am arriving on with no issue. I think if they brought it up it would be a case of HUACA, just hoping they hadn't put a note in the booking.
Aug 26, 2013, 11:49 am
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA - DCA
Programs: BA Gold, American Airlines, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 5,075
As FCO is a US international destination, this should not be a problem.
You’re allowed one stopover per US Airways itinerary at a US Airways gateway or international destination, or in a partner hub city if you’re traveling on an award partner.