May 13, 2011
Don’t know how I missed this, from Apr 1st, united Elite can earn Elite Bonus when flying ANA, in addition, earning ratio had changed to better
For TRANSPACIFIC, INTRA-JAPAN WITH INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION AND INTRA-ASIA FLIGHTS (NOT INCLUDING FLIGHTS BETWEEN JAPAN AND AUSTRALIA, CHINA, INDIA, OR KOREA):
You will earn 100% base miles on many discounted economy fares.
For other flights, base miles earning fare class still the same.
This made United/Continental Elite can earn Elite bonus on all UA, CO, US, LH and most AC, now all NH flights.
More detail can be found here
Posted by Troy under Other Airline Reward Programs, United Airlines |
April 19, 2011
I just learned something new last week, which is the key difference btw United SWU and AA EVIP other than fare class
With United Airline, you can use SWU to upgrade on fare W class or above(they are W,U,V,B,C,D, E, M H and Y)for international flight to Asia, Europe, Middle East, South America, Australia and Africa
with American Airline, you can use EVIP on any paid fare
With United Airline and American Airline, Each SWU or EVIP is good for three segments in a single direction.
What did I learn last week?
With United Airline, any stop greater than 12 hours will require an additional SWU, but with American Airline, as long as it’s in a single direction, you can stop as long as you you want without using an extra EVIP
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, United Airlines |
April 14, 2011
Effective June 15th, there will be a fee for award tickets booked less than 21 days prior to departure: USD 75 for General members, USD 50 for Premier members and USD 25 for Premier Executive members.
In addition, award travel change fee will be dropped to $75 dollar AFTER june 15th, for ticket issued after June 15th, the fee will be even lower with higher status.
No change for Award redeposit fee, still $150 for general member, but cheaper for member with higher elite status and all fees are waived for 1K and Global Service
You can read all detail here
Posted by Troy under United Airlines |
March 28, 2011
Few weeks ago, United and Continental miles can be transferred btw each other without any fees, here are some of my suggestions on which program to use to issue awards.
Benefits of using continental miles to issue the award
1 CO doesn’t block certain partners redemption like United
2 Despite United revised their routing restriction on awards, continental still offers much more flexible routing rule for now
3 CO redemption permits mix of *A and non *A other than Eva, so if you want to enjoy *A with Virgin Atlantic CO is an option.
4 After award issued, CO doesn’t charge any fee(21 days prior to departure) to change the award as long as you keep same origin and destination, routing can be changed. With United, only flights and dates can be changed, routing must stay same.
Benefits of using United miles
1 one way award is permitted for half of R/T
2 no close in ticketing fee.
Personally, I think CO is a better choice because it gives you more flexibility than United, but if you are 1K, I think it’s better off with United.
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, Continental Airline, United Airlines |
March 16, 2011
After Delta changed award chart, United and Continental will change too.
The biggest change is North Asia to South Asia business class increase by 50%, from 30K R/T to 45KR/T and Guam, Palau and Micronesia is zoned to Oceania(they changed 3 times in a year from South Asia to North Asia to Oceania),it hurts me, but it still far better than Delta because of prior notice.
In addition, there are several decreases too, for more detail on changes involves North America, you can read Gary’s post
Posted by Troy under Continental Airline, United Airlines |
March 14, 2011
According to this FT thread, you can now book LH award flights using United miles on united.com. I think United.com will be able to search all *A partners eventually.
Posted by Troy under United Airlines |
March 7, 2011
Gary mentioned you can now transfer UA/CO miles btw accts, there are several advantages for award ticket using CO miles
1 CO doesn’t block certain partners redemption like United
2 Despite United revised their routing restriction on awards, continental still offers much more flexible routing rule for now
3 CO redemption permits mix of *A and non *A other than Eva, so if you want to enjoy *A with Virgin Atlantic or Emirates(before March 31st,2011), CO is an option.
Using CO while you still can
Posted by Troy under Continental Airline, United Airlines |
February 9, 2011
We all know that Delta award pricing are fully computerized, computer will automatically calculate number of miles required based on origin, destination and routing. How about other airlines?
Based on my experience, American Airline is another airline using similar system. Last year, I tried to book award PVG-NRT-PPT, which was the most direct routing and it’s published routing. However the AA system calculated as 2 awards Asia 2-Asia 1+Asia 1+South Pacific. I guess it’s because I routed via higher zone. Then, I tried PVG-HKG-AKL-PPT, this time it calculated as Asia 2-South Pacific, then within South Pacific.
After some disscusion on FT, I tried PVG-HKG-SYD-AKL-PPT, this time was told only 1 award Asia 2-South Pacific.
I also tried above trip by adding PPT-IPC, now it counted as 2 award again.Every time, I was trying to argue with agent, rate desk, supervisor, all they told was “sorry, computer does the job, we only put flight together”
Just yesterday, I saw a post on FT, someone redeemed LAX-PPT-AKL on TN with no stopovers, the computer counted as two awards again. So Delta is not the only one, AA does the same except much better domestic award availability than Delta.
How about US, UA and CO?
Again, based on my experience, their system doesn’t calculate amount of miles automatically based on city or routing. There should be a place for agent to put in region, then computer calculating required miles based the agents’ input. That’s why we all heard many crazy routing when using US or CO miles, even UA.
update: Gary confirmed that CO is fully computerized, I am surprised to see they did not program the routing restrictions. 
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways |
January 27, 2011
View from the wing talked about award from US to OZ/NZ, Tahiti and Maldive, I want to add a little bit my own advice.
The easiest program to go to OZ/NZ are CO/US because both programs allow routing via Asia and Thai airways have plenty of seats to these areas.
AA is a little bit limited because of routing on Qantas or Air Tahiti or Air Pacific via Nadi, seats are limited。 however, if you want to pay some extra miles, you can use AA one world redemption, which can be route via Asia, but award are distance based
Delta also permits routing via Asia, have you thought about using China Southern, china Eastern, China Airline, Malaysia airline, also Air Tahiti routing via NRT to PPT, Tahiti? let’s ignore Korean Air because you can not find 2 seats in business class across Pacific at same time, Delta blocks the seat(like *net blocking)
As for Maldive, Male, the easiest way to get there is to Sri Lanka, Colombo, then buy a cheap ticket to Male, Colombo is partner Central Asia for most programs. Personally, I don’t think Male is worth a trip all the way from US.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, General Frequent Flyer Advice, United Airlines, US airways |
January 14, 2011
As you may already know, unlike other frequent flyer programs in other countries, most programs of North American airlines don’t charge fuel surcharge when you redeem miles for awards, but there are few exceptions, they don’t pay these fuel charge to the operating airlines, they keep in their pocket as their own revenue.
1 United, Continental, US airways don’t charge fuel surchage on any airlines to anywhere
2 Air Canada collects fuel surcharge only on their own metal
3 American airlines collects fuel surcharge on British Airways redemption, but they made public announcement about it.
4 Delta is a “special” one, they try to figure out way to make money in every possible way and they do collect fuel for many airlines, here are list at my knowledge
- Delta, Alaska, Airfrance, Aitalia, KLM and Korean Airline, aeromexico, air Europa, kingfisher and jet airways no fuel charge
- Aeroflot, China Eastern, China Southern, V Australia Airlines, China airlines, Tarom Airlines, Vietnam airlines, Air Tahiti, Malaysia airlines all collects fuel charges, so that make economy class redemption on those flights using delta miles no longer worth it.(except China domestic, fuel very low)
- Avianca, Czech airlines, Kenya Airways and Hawaii airlines, no experience, but I think they don’t collect for Kenya and Czech because they were old member of Skyteam
The most interesting part about Air Tahiti was, I have an award on 2 of their flights from NRT-PPT-AKL, then return with Korean air, total taxes was $100 USD, but the ticket was issued back in September of last year. Back in December and this month, I also issued several Air Tahiti flight from CDG-LAX, but fuel was collected, I thought the charge was by route. Today, I called in to modify my tickets issued in September by 1 day and was told to pay $330 per person in taxes. they check for me, YQ was showed, which means DL just added YQ for Air Tahiti not too long ago.
The good thing for me was I can change my flight after I flew all Air Tahiti segments, but for any new reservations with airlines charge fuel, economy class redemption are not really worth it.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, United Airlines, US airways |
January 9, 2011
According to this FT thread, United airline will now match their 1K Elite status in 2011.
It’s more like a challenge program, once approved, you will be given a 90days 1K status, then fly 35K United Airline ONLY miles or 40 segments during the 90 days period, 1K status will be extend to Jan 31st, 2012.
Please contact premiermatch at united.com for more detail and sign up for status match
Posted by Troy under United Airlines |
