Oct 28, 2019, 12:32 am
Last edit by: sammyg901
Last Updated: 21 AUG 2021
Due to various changes to the TK IT-system booking partner awards has taken a great step back. Details below.
Online: Potentially working?
See recent (July 2022) posts - it seems possible to ticket *A online IF you can find availability. A lot of availability does not show. If you can see X or I class on ua.com but not on turkishairlines.com then likely a ticket office can assist
Since August 2021 the online *A ticket payment flow is broken ("continue" button does not appear on the credit card entry page) so transactions cannot be completed. No known workarounds
From 18 Nov 19, you may continue to book partner awards online for selected airlines, routes and options. Not all options that you could book with another partner is bookable through the TK website.
Availability could be checked online via the United website without being a MileagePlus member with the book with miles tool at the flight search engine. Note: For UA flights, check 'X' fare bucket, for other airlines check Saver Award.
TK Hotline: Partially working
From recent reports ( fall 2020 ) in this thread, it is now possible to book *A awards from the TK hotline although still, not all agents are capable to do it; you might need to HUACA multiple times to find an agent that knows how to book *A awards. Although, it's strongly suggested to make your own research on availability before calling them.
Sales Office: Working
A sales office could book *A award tickets. You could call, e-mail or visit them in person. Some offices do not answer phones or do not reply to e-mails so visiting them in person would improve your chances to book a *A award ticket.
First class award: Not working
TK has stopped issuing first class awards since at least September 2019.
Due to various changes to the TK IT-system booking partner awards has taken a great step back. Details below.
Online: Potentially working?
See recent (July 2022) posts - it seems possible to ticket *A online IF you can find availability. A lot of availability does not show. If you can see X or I class on ua.com but not on turkishairlines.com then likely a ticket office can assist
Availability could be checked online via the United website without being a MileagePlus member with the book with miles tool at the flight search engine. Note: For UA flights, check 'X' fare bucket, for other airlines check Saver Award.
TK Hotline: Partially working
From recent reports ( fall 2020 ) in this thread, it is now possible to book *A awards from the TK hotline although still, not all agents are capable to do it; you might need to HUACA multiple times to find an agent that knows how to book *A awards. Although, it's strongly suggested to make your own research on availability before calling them.
Sales Office: Working
A sales office could book *A award tickets. You could call, e-mail or visit them in person. Some offices do not answer phones or do not reply to e-mails so visiting them in person would improve your chances to book a *A award ticket.
First class award: Not working
TK has stopped issuing first class awards since at least September 2019.
Everything You need to know about booking Star Alliance awards with Miles&Smiles
Jun 30, 2024 | 8:50 am
#2011
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: BA Avios, UA MP, AA, Choice, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,107
Agreed, with the devaluation it is no longer a great program. Sorry you had credited your hard earned miles into TK hope you get to burn them before the 3 yr expiration. I guess was narrowly thinking more in terms of Domestic US and Canada premium redemptions which are bruised but still remain decent.
In terms of how to book your ticket here is my personal experience:
Emailing: the ticket office emails for local offices are posted and blogs have said emailing " sometimes works." What you must understand that this is super variable. Each office even in the same country operates differently. Last time I tried this, only one out of five responded, and that was a reply which said not available and only 4 days after. Was useless. And most recently SFO office explicitly said, please call the call center - they don't book flights for you after a nice person did it just a few weeks before - it's highly depends on the mood of the person answering the email (if they even answer it) and you must trust that availability remains as you wait. How about calling the local numbers you ask? Yeah, they dont answer.
Calling: the TK agents in the call centers are super variable in terms of their ability to assist you. Most are bad, a select few of them are ok, very few are good. You must do your research and pick out your flights and feed them segment by segment vs origin - destination, the agents must minimally know what booking codes to look for etc. If you finally have something put together simple flights like domestic US in united are no problem. Any more complex like US-CAN on AC etc and you can hit trouble in tariff calculations and payment at the last step. If that happens just tell them to save it and give you the PNR. You then take the PNR and now you can email the TK city ticket offices and they will be more willing to reply and help you with the last step.
In terms of how to book your ticket here is my personal experience:
Emailing: the ticket office emails for local offices are posted and blogs have said emailing " sometimes works." What you must understand that this is super variable. Each office even in the same country operates differently. Last time I tried this, only one out of five responded, and that was a reply which said not available and only 4 days after. Was useless. And most recently SFO office explicitly said, please call the call center - they don't book flights for you after a nice person did it just a few weeks before - it's highly depends on the mood of the person answering the email (if they even answer it) and you must trust that availability remains as you wait. How about calling the local numbers you ask? Yeah, they dont answer.
Calling: the TK agents in the call centers are super variable in terms of their ability to assist you. Most are bad, a select few of them are ok, very few are good. You must do your research and pick out your flights and feed them segment by segment vs origin - destination, the agents must minimally know what booking codes to look for etc. If you finally have something put together simple flights like domestic US in united are no problem. Any more complex like US-CAN on AC etc and you can hit trouble in tariff calculations and payment at the last step. If that happens just tell them to save it and give you the PNR. You then take the PNR and now you can email the TK city ticket offices and they will be more willing to reply and help you with the last step.
I don't have personal experience with this, but according to what I've read on Frequent Miler, sending an email is better than calling. Might be worth searching for Frequent Miler's guide and following the steps.
I'm actually not sure it's still fair to say TK has "great mile rates" given the recent severe devaluation. I'm certainly regretting my choice to credit my *A flying in the past few years to TK M&S.
I'm actually not sure it's still fair to say TK has "great mile rates" given the recent severe devaluation. I'm certainly regretting my choice to credit my *A flying in the past few years to TK M&S.
Jul 14, 2024 | 11:05 am
#2012
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA Exec
Posts: 4,375
Aug 25, 2024 | 5:39 pm
#2013
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 95
Star Alliance Award
When I tried to book an award ticket for Star Alliance flights, after the flight selection page, clicking on the Go To Payment, the following error message always occurs,Dear passenger,
The ticketing approval for the fare class you selected in your travel plan could not be obtained from our contracted airline. We apologize for this inconvenience, which is unfortunately beyond our control.
You can change your flight selection and try again.
Does anyone know how can I go through this?
The ticketing approval for the fare class you selected in your travel plan could not be obtained from our contracted airline. We apologize for this inconvenience, which is unfortunately beyond our control.
You can change your flight selection and try again.
Does anyone know how can I go through this?
Sep 1, 2024 | 6:47 am
#2015
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 72
Star Alliance upgradable booking class
Uniteds website used to have Turkish Airlines listed as to what booking class is upgradeable using miles. It used to be S class but now I dont see what class on Uniteds Star Alliance website.
Is it still S? And thank you to those who reply - where is this info located.
Is it still S? And thank you to those who reply - where is this info located.
Sep 25, 2024 | 10:11 pm
#2016
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cape Town
Programs: TK E+ *G, AA Gold, A7 *S
Posts: 50
Am trying to book 2 *A award tickets for my parents online. I can see availability and get through to the final booking screen, but then receive a pop-up saying I can't book Star Alliance awards for non-members. Is that true? Different rules if I call the call centre?
I know I've booked *A awards for my parents before but I was always traveling with them. Does this matter?
Also to note: they both have TK M&S numbers that I've entered.
I know I've booked *A awards for my parents before but I was always traveling with them. Does this matter?
Also to note: they both have TK M&S numbers that I've entered.
Last edited by ttapps; Sep 25, 2024 at 10:19 pm
Sep 26, 2024 | 12:05 pm
#2017
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: OSL
Programs: Miles & Smiles | Elite
Posts: 19
Probems booking Star Alliance award tickets
When booking a Star Alliance award ticket , the website shows an error here with "please complete mandatory fields" - but there is absolutely no information about what these fields should contain. Anyone knwo what is up here?
Sep 30, 2024 | 8:46 am
#2020
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,524
It makes sense because it's not a domestic flight. If you can get it with Aeroplan go for it. You can't expect all *A has the same # of miles for award flights.