Booked and flew SFO-IAD-CDG and return this week. On the incoming today, I was offered the direct CDG-SFO flight, which leaves about an hour earlier than the Washington connect. I agreed, provided United guaranteed the additional miles from the original routing would be posted, since these additional miles make me 1K for next year. No upgrade was involved, but the change would get me in four hours earlier. No one at United in Paris would guarantee the mileage credit(a supervisor was consulted). I was under the impression that United originated changes would always include credit of the original mileage routing, but the Paris staff insisted that this was not true in the case of a United to United flight change. Advice please for the next time---this interchange between 961 and 971 out of Paris comes up often.

Thanks in advance.

 

It's a fault-based issue. If ticketed CDG-IAD-SFO and say CDG-IAD is delayed or cancelled (UA's fault), and you get accommodated on the non-stop, then you would have to call in after the fact and get your originally scheduled miles. In general, this would be granted.

If it's for convenience as in this case (UA is trying to do you a favor and get you home quicker), you get the flown miles. However, they may be offering the non-stop to you because CDG-IAD was oversold. If you decline the switch, then volunteer and take the bump then get put on the non-stop anyway, you have a good case to get your miles because it was UA's fault for overselling the plane.


[This message has been edited by channa (edited 11-26-2002).]

 

There are ways they can do this by creating fictional segments.

I was offered LHR-IAD instead of LHR-JFK-IAD on one occasion last year when I arrived early enough to take the earlier direct option. The miles posted as LHR-IAD. When I called to point out that I was going to miss the 500 miles from JFK to IAD, the phone agent said she'd take care of it. She then posted me 500 miles on an IAD-JFK flight which I didn't fly, despite the fact that the next flight I took had me leaving from IAD and not JFK......

 

1P who did you call to get the change made? I may have a similar situation coming up in the next couple of weeks.

 

I lost a scheduled segment a few weeks ago due to a cancelled flight. I was rerouted on a direct flight. I emailed mileage plus CS and received a reply within 2 days and got credit for the segment. They did go out of their way in the email to state that this was a "one time exception"

 

There was a bit more to it, but I'm not sure this would make any difference. The CDG-ORD flight the day before had cancelled, so CDG-SFO wasn't as full as CDG-IAD. Additionally, an air controllers' part-time(only in France) strike was making departures a bit dicey. I.think they offered me the direct to change their load, rather than make my life easier, but I didn't want to take the chance so late in the year.

 

You can always TRY faxing it...

 

Agreed. That has worked best for me every time.

Plus, if your re-routing and de-segmenting occurred because of a UA fault print the flight status page from UAL.com for your flight and send with you fax. But print it quickly; the info disappears from the website after 24 hours.

 

My experience is that the flight I flew is always posted...

If the original, ticketed routing is longer (or more segs in above situation) I make a quick call to Mileage Plus with my ticket number (016#) and by the end of the call my miles are recalculated. Politely, without fail. The simplest quickest calls that I make to UA are these ones.

It hasn't mattered if the change of itins was as a result of missing flights (US Immigration lines), re-route to confirm an upgrade, or to take a VDB. I wouldn't get to worried about it...

PS Congrats on 1K

 

Just the regular Mileage Plus number. The girl was very understanding and polite. Perhaps, as usual, it depends who you get on the other end of the phone.

 

Agree with BoulderHyattHopper and cblaisd - the fax seems to have the edge over talking with "real people". Had a few MR's this summer go partially bust due to mechanical related problems. Faxed explaination with the itn/pnr and boarding pass stubs and -- viola.

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JerseyJoe

 

I have always had success getting the original miles, even if I was rerouted for convenience. Just call and say you would like to recieve the miles as originally booked. sometimes they require you to send a copy of you BP's and tickets....sometimes they don't....