justshootme

for a ticket from Hong Kong to Mumbai, India. United is telling me that economy class is 40,00 miles and business class is 60,000 miles I asked if I could redeem my point for a business class ticket, seats are available for my travel dates ....BUT I must fly through Singapore and they need to issue two separate tickets, one form Hong Kong to Singapore and one from Singapore to Mumbai. The first ticket is 20,000 miles and the second is 40,000 miles both in economy class. What should I do? I don't have enough points to buy to separate Business class tickets, and to me it doesn't seem fair that UA wants 20,000 miles more just because I need to connect in Singapore. Any thoughts/suggestions? Thanks in advance.

MichelleY

No it is not fair, but they are in the driver's seat. Same thing happended to me when I went to Venice. It was 50,000 miles to anywhere in Europe. But I flew thru Frankfurt, so they tacked on the additional 20,000. Luckily it work out OK.

Good luck,

MY

Gardyloo

According to UA's website a Star Alliance award from South Asia (HKG) to Central Asia (BOM) is 40K in coach and 60K in business. It should not matter what routing is required (SIN is the probable stopover/transit as Singapore Airlines will probably be the Star carrier.)

I would phone the Mileage Plus office back and be a bit insistent; ask for a supervisor if need be.

And this thread should probably be on the Airlines board instead of the US board.

KT

"Same thing happended to me when I went to Venice. It was 50,000 miles to anywhere in Europe. But I flew thru Frankfurt, so they tacked on the additional 20,000."

This puzzles me. I've flown FF through Frankfurt or Munich several times to European destinations (Turin, Venice, Stockholm...). and it's always been 50K. Similarly with NW through Amsterdam, etc. As Gardyloo says, it shouldn't matter what routing is required -- they charge by the flight, not the segment.

KathrynT

Are you planning a stopover in Singapore? That may be why they consider it two separate flights. It certainly doesn't hurt to call again.

mrwunrfl

If you are simply flying from Hong Kong to Mumbai and back then that is South Asia to Central Asia and a business class award costs 60,000 miles. Call Mileage Plus back until you get someone who understands that fact. If your itinerary is more complicated than that then please explain. I believe that you don't actually have a personal need to go through Singapore.

I am puzzled too by your Europe award trouble, MichelleY. How did it work out? You flew from N. America to Frankfurt and connected to a flight from Venice, then on return flew from Venice back to Frankfurt to connect to a flight back home? Is that it?

mrwunrfl

justshootme, you could also fly on Thai Airways via Bangkok.

justshootme

Thank you for the feedback. I have do not plan on stopping in Singapore. I need to connect via Singapore or Bangkok because there are no non stop flights between HK and Mumbai with Mileage Plus partners. I will call UA tonight and see what they say.

rkkwan

Yes, if you don't like an answer, hang up and call back.

Also, don't mention anything about UA and connecting in Singapore. Just tell them you're going HKG-BOM, And the Star Alliance award is 60K for business.

MichelleY

Dear mrwunfrl:

We flew SFO to Frankfurt to Venice on Lufthsana. Then returned Rome-Munich-SFO.

MY

KT

MIchelle Y:

Did you do this without a stopover (i.e., without actually breaking your journey in German)? If so, it shouldn't have been more than 50K. I've done very similar routings on UA FF for 50K.

mrwunrfl

KT is right, without a stop in Munich or Frankfurt then you just have an open-jaw and it is a 50,000 miler. You should call Mileage Plus back to get them to put the 20,000 miles back into your account.

MichelleY

Thanks for all the concern, but this was three years ago. I doubt they would credit me anything. I should have asked the Fodorites then!!! BTW: we did no stop overs, strickly open-jaw.

MY