jacketwatch

I tried to book R/T business class tickets from ORD to HK for Oct. with a Nov. return and found no business class seats available online so I called UA and was told basically the same thing so I booked coach instead. Yesterday I called UA again to be waitlisted for business class and was told those seats had not yet been allocated and that we were #1 on the wait list for both legs of the flight, thus being in a good position to get those seats. Can anyone tell me how this works? Do they not open business calss seats until closer to departure? I woiuld luv to fly bc, esp. for these flights, two non-stops. Thank you. Larry

Seamus

Yes, seats for reward redemption are released closer to the date of travel. Sometimes they release one or two at a time, sometimes when the date is close they will release a larger block. Somewhere there is a logic used but it is baffling at best. All you can do is put in your request and get on the wait list. If your dates are flexible you can check occasionally to see if seats have opened and change your itinerary if they do.

yestravel

Did u ask them to look at the Star Alliance partners?

jacketwatch

My understanding is that for ff miles on UAL business or first class you have to actually use a UAL craft and not a Star Alliance craft. However its worth a try to ask I suppose. Thanks for the advice Seamus. They told me that I would get a call if such availability opened up but checking back w/ them is a good idea too I think.

RonDace

Business class seats are sometimes hard to come by. Often companies will pay for Business Class for their executives more often than First Class. Many companies also will pay for business for all employees on flights greater than 8 hours. Except for someone at a CEO level a company is not likely to pay for first. It might be easier to find First seats if you are using miles to travel.

yestravel

U can fly biz class using UA ff miles on any Star Alliance carrier. U need to call and book thru UA. The various airlines within Star Alliance release there seats at different times, but u can definitely fly biz class using miles on them.

mrwunrfl

I've booked and flown multiple *Alliance partners in business class and first class using UA miles.

You could clear the waitlist tomorrow, or in June, or any time between now and the day of your flight.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I think that the waitlist only applies to United flights. That is, I don't think that you can get a coach award on a partner and be on a waitlist for business class on that partner.

yestravel

That is what UA agents have told me - waitlist only applies to UA flights, but of course that doesnt mean that it hasnt happened...

jacketwatch

Good news! I just booked business class on Star Alliance partners. We take ANA to HK and Asiana back to ORD. Thanks for the suggestions. Larry

yestravel

Glad it worked out.

jacketwatch

Me too. Thanks again.