Using FF miles with Partner Airline?
 

I am finally eligible for a free international ticket with my Continental miles. When I check the schedule for Paris, the only direct service available for the miles I have is with partner airline Air France. Has anybody ever had a problem with a FF seat on a partner airline? Would such a passenger be the first to get bumped if a flight were overbooked?

If you're ticketed, you're ticketed.

Just call Continental's award phone no. and see if they can book your trip. No problem, done thousands of times a day.

When there's an irregular operation situation, award ticket holders are often at the bottom of the food chain, regardless whose miles you're using.

But I don't see Air France is particularly poor in overbooking. In fact, CO has one of the highest involuntary bump rates among US airlines.

Is the voluntary change policy the same as if was an all-Continental trip?

mrwunrfl - Can you elaborate what you mean? Like if they change the itinerary prior to travel?

I had no problem with a FF ticket on a partner airline. I have never worried about being bumped. ((*))

I have used CO FF miles for travel on Air France and it was not a problem. In fact, on the return leg I was even upgraded.
BTW before you call and rack up the $15 call center service charge, check CO online for reward seats - you can see CO, NW and Delta.

I've been using CO's website to check the reward seats. They make it very easy.

rkkwan, United Mileage Plus has a rule where no changes are permitted on an award ticket involving Star Alliance partners once travel has begun. If you fly to Bangkok on a United award and, once there, wanted to change the return date then you could do it if your ticket is all-UA but not if any *A partner flight was on the ticket.

I was wondering if the CO program had such a rule which the OP might want to be aware of.

mrwunrfl - I have no information on that. Sorry.

Continental's website says:

International Airline Partner reward cancellations or changes must be made through the Airline Partner Reward Desk at least 10 business days before reward travel begins.

By contrast, it looks like you can change a reward ticket on Continental at any time (even after you start travellng), but you'll have to pay a fee. (I think you have to pay a fee to change a partner reward, too.)

If Continental's partner, Air France, seems to have a good reputation for CO's reward tickets I'm wondering why there is (for my dates) availability on AF whereas all the Continental flights have been taken. I'd rather fly on AF as it'll be nonstop from my city. Is this correct? The CO agent says that if there should be a problem concerning the AF flight before departing the States it's Continental's responsibility whereas if there's a problem in Paris then it's AF's responsibility. Not sure because the AF agent said that it's all Continental's responsibility.

Reputation has nothing to do with anything. It's just that CO releases few FF seats for most flights, especially early on.

Both my parents and I have used CO miles on AF. No issues. One can get pull up reservations on airfrance.com, get seat assignments, do online check-in, etc.

Thank you rkkwan.

rkkwan, how did you pull up your reservations on Air France? The res. no. is with Continental, isn't it?

Ok, never mind. Called Continental and apparently there's an AF confirmation number available but only if you call Continental and ask for it. It doesn't appear on the reward reservation.

I used the 005-xxxxxxxxxx e-ticket number from the CO reservations to view everything on AF, including the AF PNR. So, subsequently, I only use the 6-digit AF PNR; only need to put in the long e-ticket number for the very first time.

Ok, thanks. My reservation doesn't show the e ticket number just the CO reservation number which I provided to CO. The CO agent was helpful and asked if I'd like to have the AF confirmation number which I did not realize existed. It would be helpful if CO listed it next to their reservation number. It worked well and with the AF confirm. no. one can access the reservation on the AF site and make seat and meal selections.

On continental.com, click on "view receipt" and "request receipt", and you'll get a page that includes the 005- e-ticket number.

I've gotten it now. Thanks.