No CO redemption for *A award?

[juris43]

To earn a few brownie points with the in-laws, I am planning to redeem Krisflyer points for a J *A award from AKL to MIA or SJU. ANA Tool showed availability AKL-LAX(NZ)-IAH/EWR-MIA/SJU(CO). Phoned Krisflyer call centre, and was advised (on three separate occasions) that I can’t book these flights as CO “will cease to be a SQ partner after December 2011” and “CO is leaving *A”. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to inform them that CO is not leaving – UA/CO is merging, but they will remain in *A. But this was no use. I was told to raise it through “feedback” via the SQ website, which I did. The only response I have received thus far is that it is a matter for Krisflyer, and it has been forwarded to them.

So, not getting anywhere with using CO, I asked whether I could use domestic legs on UA or US. Answer “yes”, however, these flights would have to be in Y unless I wanted to pay the F redemption, as UA and US are only available as Y/F.

Alright, happy to get some extra brownie points by booking in F, but rather than waste that on US domestic “first”, I found availability on ANA Tool in F SYD-BKK-ZRH-MIA on TG and LX. Phoned Krisflyer, and was told that I can book this ticket, but it would have to be as two separate awards, as according to the agent, ZRH-MIA is “backtracking”. Needless to say, this would cost a squillion points.

Summary:

• can’t get to MIA or SJU via US west coast in J as CO (which offers J) is “no longer a *A airline”;
• can’t get to MIA via Europe in F (or presumably Y or J) on one award, as this is “backtracking”.

Any tips on how to redeem for J/F on this itinerary, other than wasting an F redemption on US/UA domestic or wasting J redemption by flying Y on US/UA? I know SQ is wrong about CO, but they are adamant that I can't book CO flights after December. Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted!

 

[dajop]

Summary:

• can’t get to MIA or SJU via US west coast in J as CO (which offers J) is “no longer a *A airline”;
• can’t get to MIA via Europe in F (or presumably Y or J) on one award, as this is “backtracking”.

Any tips on how to redeem for J/F on this itinerary, other than wasting an F redemption on US/UA domestic or wasting J redemption by flying Y on US/UA? I know SQ is wrong about CO, but they are adamant that I can't book CO flights after December. Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted!

"They no longer a *A airline" sounds the usual stuff they make up to explain a situation that isn't working, but they don't know why. It appears on Expertflyer that CO doesn't offer J fares, only F & Y. Certainly on the routes you mention it is only showing F A P (first class) then economy booking classes, unless there is something I am missing (eg booking with international itineraries)

 

[juris43]

"They no longer a *A airline" sounds the usual stuff they make up to explain a situation that isn't working, but they don't know why. It appears on Expertflyer that CO doesn't offer J fares, only F & Y. Certainly on the routes you mention it is only showing F A P (first class) then economy booking classes, unless there is something I am missing (eg booking with international itineraries)

Thanks dajop. I don't have Expertflyer, but ANA Tool showed CO as "business" class, whereas UA and US were "first". But the call centre staff were clear - I could not book any class on CO, as they said all CO flights were blocked after December 2011. Hence they could offer F or Y on US and UA, but nothing in any class on CO. But from a quick look at ITA, all CO front of cabin seems to be classed as "first", so I guess that means CO (like UA) is now labelling what is really a business class product as F, which means higher redemption. So I would prefer therefore to route them via Europe in J or F, if that is possible.

 

[juris43]

KF customer service called me back, and confirmed that CO will cease to be an SQ partner airline after 31 December. I asked if I could be pointed to where on the SQ website this information is stated, as I couldn't find it. KF advised that this hasn't been updated yet. The agent also had no information on the UA/CO merger. So, in 6 weeks time, CO cannot be redeemed via KF for *A awards, and there is nothing on the SQ website about it. After having transferred points from Amex to redeem for CO flights, this is very annoying. I will be contacting Amex to have the transaction reversed due to SQ not advertising that CO was leaving partnership.

 

[Onepoppa]

Singapore Krisflyer told me that redemption flights on CO will no longer be possible after 31st December 2011. Actually I recall that I posted this on one of the forums about 10 days ago.

I have trawled the net for something which confirms this, but can't find anything so I can't tell whether CO is being merged into UA so that all CO flights become UA flights or whatever.

It makes life more difficult for Krisflyer members, especially on routes where CO is strong like transatlantic routes into EWR from CDG and FRA.

 

[SeaWolf]

I believe that all CO flights already have a UA number, so I think that from this point forward if you want an award seat on CO metal you need to book it through the UA code.
Quite shortly CO will simply cease to exist:
United Continental Holdings likely to get FAA approval soon - chicagotribune.com