Here's the update on my experience.
I rang UA MP this morning and spoke to a very nice lady located in the Manila call centre. I told her I wanted to redeem miles for *A award in business class for the following itinerary:
17/05/07 SYD-FCO
03/06/07 FCO-LCY
21/06/07 LHR-FCO
I was told that it was going to cost me 120,000 miles for the trip wherease I had been expecting it to cost me 140,000 miles on the basis that the lower number only applied if travelling on all UA metal. The UA rep told me that was only the case if going via North America. I was happy to accept that.
For the SYD-FCO sector I was wanting SQ 222 dep at 5.00pm to connect with SQ340 at 1.00am the next day. Could only offer me SQ232 at 12.55pm. No big deal I can always find something to occupy me at Changi to make the hours pass by.
From Rome to London, I particulary wanted to fly into London City Airport as it's less busy and a lot more convenient for me to be met by the people I'm staying with. I wanted to get a flight at around midday but the only flights they could offer me was on LH2651 to Dusseldorf at 9.55am and then onto LCY on LH4828 at 1.00pm. Although these flts have LH numbers they appear to be operated on an LH codeshare basis.
For LHR-SYD I struck a problem in that for that date I want to return on, it's too far out for UA to offer me anything. Rather than leave the booking hanging I took a flight on the furtherest day out that they could see which happened to be June 5. I just took whatever they had going and I've made a note for myself to call back in 16 days time.
The taxes for the entire trip were $A291.17 plus a $US15 handling fee. I wasn't too shocked by that.
This was the first time I had any dealings with the new Manila call centre and I must say I was pleasantly surprised how friendly and knowledgeable the call centre lady was. I had in fact expected the worse. It did take me nearly 50 minutes to complete the process and I was constantly being apologised to for being put on hold whilst confirmation was taking place. There was a problem trying to determine the taxes and rather than being kept on hold for even longer I asked to be called back. Within 30 minutes of hanging up I got a call back.
I have one question that someone might be able to answer for me. I was given a reservation number by UA but it doesn't show up in UA's web site under "my reservations". What is the site where I can look it up?