• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

what time do ff flights show up?

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,353
Reaction score
10,185
Points
1,198
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I'm not even sure what to put in to a search to find it. :confused:

If I'm looking for ff flights, and I need to look 330 days out, when do those flights show up? Is it 12:01 a.m.? And if so, what time zone?

Tomorrow is the 330 days out for me and I don't know if I can start looking at 9:01 p.m. Pacific time, or whether I'd have to wait until 12:01 a.m. tomorrow?

TIA
 

SherryS

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
777
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Location
Siesta Key, FL and Grandville, MI
In the past, my experience has been that they show up at 12:01 a.m. in the time zone of their headquarters. (Delta at 12:01 a.m. eastern time because Atlanta is in the eastern time zone) Things are different now.....seats don't always show up exactly on the date or time you could have expected in the past!!
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,353
Reaction score
10,185
Points
1,198
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
Thanks. Now I just need to figure out where United is headquartered. I should be able to do that. :doh:
 

mlfrancis

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
209
Reaction score
1
Points
378
Location
Wallace, NC
United is HQ in Chicago

Central ... but I'm not sure it goes with the time zone where they are - I seem to think it's always Eastern.

However ... with things being as tight as they are now, I'm finding that the airlines don't necessarily release the seats when they used to ... and not as many. United does seem to be the most liberal in terms of mileage requirements, tho.

The 330 days applies to your return flight, not the outbound. You may be able to put a hold on the outbound until the return is released, but that varies from airline to airline ... you'll have to speak with an agent about that.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,353
Reaction score
10,185
Points
1,198
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
I know it's return. That's what I've been waiting for. I've been checking and so far I would have been able to get all four tickets with the minimum amount of miles. But, when I checked today, for Saturday to Saturday flights I wasn't seeing the times I want. So, I may have to bite the bullet again this year and get some of the tickets using standard awards. :annoyed: At least we have the miles available. The price per ticket was over $1000. :eek:
 

mlfrancis

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
209
Reaction score
1
Points
378
Location
Wallace, NC
United flights

good luck ... I tried to use USAirways miles on UAL a month or so ago - I wanted 2 FC tickets. USAirways couldn't see more than 1 seat on UAL; however, when I called UAL, they had several at the saver miles. I had to end up using standard miles on US to get coach tickets for the same amount of miles that UAL wanted for FC.
 

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
17,462
Reaction score
7,277
Points
948
Resorts Owned
HGVC & GTS
Lest anyone think one must book at the earliest possible moment...
I recently did a R/T from Florida to NYC with low-miles FF seats that I booked only about 30 days out.
It wasn't exactly the times I wanted (6AM departure), but I did get suitable seats.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,353
Reaction score
10,185
Points
1,198
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
Lest anyone think one must book at the earliest possible moment...
I recently did a R/T from Florida to NYC with low-miles FF seats that I booked only about 30 days out.
It wasn't exactly the times I wanted (6AM departure), but I did get suitable seats.

I need 4 seats on a flight from SFO to KOA (Kona) during the summer. I would NEVER wait that long. :eek:
 

scotlass

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
660
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
New England
United

I just booked next summer for London, two seats. I started 330 days out for the outbound and United let me put it on hold for 3 weeks until the return flight was scheduled. Even after I booked the return, there were several seats for the full round trip available on my dates. You can only do this with United and not any of their partners. The flights have to be on United itself.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,353
Reaction score
10,185
Points
1,198
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
I just booked next summer for London, two seats. I started 330 days out for the outbound and United let me put it on hold for 3 weeks until the return flight was scheduled. Even after I booked the return, there were several seats for the full round trip available on my dates. You can only do this with United and not any of their partners. The flights have to be on United itself.

Wish I'd know this sooner. But, then again, I've never known United to hold until the return flight could be booked. I've tried in the past and was told no. Did you have to pay any extra fee for this?
 

scotlass

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
660
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
New England
I didn't realize it either until I read somewhere either here or on flyertalk that United did this. One of the forums has a United employee that posts and he/she posted this so that's the only way I knew. I hesitate to say this, but it was almost too easy!!! There are still flights available on their website, but I paid the extra $25 per ticket to do it on the phone and guarantee that the roundtrip was available. I was afraid that if I released the outbound seats when the return was available, I would not get the same flight so I paid for that.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,353
Reaction score
10,185
Points
1,198
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
Here's the end of my saga.

Last night just after 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time I was able to see 4 r/t flights SFO to KOA departing on July 11 with a return on July 26. All 4 were available with saver awards. So, I click continue, and get an error message. I called the Premier Customer Service number and I'm told by two separate reps that even though I can see the flights, and select them, I cannot purchase them yet. I asked about the possibility of holding the outbound until the return was available and was told again, that I couldn't do that. So, either I'm asking the wrong question, or got the wrong reps. I was just more upset that the website was showing me flights available that I couldn't actually "get".

This morning I went in and was able to get 4 saver awards seats. Total cost $20.
 

jimbiggs

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
102
Reaction score
0
Points
376
Location
Southern California
Here's the end of my saga.

Last night just after 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time I was able to see 4 r/t flights SFO to KOA departing on July 11 with a return on July 26. All 4 were available with saver awards. So, I click continue, and get an error message. I called the Premier Customer Service number and I'm told by two separate reps that even though I can see the flights, and select them, I cannot purchase them yet. I asked about the possibility of holding the outbound until the return was available and was told again, that I couldn't do that. So, either I'm asking the wrong question, or got the wrong reps. I was just more upset that the website was showing me flights available that I couldn't actually "get".

This morning I went in and was able to get 4 saver awards seats. Total cost $20.


That's awesome! Congratulations. Good to hear a success story once in a while. :)
 

jehb2

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2005
Messages
2,174
Reaction score
952
Points
473
Location
texas
Lest anyone think one must book at the earliest possible moment…I recently did a R/T from Florida to NYC with low-miles FF seats that I booked only about 30 days out. It wasn't exactly the times I wanted (6AM departure), but I did get suitable seats.

I need 4 seats on a flight from SFO to KOA (Kona) during the summer. I would NEVER wait that long. :eek:


I book my FF tickets to Hawaii as soon as I have my TS reservation, usually 9 months out.

That said, in January at the last minute I decided to go with my husband who had a conference in the Big Island. I got FF tickets with only 2 weeks prior.
 

x3 skier

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
5,266
Reaction score
2,295
Points
649
Location
Ohio and Colorado
Resorts Owned
Steamboat Grand, The West,
Raintree and, formerly, The Allen House
Depending on when you travel, its possible to get the cheapest mileage award after 330 days. Last week I booked a minimum miles Round trip DAY to LGW Business Class Award leaving 11 Oct on UseLess Airways.

If its in the summer season, its a whole different ball game.

Cheers
 

skim118

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
315
Reaction score
1
Points
378
Location
SF Bay area
I didn't realize it either until I read somewhere either here or on flyertalk that United did this. One of the forums has a United employee that posts and he/she posted this so that's the only way I knew. I hesitate to say this, but it was almost too easy!!! There are still flights available on their website, but I paid the extra $25 per ticket to do it on the phone and guarantee that the roundtrip was available. I was afraid that if I released the outbound seats when the return was available, I would not get the same flight so I paid for that.

I am trying to get 3 United FF tickets to Maui for late July 2009 & the United agent was unwilling to hold the outbound tickets the way American Airlines would do without any hesitation. Then I basically booked 3 FF tickets online & the return on the next day. I am planning to call United when the return window opens up 15 days later & pay $25/ticket to call United and change our return tickets to the new date.

BTW even while I waited for 1 day to book the return, 2 out the three SFO-OGG non-stops became unavailable(it was a Friday).
 

scotlass

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
660
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
New England
I am trying to get 3 United FF tickets to Maui for late July 2009 & the United agent was unwilling to hold the outbound tickets the way American Airlines would do without any hesitation.

Were you booking on United itself or a partner? My experience was that by booking on a United flight, you could hold the seats but not if it was a partner airline.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,353
Reaction score
10,185
Points
1,198
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
I am trying to get 3 United FF tickets to Maui for late July 2009 & the United agent was unwilling to hold the outbound tickets the way American Airlines would do without any hesitation.

Were you booking on United itself or a partner? My experience was that by booking on a United flight, you could hold the seats but not if it was a partner airline.

I'd still like to know how you achieve this. I couldn't get United to hold a flight for even one day. And yes, this was on United, not a partner.
 

skim118

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
315
Reaction score
1
Points
378
Location
SF Bay area
Were you booking on United itself or a partner? My experience was that by booking on a United flight, you could hold the seats but not if it was a partner airline.

I was booking on United directly -- they have 3 non-stops daily from SFO-OGG; I have no idea why they give different answers to different callers; in any case our workaround of booking the next day return works, since United does not charge additional fees for changing the date of the return flight other than the $25/ticket to change it by calling them.
 

scotlass

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
660
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
New England
This is really bizarre but I can't find the thread where I got the information although it was probably on flyertalk. My flights are BOS-LRH so maybe the route has something to do with holding the flights although I would think that BOS-LHR in June would be as difficult to get as flights to Hawaii. International vs. domestic? Don't know. Weird.
 

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,353
Reaction score
10,185
Points
1,198
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
This is really bizarre but I can't find the thread where I got the information although it was probably on flyertalk. My flights are BOS-LRH so maybe the route has something to do with holding the flights although I would think that BOS-LHR in June would be as difficult to get as flights to Hawaii. International vs. domestic? Don't know. Weird.

Maybe they just like you better. :cool:
 

scotlass

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
660
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
New England
Maybe they just like you better. :cool:

Don't think so although I am told I have a sexy voice on the phone! Seriously, the advice I got came from a United employee who posts on one of the boards. I thought it was the United thread on flyertalk but I couldn't find it. I'd say maybe I dreamt it, but I do actually have flights and they were quite easy to get. Again, perhaps it's the route of flights.

Update: Ok, I am not crazy. Here is the link to the page on flyertalk where I asked the questions of a Reservations agent:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=846985&page=6. Scroll down to the RSSRNotInIndia answer to my question on July 28 at 5:17pm. Perhaps you can post the question again.
 
Last edited:

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
19,353
Reaction score
10,185
Points
1,198
Location
New Mexico
Resorts Owned
Maui Lea at Maui Hill
San Diego Country Estates
Update: Ok, I am not crazy. Here is the link to the page on flyertalk where I asked the questions of a Reservations agent:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=846985&page=6. Scroll down to the RSSRNotInIndia answer to my question on July 28 at 5:17pm. Perhaps you can post the question again.

Thanks for the link. I'm reading the answer and I don't understand this part:

"The agents are correct... we can hold all-UA itineraries booked 330-days out for up to three weeks but Star Awards are still restricted to a maximum of 72-hours. I've seen itineraries in which a longer hold was "honored," and many of the flights canceled out."

Was your original question about ff flights, or just reservations in general? I'm thinking the part about Star Awards (and I don't think I've heard that term before) is for flights booked with ff miles.
 

scotlass

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
660
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
New England
The Star Awards refers to the Star Alliance which is the partner airlines connected to United. What she means is that some ff reservations booked with partners were supposedly able to be held more than 72 hours but were ultimately cancelled. Only on United can they be held for up to 3 weeks. My original question to her was about ff miles. You can find it in the thread above the answer I pointed out in the link.
 

philemer

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2004
Messages
3,728
Reaction score
101
Points
549
Location
Intermountain West
Resorts Owned
Maui Schooner; Dikhololo, S.A.; Club Wyndham; Worldmark.
Wish I'd know this sooner. But, then again, I've never known United to hold until the return flight could be booked. I've tried in the past and was told no. Did you have to pay any extra fee for this?

They may be getting more strict (following their rules) but I've always been able to "hold" a flt. for 14-21 days. Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV). :)
 
Top