UA status match - benefits during trial period

[Harthagan]

Im considering doing this status challenge/match as well hopefully to snag lounge access for return air nz flights to SFO. Wondering if anyone has had any luck doing that while still in the 3 month challenge period?

 

[Mattg]

Im considering doing this status challenge/match as well hopefully to snag lounge access for return air nz flights to SFO. Wondering if anyone has had any luck doing that while still in the 3 month challenge period?

Yes, I received Air NZ lounge access during the trial period.

 

[stm1sydney]

All UA*G benefits received while flying Asiana on four sectors in the last couple of weeks, "UA*G" appeared on boarding pass. (During three month challenge/trial period.)

 

[Jacques Vert]

Anyone have experience with flights on Olympic? I realise they are not Star Alliance, rather a subsidiary of Aegean, but I could do with the extra baggage allowance.

I see on their website that Aegean Gold members get the benefits when flying on Olympic, but it is not clear if that extends to Star Gold.

If not, my status match won't be that exciting after all.

 

[Mattg]

Anyone have experience with flights on Olympic? I realise they are not Star Alliance, rather a subsidiary of Aegean, but I could do with the extra baggage allowance.

I see on their website that Aegean Gold members get the benefits when flying on Olympic, but it is not clear if that extends to Star Gold.

If not, my status match won't be that exciting after all.

I flew an Olympic Air flight marketed by Aegean (A3 flight number) last month and received extra baggage, lounge access etc. thanks to my United status.

I don't believe you normally get Star Alliance benefits on Olympic Air, but United happens to have a separate agreement with them.

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/mileageplus/earn-miles/airline-partners/olympic-air.html

 

[Jacques Vert]

I flew an Olympic Air flight marketed by Aegean (A3 flight number) last month and received extra baggage, lounge access etc. thanks to my United status.

I don't believe you normally get Star Alliance benefits on Olympic Air, but United happens to have a separate agreement with them.

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/mileageplus/earn-miles/airline-partners/olympic-air.html

Thanks Matt,

I thought that was the case until I read some comments from people who had been denied the benefits (although the details did seem to be a little sketchy). The comments revolved around whether the flight had an A3 or OA flihght number.

Thanks for the link; I've printed a copy to take with me "just in case".

 

[Jacques Vert]

I flew an Olympic Air flight marketed by Aegean (A3 flight number) last month and received extra baggage, lounge access etc. thanks to my United status.

I don't believe you normally get Star Alliance benefits on Olympic Air, but United happens to have a separate agreement with them.

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/mileageplus/earn-miles/airline-partners/olympic-air.html

Thanks Matt,

I thought that was the case until I read some comments from people who had been denied the benefits (although the details did seem to be a little sketchy). The comments revolved around whether the flight had an A3 or OA flihght number.

Thanks for the link; I've printed a copy to take with me "just in case".

So we arrived at ATH with my print out of the "benefits page" as per the link provided by Mattg above. We are travelling in the cheapest class "P" (Go Light). The agent tells me that while I get priority baggage and lounge access, I don't get the free bag. I show her the print out and she goes to speak to a supervisor.

The supervisor talks to someone on the phone, and then advises us that you only get the free bag IF the ticket is booked through United and has a ticket number starting with "016". I have to pay EUR25 per bag despite both +1 & I having Premier Platinum status with United (through the status match).

Not to be outdone, I sent an email to Olympic Airlines Customer Care to confirm the baggage rules as we have 3 more flights on Olympic before leaving Greece. The lovely Katerina replies that because we have included our Aegean member number on the booking we won't get the free bag; she offers to amend the booking to include our United number instead and then confirms that we will both get a free bag on our upcoming flights.

Given the upcoming changes to United's program, I would much prefer to credit the flight to Aegean's program but I'll take the free bag instead of paying EUR25 any day!

I replied to Katerina, thanking her for her service and noted that we had been charged on our previous flight as I had included the Aegean member number; Katerina has replied that...................

we are getting a (one-time only) refund.

Outstanding customer service from Olympic Airways And all done within a couple of days; in fact, my emails received a reply within a couple of hours on every occasion. A lot of airlines could learn a lesson in customer service from them .

 

[Jacques Vert]

I guess the proof will be when we check-in for our next flight. This time I will have the print out and an email from their Customer Care team

 

[Jacques Vert]

I guess the proof will be when we check-in for our next flight. This time I will have the print out and an email from their Customer Care team

Well we arrived at the airport in HER, armed with the two print-outs.

Found the check-in desk and was called forward by a very pleasant young chap who did the formalities.

No mention of paying for our bags and a very pleasant experience all round.

Off to the lounge, except there isn't one. Our check-in guy informs us that while there is a Goldair lounge (available to Priority Pass members), it isn't accessible on intra-Schengen flights

We have to slum it AND pay for our food and drinks!

He informs us that at least we will have lounge access when we transit in ATH.

 

[Robert Qld]

Hello lovely people,

I just got this and the welcome email said go to the mobile site (which in turn takes me to the App) to view a digital copy of my MilagePlus card. But maybe I am viewing it wrong, but I cannot find my card at all, no matter how hard I look. I can see the front page of MyAccount which lists Gold however.

Does UA do a card in a traditional sense or not anymore?

 

[jch]

Hi Robert, if you press the profile button in the top-right hand corner of the app, your card should be visible in the "My Profile" screen. I received a physical card once I completed the challenge last year as well. Hope this helps. Cheers.

 

[Robert Qld]

Thank you jch!
So easy... yet I failed so hard! LOL