Triangle Trip

If you have not merged your United MileagePlus account with your Continental OnePass account, you should do it soon. It’s important that the first and last name and your addresses on your of your MilagePlus and OnePass accounts are identical – mine weren’t, so I called Continental OnePass to change my name to match my United Mileage Plus account.

The Continental OnePass agent suggested I should change my United information instead. Her rationale is that the combined airline will be using Continental’s OnePass system after the two frequent flyer programs have merged. The OnePass agent also told me our United number will be going away as the new system will be using the Continental OnePass number.

I also asked how lifetime miles will work in the new program – the agent didn’t have an answer for me because of how United and Continental currently counts lifetime miles. United only gives its members credit for lifetime Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) when it is a United coshare, while Continental counts all partner miles toward your lifetime miles.

In hindsight, I should have banked all my Star Alliance miles with Continental instead of United.If you’ve not merged your accounts, I suggest you do it now (here’s the link)!

Having Preferred status on US Airways does not yield any real benefits. If you’re a USAir Silver or Gold Preferred customer, you’ll still get charged for picking an aisle or a window seat located in front of the plane – which USAir calls the “Choice Seats.” Not sure if Platinum or Chairman members have to deal with this issue as they are generally upgraded on every flight.

Unlike United’s Economy Plus seats, USAir’s Choice Seats do not have extra leg room. Furthermore, you cannot purchase an exit row seat as a Choice Seat. Depending on when you purchase your ticket with USAir, you may be assigned to a middle seat. To get out of the middle seat, USAir will want to charge you US$20 to $40 extra for a Choice Seat depending on availability.

Star Alliance Gold members also face the same problem (see my previous post), as status does not give preferential seating on US Airways. However, you may want to call USAir’s reservations line to request an exit row seat – it has worked for me in the past.

Did to know that you can get a full refund on an airline ticket if you booked it on the airline’s website if you cancel within 24 hours of the purchase?

Not many airlines disclose this information because they do not want you to cancel or change your mind after booking your airline ticket – but it’s true. If you booked a ticket on a major US commercial airline such as Delta, JetBlue, United, Virgin America, etc., you can cancel your ticket within 24 hours of booking the ticket without penalty.

However, you’ll need to have made the reservation on the airline’s website. If you’ve changed your mind, or found a better deal after booking your flight, just pick up the phone and ring the airline for a full refund of your ticket – regardless of ticket class (full fare and discounted are eligible). Your refund will be processed via credit card.

Ticket brokers and travel sites such as Expedia, Travelocity, etc., do not allow you to cancel or change your flight as they are generally matching you up on different one-way fares for the best deal.