US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

Hands up, I recall saying the move to oneworld might be a good thing for us, based on the ability to move around Australia to find routes out. I totally take it back.
Been looking for routes to Europe stopping off in Asia (bkk). Can get bkk to lhr, lhr to hkg, and hkg to bne (my home town). Can I get out of Australia (31/5 in j or above)? Can I buggery. Nothing. Anywhere.

Oh how I miss the ease of tg. I never knew quite how good we had it!!

yeah. I mentioned the scarcity of OW availability and some were howling me down

the only thing you might want to try if you haven't already is MH via KUL to get you to BKK. Use the BA tool but you must break it into two separate flights... AU-KUL and then KUL-BKK.


Unfortunately MH business class has such a bad wrap that I had to forego CX and JL F for a trip to the states because the only flight back from asia was via KUL. (If MH was on the outbound it wouldn't have been so bad... but to finish a trip that way is not worth it. I'm sticking to my flat bed on Air China )

 

[anat0l]

Hands up, I recall saying the move to oneworld might be a good thing for us, based on the ability to move around Australia to find routes out. I totally take it back.
Been looking for routes to Europe stopping off in Asia (bkk). Can get bkk to lhr, lhr to hkg, and hkg to bne (my home town). Can I get out of Australia (31/5 in j or above)? Can I buggery. Nothing. Anywhere.

Oh how I miss the ease of tg. I never knew quite how good we had it!!

MH via KUL is the way on the date you have supplied.

Ah yes, TG, the prostitute of *A premium... we will miss it.

yeah. I mentioned the scarcity of OW availability and some were howling me down

Point of order... it wasn't as bad as you made it out to be, i.e. almost starkers.

Unfortunately MH business class has such a bad wrap that I had to forego CX and JL F for a trip to the states because the only flight back from asia was via KUL. (If MH was on the outbound it wouldn't have been so bad... but to finish a trip that way is not worth it. I'm sticking to my flat bed on Air China )

I suppose you're also against trying QF on the way home, too?

Surely there has to be other CX J or BA J or F services back home that you can take? Even via AKL, ADL, CNS or PER?

 

[robcuk]

It certainly seems the case although the further out you look the availability seems to be better.

I am still trying to find flights for my friends honeymoon that has been bu**ered up by US but the agents just cannot book the MH flights from SYD - the funny thing is I managed to book MH for my inlaws for there trip in September so it can be done. I've even had the discussion about where to look that's been spoken about but to no avail.

I'm hoping CX opens up soon as there is now availability in J a few days before they are scheduled to leave.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I suppose you're also against trying QF on the way home, too?

Surely there has to be other CX J or BA J or F services back home that you can take? Even via AKL?

I need to get from Asia to Australia - tried ex HKG, BKK, SIN, PVG - all nothing on CX/QF/BA. The only thing is MH via KUL.

OW availability at (relatively) short notice i think is very difficult. And i can't plan flights 330 days out. I did a qantas search for somewhere (either London or LAX, and it came back with an error saying flights could not be found for the entire month of the return journey (flexible date option)). That's just crazy.

 

[anat0l]

I need to get from Asia to Australia - tried ex HKG, BKK, SIN, PVG - all nothing on CX/QF/BA. The only thing is MH via KUL.

You must be travelling in a real peak or on short notice. Usually there is something on CX out to Australia (or even AKL). They fly to a lot of Australia and have many services.

OW availability at (relatively) short notice i think is very difficult. And i can't plan flights 330 days out.

That I can agree on, unless you are searching for Economy availability at short notice, when it is pretty reasonable.


I've helped a few friends out to get some itineraries off the ground in the new oneworld system; the time they are looking ahead is about 4-6 months, when the availability isn't too bad except on popular longhaul routes (where it is almost expectedly difficult).

 

[anat0l]

It certainly seems the case although the further out you look the availability seems to be better.

I am still trying to find flights for my friends honeymoon that has been bu**ered up by US but the agents just cannot book the MH flights from SYD - the funny thing is I managed to book MH for my inlaws for there trip in September so it can be done. I've even had the discussion about where to look that's been spoken about but to no avail.

I'm hoping CX opens up soon as there is now availability in J a few days before they are scheduled to leave.

I know it must be upthread, but what kind of timings are you looking for the honeymooners?

If the itinerary is buggered up, I'm guessing it's an old *A ticket and perhaps they will need to almost start again with the ow ticket?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You must be travelling in a real peak or on short notice. Usually there is something on CX out to Australia (or even AKL). They fly to a lot of Australia and have many services.

I'm trying in May (specific dates mind you) - but it's just coming back with everything being 'your flight Hong Kong/Shanghai to Syd/mel/bne will be in economy'.

I just tried AKL as well given your tips, but no dice there either

 

[adrian]

system glitches occur. It was more of an issue when airlines such as CA and SQ required instant ticketing (no holds). If USDM was a bit slow issuing the ticket then it simply bounced. The PNR was still in the SQ system, but they weren't going to carry you.

USDM probably issues 10s of thousands of tickets a day. One ticket number not pushing to another system doesn't happen very often, but when it does it can have a major impact.

most recently a friend changed a TG ticket. TG had no ticket numbers for the new flights. They found out three days before departure. thankfully TG hadn't autocancelled.

I can beat that.... I found out at TG checkin.

I had had my ticket issued, and checked that there was a ticket number, all good to go. Then 2 days before booked travel, I changed tickets the flights on two tickets, bringing them forward by a day. I forgot to check with TG that there was a ticket number attached. One of the tickets was fine. But mine had never been reissued, so I spent nearly an hour on the phone to US, at TG SYD checkin, getting them to reissue the ticket. Fortunately they were able to do it in time, and there was still award availability, but it wasn't a fun experience.

So, yes, do check that there is a ticket number, and check again after any reissue.

 

[robcuk]

I know it must be upthread, but what kind of timings are you looking for the honeymooners?

If the itinerary is buggered up, I'm guessing it's an old *A ticket and perhaps they will need to almost start again with the ow ticket?

Correct - Bride in J, Hubby in C :-(. Dept 7th May. As I mentioned CX is starting to open up so fingers crossed we can book something although I still need to get them home at the end of June. Agents have been very helpful but not productive.

 

[anat0l]

Correct - Bride in J, Hubby in C :-(. Dept 7th May. As I mentioned CX is starting to open up so fingers crossed although still need to get them home. Agents have been very helpful but not productive.

Do you mean hubby in Y, i.e. Economy (not C for Coach C stands for Business Class in other areas of the world).

Now what's wrong with that? Chivalry is not dead! :mrgreen:

CX should be "opened up" (not "starting"); just agents have to search on the correct availability (which I assume you've already advised anyway).

The availability on the way back... depends on travel date and whether they have a tight timetable. Any indications of when? Actually good that you've found their availability to get out of the country!

 

[robcuk]

Do you mean hubby in Y, i.e. Economy (not C for Coach C stands for Business Class in other areas of the world).

Now what's wrong with that? Chivalry is not dead! :mrgreen:

CX should be "opened up" (not "starting"); just agents have to search on the correct availability (which I assume you've already advised anyway).

The availability on the way back... depends on travel date and whether they have a tight timetable. Any indications of when? Actually good that you've found their availability to get out of the country!

Ha ha yes at least as it stands the bride is in Business! Yes sorry the hubby is in economy 3 out of the 4 legs.

Luckily they are very flexible with plans - I think they are prepared to fly into anywhere in Europe and potentially just buy a connecting flight to Venice (Where else would you start your honeymoon). They leave Europe end of June again I presume flexible with dept points.


As I mentioned we found flights thanks to Travelislife but the agents cannot see the MH segments as open.

 

[bcworld]

A bit late!

EVA Air Increases GUM Service

 

[get me outta here]

B***ger, I'm spending 3 nights there as I had to.

A bit late!

EVA Air Increases GUM Service

 

[hummel]

A bit late!

EVA Air Increases GUM Service

EVA still a partner of USDM?

BNE-TPE-GUM-NRT-GUM-TPE-BNE?

The mind boggles.

 

[get me outta here]

Mine is CBR - SYD - BKK - HKG - TPE - GUM, and reverse. One night in BKK, 3 n in GUM and 10 nights in HKG. I day in TPE. Apart from the GUM part, I'm actually looking forward to it.

EVA still a partner of USDM?

BNE-TPE-GUM-NRT-GUM-TPE-BNE?

The mind boggles.

 

[hummel]

Mine is CBR - SYD - BKK - HKG - TPE - GUM, and reverse. One night in BKK, 3 n in GUM and 10 nights in HKG. I day in TPE. Apart from the GUM part, I'm actually looking forward to it.

Booked through *A yes? I am thinking by usineing Eva as a partner airline.

I'm doing MEL-SYD-BKK-ICN-SPN-ICN-HKG-BKK-SYD-MEL over this weekend. A weekend to get away from it all!

 

[get me outta here]

Yes, booked via USDM before the sloughing, on TG. The SYD - BKK - HKG and reverse in F. BR (Eva) only has J for their short flights.

You are doing a huge w/end, but only adding GUM would make it epic.

Booked through *A yes? I am thinking by usineing Eva as a partner airline.

I'm doing MEL-SYD-BKK-ICN-SPN-ICN-HKG-BKK-SYD-MEL over this weekend. A weekend to get away from it all!

 

[travelislife]

I am departing on a Guam trip this coming Thursday MEL-BKK-NRT//NRT-GUM//GUM-NRT/HND-SIN-MEL really looking forward to it, including the few days in Guam!

 

[boomy]

I am departing on a Guam trip this coming Thursday MEL-BKK-NRT//NRT-GUM//GUM-NRT/HND-SIN-MEL really looking forward to it, including the few days in Guam!

Enjoy! Maybe you can do a TR

 

[Robbi]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

G'day!

I recently joined US Airways but it won't let me buy miles:

[h=3]Please correct the following errors:[/h]

• The US Airways Dividend Miles account you specified is not eligible to purchase miles.

Is this something you can only do at special times?

Thanks,

Rob