US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[robcuk]

Just back from a trip back to Blighty. I managed to snag a first class seat on EY a380 outbound and coming back I flew from CDG to DEL via DOH on Qatar which meant F on the a380 and J on there Dreamliner. From there I used some SQ miles that needed using.

Was a little disappointed with EY, although, you can't fault the apartment too much! Service was just a little cold and certainly didn't make you feel like you were flying F. Airport was terrible - big queues for the shower too.

Qatar F was very nice, had a lovely meal and several glasses of Krug. The bar was a great area probably double in size when compared to EK. Lounge at DOH blew my mind - it was huge!! Dreamliner.......didn't feel any different to me but a nice seat for sure.

Moving back to the UK in Dec, plan was to try JL F and the Qantas lounge but that would mean an overnight in Tokyo and BA to LHR but found a flight with EY and then QF from DXB so went to that option.

 

[Limewood]

If a departure or return city is the same but changed on USDM booked flights:

a) Mean one has to pay the $150 per Pax?

b) Can't be done without cancelling all flights and starting again?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If a departure or return city is the same but changed on USDM booked flights:

a) Mean one has to pay the $150 per Pax?

b) Can't be done without cancelling all flights and starting again?

If they are applying USDM rules, a change to the itinerary (not including change to class of service) doesn't require cancelling everything. You can make the change required. $150.

If they are applying AA rules, as long as you keep the origin and destination the same, you can change without fee. But you may run into pricing issues if the AA award requires two (or more) awards for the itinerary you want.

 

[Limewood]

thank you.

Hopefully be USDM rules.

 

[alieninperth]

Lounge Access

I've made a booking for my inlaws and I'm trying to pull together info on their lounge access.

Their route is PER (QR-J) - DOH (QR-J) - FRA (AB-[all]Y) - BER (TXL I think)//SAW (Istabul)(QR-J) - DOH (QR-J) - KUL (MH-Y) - PER.

While I am sure of access in PER and DOH, I cannot find any details on access at FRA and KUL. My Father in Law also has priority pass so will get access in KUL that way, but can anyone shed any light on access in FRA and SAW? ALso any light on ground services in DOH would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Flashback]

Re: Lounge Access

I've made a booking for my inlaws and I'm trying to pull together info on their lounge access.

Their route is PER (QR-J) - DOH (QR-J) - FRA (AB-[all]Y) - BER (TXL I think)//SAW (Istabul)(QR-J) - DOH (QR-J) - KUL (MH-Y) - PER.

While I am sure of access in PER and DOH, I cannot find any details on access at FRA and KUL. My Father in Law also has priority pass so will get access in KUL that way, but can anyone shed any light on access in FRA and SAW? ALso any light on ground services in DOH would be appreciated.

Thanks

You can use the CX lounge in FRA, at least that's my preference anyway.

 

[Flashback]

You can also search the OW site for lounge access info http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access

 

[spudwa]

Re: Lounge Access

Sorry this is not about lounge access but about award space out and into Perth. How far out did you have to make this booking? Is the KUL->PER leg award space or the only way to get home?

 

[alieninperth]

You can also search the OW site for lounge access info Lounge access - oneworld

Thanks, I was more wondering about access at FRA as the next flight is in Y rather than J, edit. I see that is covered on the oneworld website.

Spud I booked these a while ago (Feb/Mar) and as a USDM booking before the migration to AA.

 

[Glider_]

Data point for changes to USDM bookings;

After some extremely bad luck with MrGlider getting a terrible sinus infection the morning of our PER-HKG-LAX CX J USDM redemption departure date, we had incredible good luck today. I rang to cancel our redemption since we couldn't afford to pay the extra to change the date and buy more points if we had to re-book under the new AA routing rules as two awards. When I got through to the USDM agent I gave it a hail mary and asked if we could change the departure date from Monday to Friday and how much it would cost. He went through his script about if the routing didn't change and the points required are the same, there would be no charge, but if it did we would have to cancel and start from scratch with the new AA rules.

Here's where it gets good. He searched for Friday flights, and found seats on the same CX route available. Technically under the AA rules Aus to USA via Asia should be two awards but he said since the routing didn't change it was simply a like-for-like date swap and there was no charge.

So I was able to get my departure date changed for a USDM ticket that doesn't fit the new AA routing rules between Aus-USA, and without the USDM change fee. Best of both worlds! Same carrier and route on new itinerary.

I think I must have cashed in some karma credits today, and I count myself very lucky.

 

[burmans]

Data point for changes to USDM bookings;

After some extremely bad luck with MrGlider getting a terrible sinus infection the morning of our PER-HKG-LAX CX J USDM redemption departure date, we had incredible good luck today. I rang to cancel our redemption since we couldn't afford to pay the extra to change the date and buy more points if we had to re-book under the new AA routing rules as two awards. When I got through to the USDM agent I gave it a hail mary and asked if we could change the departure date from Monday to Friday and how much it would cost. He went through his script about if the routing didn't change and the points required are the same, there would be no charge, but if it did we would have to cancel and start from scratch with the new AA rules.

Here's where it gets good. He searched for Friday flights, and found seats on the same CX route available. Technically under the AA rules Aus to USA via Asia should be two awards but he said since the routing didn't change it was simply a like-for-like date swap and there was no charge.

So I was able to get my departure date changed for a USDM ticket that doesn't fit the new AA routing rules between Aus-USA, and without the USDM change fee. Best of both worlds! Same carrier and route on new itinerary.

I think I must have cashed in some karma credits today, and I count myself very lucky.

Nice to here a good story about USDM!

 

[davem]

Thought I should post this here for old times sake.

So my most outlandish was:

SYD-BKK F
BKK-FRA F
FRA-ICN F
ICN-NRT F
NRT-GUM J
GUM-NRT J
HND-FRA F
FRA-CDG J
CDG-BKK F
BKK-SYD F

40,000 points 4 of us in each cabin

 

[Beta4Me]

Thought I should post this here for old times sake.

So my most outlandish was:

SYD-BKK F
BKK-FRA F
FRA-ICN F
ICN-NRT F
NRT-GUM J
GUM-NRT J
HND-FRA F
FRA-CDG J
CDG-BKK F
BKK-SYD F

40,000 points 4 of us in each cabin

And I thought my 10 segment 3 stopovers one for 3 pax was good... Wow. Just wow.

 

[davem]

And I thought my 10 segment 3 stopovers one for 3 pax was good... Wow. Just wow.

I regret not booking one for every month this year

 

[thehound]

Thought I should post this here for old times sake.

So my most outlandish was:

SYD-BKK F
BKK-FRA F
FRA-ICN F
ICN-NRT F
NRT-GUM J
GUM-NRT J
HND-FRA F
FRA-CDG J
CDG-BKK F
BKK-SYD F

40,000 points 4 of us in each cabin

That's simply breathtaking. So sad that it's unlikely to ever be repeated.

 

[Pele]

Gday

That itinerary is mental. What was the total trip duration? And i hate to think how long you were on the phone trying to book that!!!

I have my second and last Dividend Miles trip coming up on the 17th March 2016. A simple SYD- NRT- GUM- NRT- SYD run all in JL J. So looking forward to it. I did the same trip in March last year but in F and it was superb. When i booked the upcoming trip there was no F on the plane(which has subsequently changed) but there was no way i was ringing up AAdvantage to try and change what i currently have. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Pele.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Gday

That itinerary is mental. What was the total trip duration? And i hate to think how long you were on the phone trying to book that!!!

I have my second and last Dividend Miles trip coming up on the 17th March 2016. A simple SYD- NRT- GUM- NRT- SYD run all in JL J. So looking forward to it. I did the same trip in March last year but in F and it was superb. When i booked the upcoming trip there was no F on the plane(which has subsequently changed) but there was no way i was ringing up AAdvantage to try and change what i currently have. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Pele.

You can change it, but I doubt they'll give it to you for 40K miles. I suspect they'll want two awards at the current (AA) pricing.

JL will have the new J suites, so not too bad.

 

[Pele]

You can change it, but I doubt they'll give it to you for 40K miles. I suspect they'll want two awards at the current (AA) pricing.

JL will have the new J suites, so not too bad.

Gday

I have no doubt they will price it at two awards that is why i am sitting pretty. I already changed it once. Originally was supposed to travel in September 2015 but circumstances dictated a change. I rang in June 2015 and still got to talk to the Dividend Miles people and i changed it with no charge at all(points or cash change fee). I am not one to push my luck. The new JL suites are something to look forward to, as well as the food, drinks and service.

Pele.

 

[davem]

Gday

That itinerary is mental. What was the total trip duration? And i hate to think how long you were on the phone trying to book that!!!

All up i think it was 80 hours in the air.

Booked on the first phonecall in about 18 mins.

 

[Pele]

All up i think it was 80 hours in the air.

Booked on the first phonecall in about 18 mins.

Gday

Sorry i meant how long was your holiday?

And one call 18 minutes- that's equally unbelievable!

Pele.