Current US Air Dividend Miles Promo

[cove]

If you want to pick up 100,000 Dividend Miles you have about a week to first register. Twelve days after registering you can get up to 100,000 Dividend Miles before the 30th June,2012 cut off for $US1881.25.
A second purchase later in the year will allow you to have enough points to get the pointy end flights to Europe and North America.
Typically 150,000 points will do that special trip for you.......sure it's a bit convoluted and is not what everyone can handle but it is out there.

 

[Boeta]

Thanks cove, slightly OT, but have you used US dividend miles for travel previously? If so, how hard have you found finding seat availability?

 

[cove]

No I haven't needed US Air but there is a success thread running that you should read in AFF.
If you are happy with Thai in First or Business to Bangkok then the world should be yours for between 110,000 and 150,000 miles.
I am getting my youngest son (in two purchases) enough points to go anywhere as his 21st birthday present.
For our own trips to LAX and LHR we have been using Kris points on SQ and they have been really good for points redemptions.

 

[Mwenenzi]

....US dividend miles for travel previously?....

As posts here
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rograms/us-dividend-miles-buy-gift-21844.html.
Go to the last posts for current awards booked by AFF pax and here
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....sion/us-airways-dividend-miles-how-30833.html

 

[Moopere]

Thanks for the reminder Cove. I've been aware of this special for a little while and have not looked closely ... better do that I think as time is running out as you say.

.......sure it's a bit convoluted and is not what everyone can handle but it is out there.

Given that I've never even been to the US Airways web site until 10 minutes ago ... what is the convoluted bit I need to be cautious of? A 2 second reading of the website makes it appear like you buy the miles, then redeem a Star Alliance award seat. Am I missing something really important that I'm going to regret later?

Got a Europe trip coming up 2nd qtr next year and at face value it looks like this would cost me 120K miles in J or about AUD$2500 if I were to buy all 120K miles required (though including the 50K freebies till end of June) ... this is making me think I really need to get up to speed and quickly as this would be a saving of 4-5K

[EDIT:

Hmm. I'm starting to see the convoluted bit.

Just tried to do an award dummy booking on US Airways site and I can't ... looks like the website doesn't understand Australian ports and I get an error about no partner airlines flying this way. Of course Star Alliance airlines _do_ fly this way, so do folks using US Airlines award redemptions have to call?

How do you direct the routing you want to use as part of the award redemption?]

 

[Bofter]

Just tried to do an award dummy booking on US Airways site and I can't ... looks like the website doesn't understand Australian ports and I get an error about no partner airlines flying this way. Of course Star Alliance airlines _do_ fly this way, so do folks using US Airlines award redemptions have to call?

How do you direct the routing you want to use as part of the award redemption?]

In my experience you are best off determining likely available flights from other methods (such as ANA) and then calling with dates, flight numbers, the lot. It helps to have a preferred set of flights and a backup in case they cannot book the preferred. So in effect this means providing the routing you want to get the tickets booked. I am sure some have succeeded without doing all this, but it does seem to be the normal pattern for people on here to do it this way.

 

[cove]

The convoluted bit is that you need more than 100k points.
You can buy the second lot in 3 months time or buy the rest without the 100% bonus so that would cut down the time it takes to get set.
Have a look at the success thread on US Dividend Miles on AFF as everyone calls them on Skype and they are going ex OZ on Thai. Oneworldplus2 has it to get to Budapest return and Alanslegal uses this system out of the AFF folks I have enjoyed meeting for drinks and dinners.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

*sshhhhhhhhhhhh*.........lol

 

[Alanslegal]

Just tried to do an award dummy booking on US Airways site and I can't ... looks like the website doesn't understand Australian ports and I get an error about no partner airlines flying this way. Of course Star Alliance airlines _do_ fly this way, so do folks using US Airlines award redemptions have to call?

You need to read the US DM award thread to get an idea how these bookings work. I remember spending a whole weekend the first time I read about these deals as "they seemed way too good to be true" however with a bit of persistence and somewhat patience, I realised that it more than likely true. Of course it won't be simple, and award availability may sometimes be limited, but if it was too easy to book these, than every single John and Jane out there could do it and nobody in the future would ever be able to fly premium purely because either demand exceeds availability or in the worse case, airlines decide to release premium inventory scarcely for these award purposes.

 

[Alanslegal]

Got a Europe trip coming up 2nd qtr next year and at face value it looks like this would cost me 120K miles in J or about AUD$2500 if I were to buy all 120K miles required (though including the 50K freebies till end of June) ... this is making me think I really need to get up to speed and quickly as this would be a saving of 4-5K

Sorry to be post-padding, but your $2,500 figure appear right if you intend to buy 120k (using 50K+50k bonus, and 20k at full price) right now, then add around $250 for taxes and booking fee (also add approx. $200 more if departing LON due to APD).

 

[trooper]

Yes, for partner airlines redemptions you HAVE to call... I thought that was fairly clear on the website... but YMMV of course..

Find the availability as already mentioned.. using the ANA website for example (There are threads here and on FT about how to do that)..note down the flight details.. call US and walk the agent through...

I recently flew an 8 segment OZ-USA return in Business... and I did just that. Found availability on the ANA website...called US (at about 10pm local).. had it all done in 20 minutes.. for 2 people! 110k miles each and $209 in taxes... unbelievable.

Be advised that the more direct routings are difficult to get... I would have liked to come home on NZ but that was a pipe dream... ended up flying DEN-YVR-NRT-PEK-SYD!

 

[drron]

Have taken the plunge and joined up myself and mrsdrron last night.Now comes the planning.definitely going for F redemptions!

 

[Flashback]

Have taken the plunge and joined up myself and mrsdrron last night.Now comes the planning.definitely going for F redemptions!

Good luck. Thai F is almost the only option these days with LX F pretty much disappearing for good and LH F only available 14 days out, and even then.. it's pretty hard to find. Well, there is UA or US F, but .. you know

 

[drron]

Good luck. Thai F is almost the only option these days with LX F pretty much disappearing for good and LH F only available 14 days out, and even then.. it's pretty hard to find. Well, there is UA or US F, but .. you know

Not a problem as we love BKK.Just adds a lot more variety for awards.

 

[Flashback]

Not a problem as we love BKK.Just adds a lot more variety for awards.

OZ F out of ICN might be an option too!

 

[JohnK]

If you already travel in premium cabins then this is a great way to save money.

Personally I have found that since the cost of miles has increased then the attraction for business class to Asia for ~AUD2,000 is not there when I can get a QF economy flight to the same place for ~AUD800 and earn QFF points and SCs on the flight.

Where I see the advantage though is for travel to Europe where one can travel in business class for ~AUD2,500 and an economy class airfare at peak times on SQ or TG is ~AUD2,500.

I believe it is possible to book awards for family members without transferring miles. So it would be nice to be able to use the 100,000 miles I purchased last year for ~AUD1,500 for mum to go to Greece in business class and only purchase another 10,000 miles with the 100% bonus.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

If you already travel in premium cabins then this is a great way to save money.

Personally I have found that since the cost of miles has increased then the attraction for business class to Asia for ~AUD2,000 is not there when I can get a QF economy flight to the same place for ~AUD800 and earn QFF points and SCs on the flight.

Where I see the advantage though is for travel to Europe where one can travel in business class for ~AUD2,500 and an economy class airfare at peak times on SQ or TG is ~AUD2,500.

I believe it is possible to book awards for family members without transferring miles. So it would be nice to be able to use the 100,000 miles I purchased last year for ~AUD1,500 for mum to go to Greece in business class and only purchase another 10,000 miles with the 100% bonus.

And the money you save John, you could buy Greece. (jk )

 

[JohnK]

And the money you save John, you could buy Greece. (jk )

Not saving money. I am actually spending more but I am spreading the spend over more trips.

And by the way I think Greece is back on track after the latest elections. Hopefully they will get themselves sorted. I want to visit in 2 years time and don't want it split into pieces and sold to the highet bidder....

 

[travelislife]

I can vouch for US miles having booked and travelled MEL-BKK-LAX-ASE//DEN-LAX-BKK-MEL and MEL-BKK-IST-BCN//CDG-ZRH-BKK-MEL. Have another 120k sitting in the account for a trip to Europe at the start of next year. Am sad that BMI has disappeared as that was the good value one for trips to Asia.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Question
My trip is end of next week.
When l made the booking, l was given;
- US Airways Ticket Number (13 Digits)
- US Airways PNR
- TG PNR
- LH PNR
No e-ticket.

Do l just turn up to the counter in SYD, TG F desk with my passport and say, 'i'm on so-so flight to xyz with TG PNR?'