US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[get me outta here]

To check out availability for say AKL, do I have to join Air NZ rewards too? And the same for Tahiti, join Hawaiian?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

To check out availability for say AKL, do I have to join Air NZ rewards too? And the same for Tahiti, join Hawaiian?

you can use any star alliance booking engine to find awards on NZ (United.com doesn't require you to join, just access on their home page). And for Hawaiian airlines you can use AA.

 

[Kangol]

Yep, Operating carriers often cancel the inventory/leg at the 48 hr mark despite US offering 72 hrs hold. If you want to extend your hold, don't leave it more than 48 hrs.

Interesting, never heard of that before. What is the difference between that and an AA 5-day hold? AFAIK, in a AA 5-day hold you will be guaranteed to have it held for that duration?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting, never heard of that before. What is the difference between that and an AA 5-day hold? AFAIK, in a AA 5-day hold you will be guaranteed to have it held for that duration?

Hold times are generally limited by the time a partner airline is willing to keep a seat reservation without payment.

In the old days, SQ required immediate ticketing for partner awards. Now they are three days. Air China was the same. (And TG never really cared.)

If an airline has a 72 hour time limit, that is all you'll get before their system auto-cancels the seat for non-payment (which is a ticket number).

AA may be able to offer 5 day holds, but it will all depend on the airline (for example, if it's an AA flight in question rather than a partner).

Often however, the hold will only apply to midnight on the third day. A 'three day hold' could be as little as 48 hours and one minute.

 

[bcworld]

Interesting, never heard of that before. What is the difference between that and an AA 5-day hold? AFAIK, in a AA 5-day hold you will be guaranteed to have it held for that duration?

Nope. I put QF flights on hold with AA - they disappeared in less than 3 days...I assume QF killed them.

Your hold will generate a PNR with the operating carrier...regardless if you tinker with another leg that PNR will remain in place. It's then easy for the operating carrier to identify and cancel that stale on hold PNR.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So how the hell do you find a USDM booking on Thai web site? How do you choose seats please? This is doing my head in - please can I go back to SQ?

 

[bcworld]

So how the hell do you find a USDM booking on Thai web site? How do you choose seats please? This is doing my head in - please can I go back to SQ?

There are two ways. You ask US (or preferably TG) for your TG PNR and use that. Or log onto the pre order meals page using your US airways ticket number...you'll find your TG PNR that way too.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Or log onto the pre order meals page using your US airways ticket number...you'll find your TG PNR that way too.

Tried this - this is all I get:



Should I call Thai with US Ticket Number?

 

[get me outta here]

I found that it's a good idea to get yr seats all sorted out before you attempt to do the meals, which can be done closer to the dep time. If you do seats and then change to say a better seat later, your meal request will revert to Hindu Vego for ever after.

USDM gave me the TG bkg number. Once you are completely happy w' the seats, log out, wait a while, log in again and if the seats are still there, then do the meals.

 

[NDiddy]

So got an email from US Airways for my *A booking in Aug notifying me of a schedule change. Do I just click the accept changes button or should I call up and do it over the phone? Looks like it's a TG schedule change for my first outbound flight by about 30 mins.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

USDM gave me the TG bkg number.

I can clearly see a Thai booking reference number - but when I plug that in it gives me nothing.

 

[bcworld]

I can clearly see a Thai booking reference number - but when I plug that in it gives me nothing.

Well your screenshot shows the system is unavailable, not your booking can't be found. The system is often unavailable...you'll just have to try again later.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Well your screenshot shows the system is unavailable, not your booking can't be found. The system is often unavailable...you'll just have to try again later.

OK thanks for that - the US Airways ticket shows a US Ref No. and a Thai Ref No. - that's where I got the Thai Ref No. from. Is it best to call Thai to 3 x double confirm? Any clues as to best number to call them on?

 

[get me outta here]

03 8662 2266 I used. And, [email protected]

OK thanks for that - the US Airways ticket shows a US Ref No. and a Thai Ref No. - that's where I got the Thai Ref No. from. Is it best to call Thai to 3 x double confirm? Any clues as to best number to call them on?

 

[Masonic Phantom]

OK thanks for that - the US Airways ticket shows a US Ref No. and a Thai Ref No. - that's where I got the Thai Ref No. from. Is it best to call Thai to 3 x double confirm? Any clues as to best number to call them on?

YES!!..... it wont do any harm.... will ease the heart rate. ..... can't find ph. no but ring Melb or Syd, I found them very helpful.

Here we go!!! NEW SOUTH WALES 2000 PHONE: (61-2) 9844-0999
(1300) 651 960 (within australia only)

MELBOURNE, VIC 3000 PHONE: (61-3) 86622266

 

[Kangol]

Hold times are generally limited by the time a partner airline is willing to keep a seat reservation without payment.

In the old days, SQ required immediate ticketing for partner awards. Now they are three days. Air China was the same. (And TG never really cared.)

If an airline has a 72 hour time limit, that is all you'll get before their system auto-cancels the seat for non-payment (which is a ticket number).

AA may be able to offer 5 day holds, but it will all depend on the airline (for example, if it's an AA flight in question rather than a partner).

Often however, the hold will only apply to midnight on the third day. A 'three day hold' could be as little as 48 hours and one minute.

Nope. I put QF flights on hold with AA - they disappeared in less than 3 days...I assume QF killed them.

Your hold will generate a PNR with the operating carrier...regardless if you tinker with another leg that PNR will remain in place. It's then easy for the operating carrier to identify and cancel that stale on hold PNR.

Thanks, good to know. Looks like there is no way around the $150 change fee, but hey - it is still good value in the grand scheme of things.

 

[get me outta here]

As I am leaving nothing to chance on these bkgs I Skyped USDM them and they fiddled w' the keyboards and accepted the changes and everyone was happy.

So got an email from US Airways for my *A booking in Aug notifying me of a schedule change. Do I just click the accept changes button or should I call up and do it over the phone? Looks like it's a TG schedule change for my first outbound flight by about 30 mins.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Thank you good Sir - I will call them Tuesday.

 

[NDiddy]

As I am leaving nothing to chance on these bkgs I Skyped USDM them and they fiddled w' the keyboards and accepted the changes and everyone was happy.

OK Cheers mate - Will give them a call tonight to sort it out.

 

[jgm]

So got an email from US Airways for my *A booking in Aug notifying me of a schedule change. Do I just click the accept changes button or should I call up and do it over the phone? Looks like it's a TG schedule change for my first outbound flight by about 30 mins.

I had a lot of those on an award booking earlier this year. Some were minor time changes, others were changed aircraft type, changed flight number etc. None of them made a significant difference to my flights (7 in all) so I just clicked on the accept. Everything was fine - even had lounge access in DEN when FT posters said we wouldn't.

BTW don't rely on getting email - I didn't get a single one & had over 10 changes (mind you it was over 10 months from booking to flying). Just log in regularly & check the status of your bookings.