US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[travelislife]

Looking at flights SYD-ATH, return from either ATH/FCO/IST-SYD for 01SEP to 02OCT, dates are flexible. Finding difficulty securing any premium cabin seats at this last minute Anyone have any ideas/suggestions that I should be looking at?

I have been looking for seats in to various European ports through August, September, October and it really is very limited in business class. A lot less options than Star Alliance used to have. Think USDM is best used now if looking to book a minimum 8 months or so in advance.

 

[Gold Member]

In recent months I've noticed a more stringent MPM for South Pac - North America (via ME/EU) routings. I used to be able to get all the way to the West Coast, but nowadays the furthest I can get to is Houston. My specific itinerary is MEL-xDXB-xLHR-IAH which totals at ~ 15,300 miles. Several agents were not able to advise the MPM threshold value (magic computer stuff they couldn't see) but given the different routings I tried, it seems a little variable at the upper end depending on the route.

P1ssed that BA YQ/YR is now being passed on, but happy that most other airlines are not. Especially QF!

 

[bcworld]

In recent months I've noticed a more stringent MPM for South Pac - North America (via ME/EU) routings. I used to be able to get all the way to the West Coast, but nowadays the furthest I can get to is Houston. My specific itinerary is MEL-xDXB-xLHR-IAH which totals at ~ 15,300 miles. Several agents were not able to advise the MPM threshold value (magic computer stuff they couldn't see) but given the different routings I tried, it seems a little variable at the upper end depending on the route.

P1ssed that BA YQ/YR is now being passed on, but happy that most other airlines are not. Especially QF!

MEL-IAH 25M is 13990 miles.

If you were previously able to do MEL-West Coast via Europe I'd say that was quite unusual! East Coast, no problem.

 

[Gold Member]

MEL-IAH 25M is 13990 miles.

If you were previously able to do MEL-West Coast via Europe I'd say that was quite unusual! East Coast, no problem.

15,345 miles according to MileageMonkey.

I've booked 5 return trips to LAX or SFO with USDM in the past 3 years, but that was prior to OW and the TATL was LH/LX F.

 

[bcworld]

15,345 miles according to MileageMonkey.

That's not the MPM. It's the flown distance of MEL-LHR (single flight number e.g. QF9) + LHR-IAH. It has no bearing on MPM.

 

[Alanslegal]

I have been looking for seats in to various European ports through August, September, October and it really is very limited in business class. A lot less options than Star Alliance used to have. Think USDM is best used now if looking to book a minimum 8 months or so in advance.

Thanks, yeah that's what I thought as well. Might wait till 2015 then and get some pre-winter flights to Europe with USDM. In the meantime, will work out something else.

 

[littlebluebook]

hello, this is my first post, however i have been lurking forever trying to read (and more importantly!) understand what usdm is all about. I would really appreciate some help and i have read most of this thread so apologies if i ask something that has been covered or ask a noob question.

My husband and i are planning to go to Europe for two months roughly from end of Oct to start of Jan from MEL.
We are both signed up for USDM but have no miles as yet.

We dont care what airport we fly into in Europe as long as its central (thinking FRA, MXP, CDG, MUC, CPH not LHR)
and would like to possibly have a stop along the way (BKK would be best)

So, here are the questions

1. Can we buy 50,000 miles to get the bonus 50 for each acct and then after the promo buy another 20 to get up to 120 for J return? Is there an annual limit on buying miles like AA?
2. Can you still book *A (i have read you can but am unsure) or if booking one world, which airlines are easy to get on? CX?
3. I used the flisea.com place to check for seats, put in our probable dates (28/10 - 1/1) and it came up with TG and had 2? Does that mean there are seats available?
4. Is there somewhere you can calculate how much the flights will cost inclduing taxes etc or is that done over the phone?

I didnt even really think about this until yesterday and know im leaving it late but just dont want to buy USDM to not be able to use them for our trip as we dont have any other plans to travel soon other than to the eu and back.

As look at the posts above, are there no seat availabilities for the end of the year?

anyway thank you to anyone who helps out a bit, i know its a lot of questions (i have more!) but everyone here seems so knowlegable

 

[travelislife]

hello, this is my first post, however i have been lurking forever trying to read (and more importantly!) understand what usdm is all about. I would really appreciate some help and i have read most of this thread so apologies if i ask something that has been covered or ask a noob question.

My husband and i are planning to go to Europe for two months roughly from end of Oct to start of Jan from MEL.
We are both signed up for USDM but have no miles as yet.

We dont care what airport we fly into in Europe as long as its central (thinking FRA, MXP, CDG, MUC, CPH not LHR)
and would like to possibly have a stop along the way (BKK would be best)

So, here are the questions

1. Can we buy 50,000 miles to get the bonus 50 for each acct and then after the promo buy another 20 to get up to 120 for J return? Is there an annual limit on buying miles like AA?
Yes you can buy 50+50 and then 20 to give you 120. Should cost USD2633.75 for the 120k.
2. Can you still book *A (i have read you can but am unsure) or if booking one world, which airlines are easy to get on? CX
No more *A. MH is probably the easiest airline from Aus, you also have QR which can be ok. One advantage is the access to QF domestic which allows you to connect through pretty much any port in Aus.
3. I used the flisea.com place to check for seats, put in our probable dates (28/10 - 1/1) and it came up with TG and had 2? Does that mean there are seats available?
best to check availability using BA, QF, CX or JL engines.B4. Is there somewhere you can calculate how much the flights will cost inclduing taxes etc or is that done over the phone?
You can work out the taxes using IATA Matrix. Remember the USD$50 booking fee per ticket.

I didnt even really think about this until yesterday and know im leaving it late but just dont want to buy USDM to not be able to use them for our trip as we dont have any other plans to travel soon other than to the eu and back.

As look at the posts above, are there no seat availabilities for the end of the year?

Yes there is availability but it is more scarce than *A.

anyway thank you to anyone who helps out a bit, i know its a lot of questions (i have more!) but everyone here seems so knowlegable

Good luck.

 

[littlebluebook]

thank you for your help travelislife.
So just checked on QF for award seats, very very little lots of mixed classes etc does that represent all seats or if i check on CX page etc will others come up?
cant believe you cant book Thai? is there no easy way for *A now?

 

[Alanslegal]

There is no booking on *A anymore, however US does still associate itself with some *A carriers through their own partnerships.

I have been looking quite hard, even for a single seat, for flights to Europe in September and it is very very hard. See a few posts above.

Personally, I would not be buying points for an October departure based on my September researching experiences.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thank you for your help travelislife.
So just checked on QF for award seats, very very little lots of mixed classes etc does that represent all seats or if i check on CX page etc will others come up?
cant believe you cant book Thai? is there no easy way for *A now?

If you want star alliance then you should look at the Avianca Lifemiles program, rather than USDM.

 

[littlebluebook]

If you want star alliance then you should look at the Avianca Lifemiles program, rather than USDM.

of course, that was a question i was going to ask! I also have life miles as well and saw they have a 2 for 1 special. However i was suprised with the difference in miles between USDM and LM for J to europe. Also you can only buy 150,000 for a year (inlcuding the bonus?) so that won't get the full 175,000? I might take this over to the Lm thread?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

of course, that was a question i was going to ask! I also have life miles as well and saw they have a 2 for 1 special. However i was suprised with the difference in miles between USDM and LM for J to europe. Also you can only buy 150,000 for a year (inlcuding the bonus?) so that won't get the full 175,000? I might take this over to the Lm thread?

you can 'top up' your Lifemiles during the booking process for the same price as the 2-4-1 deal. No need to have the full number of miles already in your account - only 40% is needed.

 

[burmans]

of course, that was a question i was going to ask! I also have life miles as well and saw they have a 2 for 1 special. However i was suprised with the difference in miles between USDM and LM for J to europe. Also you can only buy 150,000 for a year (inlcuding the bonus?) so that won't get the full 175,000? I might take this over to the Lm thread?

Difference in price is not the only way you should measure though, LM miles on special are cheaper than USDM on the equivalent 100% bonus promo which brings them closer in total cost and as Mel_Traveler notes you don't have to buy them all upfront.

 

[Beta4Me]

you can 'top up' your Lifemiles during the booking process for the same price as the 2-4-1 deal. No need to have the full number of miles already in your account - only 40% is needed.

Through these two measures you can buy up to 375,000 LM per year per account. Now back on topic...

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

I understand that QF release tickets 355 days out and CX around 361 days. I we planning to go to Europe around April/May 2015 and I have been looking at tickets and I can't find any F. All the QF seats that actually have cabins are showing no award seats in F??? Already?? Are they just not released yet? Do they get released later maybe in a few months?

When looking at CX seats there also isn't any available for booking. It is showing that the seats are @ (on KVS tool) which I believe is on a wait list. Does this mean that I can ring up and ask US to put the tickets on hold and when they become available I can book them. I also know that we can only hold tix for 3 days so it seems unlikely that any of these seats would become open in that time. Or I simply have to keep looking every day and when they are actually open that this the only time that they can be booked?

When do the CX seats get released? There are very few for April and May 2015 for first and business that seem to be released yet??

 

[legroom]

I understand that QF release tickets 355 days out and CX around 361 days. I we planning to go to Europe around April/May 2015 and I have been looking at tickets and I can't find any F. All the QF seats that actually have cabins are showing no award seats in F??? Already?? Are they just not released yet? Do they get released later maybe in a few months?

When looking at CX seats there also isn't any available for booking. It is showing that the seats are @ (on KVS tool) which I believe is on a wait list. Does this mean that I can ring up and ask US to put the tickets on hold and when they become available I can book them. I also know that we can only hold tix for 3 days so it seems unlikely that any of these seats would become open in that time. Or I simply have to keep looking every day and when they are actually open that this the only time that they can be booked?

When do the CX seats get released? There are very few for April and May 2015 for first and business that seem to be released yet??

CX availability on OW is not 361 days; That is for MPC members only.

For OW, it is 330 days or thereabout.

Between those dates, seats may have gone.

FWIW, I did grab an F return (HKG FRA) connected with a J return (OZ HKG) but on AM for April 2015 @ T + 361.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

April 2015 @ T + 361.

not sure what you mean by this??

Thx legroom I didn't realise there was a difference. What is MPC?

So I just have to wait and look for seats 330 days and hope for the best. Wow - I'm surprised u found seats in April I can't seem to find any. Well done.

 

[anat0l]

not sure what you mean by this??

Thx legroom I didn't realise there was a difference. What is MPC?

So I just have to wait and look for seats 330 days and hope for the best. Wow - I'm surprised u found seats in April I can't seem to find any. Well done.

MPC = Marco Polo Club, which is Cathay Pacific's loyalty programme

QF seats are much the same. QFF members see QF award seats earlier than other oneworld members, including US or AA. This is one reason why possibly US or AA members find it hard to book seats at peak times, as QFF members have the ability to snap them up much earlier than they are able to even access them.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

MPC = Marco Polo Club, which is Cathay Pacific's loyalty programme

QF seats are much the same. QFF members see QF award seats earlier than other oneworld members, including US or AA. This is one reason why possibly US or AA members find it hard to book seats at peak times, as QFF members have the ability to snap them up much earlier than they are able to even access them.

Thanks anat01. Aghhhh that makes sense now. Hmmm not happy that they can snap them all up before we even get to see them