US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[Flashback]

United (or ANA) is a better idea. LM can't fish everything in *A especially since you can string an itinerary together in US DM that you can't in LM.

ANA is still the best IMHO!

 

[anat0l]

ANA is still the best IMHO!

I like it, even though I've lost the ability to go straight to *A partner search due to my small points balance expiring. The speed and weekly search ability is fantastic.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I like it, even though I've lost the ability to go straight to *A partner search due to my small points balance expiring. The speed and weekly search ability is fantastic.

i know right!

I need some ANA points!!

 

[Flashback]

I like it, even though I've lost the ability to go straight to *A partner search due to my small points balance expiring. The speed and weekly search ability is fantastic.

Meh .. I've never used it. It's only a very quick workaround to get into it anyway ... hardly worth worrying about!

 

[thehound]

Couldn't find this info with a quick flick through - has anyone had success booking Qatar flights out of Australia? I'm looking for 1 J seat PER-LHR on about 1/1/15 and returning MAN-PER about 10/1/15. How are others searching for Qatar seats? When I try the Qatar website I get that I don't have enough miles for a search. Many thanks.

 

[netgrom]

Couldn't find this info with a quick flick through - has anyone had success booking Qatar flights out of Australia? I'm looking for 1 J seat PER-LHR on about 1/1/15 and returning MAN-PER about 10/1/15. How are others searching for Qatar seats? When I try the Qatar website I get that I don't have enough miles for a search. Many thanks.

Yes just booked QR 2 x BNE-SYD-PER-DOH-ROM open jaw FCO-DOH-MEL-BNE all in J 120,000 points, $210 USD taxes available is a bit scarce especially out of MEL, I wasn't looking at LHR though, used BA search tool.

 

[alieninperth]

using the QF website I got this for you

Flight 1	From	To	Flight	Travel Class	Award Type	Baggage
Wed 31 Dec 14	22:40 Perth Duration: 11h 25m	05:05 Thu Doha Stops: 0	QR901	Business	oneworld	Per Adult : 40 kg
= Flight Operated by Qatar Airways
Flight 2	From	To	Flight	Travel Class	Award Type	Baggage
Thu 1 Jan 15	15:45 Doha Duration: 7h 40m	20:25 London (Heathrow) Stops: 0	QR15	Business	oneworld	Per Adult : 40 kg
= Flight Operated by Qatar Airways
Flight 3	From	To	Flight	Travel Class	Award Type	Baggage
Sat 10 Jan 15	12:00 Manchester Duration: 11h 55m	07:55 Sun Hong Kong Stops: 0	CX358	Business	oneworld	Per Adult : 30 kg
= Flight Operated by Cathay Pacific
Flight 4	From	To	Flight	Travel Class	Award Type	Baggage
Sun 11 Jan 15	19:20 Hong Kong Duration: 8h 45m	06:35 Mon Adelaide Stops: 0	CX173	Business	oneworld	Per Adult : 30 kg
	12:50 Mon Adelaide Duration: 3h 20m	13:40 Mon Perth Stops: 0	QF587	Business
	Total duration: 18h 20m
= Flight Operated by Cathay Pacific
There could be false availability on the CX flights but its worth a call.

 

[anat0l]

Couldn't find this info with a quick flick through - has anyone had success booking Qatar flights out of Australia? I'm looking for 1 J seat PER-LHR on about 1/1/15 and returning MAN-PER about 10/1/15. How are others searching for Qatar seats? When I try the Qatar website I get that I don't have enough miles for a search. Many thanks.

I'm not sure about success, but I have used the BA site before to find QR seats between DOH and PER or MEL. So they do exist, however I can't comment on how freely available they may be.

 

[dexter_jambles]

Hi all - seeking some guidance on valid itineraries. I'm trying to get to St Maarten in the Caribbean (SXM) but not sure if this is far enough to enable both a US & EU hop within MPM. Trying to also stop in EU either in BCN, FCO, ATH or HEL.

I think I can get the following routing:

MEL-HKG-JFK-PHL-SXM/-PHL-BCN/-HEL-NRT-SYD-MEL

Can also substitute JFK for BOS if it makes any difference. May also be able to return from BCN via DOH-MEL but struggling to see QR availability from DOH to OZ for end of July.

Any advice on how I could make this work?

 

[Alanslegal]

FWIW just a data point here, a while back a friend had booked Sydney-Bangkok-Europe-Bangkok in TG First and Bangkok-Sydney in TG Economy - that was the only seat available apparently? Anyway she flew to Europe last month, mid way through her trip decides to call USDM and see if there is any F availability for the last leg. We all know changes can't be made etc once flights have commenced (let alone TG no longer part of USDM).. but after some pushing, USDM rebooks her into TG F on the last leg for no additional cost.

 

[Limewood]

Would this work?

BNE/HKG stay less than 24 hours
Then DOH stay less than 24 hours
Then to CDG (destination)
Then CDG/HKG (stopover)
Then to BNE

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Would this work?

BNE/HKG stay less than 24 hours
Then DOH stay less than 24 hours
Then to CDG (destination)
Then CDG/HKG (stopover)
Then to BNE

As per bcworld's MPM chart it is fine for mileage.

 

[Limewood]

As per bcworld's MPM chart it is fine for mileage.

I was not sure of transits/stopovers.

it is best to wait for the award return date 330 days out to be available? or take a chance and book outbound first, then the return later?.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was not sure of transits/stopovers.

it is best to wait for the award return date 330 days out to be available? or take a chance and book outbound first, then the return later?.

stopovers and transits seem fine. I think previous experience reported on AFF suggests it is better to book the whole ticket in one go. Or at least include a dummy return date now and change it later for $150.

 

[jjaxie]

Stopovers and transits will be fine. I have booked an itinerary to Europe with less than 24hr transits in both HKG and NRT on the outbound and it went through with no problem.

As for what to do about your return, it is possible to get a hold on your outbound flight of up to 30 days while you wait for the return flight to open up. See this article for an example: Hold Award Tickets For 30 Days With US Airways | Frugal Travel Guy

I have been successful in getting a 14 day hold before but like all USDM interactions, it required a HUCA.

 

[bcworld]

As for what to do about your return, it is possible to get a hold on your outbound flight of up to 30 days while you wait for the return flight to open up. See this article for an example: Hold Award Tickets For 30 Days With US Airways | Frugal Travel Guy

From the article...I think this is key:

keep in mind his award was done entirely on US Airways aircraft

Partner redemptions would be a completely different matter, US will have little control over their longevity.

 

[Limewood]

Great guys thanks.

We like to break long hauls as seniors, layovers will give us a good nights sleep and time in lounges plus catch up with friends on stopover in HKG, found flights for June but may go Sept/Oct.

 

[Fifa]

I have a booking in 2 weeks to GUM and have received an email from US Airways to advise of a schedule change.
The email includes all sectors except SYD-BKK and BKK-SYD. Also the TG flight from HKG-BKK has been brought forward by 40 mins which is no problem.
Last night I phoned the US to check the flights and they told me that Thai has cancelled the first and last sectors :shock:. They spent an hour trying to phone TG and also sent them an email and suggested I ring back this morning.

I checked my booking on the Thai website and also on checkmytrip.com and all sectors are showing. I was even able to select my meals on the TG flights.
When I phoned US back this morning nothing had changed - still no sign of the sectors from and to SYD.
Unfortunately Thai's offices are not open until Monday morning so I am on tenterhooks!

Has anyone else had experience with this issue?

 

[travelislife]

I have a booking in 2 weeks to GUM and have received an email from US Airways to advise of a schedule change.
The email includes all sectors except SYD-BKK and BKK-SYD. Also the TG flight from HKG-BKK has been brought forward by 40 mins which is no problem.
Last night I phoned the US to check the flights and they told me that Thai has cancelled the first and last sectors :shock:. They spent an hour trying to phone TG and also sent them an email and suggested I ring back this morning.

I checked my booking on the Thai website and also on checkmytrip.com and all sectors are showing. I was even able to select my meals on the TG flights.
When I phoned US back this morning nothing had changed - still no sign of the sectors from and to SYD.
Unfortunately Thai's offices are not open until Monday morning so I am on tenterhooks!

Has anyone else had experience with this issue?

Call Thai's phone centre in Bangkok, it is open 24/7. They will be able to tell you if the segments are still in there and if an e-ticket is attached. If they are gone and there is no e-ticket don't get them to deal with it, deal with the Australian offices first thing Monday morning. I reckon something must have happened with all of Thai's changes and then renege on changes on the SYD route where your ticket was probably meant to be revalidated and it went past the expiry period for revalidation so the legs dropped off. It has always been a massive problem with US's system that it doesn't send you an email whenever there are time changes to your bookings no matter how much the reps tell you it should I have never got one.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a booking in 2 weeks to GUM and have received an email from US Airways to advise of a schedule change.
The email includes all sectors except SYD-BKK and BKK-SYD. Also the TG flight from HKG-BKK has been brought forward by 40 mins which is no problem.
Last night I phoned the US to check the flights and they told me that Thai has cancelled the first and last sectors :shock:. They spent an hour trying to phone TG and also sent them an email and suggested I ring back this morning.

I checked my booking on the Thai website and also on checkmytrip.com and all sectors are showing. I was even able to select my meals on the TG flights.
When I phoned US back this morning nothing had changed - still no sign of the sectors from and to SYD.
Unfortunately Thai's offices are not open until Monday morning so I am on tenterhooks!

Has anyone else had experience with this issue?

Being able to book seats and meals doesn't necessarily mean you have a paid booking. What's important is that TG has a valid ticket number (payment). Without that you aren't going to be able to fly.

If you want to get this resolved now you could call TG in Bangkok (use a calling card or skype) and ask them to have a look and see what's happened. If they can see the first and last legs, ask them to read you the ticket number they have against those flights. If TG has cancelled the legs, there should be an indication as to why.

You might also see if TG has somehow cancelled the original USDM seats but has reaccommodated you on a separate booking. If they have done that, they will also need a ticket number. What they will need to do is incorporate any new booking into your existing one (add the flights in) and then USDM will reissue.