US Dividend Miles - Oneworld Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[Alanslegal]

Could anyone please give me a hand with finding availability mid-July 2015 for MEL to LHR/CDG in F (or, if necessary, J)? I can find early August and late June for F, but July seems empty. Thanks!

I spent almost a day searching for flights using various FF programs (namely BA and JL) then decided to re-join KVS again, that helped with the ease of searching. Found nothing I wanted for July 2015, so gave up. I will now likely end up using UA points to Asia (flying TG) , QF points to USA (JL/AA), get to Europe somehow and then SQ suites back to Australia.

 

[Beta4Me]

I spent almost a day searching for flights using various FF programs (namely BA and JL) then decided to re-join KVS again, that helped with the ease of searching. Found nothing I wanted for July 2015, so gave up. I will now likely end up using UA points to Asia (flying TG) , QF points to USA (JL/AA), get to Europe somehow and then SQ suites back to Australia.

That's unfortunate. But I like your style.

 

[bigsleep55]

Looking at booking some return domestic flights for my folks - what is the easiest option for doing this? Buy the points in my account and book for them (can I make a booking I am not flying in?) or do I have to buy the points in their names and they must book (or can I book on their behalf?)?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking at booking some return domestic flights for my folks - what is the easiest option for doing this? Buy the points in my account and book for them (can I make a booking I am not flying in?) or do I have to buy the points in their names and they must book (or can I book on their behalf?)?

you can do either. probably easier to buy the points in your account and make the booking from there. then you don't have to worry about any authorisation to use the miles.

 

[baggyred]

MSC rule? (edit: nevermind worked it out)

Anyway - it won't matter this flight as I will only take carry-on. But I will ask to confirm.

I've attached some screenshots as to what I see. It is ambiguous. Firstly it says every fare is entitled to free baggage - but then it is conspicuously blank where the entitled baggage should be. The second screen dump is what shows if I click purchase additional baggage
View attachment 34410View attachment 34412

Had my flight last week and spoke to the crew at the lounge. As expected, luggage allowance was there, so just a glitch on the MMB screens by the looks of it.

Anyway, just thought I'd share

 

[Limewood]

As I understand it the USDM in a 12 month period one can buy is 100K, so buying 50K and getting 100K under current offer then is the limit? or can one buy more?.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As I understand it the USDM in a 12 month period one can buy is 100K, so buying 50K and getting 100K under current offer then is the limit? or can one buy more?.

buying points is uncapped. generally only one bonus to max 50k miles each promo.

 

[Limewood]

buying points is uncapped. generally only one bonus to max 50k miles each promo.

Great I need 120K so get the promo then just by 20K, excellent thank you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Great I need 120K so get the promo then just by 20K, excellent thank you.

correct. the additional 20K at full price.

 

[tm.smile]

correct. the additional 20K at full price.

If its the 100% promo for buy and gift, I normally just buy 30+30 and gift 30+30. You will need a second account though.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If its the 100% promo for buy and gift, I normally just buy 30+30 and gift 30+30. You will need a second account though.

it depends how they word the individual promo. If it is a max 50K bonus miles during a promo period, the above may not work if you want a single ticket for 120k.

 

[tm.smile]

it depends how they word the individual promo. If it is a max 50K bonus miles during a promo period, the above may not work if you want a single ticket for 120k.

Hmm to be honest I've never really paid attention to that particular part of the T&Cs. The past 2-3 years I've purchased and gifted with the bonus 4 times without issue.

I did just have a look at the current one and it does say "maximum number of buy and gift miles the can be received by one member for this offer is 50,000 bonus miles."

 

[anat0l]

Could anyone please give me a hand with finding availability mid-July 2015 for MEL to LHR/CDG in F (or, if necessary, J)? I can find early August and late June for F, but July seems empty. Thanks!

I can find some J options to LHR, though they either require an overnighter at the midpoint or fuel surcharges. F options I can only find halfway, from the midpoint, and will require fuel surcharges.

That's just in the middle of July, and only for one passenger. 2 pax and you might have to pray a little bit harder.

 

[Wozz]

Tried my luck today and all stars must have aligned - with a few HUACA I managed to put the following reservation on hold:

SYD - NRT (JL) F
HND - HKG (CX) F - TPE (CX) J on the following day

TPE - HKG (CX) F with a stop-over in HKG
HKG - NRT (CX) J - SYD (JL) F

240k miles for 2 with $499 tax.

Now I just need to buy 120k miles in each account and I am set!

P.S. checked USDM site and the reservation is showing too!

 

[tm.smile]

Hope they let you ticket it! Could still be rejected yet, but fingers crossed for you

 

[Wozz]

Hope they let you ticket it! Could still be rejected yet, but fingers crossed for you

Fingers crossed indeed!

Could it still be rejected if the agent has priced it and put the booking on hold in the system?

 

[anat0l]

Tried my luck today and all stars must have aligned - with a few HUACA I managed to put the following reservation on hold:

SYD - NRT (JL) F
HND - HKG (CX) F - TPE (CX) J on the following day

TPE - HKG (CX) F with a stop-over in HKG
HKG - NRT (CX) J - SYD (JL) F

240k miles for 2 with $499 tax.

Now I just need to buy 120k miles in each account and I am set!

P.S. checked USDM site and the reservation is showing too!

Ah well - looks like it worked out after all!

Though as tm.smile said, it could still fall down at the ticketing stage. Given that you've been quoted a figure for the cost, it might just stick anyway, but it's not unusual.

A reservation on hold is not much of a guarantee of anything sticking, with little you can do about it. You can't even do too well HUACA on it, because an agent who suspects the itinerary is no good anyway will cancel it, meaning your next call will have to start all over again. Once it is ticketed, there's not a terrible lot that US DM can do about it (although if they choose to be <expletive>s, you will need to take some affirmative legal action).

I think this is why, more often than not, I'd rather have the miles in the account(s) ready to jump if I get what I want and the agent is willing to go on and ticket. (This works anyway if you are committed to finding a trip of some sorts, so there's no reason to hold back on purchasing the miles). Get those miles without delay and ticket that sucker fast!

 

[Kangol]

Tried my luck today and all stars must have aligned - with a few HUACA I managed to put the following reservation on hold:

SYD - NRT (JL) F
HND - HKG (CX) F - TPE (CX) J on the following day

TPE - HKG (CX) F with a stop-over in HKG
HKG - NRT (CX) J - SYD (JL) F

240k miles for 2 with $499 tax.

Now I just need to buy 120k miles in each account and I am set!

P.S. checked USDM site and the reservation is showing too!

How many months out is this booking? Good luck on ticketing!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

with a few HUACA I managed to put the following reservation on hold:

what was the feedback on the unsuccessful calls?

 

[Limewood]

If its the 100% promo for buy and gift, I normally just buy 30+30 and gift 30+30. You will need a second account though.

How does the gift thing work?