Using UA Miles especially on SQ : Is there a paid expert service?

[MEL_Traveller]

Nah, LM offered it online as well. They didn't realise that the specific routings were constituting cabotage else they would have prevented it long ago. It just so happened that BR did fly to GUM and the US, so it was technically possible to fly USA-TPE-GUM and get out at TPE for a reduced mileage cost. Technically I could have done that with the Delta example of PVG-AMS-AUH. PVG-AMS costs 80k DL miles in J oneway but adding on the AUH segment decreases the cost to 70k miles. They allowed me to put an overnight layover in AMS so I could've easily disappeared in AMS if I wanted to. But nah, I wanted my haircut in AUH and another Delft house...

That was my point. LM offered it, but it was not legal. hence my point that generally speaking, unless you have intentionally manipulated the system, or, have another issue such as cabotage, you're not going to get in to problems booking what's offered on line.

I disagree however that a routing MEL-BKK-HKG-SIN-KUL would be 'perfectly logical'. MEL-KUL with a single connection would be logical, two if availability was an issue.

 

[joelyong]

It's "perfectly logical" because it can be booked through the system (well, SQ flights need to be booked over the phone). But it satisfies the maximum 4 connections per direction rule and does not step into the North Asia, Japan or Central Asia regions. Back then in 2012 they did allow me to pull a ORD-DUS-FRA-ICN-TPE-SIN oneway ticket, my first foray into flying F and hitting up the Lufthansa FCT. Such fond memories... They are in fact pricing out MEL-PEK-TPE/TSA-SHA-HND correctly for me at 40k in J for a standard North Asia ticket. Even with the changing airports in Taipei. I could do an airport change in Shanghai too if I wished, but TSA and SHA are much more accessible than TPE and PVG. Particularly useful since I have friends to meet in Shanghai and Taipei for dinner, and Tokyo is a good landing spot for me to pull a NRT-AUH-BOM AA ticket on EY to get my haircut in AUH and fly the A380 Apartments, even if it's on a short trip from AUH-BOM. Just because NRT-AUH-BOM falls within the 125% MPM rule that AA has on its award tickets.

That was my point. LM offered it, but it was not legal. hence my point that generally speaking, unless you have intentionally manipulated the system, or, have another issue such as cabotage, you're not going to get in to problems booking what's offered on line.

I disagree however that a routing MEL-BKK-HKG-SIN-KUL would be 'perfectly logical'. MEL-KUL with a single connection would be logical, two if availability was an issue.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just because NRT-AUH-BOM falls within the 125% MPM rule that AA has on its award tickets.

But only for mileage based award tickets. For those set/restricted by routing it doesn't apply.

 

[joelyong]

Ah yes. But otherwise perfectly logical still.

But only for mileage based award tickets. For those set/restricted by routing it doesn't apply.

 

[get me outta here]

Joelyong, Congratulations on your graduation, what ever you do next, it is interesting reading your routings and your collection of bounty and distribution to your friends.

It's "perfectly logical" because it can be booked through the system (well, SQ flights need to be booked over the phone). But it satisfies the maximum 4 connections per direction rule and does not step into the North Asia, Japan or Central Asia regions. Back then in 2012 they did allow me to pull a ORD-DUS-FRA-ICN-TPE-SIN oneway ticket, my first foray into flying F and hitting up the Lufthansa FCT. Such fond memories... They are in fact pricing out MEL-PEK-TPE/TSA-SHA-HND correctly for me at 40k in J for a standard North Asia ticket. Even with the changing airports in Taipei. I could do an airport change in Shanghai too if I wished, but TSA and SHA are much more accessible than TPE and PVG. Particularly useful since I have friends to meet in Shanghai and Taipei for dinner, and Tokyo is a good landing spot for me to pull a NRT-AUH-BOM AA ticket on EY to get my haircut in AUH and fly the A380 Apartments, even if it's on a short trip from AUH-BOM. Just because NRT-AUH-BOM falls within the 125% MPM rule that AA has on its award tickets.

 

[joelyong]

Thanks. 2 more months to go before I finish my PhD here in MEL! I'm always thinking of Kazakhstan as a nice stop #landofborat but it's so darn difficult to get there. Have also exhausted my DL mileage stash else I could pull a 40k routing outta ALA to get a Delft house and a haircut in London

Joelyong, Congratulations on your graduation, what ever you do next, it is interesting reading your routings and your collection of bounty and distribution to your friends.

 

[annielee]

Yes, thats what im planning to do for my coming trip next year.. MEL-BKK-HKG-SIN-KUL and surprisingly i can book online for MEL-BKK-HKG-BKK-KUL (all TG)..will need to call to change the last leg to MEL-BKK-HKG-SIN-KUL (TG-TG-SQ-SQ) and mayb upgrade the BKK-HKG to 1st class for additional 5K miles.. or even fly from SYD for another first class experience..

Australia to SEAsia is cough. The northernmost point of SEAsia is HKG and the westernmost is DAC. Doing something like MEL-BKK-HKG-SIN-KUL would be perfectly logical though. Unfortunately nothing like the MEL-AKL-PVG-BKK-KUL that could have previously been used. The system expressly forbids connecting in certain regions for certain award tickets, such that you can't connect in North Asia/Japan/Central Asia when going Australia to South Asia.

 

[joelyong]

Or what you could do would be to spend 10k more miles to go to North Asia. Think something like MEL-PVG/PEK-NRT/HND-ICN-SZX or MEL-AKL-PVG-ICN-SZX (flying the NZ 787-9 for 12h is worth the 40k, though trans-Tasman flights on NZ do not offer any business award space whatsoever) for 40k, take a ferry from SZX to HKG, then fly HKG-BKK-KUL-BKK-MEL for 30k on the way back.

Yes, thats what im planning to do for my coming trip next year.. MEL-BKK-HKG-SIN-KUL and surprisingly i can book online for MEL-BKK-HKG-BKK-KUL (all TG)..will need to call to change the last leg to MEL-BKK-HKG-SIN-KUL (TG-TG-SQ-SQ) and mayb upgrade the BKK-HKG to 1st class for additional 5K miles.. or even fly from SYD for another first class experience..

 

[annielee]

wow.. thanks for giving me other options to fly back... really appreciate that..

Or what you could do would be to spend 10k more miles to go to North Asia. Think something like MEL-PVG/PEK-NRT/HND-ICN-SZX or MEL-AKL-PVG-ICN-SZX (flying the NZ 787-9 for 12h is worth the 40k, though trans-Tasman flights on NZ do not offer any business award space whatsoever) for 40k, take a ferry from SZX to HKG, then fly HKG-BKK-KUL-BKK-MEL for 30k on the way back.

 

[joelyong]

No worries. I've been studying MileagePlus for quite a bit. Though I haven't really posted here much until recently.

wow.. thanks for giving me other options to fly back... really appreciate that..

 

[junbugging]

I've been studying MileagePlus for quite a bit.

Is that what your PhD's in?

 

[joelyong]

I'm a chemical engineer by trade. I wish travel blogging had a PhD

Is that what your PhD's in?

 

[I love to travel]

Hoping this is the right place to adk what are the taxes like on sq j flights between Oz and Sin. I know the booking fee is $25 but agent told me didnt knownthe txes until reservation is made

 

[annielee]

the latest booking (May 1 2016) tax i paid from SIN-MEL is AU$48.90
you can avoid the $25 fees, by booking the same route online and call within 24 hours to change it..

Hoping this is the right place to adk what are the taxes like on sq j flights between Oz and Sin. I know the booking fee is $25 but agent told me didnt knownthe txes until reservation is made

 

[I love to travel]

the latest booking (May 1 2016) tax i paid from SIN-MEL is AU$48.90
you can avoid the $25 fees, by booking the same route online and call within 24 hours to change it..

Fabulous tip thanks

 

[annielee]

forgot to mentioned, normally i will call and ensure their is a SQ seat, then only i book the same route online (via TG).. and call back few hours later to change it to SQ

Fabulous tip thanks

 

[I love to travel]

And it doesnt matter that i have no status with UA

forgot to mentioned, normally i will call and ensure their is a SQ seat, then only i book the same route online (via TG).. and call back few hours later to change it to SQ

 

[annielee]

nope..free changes to award ticket within 24hours.. and if worst case, the SQ seats not available anymore, then cancel the ticket.. .

And it doesnt matter that i have no status with UA

 

[I love to travel]

nope..free changes to award ticket within 24hours.. and if worst case, the SQ seats not available anymore, then cancel the ticket.. .

Thanks and congrats on being my new best friend

 

[NZflygirl]

No worries. I've been studying MileagePlus for quite a bit. Though I haven't really posted here much until recently.

How many years are we talking?? It reads like you're pulling this stuff out in your sleep!!! <insert jealousy here> by the way Mainly because I would be at the beginning and just trying to even figure out which programs I should buy from and hoard to let alone checking award stuff and learning the ins and outs, although I think my award booking routings won't be complicated ie 2 stops max