Wanting to purchase large amount of USDM for travel in Sept-Oct.

[ozbeachbabe]

Yes SWMBO would have to be considered, however it's all a moot point anyway now, as without a bonus on USDM the cost of buying miles will just add up to not much below what I'd pay retail. I bought 5000 USDM to see if that may trigger a targeted bonus, none so far and it might in the future, but by then it will be too late for this trip.

So my 2 options right now are find the best RTW deal retail, which will be all of us in Y or do the OW RTW 140K.

I don't think you'll be able to get any award seats in economy back from the US in early October due to those dates coinciding with the end of Australian school holidays so that rules out the 140K award ticket.

Re the paid option - you don't necessarily need to buy a 'round world fare' as such as your itinerary is basically a MEL to Europe return airfare with a stopover on the way back (NYC) so the routing would be half via the Eastern hemisphere (EH) & half via the Atlantic/Pacific (AP).

I have two questions in relation to the above options.

Do I just ask for a OW RTW fare in Y which is 140k per person,and be done with it, or could I ask for RTW ASA OR JASA for the 2 of us and hope that there are a couple of seats available on a leg or two in J,i'm not really sure how this works and then just do the kids as OW 140K X 2?

Both of the above options need award seat availability irrespective of whether it's a non points earning award for 140K or a JASA, YASA etc as they still book into those same award buckets. You're going to get stuck when it comes to flying back from the US unless you can return late October, however I don't think that's an option for you.

I think your only real options are either:

a) QF Classic Award Travel in economy Fri 13 Sep MEL/DXB on QF9 connecting with QF1 Sat 14 Sep DXB/LHR (only transit in DXB no stopover required) which will be 64,000 points plus taxes of AUD306.02 per person which has availability of at least 4 seats.

Then buy a one way paid ticket CDG/JFK/MEL in economy based on flying AA45 CDG/JFK on 01 Oct then AA7366 (QF108) JFK/LAX then AA7356 (QF94) LAX/MEL on 10Oct arriving MEL 12 Oct. Airfare AUD1392.02 taxes AUD676.62 booking fee AUD10.00 total AUD2,078.64.

I used the website www.jetabroad.com.au which I find helpful as it’s one site that allows you to price one way and return airfares combinations with a stopover which a lot of other airline sites will not. It will also price open jaw itineraries. I have never bought a ticket through these people, only used their site to price itineraries.

Alternatively, could always buy some Avianca Life Miles and do a J class award coming home CDG/JFK/MEL as they do one way award redemptions for half the return level (unlike USDM who charge the same for a one way journey as a return). It’s worth enrolling now in their program because you need to be a member prior to them having any bonus buy offers. Personally I'd just enrol now & wait until their next bonus points buy offer.

OR


b) A paid ticket for all 4 of you in economy class & using www.jetabroad.com.au flying QF9 MEL/LHR on Fri 13 Sep then the same flights as above CDG/JFK/LAX/MEL would cost AUD2,356.20 for airfare, AUD873.92 taxes, booking fee AUD10.00 total AUD3,240.12 per person.

If travelling on OW carriers you could always credit these flights to AA’s Aavantage program to get some points in the AA camp but double check the booking classes/airlines for these paid flights would earn points on AA.

And on the retail side, because we can't stretch to 2 of us in J, could I do 1 of us in J, and the other three in Y and then during flight the adults could swap on various legs so we each get time in J. Do they let you do that in the air?

I wouldn’t bother having one person in J as you’re better off travelling in the same cabin particularly if SWMBO is a nervous flyer. Now that you have the knowledge of USDM, Aadvantage, Avianca Life Miles etc, I would plan ahead for the next trip giving you plenty of time to book a premium award on your preferred carrier on the dates you need.

 

[Pierre10]

I don't think you'll be able to get any award seats in economy back from the US in early October due to those dates coinciding with the end of Australian school holidays so that rules out the 140K award ticket.

Re the paid option - you don't necessarily need to buy a 'round world fare' as such as your itinerary is basically a MEL to Europe return airfare with a stopover on the way back (NYC) so the routing would be half via the Eastern hemisphere (EH) & half via the Atlantic/Pacific (AP).



Both of the above options need award seat availability irrespective of whether it's a non points earning award for 140K or a JASA, YASA etc as they still book into those same award buckets. You're going to get stuck when it comes to flying back from the US unless you can return late October, however I don't think that's an option for you.

I think your only real options are either:

a) QF Classic Award Travel in economy Fri 13 Sep MEL/DXB on QF9 connecting with QF1 Sat 14 Sep DXB/LHR (only transit in DXB no stopover required) which will be 64,000 points plus taxes of AUD306.02 per person which has availability of at least 4 seats.

Then buy a one way paid ticket CDG/JFK/MEL in economy based on flying AA45 CDG/JFK on 01 Oct then AA7366 (QF108) JFK/LAX then AA7356 (QF94) LAX/MEL on 10Oct arriving MEL 12 Oct. Airfare AUD1392.02 taxes AUD676.62 booking fee AUD10.00 total AUD2,078.64.

I used the website www.jetabroad.com.au which I find helpful as it’s one site that allows you to price one way and return airfares combinations with a stopover which a lot of other airline sites will not. It will also price open jaw itineraries. I have never bought a ticket through these people, only used their site to price itineraries.

Alternatively, could always buy some Avianca Life Miles and do a J class award coming home CDG/JFK/MEL as they do one way award redemptions for half the return level (unlike USDM who charge the same for a one way journey as a return). It’s worth enrolling now in their program because you need to be a member prior to them having any bonus buy offers. Personally I'd just enrol now & wait until their next bonus points buy offer.

OR


b) A paid ticket for all 4 of you in economy class & using www.jetabroad.com.au flying QF9 MEL/LHR on Fri 13 Sep then the same flights as above CDG/JFK/LAX/MEL would cost AUD2,356.20 for airfare, AUD873.92 taxes, booking fee AUD10.00 total AUD3,240.12 per person.

If travelling on OW carriers you could always credit these flights to AA’s Aavantage program to get some points in the AA camp but double check the booking classes/airlines for these paid flights would earn points on AA.



I wouldn’t bother having one person in J as you’re better off travelling in the same cabin particularly if SWMBO is a nervous flyer. Now that you have the knowledge of USDM, Aadvantage, Avianca Life Miles etc, I would plan ahead for the next trip giving you plenty of time to book a premium award on your preferred carrier on the dates you need.

Thanks Ozbeachbabe, Yes getting back from the US when we needed to, on the OW 140K award proved to be impossible, and besides was not keen on using my points AND pay hefty fees AND not earn points on this trip. I ran out of time waiting for a bonus on USDM.
I ended up getting a RTW fare for the 4 of us $1900 plus taxes in Y, flying TG, LH, LX, QF booking class all 100% re; points except LH which was 50%. I will use our new USDM FF membership for those 3 *A carriers.
I will read up on Avianca Life Miles and I see there is a thread here on that.
Rather than just credit the JFK - MEL flight to my QF FF membership I will check whether better to credit to AA Advantage. I think I should just join AA Advantage anyway, and by the sounds of it Avianca also, given US is leaving *A.

Thanks for your help ozbeachbabe I didn't go with your suggestions in the end, however I did learn a lot, and yes will be able to put that to good use with EARLY planning for next time and a premium award using the
programs I am now a member of. PS I sent you mail.