US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[sergeyvzn]

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

All is not lost
I am looking at some F seats to Europe at the moment, too, to go in May 2015. I can see random F seats on Qantas in April, mainly out of Melbourne, mostly 1 but there are a couple of days in April when you can get 2.
BA have availability out of HKG, SIN and PVG
CX F seems to be non-existent, none to LHR, FRA, PAR or Rome
MH has heaps in J but almost nothing in F, only one at a time and only to LHR
Qatar seems to have some F availability on some European flights out of Doha
I haven't checked JAL yet but there may be some, too, at least there are plenty in J
so, to some it up - your best chance is on Qantas, BA or Qatar (also, maybe JAL). I would not go with BA as the fuel surcharge would make it rather expensive
and don't waste your time looking for CX F seats, they just don't release them to OneWorld

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

All is not lost
I am looking at some F seats to Europe at the moment, too, to go in May 2015. I can see random F seats on Qantas in April, mainly out of Melbourne, mostly 1 but there are a couple of days in April when you can get 2.
BA have availability out of HKG, SIN and PVG
CX F seems to be non-existent, none to LHR, FRA, PAR or Rome
MH has heaps in J but almost nothing in F, only one at a time and only to LHR
Qatar seems to have some F availability on some European flights out of Doha
I haven't checked JAL yet but there may be some, too, at least there are plenty in J
so, to some it up - your best chance is on Qantas, BA or Qatar (also, maybe JAL). I would not go with BA as the fuel surcharge would make it rather expensive
and don't waste your time looking for CX F seats, they just don't release them to OneWorld

Thanks for that info sergeyvzn. I was looking for CX flights and not finding much at all.
I will aim for QF. I saw limited 2 x tix (F) in QF for April and would be happy to fly out of MEL. I will have another look. I hadn't thought of going through PVG.

 

[Flashback]

All is not lost
I am looking at some F seats to Europe at the moment, too, to go in May 2015. I can see random F seats on Qantas in April, mainly out of Melbourne, mostly 1 but there are a couple of days in April when you can get 2.
BA have availability out of HKG, SIN and PVG
CX F seems to be non-existent, none to LHR, FRA, PAR or Rome
MH has heaps in J but almost nothing in F, only one at a time and only to LHR
Qatar seems to have some F availability on some European flights out of Doha
I haven't checked JAL yet but there may be some, too, at least there are plenty in J
so, to some it up - your best chance is on Qantas, BA or Qatar (also, maybe JAL). I would not go with BA as the fuel surcharge would make it rather expensive
and don't waste your time looking for CX F seats, they just don't release them to OneWorld

It's a bit early to be looking at May 2015 is it not?

Just booked AKL-HKG (CX J) HKG-LHR (CX F), CDG-KUL (MH J), KUL-AKL (MH J) leaving just before Christmas and flying back mid-Jan. Taxes were ~$186 USD.

 

[Beta4Me]

I'm planning Nov/Dec '14 and July '15 trips. I plan to book ASAP with dummy flights back within 330 days of the booking date and then ring to change those flights once they are bookable for July '15.

Looking at stacking two USDM awards:
MEL-hkg-yvr-JFK-LHR-dxb-MEL
and
STT-mia-LAX-HKG-lax-mia-STT
for 230K USDM.

This gives me a MEL-hkg-yvr-JFK//STT-mia-LAX-HKG trip with an AA award to get me HKG-MEL in J, a LifeMiles award for JFK-MIA, an Avios award for MIA-BGI and a rev fare for BGI-SXM-STT to get me to the next award. By the by, I'm stacking a HKG-icn-ROR-icn-HKG LifeMiles award too. All for the Nov/Dec 2014 trip which will ultimately be: MEL-hkg-yvr-JFK-MIA-BGI-SXM-STT-mia-LAX-hkg-icn-ROR-icn-HKG-MEL all in J/F over a month

For July 2015, the plan is AA award MEL-HKG then start USDM award 2 again for HKG-lax-mia-STT then Avios to MIA and LifeMiles to JFK picking up USDM award 1 for JFK-LHR, side trip to Belgium for Tomorrowland, back to London and home: LHR-dxb-MEL. This over the course of close to 3 weeks.

The plan is all flights to be in J except for the AUS-USA-EUR-AUS award where all will be F except for MEL-HKG in J.

I'm excited for what will be my first overseas trips!

 

[KVS]

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.

Only CX AM/MPC Members can WaitList ("@") for CX/KA flights.

US DM Members require positive Award Availability:

http://Help.KVSTool.com/#CX

 

[sighing]

Hi all

Anyone had any joy recently booking from SYD to NRT via Japan Airlines in J? USDM shows 4 seats availability on any date I care to throw out there but when the agent tries to book it, she hits a road block. The agent finally suggested I call JAL to verify that award availability exists on the days but though I'd check in here first in case you've experienced something similar. FWIW, I've tried from later this year right through to April 2015, in all cases we hit the same road block.

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks,
sigh.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all

Anyone had any joy recently booking from SYD to NRT via Japan Airlines in J? USDM shows 4 seats availability on any date I care to throw out there but when the agent tries to book it, she hits a road block. The agent finally suggested I call JAL to verify that award availability exists on the days but though I'd check in here first in case you've experienced something similar. FWIW, I've tried from later this year right through to April 2015, in all cases we hit the same road block.

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks,
sigh.

It might be a good idea for you to join JAL mileage bank and use their award finder. It's clunky (as others have said) but seems to show more accurate availability.

 

[sighing]

Thanks Mel_Traveller - it's clunky but seems to work. Appreciate the suggestion. Just signed up and it appears availability is there for dates I had in mind. I was able to get to seat assignment before JAL notified I did not have the requisite points.

cheers,
Sigh

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks Mel_Traveller - it's clunky but seems to work. Appreciate the suggestion. Just signed up and it appears availability is there for dates I had in mind. I was able to get to seat assignment before JAL notified I did not have the requisite points.

cheers,
Sigh

for four seats? that'd be good news if it's true

 

[sighing]

for four seats? that'd be good news if it's true

hehehe...no, not 4 seats but the amount I need .

 

[Beta4Me]

I'm planning Nov/Dec '14 and July '15 trips. I plan to book ASAP with dummy flights back within 330 days of the booking date and then ring to change those flights once they are bookable for July '15.

Looking at stacking two USDM awards:
MEL-hkg-yvr-JFK-LHR-dxb-MEL
and
STT-mia-LAX-HKG-lax-mia-STT
for 230K USDM.

This gives me a MEL-hkg-yvr-JFK//STT-mia-LAX-HKG trip with an AA award to get me HKG-MEL in J, a LifeMiles award for JFK-MIA, an Avios award for MIA-BGI and a rev fare for BGI-SXM-STT to get me to the next award. By the by, I'm stacking a HKG-icn-ROR-icn-HKG LifeMiles award too. All for the Nov/Dec 2014 trip which will ultimately be: MEL-hkg-yvr-JFK-MIA-BGI-SXM-STT-mia-LAX-hkg-icn-ROR-icn-HKG-MEL all in J/F over a month

For July 2015, the plan is AA award MEL-HKG then start USDM award 2 again for HKG-lax-mia-STT then Avios to MIA and LifeMiles to JFK picking up USDM award 1 for JFK-LHR, side trip to Belgium for Tomorrowland, back to London and home: LHR-dxb-MEL. This over the course of close to 3 weeks.

The plan is all flights to be in J except for the AUS-USA-EUR-AUS award where all will be F except for MEL-HKG in J.

I'm excited for what will be my first overseas trips!

Final itinerary completed and got bookings on hold.

The core of the two trips below are USDM awards.

USDM 1: MEL-bne-hkg-yvr-JFK-LHR-dxb-MEL (140K for all F except MEL-bne-hkg in QF J)
and
USDM 2: SJU-clt-LAX-HKG-lax-mia-SJU (90K for all J)

Trip 1: MEL-bne-hkg-yvr-jfk-MIA-BGI-dom-anu-sxm-EIS-sju-clt-LAX-HKG-icn-ROR-icn-HKG-bkk-syd-MEL

Trip 2: MEL-HKG-lax-mia-SJU-clt-JFK-LHR-CDG//ANR-LHR-dxb-MEL

(LifeMiles made up the HKG-ROR-HKG (J) and HKG-bkk-syd (F) flights. Avios, cheap Caribbean airlines and discount intra-USA F filled in the rest.)

Pretty stoked right now!

 

[travelislife]

hehehe...no, not 4 seats but the amount I need .

I think I remember reading something on FlyerTalk that with JL bookings they need to open a separate screen or something like that to be able to select the seats.

 

[Beta4Me]

Final itinerary completed and got bookings on hold.

The core of the two trips below are USDM awards.

USDM 1: MEL-bne-hkg-yvr-JFK-LHR-dxb-MEL (140K for all F except MEL-bne-hkg in QF J)
and
USDM 2: SJU-clt-LAX-HKG-lax-mia-SJU (90K for all J)

Trip 1: MEL-bne-hkg-yvr-jfk-MIA-BGI-dom-anu-sxm-EIS-sju-clt-LAX-HKG-icn-ROR-icn-HKG-bkk-syd-MEL

Trip 2: MEL-HKG-lax-mia-SJU-clt-JFK-LHR-CDG//ANR-LHR-dxb-MEL

(LifeMiles made up the HKG-ROR-HKG (J) and HKG-bkk-syd (F) flights. Avios, cheap Caribbean airlines and discount intra-USA F filled in the rest.)

Pretty stoked right now!

And I've just realised I can't book the USDM awards until 365 days before the 29th of July 2015. Damn!

On the positive side I've been informed that the total revenue fare costs of all my flights across the two trips is approximately $60K. Winning!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And I've just realised I can't book the USDM awards until 365 days before the 29th of July 2015. Damn!

On the positive side I've been informed that the total revenue fare costs of all my flights across the two trips is approximately $60K. Winning!

you say these are on hold, have they already ticketed? if so, intersting they allowed MEL-JFK-LHR-MEL... LHR is the destination on that ticket and supoosedly travel is not allowed SWP-EU via USA.

 

[Beta4Me]

you say these are on hold, have they already ticketed? if so, intersting they allowed MEL-JFK-LHR-MEL... LHR is the destination on that ticket and supoosedly travel is not allowed SWP-EU via USA.

I had dummy legs within 365 days but have now learned that it isn't 365 from first flight but from ticketing so am just letting it lapse.
No, JFK is the destination. LHR is the stopover for MEL-hkg-yvr-JFK-LHR-dxb-MEL. It's SWP-USA with EUR stopover and that is allowed.
I have seen MEL-dxb-lhr-JFK-LHR-dxb-MEL ticketed before without issue.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I had dummy legs within 365 days but have now learned that it isn't 365 from first flight but from ticketing so am just letting it lapse.
No, JFK is the destination. LHR is the stopover for MEL-hkg-yvr-JFK-LHR-dxb-MEL. It's SWP-USA with EUR stopover and that is allowed.
I have seen MEL-dxb-lhr-JFK-LHR-dxb-MEL ticketed before without issue.

the passenger can't decide the stopover and destination. it is based on distance.

MEL-JFK is shorter than MEL-LHR. so JFK is the stopover, LHR is the destination. not by much, so maybe it'll sneak through.

the second itinerary is different, JFK is the destination because you are returning via the same route.

 

[Beta4Me]

the passenger can't decide the stopover and destination. it is based on distance.

MEL-JFK is shorter than MEL-LHR. so JFK is the stopover, LHR is the destination. not by much, so maybe it'll sneak through.

the second itinerary is different, JFK is the destination because you are returning via the same route.

Are you talking MPM or the route between the locations? If the former, how does that not apply to the second itinerary?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are you talking MPM or the route between the locations? If the former, how does that not apply to the second itinerary?

maybe I got confused. Are you actually stopping over in LHR or just transit? (less than 24 hours?). if you are not stopping over then disregard the above.

otherwise, I'm not talking MPM. USDM doesn't allow travel to EU via the USA. This is calculated on distance alone (for example use great circle mapper). The distances will determine where is the destination (the farthest point from your departure) and which is closer (the stopover).

as LHR is farther is distance from MEL, it defaults as the destination, ruling out a stopover in America.

in the other hand, travel to the USA via EU is allowed hence the itineraries you see MEL-EU-USA and return

 

[Beta4Me]

maybe I got confused. Are you actually stopping over in LHR or just transit? (less than 24 hours?). if you are not stopping over then disregard the above.

otherwise, I'm not talking MPM. USDM doesn't allow travel to EU via the USA. This is calculated on distance alone (for example use great circle mapper). The distances will determine where is the destination (the farthest point from your departure) and which is closer (the stopover).

as LHR is farther is distance from MEL, it defaults as the destination, ruling out a stopover in America.

in the other hand, travel to the USA via EU is allowed hence the itineraries you see MEL-EU-USA and return

You're right, I am stopping over in London. Right, I understand what you mean now. No, you've got it round the wrong way. EUR via USA isn't allowed but USA via EUR (or Asia) is
What I will have to ensure, though, is that JFK is further than LHR for my trip, hence if I eliminate the DXB layover I should be fine.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You're right, I am stopping over in London. Right, I understand what you mean now. No, you've got it round the wrong way. EUR via USA isn't allowed but USA via EUR (or Asia) is
What I will have to ensure, though, is that JFK is further than LHR for my trip, hence if I eliminate the DXB layover I should be fine.

I think I have it the right way... but anyway - the distance is not based on any intermediate flights you take... it is based on the simple point-to-point distance.

MEL-JFK is counted as a single segment. As is LHR-MEL. The distances cannot be changed. On that itinerary, LHR will always be the destination.

If you changed it to another European city (slightly closer to MEL) you might be ok.

however, the difference between JFK and LHR as transits/stopover is something like 300 miles. So it might scrape through unnoticed.