US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[baggyred]

When booking awards - I'm a little confused as to whether we can book 330 days in advance or 355.

I thought that airlines released the stock to their FF at 355 and then other O/W ar 330 days.

However - looking at the BA tool - there are flights available to Europe on Cathay (and other airlines) in mid july next year - F class as well for any interested

This suggests the seats are available at 355 days in advance within Oneworld. Do US airways get it at 355 or 330? Or is this BA only at 355?

 

[bcworld]

When booking awards - I'm a little confused as to whether we can book 330 days in advance or 355.

I thought that airlines released the stock to their FF at 355 and then other O/W ar 330 days.

However - looking at the BA tool - there are flights available to Europe on Cathay (and other airlines) in mid july next year - F class as well for any interested

This suggests the seats are available at 355 days in advance within Oneworld. Do US airways get it at 355 or 330? Or is this BA only at 355?

Each frequent flyer program decides what it's advance booking window is. So US might allow booking at 330 days and BA in a different advance window.

 

[sergeyvzn]

Each frequent flyer program decides what it's advance booking window is. So US might allow booking at 330 days and BA in a different advance window.

With US Airways you can book 335 days out. Their partners release their seats at different times so if a particular seat say on QF is released at 355 days out and has been snapped by the time you can book it via US Airways DM - bad luck

 

[baggyred]

With US Airways you can book 335 days out. Their partners release their seats at different times so if a particular seat say on QF is released at 355 days out and has been snapped by the time you can book it via US Airways DM - bad luck

Ok - that makes sense.

I guess if my planned trip is 20 days long I actually have to wait until 315 days out so as to book the return. I'v seen in some circumstances people just book a dummy return leg and pay a change fee when the return leg opens up - but my travel is flexible enough with multiple airline options that I don't think I will bother.

 

[Kangol]

OK. I rang TG and told them the situation. They claim that because it is USDM ticket stock, they cannot touch it. I then explain that USDM are now not part of *A and I did ring them initially, then was told to ring TG because USDM cannot do a thing about the change. She still says no and I went back and forth, she then gives in to find out from a supervisor if the changes can be made - and will email me back.
I then tell her about there being F availability on TG476, but none on J or Y. She then mentions something about putting me on a waitlist for F - and asks that if F isn't available, if J is OK. I say fine, but then tell her that currently there is only F availability for that flight, so what would happen if it were not approved?! She then says they will do their best.
The waiting game begins...

Personally I have always sorted tees out liasing by email with the Australian TG offices, clearly explaining the original itinerary and the misconnect caused by TGs schedule change. They CAN put the segment in there even when there is not availability. A wait list request will be sent to Bangkok. Once it is cleared and in there (usually a couple of days) you then call USDM to revalidate the ticket.

Got an email this morning with my new itinerary and e-ticket, TG476 in F. Selected Coquille St.Jaques, Lobster x2 and Duck for the 4x F legs.

In "general remarks" in the e-ticket, it says this:

[TABLE="class: tableConfText"]
[TR]
[TD]MR KANGOL X YOUR TICKET HAS BEEN REISSUED TO TRAVEL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ON TG476/XXDEC FROM SYDNEY TO BANGKOK IN FIRST CLASS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THE TICKET HAS BEEN REISSUED BY USAIRWAYS TO REFLECT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THE NEW FLIGHT INFO X THANK YOU X THAI AIR LAX X 05AUG14[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Now to sort out the domestic connection with my TI.

 

[get me outta here]

That must be a relief,. who ended up sending you the email in the end, was it USDM or TG?

Got an email this morning with my new itinerary and e-ticket, TG476 in F. Selected Coquille St.Jaques, Lobster x2 and Duck for the 4x F legs.

In "general remarks" in the e-ticket, it says this:

[TABLE="class: tableConfText"]
[TR]
[TD]MR KANGOL X YOUR TICKET HAS BEEN REISSUED TO TRAVEL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ON TG476/XXDEC FROM SYDNEY TO BANGKOK IN FIRST CLASS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THE TICKET HAS BEEN REISSUED BY USAIRWAYS TO REFLECT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THE NEW FLIGHT INFO X THANK YOU X THAI AIR LAX X 05AUG14[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Now to sort out the domestic connection with my TI.

 

[Kangol]

That must be a relief,. who ended up sending you the email in the end, was it USDM or TG?

I got three emails.
The first was from "Travel Document ([email protected])" with my new itinerary.
The second was received ~4 hrs later from USDM with "your updated reservation" and the ticket number.
The third was a copy of the first, but with different ticket numbers at the bottom.

None of them were from TG but I don't think they would be sending them anyway, given that USDM issued the ticket.

 

[baggyred]

Just got around to reading the US Airways rules for claiming awards.

Whilst it says a stop-over is allowed - it mentions it must be en-route.

Does this mean it isn't possible to have the stop-over on the return leg?

 

[sergeyvzn]

Just got around to reading the US Airways rules for claiming awards.

Whilst it says a stop-over is allowed - it mentions it must be en-route.

Does this mean it isn't possible to have the stop-over on the return leg?

You can have a stopover either on the inbound or outbound leg (that's what en-route means)

However, there are rules around where you can have them like, e.g. you can have a stopover only in a OneWorld hub or a US Airways international destination if you fly between international zones

 

[diningdecadence]

Got an email this morning with my new itinerary and e-ticket, TG476 in F. Selected Coquille St.Jaques, Lobster x2 and Duck for the 4x F legs.

In "general remarks" in the e-ticket, it says this:

[TABLE="class: tableConfText"]
[TR]
[TD]MR KANGOL X YOUR TICKET HAS BEEN REISSUED TO TRAVEL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ON TG476/XXDEC FROM SYDNEY TO BANGKOK IN FIRST CLASS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THE TICKET HAS BEEN REISSUED BY USAIRWAYS TO REFLECT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THE NEW FLIGHT INFO X THANK YOU X THAI AIR LAX X 05AUG14[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Now to sort out the domestic connection with my TI.

good result!

wonder if that would work for changing classes. e.g. i have an upcoming trip paid using F miles, but only J was available on one leg, united.com is now showing availability and expertflyer is F4 so i suspect availability is now open. wonder how you'd go pushing for F instead of J!

 

[baggyred]

You can have a stopover either on the inbound or outbound leg (that's what en-route means)

However, there are rules around where you can have them like, e.g. you can have a stopover only in a OneWorld hub or a US Airways international destination if you fly between international zones

ahh... I read en-route as in - only on the way over.

So just a quick one - I couldn't have a stopover in budapest if I was flying to london from Perth?

My understanding is the destination is the furthest flying miles (which would be london) making Budapest the stopover.

So given it isn't a oneworld hub - that is a no go?

Edit: How about an open-jaw? Does the open jaw have to be a hub as well? Ie into LHR and out of Budapest. I could just make my own way there

 

[sergeyvzn]

ahh... I read en-route as in - only on the way over.

So just a quick one - I couldn't have a stopover in budapest if I was flying to london from Perth?

My understanding is the destination is the furthest flying miles (which would be london) making Budapest the stopover.

So given it isn't a oneworld hub - that is a no go?

Edit: How about an open-jaw? Does the open jaw have to be a hub as well? Ie into LHR and out of Budapest. I could just make my own way there

Correct - no stopovers in Budapest. It can only be your destination, which also can be part of an open jaw, i.e. fly Perth-Doha-LHR-Budapest (destination)- your own way to Paris-Doha-Perth.

avoid making London your departure point to avoid the very high UK departure tax

 

[sergeyvzn]

"En route" comes from French and means literally "on the way". Not on the way over or on the way back, just on the way

just saying

 

[MEL_Traveller]

ahh... I read en-route as in - only on the way over.

So just a quick one - I couldn't have a stopover in budapest if I was flying to london from Perth?

My understanding is the destination is the furthest flying miles (which would be london) making Budapest the stopover.

So given it isn't a oneworld hub - that is a no go?

Edit: How about an open-jaw? Does the open jaw have to be a hub as well? Ie into LHR and out of Budapest. I could just make my own way there

hub stopover is not often enforced. DOH-BUD-LHR is worth trying. if an initial agent denies it, I would call again. if two or three agents deny it, move to plan B.

stopover can be either on way there or back.

open jaw is also fine... for example into London and out of BUD, or vv.

 

[sergeyvzn]

hub stopover is not often enforced. DOH-BUD-LHR is worth trying. if an initial agent denies it, I would call again. if two or three agents deny it, move to plan B.

stopover can be either on way there or back.

open jaw is also fine... for example into London and out of BUD, or vv.

with all my respect I disagree - the OW hub/US Airways international destination or US gateway city rule is almost always enforced as the collective wisdom of FlyerTalk members would support. Even more now when agents seem to be becoming stricter with rule enforcement post-merger...I wouldn't be relying on getting a stopover in Budapest...unfortunately the days of Malev are gone

 

[baggyred]

Correct - no stopovers in Budapest. It can only be your destination, which also can be part of an open jaw, i.e. fly Perth-Doha-LHR-Budapest (destination)- your own way to Paris-Doha-Perth.

avoid making London your departure point to avoid the very high UK departure tax

am I right that I couldn't do on Cathay/BA per -> hkg -> lhr (stopover) -> Budapest (destination)

returning Budapest->Doha->perth

I doubt it would breach max mileage, however Budapest is closer to perth than lhr so I think usairways would treat lhr as the destination. If that's the case I'll just open jaw per->hkg->lhr. And then return bud->Doha->perth


for those who have helped on many many posts I thank you - I have to be in the uk next year and toying up a secondary place to visit. After mulling multiple locations I've settled on Budapest! Hopefully I can find the award seats!

 

[anat0l]

with all my respect I disagree - the OW hub/US Airways international destination or US gateway city rule is almost always enforced as the collective wisdom of FlyerTalk members would support. Even more now when agents seem to be becoming stricter with rule enforcement post-merger...I wouldn't be relying on getting a stopover in Budapest...unfortunately the days of Malev are gone

It used to be the case that the rule was not strictly enforced. I still think it's worth a shot, then just revert to backup plan if shot down.

I've helped at least two tickets in the oneworld era with stopovers at non-hubs / US cities. Could be the exceptions; so be it. Thank goodness they don't enforce the old incoming carrier rule.

 

[Kangol]

good result!

wonder if that would work for changing classes. e.g. i have an upcoming trip paid using F miles, but only J was available on one leg, united.com is now showing availability and expertflyer is F4 so i suspect availability is now open. wonder how you'd go pushing for F instead of J!

I would imagine that contacting TG would be the best bet... maybe say something like, "I only just checked and there is an error with my F award booking, one of the segments is booked in J. Can you please correct it by booking it in F on (insert date and flight details)".

Please let us know if you end up doing it! Nothing to lose I guess, the worst they can say is no. Unless you have "illegal" stopovers or something and you don't want to raise any red flags.

 

[baggyred]

CEO States FF merger between AA and US will be first half next year

Interview: American Airlines Group CEO Doug Parker - Business Travel News

gives some time frame I guess, time at least to ensure you use your points.

 

[Craigie]

CEO States FF merger between AA and US will be first half next year

Interview: American Airlines Group CEO Doug Parker - Business Travel News

gives some time frame I guess, time at least to ensure you use your points.

My read of that interview was slightly different. The answer regarding the beginning of next year was not the actual quote as designated by the brackets. IMO it's the editor trying to put his use of the word "planning" into context, but only from his opinion.