US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[bcworld]

Is there any experience/consensus on a stop-over in Europe while travelling to or from US, or more probably, stopping-over in the US while traveling to or from Europe. From memory I think three out of these four scenarios are specifically disallowed?

In theory it should be possible to stop in Europe en route to the US provided that:

-The routing is within 25M
-The distance between the start point and the stopover point is less than between the start point and the destination (that makes things tricky)

However US agents have recently started quoting some rules around IATA zones...and an itinerary involving Aus, EU and US crosses all three which seems to be becoming problematic.

Stopover in the US enroute to EU and v/v should never be possible.

 

[hossein_au]

In theory it should be possible to stop in Europe en route to the US provided that:

-The routing is within 25M
-The distance between the start point and the stopover point is less than between the start point and the destination (that makes things tricky)

However US agents have recently started quoting some rules around IATA zones...and an itinerary involving Aus, EU and US crosses all three which seems to be becoming problematic.

Stopover in the US enroute to EU and v/v should never be possible.

That's great, thank you. I shall put my thinking hat on for a while...

Edit: How does starting from Perth affect the equation? (I'm based in East Coast, but just wondering)

 

[Flippantflyer]

That's great, thank you. I shall put my thinking hat on for a while...

Edit: How does starting from Perth affect the equation? (I'm based in East Coast, but just wondering)

if it helps - i was able to do Hobart - New York (via DXB/LHR) and a stopover in Berlin on the way home (backtracking to do LHR/DXB QF F home via Melbourne) recently. I believe it was legal - ie. within the allowable MPM and NY further from Hobart than Berlin (just). If you don't have any luck from Syd/Mel/Bne you might consider a positioning flight to Hobart (if you route via your home city on the way back you can probably drop the last leg).

 

[diningdecadence]

Is there any experience/consensus on a stop-over in Europe while travelling to or from US, or more probably, stopping-over in the US while traveling to or from Europe. From memory I think three out of these four scenarios are specifically disallowed?

not since they moved to oneworld, but for our flights in sept. on *A we did
SYD-BKK-CDG(stop)-IAH(stop)-SFO-ICN-SYD

 

[jgm]

We did DEN-ORD-CPH(stop)-SIN-MEL on *A in March.

 

[Limewood]

Can one use USDM intra Europe?,

Say CDG/VIE/CDG would be 45K miles in J?.

 

[hossein_au]

Can one use USDM intra Europe?,

Say CDG/VIE/CDG would be 45K miles in J?.

Most (all?) intra Europe J is simply Y with middle seat blocked. I find them not worth the price of USDM points plus US$150 booking fee. Of course you will need to form your own opinion.

Edit: Note that OneWorld is far more limited in Europe than either of *A or SkyTeam.

Edit2: Partner booking fee is US$50, not US$150.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Most (all?) intra Europe J is simply Y with middle seat blocked. I find them not worth the price of USDM points plus US$150 booking fee. Of course you will need to form your own opinion.

on CDG-VIE it would work out the same price to purchase a flight outright on Air France than to use USDM points.

googleflights is a helpful tool for use with comparison fares.

 

[bcworld]

I find them not worth the price of USDM points plus US$150 booking fee

You've been paying a $150 booking fee?

 

[anat0l]

Can one use USDM intra Europe?,

Say CDG/VIE/CDG would be 45K miles in J?.

The answer is yes.

But as you can see, it is hardly worth it. You would usually be better just stumping up the cash.

Off hand, I'm not sure if there are any direct services between CDG and VIE on oneworld (or another US DM partner carrier). My gut tells me there isn't, so that will necessitate connecting via another port, viz BA in LHR, AB in TXL etc. etc.

 

[hossein_au]

You've been paying a $150 booking fee?

I recall there is a fee for international bookings and the figure of $150 pops to mind, or is it $50? (the original point still stands--re intro EU flights are not a good use of USDM)

 

[anat0l]

I recall there is a fee for international bookings and the figure of $150 pops to mind, or is it $50? (the original point still stands--re intro EU flights are not a good use of USDM)

$50 award booking fee for partner airline bookings
$75 expedited ticketing fee for bookings within 21 days of departure
$150 change or cancel fee for changing a booked award ticket, or cancelling then redepositing mileage

 

[hossein_au]

$50 award booking fee for partner airline bookings
$75 expedited ticketing fee for bookings within 21 days of departure
$150 change or cancel fee for changing a booked award ticket, or cancelling then redepositing mileage

Oh yes, I remembered paying $150 at some stage in the past! I'll update my previous post.

 

[Limewood]

The answer is yes.

But as you can see, it is hardly worth it. You would usually be better just stumping up the cash.

Off hand, I'm not sure if there are any direct services between CDG and VIE on oneworld (or another US DM partner carrier). My gut tells me there isn't, so that will necessitate connecting via another port, viz BA in LHR, AB in TXL etc. etc.

I see now waste of miles and that USDM booking fee, will pay cash instead.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

looking to use up some accumulated miles next year.

Would YVR - MEX - LAX be a valid routing?

Not looking to return to YVR as my flight home is via LAX

 

[bcworld]

Would YVR - MEX - LAX be a valid routing?

Should be...it's a valid open jaw.

 

[burmans]

Anyone know if US can see indirect Australian flights. Am trying to book SYD - PER and all they can see is a direct flight at 4:30 pm but I know there is a flight via MEL at 6:30 pm which suits better. Is there a way of getting them to see the indirect flight or is this just a case where there is a direct flight already and they just can't see the other?

 

[hossein_au]

Anyone know if US can see indirect Australian flights. Am trying to book SYD - PER and all they can see is a direct flight at 4:30 pm but I know there is a flight via MEL at 6:30 pm which suits better. Is there a way of getting them to see the indirect flight or is this just a case where there is a direct flight already and they just can't see the other?

Just quote them the QF flight numbers you're after; or HUaCA.

 

[burmans]

Just quote them the QF flight numbers you're after; or HUaCA.

Thanks, I sort of thought that was probably the case, but they didn't seem very interested in looking for the flight I wanted when there were a couple of direct flights available (just not at the time I want).

 

[hossein_au]

Thanks, I sort of thought that was probably the case, but they didn't seem very interested in looking for the flight I wanted when there were a couple of direct flights available (just not at the time I want).

I've found the best solution to any issues with USDM is to HUACA