US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

Airlines will often only show a flight that directly precedes theirs as it could affect their own. If there is no directly preceding flight they might not show it at all so that is not unusual for your PNR's. But the e-ticket on Saudi's site should show all flights.

respective airlines will want to know two things... (a) if you have a connecting flight, where you're coming from (ie, flight before). They want to know if you're gonna show up or not. And (b), for baggage check purposes, they want to know your final destination for the day. If you have their flight plus one other, they'll show two flights, if you have three flights, they'll show all three.

 

[Isochronous]

I've been on the line 30 mins waiting and still haven't spoken to a human yet. Is this normal?

 

[Swan]

I've been on the line 30 mins waiting and still haven't spoken to a human yet. Is this normal?

I have made calls for the last 5 days. All got answered under 30 minutes but on all occassions I was transferred to Awards. There the wait ranged from 45 minutes to close to 2 hours.

Prior to this period the norm was within 15 minutes and rarely involved a transfer. I call between 1 and 3 am PHX time.


Except for weather delay periods the present is the worst I have experienced in the last couple of years.


Must be related to their closing days.

 

[smit0847]

I have made calls for the last 5 days. All got answered under 30 minutes but on all occassions I was transferred to Awards. There the wait ranged from 45 minutes to close to 2 hours.

Prior to this period the norm was within 15 minutes and rarely involved a transfer. I call between 1 and 3 am PHX time.


Except for weather delay periods the present is the worst I have experienced in the last couple of years.


Must be related to their closing days.

I imagine it's a lot of people like us trying to 'get one past the keeper' before the goal posts change.

 

[diningdecadence]

is CX bookable at 330 days like everyone else? or can you book further out?

 

[sergeyvzn]

is CX bookable at 330 days like everyone else? or can you book further out?

335 days like everyone else

 

[chrisbris]

Just tried to get through now- no luck - phones to busy

1 last redemption before the merge and last of my miles

 

[Limewood]

Try EST 5pm.

 

[Foreigner]

In the past I'd been able to get faster service by calling their UK number. Contact numbers in this link:

US Airways | Contact Reservations

Not quite sure if that's still so.

 

[noviceFF]

To the wise heads here,

I've booked 2 J flights via USDM for end of April which is looking tenuous as my wife's health is not well at the moment. Can someone quickly give me a run down of my options incl 1) how late can I change or cancel my flights 2) best to change flights to another time (although this would still be a bit uncertain) or get the the points re-credited and book when I'm more certain 3) general fees (ball park) associated with either options.

I've had a read of this thread and on the USDM website but it's a little bit unclear. Also, more pressing concerns (her health) clouding my concentration perhaps.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

To the wise heads here,

I've booked 2 J flights via USDM for end of April which is looking tenuous as my wife's health is not well at the moment. Can someone quickly give me a run down of my options incl 1) how late can I change or cancel my flights 2) best to change flights to another time (although this would still be a bit uncertain) or get the the points re-credited and book when I'm more certain 3) general fees (ball park) associated with either options.

I've had a read of this thread and on the USDM website but it's a little bit unclear. Also, more pressing concerns (her health) clouding my concentration perhaps.

Thanks in advance.

You can cancel or change your fare right up until departure.

The change fee and cancellation (redeposit) fee are the same - $150 per passenger.

I believe there is a method to cancel the fare, but not have the miles redeposited. In that case, the itinerary is held in limbo... until such time as you are ready to rebook. You still have to pay the $150 change fee, but you are exempt from the $50 award booking fee.

Now I'm not 100% sure what's going to happen post merger with AA. There has been some recent suggestion that existing USDM bookings may be subject to existing USDM fees and routing rules. That may work in your favour... however... if you cancel (or maybe even if you put the itinerary into this 'limbo') you will be subject to the much more restrictive AA routing rules.

I would hold your itinerary as it is, and a few days before the departure date, decide what you want to do. By that time the details of the merger and what will happen to existing tickets should be more clear.

 

[Isochronous]

In the past I'd been able to get faster service by calling their UK number. Contact numbers in this link:

US Airways | Contact Reservations

Not quite sure if that's still so.

Correct. I did all my bookings with the UK call centre actually.

 

[noviceFF]

You can cancel or change your fare right up until departure.

The change fee and cancellation (redeposit) fee are the same - $150 per passenger.

I believe there is a method to cancel the fare, but not have the miles redeposited. In that case, the itinerary is held in limbo... until such time as you are ready to rebook. You still have to pay the $150 change fee, but you are exempt from the $50 award booking fee.

Now I'm not 100% sure what's going to happen post merger with AA. There has been some recent suggestion that existing USDM bookings may be subject to existing USDM fees and routing rules. That may work in your favour... however... if you cancel (or maybe even if you put the itinerary into this 'limbo') you will be subject to the much more restrictive AA routing rules.

I would hold your itinerary as it is, and a few days before the departure date, decide what you want to do. By that time the details of the merger and what will happen to existing tickets should be more clear.

MEL_Traveller: Ever so helpful, you're the best. That sums it up nicely for me.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

To the wise heads here,

I've booked 2 J flights via USDM for end of April which is looking tenuous as my wife's health is not well at the moment. Can someone quickly give me a run down of my options incl 1) how late can I change or cancel my flights 2) best to change flights to another time (although this would still be a bit uncertain) or get the the points re-credited and book when I'm more certain 3) general fees (ball park) associated with either options.

I've had a read of this thread and on the USDM website but it's a little bit unclear. Also, more pressing concerns (her health) clouding my concentration perhaps.

Thanks in advance.

Hello all I have a question along the same lines re: health/illness

What are the rules if you have to get back to oz due to sickness back in oz and your journey has already started?
Would us allow you to change flights if there were any seats which will probably not be the case?
Would your travel insurance cover this being that they are ff seats? If so would the travel also be in first/bus class?

 

[dexter_jambles]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can provide me some advice on completing my first USDM booking. I see in previous posts that there is sometimes problems with USDM CSRs seeing award availability. I've currently got 2 bookings on hold for MEL-HKG-MEL (CX)- one is all in J, the 2nd is J and Y.

For the Y segment they say it is the only class available but on BA's Avios search engine it shows there is space available for both J & Y+. The CSR is adamant that there is nothing but coach.

Interestingly a previous CSR said the same thing about all the J segments too (i.e. could only see Y), but they 'tried something' and then she could find the J availability. Unfortunately we got cut off so now I'm trying to change the last segment J but 2 CSRs later & still no one is seeing the J (or even the Y+) availability.

It appears that it is common for the CSR not to immediately see J availability on this route, but it's hit & miss on whether they are able to uncover any J by trying different methods.

Has anyone else experiencing something similar? Any tips?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can provide me some advice on completing my first USDM booking. I see in previous posts that there is sometimes problems with USDM CSRs seeing award availability. I've currently got 2 bookings on hold for MEL-HKG-MEL (CX)- one is all in J, the 2nd is J and Y.

For the Y segment they say it is the only class available but on BA's Avios search engine it shows there is space available for both J & Y+. The CSR is adamant that there is nothing but coach.

Interestingly a previous CSR said the same thing about all the J segments too (i.e. could only see Y), but they 'tried something' and then she could find the J availability. Unfortunately we got cut off so now I'm trying to change the last segment J but 2 CSRs later & still no one is seeing the J (or even the Y+) availability.

It appears that it is common for the CSR not to immediately see J availability on this route, but it's hit & miss on whether they are able to uncover any J by trying different methods.

Has anyone else experiencing something similar? Any tips?

View attachment 44289

have you confirmed the availability through JAL? BA/QF often show phantom availability. There isn't usually a problem with USDM 'seeing' CX availability (or having to do anything 'different') if the availability is there.

 

[serfty]

Is it bad news if I can't get my booking to show on check my trip? I have flights on CX,AA,US&JL, can login to each of their websites to select seats except CX, I lost the PNR.

Check my trip needs an AMADEUS PNR. Of those airlines, that would be CX's.

 

[diningdecadence]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can provide me some advice on completing my first USDM booking. I see in previous posts that there is sometimes problems with USDM CSRs seeing award availability. I've currently got 2 bookings on hold for MEL-HKG-MEL (CX)- one is all in J, the 2nd is J and Y.

For the Y segment they say it is the only class available but on BA's Avios search engine it shows there is space available for both J & Y+. The CSR is adamant that there is nothing but coach.

Interestingly a previous CSR said the same thing about all the J segments too (i.e. could only see Y), but they 'tried something' and then she could find the J availability. Unfortunately we got cut off so now I'm trying to change the last segment J but 2 CSRs later & still no one is seeing the J (or even the Y+) availability.

It appears that it is common for the CSR not to immediately see J availability on this route, but it's hit & miss on whether they are able to uncover any J by trying different methods.

Has anyone else experiencing something similar? Any tips?

View attachment 44289

is the J seat that's showing availability the same J seat that you've got on hold? i.e. there's only 1 seat available and you're looking for 2? i don't believe you can book Y+ using USDM.

 

[dexter_jambles]

is the J seat that's showing availability the same J seat that you've got on hold? i.e. there's only 1 seat available and you're looking for 2? i don't believe you can book Y+ using USDM.

Nope. This is after I had one on hold. Prior to me saving the booking successfully for one J seat it was showing 2. Thanks for the Y+ guidance - I think I did know that but forgot!

 

[dexter_jambles]

have you confirmed the availability through JAL? BA/QF often show phantom availability. There isn't usually a problem with USDM 'seeing' CX availability (or having to do anything 'different') if the availability is there.

Thanks MEL_Traveller. Checked JAL & wasn't showing availability. So I think BA was showing up one phantom available J seat.

The USDM agents still had trouble seeing the confirmed availability however on 2 different calls on 2 separate flights. Only after I persisted they realised that oh yes, there was J available & added it to the booking. Initially they were adamant there was only Y.