US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[Beta4Me]

Having just done CX F on a 77W, I wouldn't quite say it's hard to beat it! Not having flown JL F before, but I'd harbour a guess that CX F would still come slightly on top.

I meant I think it'd be hard to beat in the context of JL F (I've only flown JL J not F). IMO a great suite-style first class on an A380 destroys it (CX F) and there are a few of those running around these days.

 

[noviceFF]

if following AA rules, then yes.

Changes to AA awards are free of charge provided the origin and destination stay the same.

changes to times, dates, even route are allowed, but origin/destination must stay the same,

MEL_Traveller: I'll have to buy you a drink or 2 if I ever meet you for helping answer all my annoying questions.
As asked before, I have 2 bookings with USDM (before merger) that is coming up but unfortunately the Mrs is too unwell to travel. Looks like I have to travel another time or cancel altogether. Given the merger and new AA rules, would it be better to change flights to a later date (if available) to avoid paying fees rather than cancel altogether? And also, do I still ring up the old USDM or is there a new contact for this now (post merger).
Many thanks.

 

[sergeyvzn]

MEL_Traveller: I'll have to buy you a drink or 2 if I ever meet you for helping answer all my annoying questions.
As asked before, I have 2 bookings with USDM (before merger) that is coming up but unfortunately the Mrs is too unwell to travel. Looks like I have to travel another time or cancel altogether. Given the merger and new AA rules, would it be better to change flights to a later date (if available) to avoid paying fees rather than cancel altogether? And also, do I still ring up the old USDM or is there a new contact for this now (post merger).
Many thanks.

Can't answer your first question but based on my recent post-merger experience changing flights you still ring USDM. The recorded message says welcome to AAdvantage but the people are still old USDM folk. All USDM bookings made before 25 March are still being handled by USDM and even if you ring AAdvantage number they will simply put you through back to USDM

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As asked before, I have 2 bookings with USDM (before merger) that is coming up but unfortunately the Mrs is too unwell to travel. Looks like I have to travel another time or cancel altogether. Given the merger and new AA rules, would it be better to change flights to a later date (if available) to avoid paying fees rather than cancel altogether?

It depends what's happening. There have been some reports that changes to USDM bookings, handled by USDM, are still attempting to be charged the $150 change fee. This is sometimes being waived if the caller can convince the agent that changes should be free of charge.

If you can change to a later date that would be good as... (a) may avoid a change fee if they follow AA rules and (b) may mean your itinerary stays in tact and doesn't get subjected to AA routing rules. It might be a case of suck-it-and-see.

The reason why you might want to cancel and go via AA rules would be (a) if the cost of the award is now lower (for example business class AU-Asia drops from 90K to 70K under AA, except for Korea and Japan), or (b) if you want an airline not previously offered through USDM but available through AA (for example EY).

 

[Kangol]

This question may not be specific to USDM but here goes:

I have the first half of a SYD-xNRT-GUM trip that I want to change. It was booked under USDM rules (30k J) when the outbound seats opened but not the inbound. I thought I would have had time in April to add the return segments but it didn't work out. Long story short, I want to change the SYD-xNRT-GUM to a date a few months later (allowed), and use that as a positioning flight to the US (prob NRT-LAX) under a separate ticket. ie. get to HND and no-show the NRT-GUM.

So if I book a separate NRT-LAX, departing on the same day of arrival into HND, will the system "see" that I have an impossible connection (to/from GUM) and cancel the ticket to LAX?

SYD-HND is QF25: 2130-0530(+1),
NRT-GUM is JL941: 1045-1525 and
NRT-LAX is JL62: 1705-0950

In theory I wouldn't be able to get back to NRT in time for the LAX flight (the GUM-NRT is JL 942: 1655-1940).

I haven't pushed back my SYD-xNRT-GUM flight yet (but can do so for free with AA rules), but my provisional plan is to get them to cancel the NRT-GUM with no penalty (wishful thinking). To avoid the "risk" of them cancelling the NRT-LAX ticket. But then again if the SYD-xNRT-GUM is revalidated on USDM ticket stock and I have a new NRT-LAX on AA ticket stock, maybe the systems won't recognise each other?

My rationale in a very roundabout way is:
South Pacific to Asia 2 (GUM) is not allowed via Asia 1 (HND/NRT) so they have to drop the last segment!

As an aside I thought I'd be able to go NRT-xHKG-LAX to go on CX F but alas, no backtracking. JL F it may have to be.

OK. So the new outbound dates have opened up and I called (originally AA, who put me through to USDM) to have the dates changed.
The last U class SYD-HND on QF25 got taken in the last day (!!) so I found J availability all on JL - SYD-NRT-GUM.
I tell them I want to keep the same origin and destination and give them the flight details. After maybe 5 mins, the agent comes back saying no changes can be made to the ticket because it was an illegal routing (MPM issue)... and that it was only issued in the first place because the agent made a mistake and it had to be honoured.
Ergh!!
I might ring again tonight to get someone different hopefully.
Thoughts?
I also can't find F availability NRT-LAX on the date I want.. but have seen the calendar where one or two days later, availability opens up...
Changing the SYD-TYO is the important part, however.
If it doesn't work, I'll have to go canceling and requesting a QF classic.. where's the fun in that!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK. So the new outbound dates have opened up and I called (originally AA, who put me through to USDM) to have the dates changed.
The last U class SYD-HND on QF25 got taken in the last day (!!) so I found J availability all on JL - SYD-NRT-GUM.
I tell them I want to keep the same origin and destination and give them the flight details. After maybe 5 mins, the agent comes back saying no changes can be made to the ticket because it was an illegal routing (MPM issue)... and that it was only issued in the first place because the agent made a mistake and it had to be honoured.
Ergh!!
I might ring again tonight to get someone different hopefully.
Thoughts?
I also can't find F availability NRT-LAX on the date I want.. but have seen the calendar where one or two days later, availability opens up...
Changing the SYD-TYO is the important part, however.
If it doesn't work, I'll have to go canceling and requesting a QF classic.. where's the fun in that!

I think AA gave the right answer.

However - with AU-Asia (excl Japan/Korea) being only 35,000 miles one way (and Japan/Korea 45,000k miles) - perhaps an option would be to cancel the USDM booking and take a one way outright via AA? Perhaps transit in HKG or PVG?

 

[Kangol]

I think AA gave the right answer.

However - with AU-Asia (excl Japan/Korea) being only 35,000 miles one way (and Japan/Korea 45,000k miles) - perhaps an option would be to cancel the USDM booking and take a one way outright via AA? Perhaps transit in HKG or PVG?

Ah, good news to report.
Rang the USDM number tonight and an AA guy answered it. Because it was ticketed with USDM and I didn't have an AA record locator, he put me through to a USDM agent.
I explained the change to her and she said she would have to put me through to a "double agent" - someone who has both USDM and AA training, but given I've been passed around she didn't want to do it again.
So she asked for the new flight details (to give to the double agent that she would organise for me) and made a comment, "oh, so you want to remove the stopover?".
Turns out that the earlier call today resulted in a change in the NRT-GUM segment only (to the new date) but left the original SYD-HND (two month stopover).
So the new SYD-NRT was changed, ticket reissued, no charges made and the new e-ticket was in my inbox before I hung up. No mention about MPM/routing rules.
Yay.

Now for my flight to LAX.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Kangol - a good result!

I can see the how they reached both conclusions (the earlier and later ones). The latter one is obviously more advantageous to you

 

[Limewood]

Have a J USDM booking to Europe return out of BNE early Sept. but may not be moving from CNS by then, the departure is to HKG the return is from PER, if I added a QF flights CNS/BNE and BNE/CNS would I have to pay extra for them?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have a J USDM booking to Europe return out of BNE early Sept. but may not be moving from CNS by then, the departure is to HKG the return is from PER, if I added a QF flights CNS/BNE and BNE/CNS would I have to pay extra for them?

I would suspect 'yes'. Both AA and USDM (which ever they apply) will charge a $150 change fee where you are changing origin/destination. Whether you can make the change and stay under USDM rules will be the question.

 

[Limewood]

Thank you.

it would then be CNS/BNE/HKG/CDG/DOH/PER/CNS

Even with the USD$150 each still be much cheaper and in J than buying Y sector tickets CNS/BNE/CNS

When I know if we are moving to BNE if not will try them on, see what happens.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you.

it would then be CNS/BNE/HKG/CDG/DOH/PER/CNS

Even with the USD$150 each still be much cheaper and in J than buying Y sector tickets CNS/BNE/CNS

When I know if we are moving to BNE if not will try them on, see what happens.

I have a feeling (happy to be wrong) that changes to the origin/destination will require the award to go over to AA, which might make it much more expensive anyway.

 

[Pele]

Gday

My experience: I booked a SYD-NRT-GUM return trip on the last day of madness, 25th March 2015 for travel in September 2015. Had to change the booking as wife had work commitments. I had been checking availability continuously but there are almost zero trips coming back from NRT to SYD. Until mid March next year. I tried to change my dates to start the trip on 27th March 2016. All flights were available but she put me on hold and came back and said the journey must commence within 365 days of the original ticket being issued(ie 24th March 2016). The only other option was to depart 17th March 2016. I took it. Technically this breaks more rules than my original itinerary as i am in Tokyo longer than 24 hours both directions. It is not possible to have less than 24 hours in Tokyo coming back from Guam as the only flight of the day lands in Tokyo 15 minutes before the flight back to Sydney departs ie you cant get it. So i am going the next day 24h15m after the other flight lands. She put me on hold as she was a bit shocked i wanted a 12 night stop over in Tokyo and said she would have to check as i was changing the route(which i wasnt). Anyway she came back and said it was all good. And no change fee. Same booking confirmation codes for both US Airways and JAL. US Airways website cant see the booking yet but JAL can and i have selected my seats. Sakura 2016 here we come! Yay!

I would strongly caution against trying to change routes with USDM itineraries as I believe they will cancel your original booking and reissue a new ticket(under AA rules).

Pele.

 

[Limewood]

Gday
I would strongly caution against trying to change routes with USDM itineraries as I believe they will cancel your original booking and reissue a new ticket(under AA rules).

Pele.

In your case not changing the departure or destination, in my case as I understand it now by adding a new sector on departure and return, is not on, departure and return point depends on our pad sale at some point.

 

[noviceFF]

Not sure to ask this here or not but here goes..(might be stupid).
Looking at SYD-MLE in J with stopover in KUL via MAS. Is this 2 award legs (35K + 30K) or 1 with stopover (45K). I just wrapped my head around USDM rules and now AA is a whole new bag to deal with..

 

[smit0847]

Not sure to ask this here or not but here goes..(might be stupid).
Looking at SYD-MLE in J with stopover in KUL via MAS. Is this 2 award legs (35K + 30K) or 1 with stopover (45K). I just wrapped my head around USDM rules and now AA is a whole new bag to deal with..

No more USDM so must be booked through AA who dont allow stopovers so 2 award legs

 

[noviceFF]

Thanks. That's a bummer.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks. That's a bummer.

You may want to price out the cost of a revenue ticket KUL-MLE (say for example on UL). Might work out cheaper than the extra miles required (although in coach not business).

 

[Limewood]

I've found using miles its hard to get the sectors out or into OZ, next time I'll either buy tickets or use QFF points then go from say HKG to Europe or HNL to mainland USA.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've found using miles its hard to get the sectors out or into OZ, next time I'll either buy tickets or use QFF points then go from say HKG to Europe or HNL to mainland USA.

if you can find seats using QFF (with the exception of EK flights) you should also find them via AA.