US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[appaz]

does anyone know why LH779 SIN - FRA never shows availability even in J?

Do they release seats for *A closer to the travel dates?

 

[Flashback]

does anyone know why LH779 SIN - FRA never shows availability even in J?

Do they release seats for *A closer to the travel dates?

They're currently only releasing award seats for travel on Wednesdays and Saturdays. However it's not clear if this only applies to German flights, or Internationals as well.

 

[bcworld]

does anyone know why LH779 SIN - FRA never shows availability even in J?

Do they release seats for *A closer to the travel dates?

I see it quite often on LM when I would rather see SQ26!

 

[appaz]

They're currently only releasing award seats for travel on Wednesdays and Saturdays. However it's not clear if this only applies to German flights, or Internationals as well.

can't see them using expert flyer, even on wednesday's and saturday's


interesting...

 

[Flashback]

can't see them using expert flyer, even on wednesday's and saturday's


interesting...

Note this is specifically in relation to USDM redemptions, not sure the same applies to other *A carrier programs.

 

[bcworld]

Note this is specifically in relation to USDM redemptions, not sure the same applies to other *A carrier programs.

From reading the FT thread LH availability via USDM does seem very restricted at the moment...Although I got the impression it was more of an intra-EU issue.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Not sure if this question asked earlier - mods pls delete if YES:

If a booking is made today via USDM on a *A partner say 11mths out - and AA and US do merge and USDM rolled into AA ff program - what might happen to award pts if said booking was subsequently cancelled say 1 month prior to dep but well past merger date?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure if this question asked earlier - mods pls delete if YES:

If a booking is made today via USDM on a *A partner say 11mths out - and AA and US do merge and USDM rolled into AA ff program - what might happen to award pts if said booking was subsequently cancelled say 1 month prior to dep but well past merger date?

your points will end up in the applicable program at the time. if aa/us haven't merged their program's by then the points will go back to USDM, but will only be redeemable on oneworld flights.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

your points will end up in the applicable program at the time. if aa/us haven't merged their program's by then the points will go back to USDM, but will only be redeemable on oneworld flights.

I thought so - and if merger has taken place I assume refunded pts would be at same conversion rate as intial 'roll-in' of both ff programs at time of merger?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought so - and if merger has taken place I assume refunded pts would be at same conversion rate as intial 'roll-up' of both ff programs at time of merger?

the conversion rate is 1:1.

you'll get the same number of miles refunded as you paid.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

the conversion rate is 1:1.

That is set in concrete?

 

[smit0847]

your points will end up in the applicable program at the time. if aa/us haven't merged their program's by then the points will go back to USDM, but will only be redeemable on oneworld flights.

I don't think this is 100% correct - if the points go back to USDM they will be redeemable for *A for as long as the USDM program exists. You can't use USDM for OW until they become Aa miles.

If they go back to Aa they will only be redeemable for OW flights. If they go back to USDM and you keep them in your USDM account and then the merger is finalised and they become Aa points, you can only use them for OW flights once they become Aa flights.

In summary - if they're USDM miles they're for *A, if they're Aa miles, they're for OW.

I would not be booking any flights through USDM you may wish to change down the track as you may not be able to change them. I would also not be buying USDM points purely because you expect them to become Aa miles shortly - the merger is still 'up in the air'.

 

[anat0l]

I don't think this is 100% correct - if the points go back to USDM they will be redeemable for *A for as long as the USDM program exists. You can't use USDM for OW until they become Aa miles.

If they go back to Aa they will only be redeemable for OW flights. If they go back to USDM and you keep them in your USDM account and then the merger is finalised and they become Aa points, you can only use them for OW flights once they become Aa flights.

In summary - if they're USDM miles they're for *A, if they're Aa miles, they're for OW.

I would not be booking any flights through USDM you may wish to change down the track as you may not be able to change them. I would also not be buying USDM points purely because you expect them to become Aa miles shortly - the merger is still 'up in the air'.

Depends on if AA can get US added as a oneworld affiliate, forcing US's exit from *A.

That's not completely a 'merger' yet, but in any case that action too can be blocked.

 

[Alanslegal]

I would not be booking any flights through USDM you may wish to change down the track as you may not be able to change them. I would also not be buying USDM points purely because you expect them to become Aa miles shortly - the merger is still 'up in the air'.

And just to highlight this .... if anyone is reluctant to buy points for whatever reasons. Please don't buy :!: Those F redemptions are becoming more limited and so the less people who buy, the better chances it is for the others such as myself to able to get F seats. Once upon a time, those TG planes were flying 2*-5 people in F, and then my last four flights in them were full.

* that's me and the girlfriend = 2

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That is set in concrete?

yes it is set in concrete.

I don't think this is 100% correct - if the points go back to USDM they will be redeemable for *A for as long as the USDM program exists. You can't use USDM for OW until they become Aa miles.

If they go back to Aa they will only be redeemable for OW flights. If they go back to USDM and you keep them in your USDM account and then the merger is finalised and they become Aa points, you can only use them for OW flights once they become Aa flights.

In summary - if they're USDM miles they're for *A, if they're Aa miles, they're for OW.

I would not be booking any flights through USDM you may wish to change down the track as you may not be able to change them. I would also not be buying USDM points purely because you expect them to become Aa miles shortly - the merger is still 'up in the air'.

it is 100% correct.

it is possible that the merger will take place and there may be a transition period where the two systems sit alongside each other before being combined (separate from any final date when you will be able to earn or redeem star awards through USDM).

however, as USDM will no longer be able to sell star inventory, it will redeem from one world.

if you have purchased a ticket from USDM that you wish to cancel, and US/AA have merged but their FF accounts have not, then your points will go back to your USDM account.

of course USDM will be able to redeem tickets from oneworld inventory if US is part of oneworld by virtue of the AA tie up.

 

[kpc]

What would happen to your star alliance flights (booked with USDM) if they need to be changed post merger with AA, eg due to TG's infamous schedule changes?

 

[bcworld]

What would happen to your star alliance flights (booked with USDM) if they need to be changed post merger with AA, eg due to TG's infamous schedule changes?

US/AA wouldn't have much control over that.

When bmi exited *A people had a lot of difficulties in this type of scenario. Sometimes they had to deal directly with operating airlines to try and get themselves re-accommodated and then call bmi to ask for the ticket to be re-validated. Sometimes they only (non)solution was cancellation.

 

[bcworld]

From reading the FT thread LH availability via USDM does seem very restricted at the moment...Although I got the impression it was more of an intra-EU issue.

Some further info on this:

Diagnosing a Problem: Booking Lufthansa Award Space with US Airways Dividend Miles - Live and Let's Fly

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Thanks for the clarifications guys - USDM virgin here - will soon be trying to book MEL-ZRH / FRA-MEL for Aug 2014 - hopefully will all come together.

 

[bcworld]

Thanks for the clarifications guys - USDM virgin here - will soon be trying to book MEL-ZRH / FRA-MEL for Aug 2014 - hopefully will all come together.

Should be a very straight forward booking.