US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[hossein_au]

ATH or IST will do it. otherwise as I posted in my earlier thread, Europe becomes the defualt destination. If Europe is your destination you cannot stop in the USA because travel to or from Europe is not allowed via the USA.

You essentially need to completely change your ticket so that the USA becomes the destination. Greatcirclemapper will assist you.


According to the rule you cannot stop in LAX no matter how you construct the ticket, although as always, YMMV.

Thanks for that. To summarise then, I'll need to go SYD-IST/ATN (long stop over)-USA (destination; probably SFO or LAS, but not LAX) - SYD.


If this is correct, then I'll need a short intro-Europe cash ticket (IST/ATN to HAM and back), and a short cash ticket in the US (SFO to LAX and back). If the detonation can be LAS, then I can even rent a car and drive to LA for a few days. It has started to make sense to me now.

If the above is correct, then I'm happy to do that. Now the question becomes, what are some innovative routing for Leaving SYD/MEL on 19 April getting to IST/ATN on or around 20th, and IST/ATN on or around 27 or 28 July to the US, and finally heading back to SYD on or around 1 August? Thanks!

 

[hossein_au]

Call the Thai Australia office during office hours - I'm almost on first name terms with the guy there I've called to allocate seats so many time! I'd recommend upstairs on the 747 towards the front - very private and peaceful.

Upstairs is Royal Silk only (no First), correct?

 

[robd]

I've done a quick search on Awardtravelr but can't figure out the routing, if any, from MEL/SYD to South America. I'd usually do a lot more research before posting, but given there's only a couple of days left until the promo finishes, perhaps someone can advise if it's possible, or just a waste of time looking?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for that. To summarise then, I'll need to go SYD-IST/ATN (long stop over)-USA (destination; probably SFO or LAS, but not LAX) - SYD.


If this is correct, then I'll need a short intro-Europe cash ticket (IST/ATN to HAM and back), and a short cash ticket in the US (SFO to LAX and back). If the detonation can be LAS, then I can even rent a car and drive to LA for a few days. It has started to make sense to me now.

If the above is correct, then I'm happy to do that. Now the question becomes, what are some innovative routing for Leaving SYD/MEL on 19 April getting to IST/ATN on or around 20th, and IST/ATN on or around 27 or 28 July to the US, and finally heading back to SYD on or around 1 August? Thanks!

almost but not quite. you originally mentioned Toronto or Montreal? those destinations will be fine as they are slightly farther away from SYD than ATH or IST.

this is very simple... your destination is the farthest point away. use great circle mapper to work this out.

if you choose lax or sfo... all of a sudden those points are closer to SYD than anywhere in Europe. once that happens, they become stopovers. if it's a stopover... not allowed as you can't fly to or from SWP via USA to Europe.

flying SYD-Europe-lax would breach a couple of 'rules' ... MPM and stopover not on direct routing.

it might be worthwhile to have a read of the US airways membership guide... it's a short 5 minute read and answers lots of questions.

 

[hossein_au]

almost but not quite. you originally mentioned Toronto or Montreal? those destinations will be fine as they are slightly farther away from SYD than ATH or IST.

this is very simple... your destination is the farthest point away. use great circle mapper to work this out.

if you choose lax or sfo... all of a sudden those points are closer to SYD than anywhere in Europe. once that happens, they become stopovers. if it's a stopover... not allowed as you can't fly to or from SWP via USA to Europe.

flying SYD-Europe-lax would breach a couple of 'rules' ... MPM and stopover not on direct routing.

it might be worthwhile to have a read of the US airways membership guide... it's a short 5 minute read and answers lots of questions.

Got it! I have read the guide, albeit more like browse than read... note to self: RTFM "carefully"! Thanks for your patience guys. Cheers.

 

[legroom]

IF only 2015 calendar were made available (now) !!!!!

Tongue in cheek, folks

......it might be a good idea to lock in availability while it's still fairly easy.

 

[spudwa]

I have just reconnected with an old US friend after 30 years and it turns out that in the intervening years he has become a multi millionaire with houses in PortLand (OR) and Florida. As my wife and I are both free in January I thought a bit of west coast skiing followed by coughtails in sunny Florida would be good use of our USDM's. We live in Perth and we've got enough points for F so I was wondering if I'm dreaming about the following itinerary. Perth via Singapore/Bangkok to Japan/Korea to Seattle for stopover and then Florida as destination. Come home any way

 

[Masonic Phantom]

spudwa,
Do you think your long lost mate would Adopt ME!!!!!

M.P.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I've done a quick search on Awardtravelr but can't figure out the routing, if any, from MEL/SYD to South America. I'd usually do a lot more research before posting, but given there's only a couple of days left until the promo finishes, perhaps someone can advise if it's possible, or just a waste of time looking?

Not too many options will return of you plug in OZ-Sth Am. as your search. you need to go via Nth America, Europe or Africa. Examples:
SYD-LAX-EWR-EZE
SYD-YVR-YYZ-SCL/EZE
SYD-ICN-NYC-xx_

SYD-BKK-FRA-xx_
SYD-BKK-FRA-LIS-GRU

SYD-BKK-JNB-xx_
SYD-AKL-PER-JNB-xx_

Yes some very crazy routes, but use your imagination and be patient with different agents. When I booked done agents would say sorry you can't book a flight from Aust. to Sth America, to those who are happy to try whatever flights you give them.

 

[bismarck]

What is the US Airways cancellation/change policies for award bookings?

For context, I am thinking of going to the Maldives for my honeymoon in October next year (not fully finalised and agreed with SWMBO) and MLE is challenging to get to on OneWorld. Is it worth a speculative booking while USDM is still in Star Alliance?

Appreciate the advice.

 

[Flashback]

What is the US Airways cancellation/change policies for award bookings?

For context, I am thinking of going to the Maldives for my honeymoon in October next year (not fully finalised and agreed with SWMBO) and MLE is challenging to get to on OneWorld. Is it worth a speculative booking while USDM is still in Star Alliance?

Appreciate the advice.

$150 to cancel/change, only before the journey has started. Once you have taken the first leg you cannot change or cancel.

 

[netgrom]

I haven't been able to easily find the answer, but where do you find the MPM for the award bookings? Looking to see how/if I can best get to ROR on a South Pacific reward. For example is bne-bkk-mnl-ror in J a valid routing, and what are the chances of scoring a stop over in BKK ?

 

[bcworld]

I haven't been able to easily find the answer, but where do you find the MPM for the award bookings? Looking to see how/if I can best get to ROR on a South Pacific reward. For example is bne-bkk-mnl-ror in J a valid routing, and what are the chances of scoring a stop over in BKK ?

You pay for a tool like KVS or a subscription to expert flyer...as far as I know MPM data is not available on any free sources. Anyway, your routing is under by about 50 miles!

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.2 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: BNE-ROR/US]

         GI       M      5M     10M     15M     20M     25M     
MPM      EH    5570    5848    6127    6405    6684    6962

I wouldn't worry about MPM for South Pacific destinations like ROR - they clearly don't look at it. The routing will likely be allowed at 30k in business, technically the stopover is not permittied but lots of people have managed it now...main method seems to be putting the 'no stopover' booking on hold then adding the stopover later. You may need to call several times to get a compliant agent though.

 

[timon]

Hey,
Looking for a bit of advice about SIA award availability in business. Have done a search but haven't come up with anything so far. I understand that with Thai, you can put 2 J tickets on hold and then good chance of another 2 J tickets becoming available. Wondering if this is the same for SIA too? I am looking for 4 J tickets to GUM next September and we wouldn't mind stopping in Singapore for just under 24hours! Thanks for your help in advance

 

[smit0847]

Hey,
Looking for a bit of advice about SIA award availability in business. Have done a search but haven't come up with anything so far. I understand that with Thai, you can put 2 J tickets on hold and then good chance of another 2 J tickets becoming available. Wondering if this is the same for SIA too? I am looking for 4 J tickets to GUM next September and we wouldn't mind stopping in Singapore for just under 24hours! Thanks for your help in advance

Gosh GUM is becoming a popular destination for Australians!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You pay for a tool like KVS or a subscription to expert flyer...as far as I know MPM data is not available on any free sources. Anyway, your routing is under by about 50 miles!

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.2 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: BNE-ROR/US]

         GI       M      5M     10M     15M     20M     25M     
MPM      EH    5570    5848    6127    6405    6684    6962

I wouldn't worry about MPM for South Pacific destinations like ROR - they clearly don't look at it. The routing will likely be allowed at 30k in business, technically the stopover is not permittied but lots of people have managed it now...main method seems to be putting the 'no stopover' booking on hold then adding the stopover later. You may need to call several times to get a compliant agent though.

at least some agents are wising up! today I made a minor change to a booking (prior to ticketing) and the agent said... 'I'll just run this by my rate desk again'. (simple change of flight time, but same route and carrier)

 

[shellthom]

I want to take my partner to ROR for diving, no interest in GUM, outside of AFF there has been increasing advertising for it as a destination... I need to get there before it becomes the next Bali.
I think it popular on AFF as it allows transits in cities people want to go to but aren't technically allowed and is a decent price given the alternatives...

I could be completely wrong.

Gosh GUM is becoming a popular destination for Australians!

 

[smit0847]

I know the general rule is 8 sectors per award booking, but has anyone had experience requesting 9? Are they super strict on this?

 

[bcworld]

I know the general rule is 8 sectors per award booking, but has anyone had experience requesting 9? Are they super strict on this?

There are plenty of people out there who have got 10...just try to keep it to 5+5...not 6 in one direction.

 

[pmdg7444]

question for the uninitiated. Has anyone tried to do a straight turnaround at GUM? Lets face it, I dont think theres much to do there. So if I arrive at 1pm on a UA flt from NRT and then do a 4 pm flt GUM to xx_ on the same day....would this raise eyebrows and a possible interrogation with the US customs border protection ?