US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[jetlagger]

this sucks no more SQ J ever?

No issue for J availability using SQ KF points

 

[anat0l]

this sucks no more SQ J ever?

Well it seems 14 days within departure is still going strong. So is intra-Asia. As for beyond 14 days before departure and all "long haul".....

 

[appaz]

Well it seems 14 days within departure is still going strong. So is intra-Asia. As for beyond 14 days before departure and all "long haul".....

I better be sure to enjoy the 6 flights I have with them next year!

going to try book the cook for SIN-CPH in July as well

 

[appaz]

this isn't good for us PER ppl

having to route through BKK limits us to Thai Air for the first sector from now on

 

[hummel]

this isn't good for us PER ppl

having to route through BKK limits us to Thai Air for the first sector from now on

Not just for PER, really for a lot of us. If I wanted to go to to SIN it will be MEL-BKK-SIN which is a bit of an stupid way.

Strange that there has been absolutely no announcement from SQ though.

 

[appaz]

Not just for PER, really for a lot of us. If I wanted to go to to SIN it will be MEL-BKK-SIN which is a bit of an stupid way.

Strange that there has been absolutely no announcement from SQ though.

basically anywhere in asia we want to go has to be via BKK

there's bugger all direct flights to anywhere from PER with *A

I guess we are all in this leaky boat together

 

[hummel]

basically anywhere in asia we want to go has to be via BKK

there's bugger all direct flights to anywhere from PER with *A

I guess we are all in this leaky boat together

Really is a #firstworldproblem hey? At least they serve champagne in the leaky boat!

 

[anat0l]

Strange that there has been absolutely no announcement from SQ though.

What makes you think SQ would announce this change to the world?

Besides, the "popular opinion" is that SQ raised its internal charges for award tickets, i.e. the amount they charge partners when the partner airline books an award flight on their airline. UA didn't want to play ball with this, so they decided to "agree" to this... shall we say... "disagreement". So plenty of people are blaming UA for not playing ball and fronting up the extra money, but at the same time there are a few who criticise SQ for being pretentious in their move.

In any case, that is just the "popular opinion" and not fact until proven, but I doubt SQ would tell the world this kind of thing. It seems, as it stands, that UA is the only programme that may have actually announced this sudden change, and even then I believe there was no public communication about it - just a post from UA Insider on Flyertalk. Certainly, I'm a member of all of US Dividend Miles, Avianca LifeMiles, Turkish Miles & Smiles and Air New Zealand Airpoints - all Star Alliance members and no discussion of the sudden shrinking of availability with SQ.

And then of course we still had reports previously that Air Canada Aeroplan members still had a shot at seats.

I wonder how Velocity bookings fare in this regard. (I have a hunch that although it was limited before, it won't be limited further to the degree of the other Star Alliance partners).

 

[BobbyFlyer]

Certainly, I'm a member of all of US Dividend Miles, Avianca LifeMiles, Turkish Miles & Smiles and Air New Zealand Airpoints - all Star Alliance members and no discussion of the sudden shrinking of availability with SQ.

Checked lifemiles and definitely no more SQ PER/SIN for 1 or 2 people that used to exist until last week (except for less than 14 days)....still other SQ J seats in lifemiles around Asia and to Europe...albeit that they cut SQ capacity in J from 4 to 2 people Intra Asia (eg SIN/HND) during last year...all very quietly mind you.

 

[PapaRubbery]

So I've convinced the fiancee to buy in at this promo. I've already got 50k, and she's got nothing.

My plan was to buy the full amount - 100k each

And aim for the Oceania to North America award in F (140k miles).

Would I be best off buying the full 100k, to give me the option of doing a potential share promo in the future, or just buy what I need (90k)?

Further, she's not keen on the whole MEL-BKK-NRT-NYC approach (too long) and would rather go MEL-SYD-ICN-NYC, with SYD-ICN in J and ICN-NYC in F. Am I likely to be able to nab 2x F for ICN-NYC or would I be better off going ICN-ORD-NYC?

On the way back she's open to a few days in Japan. She's experienced United's F product before and thought very very little of it, so she's happy to via Asia instead of leaving out of LAX, even though it's faster. My plan was NYC/ORD-NRT-BKK-MEL.

Am I missing any obvious ninja routings to ensure availability? I'm aiming to book this as far out as possible, and be as flexible as possible, too. My concern is 2x F availability, however.

Cheers gang!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So I've convinced the fiancee to buy in at this promo. I've already got 50k, and she's got nothing.

My plan was to buy the full amount - 100k each

And aim for the Oceania to North America award in F (140k miles).

Would I be best off buying the full 100k, to give me the option of doing a potential share promo in the future, or just buy what I need (90k)?

Further, she's not keen on the whole MEL-BKK-NRT-NYC approach (too long) and would rather go MEL-SYD-ICN-NYC, with SYD-ICN in J and ICN-NYC in F. Am I likely to be able to nab 2x F for ICN-NYC or would I be better off going ICN-ORD-NYC?

On the way back she's open to a few days in Japan. She's experienced United's F product before and thought very very little of it, so she's happy to via Asia instead of leaving out of LAX, even though it's faster. My plan was NYC/ORD-NRT-BKK-MEL.

Am I missing any obvious ninja routings to ensure availability? I'm aiming to book this as far out as possible, and be as flexible as possible, too. My concern is 2x F availability, however.

Cheers gang!

just check availability on united for the Asiana flights.

note Asiana doesn't offer first class ICN-ORD.

edited to add... booking so far in advance there is no guarantee for OZ maintaining first class to any destination. they swapped out ORD with just a couple of months notice. could do the same for JFK.

 

[Kangol]

Does anyone know the date and time change fees (not to origin/destination) for USDM awards?

The website is a bit vague, my emphasis underlined:

Change rules

• Contact Reservations to change award travel. The change fee is $150.

..............


Travel on airline partners

Before travel begins, you can change the point of origin, destination, airline carrier and stopover for a fee if the new itinerary is allowed with the original award redeemed. A fee applies if you change flight times and dates before travel begins.

US Airways | Dividend Miles membership guide

 

[hossein_au]

Does anyone know the date and time change fees (not to origin/destination) for USDM awards?

The website is a bit vague, my emphasis underlined:



US Airways | Dividend Miles membership guide

I don't think it is vague at all; you can change origin, destination, etc before the flights. But regardless of what you change, the way I read it, ANY change requires payment of a change fee (US$150).

 

[Kangol]

Thanks, how about date/time changes and origin/destination changes combined? Will that be twice the $150 fee?

 

[hossein_au]

Thanks, how about date/time changes and origin/destination changes combined? Will that be twice the $150 fee?

Nope, just a one time $150 regardless of how many changes you make to dates/times/flights/destination/etc, as long as they are all made at the same time during the same phone call.

Basically every time you call up for a change (any change), you'll need to pay $150.

 

[Alanslegal]

**currently looking for flights to Guam**

be right back he he he he he

 

[Kangol]

I can't find the right phone number to call to book US DM awards?

US Airways | Contact Reservations

That link only shows "Worldwide travel from the U.S. or Canada: 800-428-4322" and no listing for Australia.

What number are people calling to book said awards?


Another one that I can't find the answer to - can you book connecting Australian domestic legs on the same award that are not serviced by *A carriers?

eg. I am in ADL and want to go to BKK on TG F. Can I do ADL-SYD-BKK return? Or do I need to do the ADL-SYD on my own?
Tried looking on the website and the only Australian airport the booking engine lists is ASP!

Thanks

 

[travelislife]

Yep that's the number you need to call. Use skype and it will be free.

No you will have to book your domestic flight separately, just make sure you allow adequate connection time. You will have to collect your bags in Sydney too and re-check in.

 

[travelislife]

So I've convinced the fiancee to buy in at this promo. I've already got 50k, and she's got nothing.

My plan was to buy the full amount - 100k each

And aim for the Oceania to North America award in F (140k miles).

Would I be best off buying the full 100k, to give me the option of doing a potential share promo in the future, or just buy what I need (90k)?

Further, she's not keen on the whole MEL-BKK-NRT-NYC approach (too long) and would rather go MEL-SYD-ICN-NYC, with SYD-ICN in J and ICN-NYC in F. Am I likely to be able to nab 2x F for ICN-NYC or would I be better off going ICN-ORD-NYC?

On the way back she's open to a few days in Japan. She's experienced United's F product before and thought very very little of it, so she's happy to via Asia instead of leaving out of LAX, even though it's faster. My plan was NYC/ORD-NRT-BKK-MEL.

Am I missing any obvious ninja routings to ensure availability? I'm aiming to book this as far out as possible, and be as flexible as possible, too. My concern is 2x F availability, however.

Cheers gang!

You first class options are limited across the pacific, pretty much OZ or Air China are the only ones I think (excluding UA direct). Another option is Eva Air Business Class which is meant to be very good, in and out of Taipei. Also out of Australia I think you only have first out of Sydney with TG, CA and OZ. You would also have to buy a separate domestic ticket from MEL-SYD.

 

[Kangol]

Yep that's the number you need to call. Use skype and it will be free.

No you will have to book your domestic flight separately, just make sure you allow adequate connection time. You will have to collect your bags in Sydney too and re-check in.

Excellent, thanks.