US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[PapaRubbery]

travel between Europe and Japan/North and South Asia/SWP is not permitted via North America.

as always YMMV and you might get away with the itinerary, but it could get knocked back.

If they did allow it, then you could also reasonably expect the higher zone of Nth America to be charged rather than North Asia. So that would be 100k or 125K (J/F) compared to Nth Asia of 80K/100K (J/F).

Or again you might get away with the lower level depending on the agent.

Thanks for the response.

Yeah I thought it was too good to be true for 100k. Might buy them enough to cover 125k for Europe-North America in F and then work from there. If they take the 100k - you beauty - but otherwise, oh well.

Reading this blog post got me thinking - Time To Book US Airways Award To North Asia! - One Mile at a Time - One Mile at a Time - and I figured if you could go north america - europe - north asia, why couldn't you do europe - north asia - north america?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the response.

Yeah I thought it was too good to be true for 100k. Might buy them enough to cover 125k for Europe-North America in F and then work from there. If they take the 100k - you beauty - but otherwise, oh well.

Reading this blog post got me thinking - Time To Book US Airways Award To North Asia! - One Mile at a Time - One Mile at a Time - and I figured if you could go north america - europe - north asia, why couldn't you do europe - north asia - north america?

have you read the US airways membership guide? your question on Europe-Asia -USA is answered in there

No need to buy the additional miles now. You can book the itinerary and place it on hold and buy the extra miles you need then. If they give you the lower price -ticket instantly. If they quote you the higher - nothing lost and you can then buy.

 

[hummel]

it could do. But it only takes a few seconds to check availability once a day. For me that's not worth paying the money to subscribe. But lots of people find these tools are very useful so it is something you need to weigh up.

Understand, now just need to work out if I can clear immigration in GUM and check back in for a flight 2.5hrs later! :shock:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

TG experts assistance please? I had USDM booking MEL-BKK on Mar 25 TG462 - but have received email from US saying flt cancelled and am rebooked onto TG466 but timing no good to me.

TG flight schedule on site still shows 2 daily flts but when search for flt only shows 466 - has the schedule actually changed?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

TG experts assistance please? I had USDM booking MEL-BKK on Mar 25 TG462 - but have received email from US saying flt cancelled and am rebooked onto TG466 but timing no good to me.

TG flight schedule on site still shows 2 daily flts but when search for flt only shows 466 - has the schedule actually changed?

View attachment 23623

indeed on 25 Mar the 0030 departure is not there.

 

[smit0847]

TG experts assistance please? I had USDM booking MEL-BKK on Mar 25 TG462 - but have received email from US saying flt cancelled and am rebooked onto TG466 but timing no good to me.

TG flight schedule on site still shows 2 daily flts but when search for flt only shows 466 - has the schedule actually changed?

View attachment 23623

hope it hasn't changed- I'm on it in mid-March!

 

[bcworld]

TG is doing forward cancellations during the 60 day state of emergency in Bangkok I believe.

 

[PapaRubbery]

This is getting ridiculous. Can't get any 2xF seats across the pacific. There's space for 1, but not 2! Rarrgghhh

Ended up buying KVS because the ANA/United tool was getting annoying.

EDIT: 2x seats for Dec 2014

 

[hummel]

This is getting ridiculous. Can't get any 2xF seats across the pacific. There's space for 1, but not 2! Rarrgghhh

Ended up buying KVS because the ANA/United tool was getting annoying.

EDIT: 2x seats for Dec 2014

Why not use awardtravler?

 

[bcworld]

This is getting ridiculous. Can't get any 2xF seats across the pacific. There's space for 1, but not 2! Rarrgghhh

I'd hardly describe it as ridiculous.

When you think about it:

SQ F - off limits
TG F - none transpac
OZ F - very limited F routes...JFK, LAX on an old 747??
NH F - well known / expected poor availability
CA F - you can probably find this...do you want it???
AC F - doesn't exist
NZ F - doesn't exist
UA F - you might find this...maybe not?
BR F - doesn't exist

When I've introduced people to USDM and they're interested in travelling to North America I tend to advise them against stocking up points for F for multiple pax as I think it is going to be difficult. I'd be more than happy to get myself onto a BR 77W service in J for example.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

CA F (seat wise) is very good on their 77Ws.

UA F has one of the best seats out there... but availability is scarce unless booking close in (with in a week to two weeks... then it is pretty easy to find on almost every day... some peak travel days excepted)

OZ F is great, even the 'old' F on their 777s and 747s. the suites are better, but the old one is still just fine.

 

[anat0l]

CA F (seat wise) is very good on their 77Ws.

UA F has one of the best seats out there... but availability is scarce unless booking close in (with in a week to two weeks... then it is pretty easy to find on almost every day... some peak travel days excepted)

OZ F is great, even the 'old' F on their 777s and 747s. the suites are better, but the old one is still just fine.

CA and UA F may have great seats but the food is very ordinary. Someone showed off the CA F food and apart from possibly the caviar course, the rest of the food looked very unappetising. Plus the mainland Chinese style service....

UA F best seat? Hmmmmmm...... on paper.....


Nevertheless, it is genuinely difficult to get F seats to the USA, much more 2 seats. Getting two F seats on TATL is even more difficult despite UA F usually having decent availability, as that is your only choice. If it came down to it, UA F would be satisfactory to fulfil the needs of a F ticket.

 

[PapaRubbery]

So I'm thinking of going via europe instead.

SYD-BKK-FRA-NYC F
NYC-LAX (stopover) F domestic
LAX-ICN-BKK-SYD F for as much as possible

Plenty of space for 2xF on Thai, even into FRA.

Do Thai F passengers get Lufthansa F lounge access?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do Thai F passengers get Lufthansa F lounge access?

no.

access to Senator lounge.

 

[anat0l]

So I'm thinking of going via europe instead.

SYD-BKK-FRA-NYC F
NYC-LAX (stopover) F domestic
LAX-ICN-BKK-SYD F for as much as possible

Plenty of space for 2xF on Thai, even into FRA.

Do Thai F passengers get Lufthansa F lounge access?

I'll be interested to hear how this plays out, as depending on your stopover and destination (and even then), it looks like a hell of a way to go (viz. breaking MPM).

Not saying, "don't do it," but let us know how you go.

 

[PapaRubbery]

no.

access to Senator lounge.

Bugger, LH F only then?

I'll be interested to hear how this plays out, as depending on your stopover and destination (and even then), it looks like a hell of a way to go (viz. breaking MPM).

Not saying, "don't do it," but let us know how you go.

So destination is North America, and stopover will be north america as well. Won't be stopping long in BKK/FRA/ICN, just long enough for the connection.

I don't see there being much/if any issue doing this?

 

[bcworld]

NYC-LAX (stopover) F domestic
LAX-ICN-BKK-SYD F for as much as possible

So destination is North America, and stopover will be north america as well. Won't be stopping long in BKK/FRA/ICN, just long enough for the connection.

I don't see there being much/if any issue doing this?

The return journey exceeds MPM by about 450 miles...YMMV whether this is cited as issue.

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.3 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: SYD-EWR/US]

         GI       M      5M     10M     15M     20M     25M     
MPM      PA   11947   12544   13141   13739   14336   14933

Great Circle Mapper

 

[PapaRubbery]

The return journey exceeds MPM by about 450 miles...YMMV whether this is cited as issue.

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.3 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: SYD-EWR/US]

         GI       M      5M     10M     15M     20M     25M     
MPM      PA   11947   12544   13141   13739   14336   14933

Great Circle Mapper

Ahh bugger! Time to rethink. Maybe ICN to SYD direct then.

 

[bcworld]

Ahh bugger! Time to rethink. Maybe ICN to SYD direct then.

Bearing in mind you'll go from F to an old J OZ 777 with loop IFE!

Air China operates an F cabin between PEK-SYD seasonally (some years)...not sure when your plans are for...oh yeah, Dec/ Jan?

 

[anat0l]

Bugger, LH F only then?

Lufthansa Group F on the same day, which means LH and LX F essentially. On a practical note, essentially on US DM this is no chance.

So destination is North America, and stopover will be north america as well. Won't be stopping long in BKK/FRA/ICN, just long enough for the connection.

I don't see there being much/if any issue doing this?

The return journey exceeds MPM by about 450 miles...YMMV whether this is cited as issue.

Ahh bugger! Time to rethink. Maybe ICN to SYD direct then.

I'd say give it a go! It is a mere 450 miles, but more accurately it's whether the call centre will actually give a damn about the MPM in the first place.

I wouldn't say keep HUACA if unsuccessful, but many itineraries are being ticketed that exceed MPM (probably not ones that blow out by a huge amount, however).

Keep your alternatives up your sleeve if unsuccessful.

Bearing in mind you'll go from F to an old J OZ 777 with loop IFE!

At least the food will be alright compared to CA F! And with only a slight sloping bed, it's enough to get a nap coming back to Australia (overnight flight). Besides, don't OZ sometimes stick the newer 777s with refitted J on the SYD route?

But, it is J and not F. Again, I'd encourage PapaRubbery to give his initial intentions a shot.