US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought TG's 77Ws all had F class suites? or they do only sell J on the BNE/MEL- BKK markets on these aircraft and accommodate their best customers into the F cabin but with J service.

my concerns about a coding error turned out to be misplaced... the seat map post 30 March indeed shows the 773 with full flat beds.

TG used to operate leased jet airways aircraft with first class. these have been replaced by TG's own 77Ws, offering two class service with the same staggered business class seats seen on their a380. there is no first class cabin.

 

[anat0l]

I have a quick query; on 1 April 2014 when US leave *A .... does this mean from the same date, we'd be able to use remaining US miles and book onto OW (via AA)? Or will there be a transition period where remaining US points will remain in limbo in the sense that you can't book anything other than actual US or AA flights until AA/US sort their stuff out.

From the info we have so far and assuming no more announcements of the sort, the guess is that from 1 April, US will leave the Star Alliance.

At that moment, US DM will remain and similarly your US DM miles. You won't be able to redeem your miles for oneworld carriers, except for AA. You will be able to use your US DM miles to redeem for US flights, as well as select partners who are from Star Alliance (as listed in a previous announcement). At the moment, US, Partners and AA use different US DM charts, so you can't have AA and Partners in the same booking. (The last one is my hunch).

That is my guess from what's going on as well as based on US's announcements. What is lacking before you can use US DM miles for oneworld travel is:
(a) US formally joining oneworld
(b) Either redemption charts for oneworld partners (or recognition of oneworld carriers to use the Partner chart), or a conversion scheme to move US DM miles to the AAdvantage programme.

In any of the scenarios in (b), it is not entirely out of the question that redemption rules may change (viz. redemption prices, routing rules)

Happy to be corrected on the points above. The only thing that seems certain is that come 1 April, there will be no redemptions on oneworld partners straight away with US DM miles, so the trigger happy wanting to grab those CX awards will have to be patient

 

[smit0847]

I thought TG's 77Ws all had F class suites? or they do only sell J on the BNE/MEL- BKK markets on these aircraft and accommodate their best customers into the F cabin but with J service.

As far as I know (and pls correct me if I'm wrong) TG only currently gave F on A380, 747 and A346 aircraft to such destinations at SYD, HKG, NRT, KIX, PVG, LHR, CDG, FRA and maybe some others?
77W refurb or not are 2 class cabins (Y or J). A reminder that TG F is a good but not great 2nd tier F product- on this site we only book it because their award availability is insanely good.

 

[appaz]

if i was to land at BKK in the afternoon and my flight the next morning is in F can i access the lounge upon my arrival and then again in the morning?

 

[bcworld]

77W refurb or not are 2 class cabins (Y or J).

TG only has one flavour of 77W...the 2 class. They're not refurbed per say as they were all delivered with the A380 style J product...the oldest being less than 18 months old.

 

[PapaRubbery]

no - it might have been a reasonable assumption that pax were given ipads not only for the menu, but also to check their emails etc

My apologies!

I read your post as 'no of course the iPads are not a complimentary gift, what a silly question', where I was being facetious.

Although I'd take an iPad over a Rimowa toiletry kit any day!

 

[serfty]

From the info we have so far and assuming no more announcements of the sort, the guess is that from 1 April, US will leave the Star Alliance.

At that moment, US DM will remain and similarly your US DM miles. You won't be able to redeem your miles for oneworld carriers, except for AA. You will be able to use your US DM miles to redeem for US flights, as well as select partners who are from Star Alliance (as listed in a previous announcement). At the moment, US, Partners and AA use different US DM charts, so you can't have AA and Partners in the same booking. (The last one is my hunch)....

That is not the intention of the merging parties - the plan is to have the ability for *O award redemptions available for DM members from that date. If the get the functionality in place by then - it will happen: (US Airways | Loyalty & benefits)

Can I redeem Dividend Miles for travel on oneworld carriers?

US Airways and oneworld partner airlines are working to have the functionality in place for Dividend Miles members to redeem miles for travel upon their entry into the alliance, scheduled for March 31, 2014. ... however, may not be available on that date.

Other content I have come across is for USair to become an affiliate member of *O with AA as the sponsor from that date.

 

[burmans]

That is not the intention of the merging parties - the plan is to have the ability for *O award redemptions available for DM members from that date.

Agreed, the problem is there is no word on what chart will be used, current chart is called a "partners" chart (good) but specifically refers to *S airlines so would appear there has to be some chart update. The question in many's mind is will it just be "known" changes in terms of what airlines you can book in, or will it incorporate undesirable like redemption devaluations.

Peronally I think it would be bad business to devalue at this stage without adequate notice but companies have done stupider things!

 

[appaz]

if i was to land at BKK in the afternoon and my flight the next morning is in F can i access the lounge upon my arrival and then again in the morning?

can anyone answer this for me please

 

[Alanslegal]

if i was to land at BKK in the afternoon and my flight the next morning is in F can i access the lounge upon my arrival and then again in the morning?

My calculated guess would say yes to this as long as your transit in BKK is less than 24 hours. The reason I think so is TG would be aware of your connecting flight, assume you are going to remain airside and want to go to the lounge post incoming flight, awaiting for the outbound.

My only experiences with long'ish transits was that last August I had an overnight in BKK (arrived 4pm, departed 1230pm the next day) and the host awaiting with the buggy asked if I wanted to go to the lounge or straight to immigration. I went to immigration.

On the return legs, arrived into BKK at 6am with an 8pm departure. TG even offered me a day room at the Novotel!!! I declined though. I went to the lounge to shower/freshen up after 12hours onboard from FRA, had some breakfast, then went into town around 8am. Returned at 530pm for my hour long massage, then flight home to SYD.

 

[appaz]

My calculated guess would say yes to this as long as your transit in BKK is less than 24 hours. The reason I think so is TG would be aware of your connecting flight, assume you are going to remain airside and want to go to the lounge post incoming flight, awaiting for the outbound.

My only experiences with long'ish transits was that last August I had an overnight in BKK (arrived 4pm, departed 1230pm the next day) and the host awaiting with the buggy asked if I wanted to go to the lounge or straight to immigration. I went to immigration.

On the return legs, arrived into BKK at 6am with an 8pm departure. TG even offered me a day room at the Novotel!!! I declined though. I went to the lounge to shower/freshen up after 12hours onboard from FRA, had some breakfast, then went into town around 8am. Returned at 530pm for my hour long massage, then flight home to SYD.

thanks mate, what about if i arrive on F have a 3 hour connecting flight that i can only book in J BKK-PER there is no F ;/

can i still access the first class lounge with my boarding pass from HKG-BKK

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thanks mate, what about if i arrive on F have a 3 hour connecting flight that i can only book in J BKK-PER there is no F ;/

can i still access the first class lounge with my boarding pass from HKG-BKK

F connecting to C (two class) is entitled to F lounge access (but only C class spa).

 

[appaz]

when using united.com to search for awards to use USDM, does it have to be available in an award saver or just available??

 

[sergeyvzn]

when using united.com to search for awards to use USDM, does it have to be available in an award saver or just available??

must be saver

 

[PapaRubbery]

Why is it that I can see space on KVS using AC-StarAlliance but United award search can't find them?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Why is it that I can see space on KVS using AC-StarAlliance but United award search can't find them?

united.com is not always accurate. it gives a fairly good picture, but is sometimes off

 

[boomy]

united.com is not always accurate. it gives a fairly good picture, but is sometimes off

It hardly shows any awards on SQ.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It hardly shows any awards on SQ.

good point - but I've pretty much given up on SQ unless 14 days prior to departure. I use LM for availability if i need to.

 

[hummel]

good point - but I've pretty much given up on SQ unless 14 days prior to departure. I use LM for availability if i need to.

I still don't seem to be seeing any availability inside 14 days for simple MEL-SIN trips using awardtravelr.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I still don't seem to be seeing any availability inside 14 days for simple MEL-SIN trips using awardtravelr.

why I use LM