US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[diningdecadence]

hope those who were waiting to go to guam have already sorted it out... How to ensure you don’t lose your Frequent Flyer points | News.com.au

raises an interesting point - at which point does a deal become 'well known' enough that the owner of the site decides its worth sharing to a national audience?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

hope those who were waiting to go to guam have already sorted it out... How to ensure you don’t lose your Frequent Flyer points | News.com.au

raises an interesting point - at which point does a deal become 'well known' enough that the owner of the site decides its worth sharing to a national audience?

I think it's pretty safe

people reading the article would already have to 'know' what it was about for it to make sense. Most people wouldn't already have an account to take advantage of most of the stuff he was talking about anyway (and it all comes to an end soon with the merger).

I think most lay people would also think really cheap tickets through mileage programs would be 'too good to be true' and therefore reluctant to buy miles. And most people have QF in the back of their minds which is very hard to redeem premium awards.... they think all other airlines are the same.

 

[legroom]

hope those who were waiting to go to guam have already sorted it out... How to ensure you don’t lose your Frequent Flyer points | News.com.au

raises an interesting point - at which point does a deal become 'well known' enough that the owner of the site decides its worth sharing to a national audience?

I discussed the Guam 'event' with a NB friend who had > 600,000 QFF points and had redeemed QF Classic Y before and his face went blank.

I also had to bring up the 280K J award as he had no idea it exists.

To him, what is on (QF) website is all there is to it: go from A to B in middle seat in row 50 or higher in Y.

So, my guess is that not many are that motivated to 'dig' further and let's face it, those who are willing to do the reading / research are welcome to join us.

As long as there is ongoing feedback & mutual learning !

 

[bigsleep55]

So we can now book o/w and *A with usdm?

I'd be VERY surprised if we could....

Well so was I. Alls I can say is the lady I was speaking to (a) couldn't find the flights I had on united.com and when I asked for other options, she rattled off about 4 different options. 3 of them were straight OW, the other was OW with *A. It was using a VA flight from PER to SYD then SYD to SFO on United. The Virgin flight was a co share with CX - so OW, but the UA is *A right?

Anyways, she ended up putting me on hold for about 20 mins (I'd already been on the line for 1hr20mins) then said that I'd need to call back as suddenly she can't find any flights into the US for me and she could not make anymore itinerary queries? Now I tried to talk her into booking it for me but she was adamant I would need to call back. My thoughts are she stuffed up major somehow and had to end the call.

CX552? operated by Virgin? you might need to explain where that is from/to?

Sorry - I messed up. Talking on the phone to the agent and reporting back to you guys at the same time didn't work for me. So it was a CX booking but on a code share with Virgin Australia flight VA552.

--------------------
Long story short, called up today, little wait and booked the original flights I had planned through united.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well so was I. Alls I can say is the lady I was speaking to (a) couldn't find the flights I had on united.com and when I asked for other options, she rattled off about 4 different options. 3 of them were straight OW, the other was OW with *A. It was using a VA flight from PER to SYD then SYD to SFO on United. The Virgin flight was a co share with CX - so OW, but the UA is *A right?

Anyways, she ended up putting me on hold for about 20 mins (I'd already been on the line for 1hr20mins) then said that I'd need to call back as suddenly she can't find any flights into the US for me and she could not make anymore itinerary queries? Now I tried to talk her into booking it for me but she was adamant I would need to call back. My thoughts are she stuffed up major somehow and had to end the call.



Sorry - I messed up. Talking on the phone to the agent and reporting back to you guys at the same time didn't work for me. So it was a CX booking but on a code share with Virgin Australia flight VA552.

--------------------
Long story short, called up today, little wait and booked the original flights I had planned through united.com

there is something wrong there. USDM and AA (as far as I'm aware) can't offer code share flights on CX operated by VA for a domestic itinerary. almost sounds to me like she was looking at some sort of paid booking, or just completely reading the situation wrong.

 

[hummel]

there is something wrong there. USDM and AA (as far as I'm aware) can't offer code share flights on CX operated by VA for a domestic itinerary. almost sounds to me like she was looking at some sort of paid booking, or just completely reading the situation wrong.

It wouldn't be the first time. I made a simple MEL-CAN booking yesterday and before I could tell the agent the passenger information they had already put it on hold! Ufortuantly it was a different name to the account so rang back last night and asked I could just change the name on the booking that was on hold.

Nope, sorry can't make name changes. But what I can do for you is see if the flights are available still and create a new booking with the correct passenger details.




All sorted in the end but made harder than it needed to be.

 

[bcworld]

Sorry - I messed up. Talking on the phone to the agent and reporting back to you guys at the same time didn't work for me. So it was a CX booking but on a code share with Virgin Australia flight VA552.

Is there even such a thing as a VA/CX codeshare???? Surely if CX wanted to codeshare on PER-SYD it would be with QF.

VA/EY codeshare I could understand, and given that EY is an AA partner perhaps that's what was being mentioned?

Regardless...the agent was clearly incredibly confused about the whole thing!

 

[get me outta here]

All sorted in the end but made harder than it needed to be.

I detect a certain lack of attention to detail on their part . Being understanding, I guess they have a lot to contend w' right now w' the snow and storms and some confusion as to who can see what going where, and the amalgamation. I found awardtravelr.com quite reliable on lining up w' what they can see. Moral, for us is to be vigilant and go over every detail.

 

[hummel]

I detect a certain lack of attention to detail on their part . Being understanding, I guess they have a lot to contend w' right now w' the snow and storms and some confusion as to who can see what going where, and the amalgamation. I found awardtravelr.com quite reliable on lining up w' what they can see. Moral, for us is to be vigilant and go over every detail.

i used to find that the case but am back to useing United.com and cross checking with awardtravelr as sometimes the latter will show that only Y is available on a leg when J is etc

 

[get me outta here]

Yes awardtraveler needs to be refreshed, and sometimes I found that the left hand option came up w' all Y, J and F and sometimes not. If I the F / J option was there and I checked say F, more F flights sometimes appeared. I found clearing cookies helped sometimes (it is still a Beta site too) by using the CCleaner. I just personally found it easier to 'read' than UA. But, crosschecking is a good idea.

 

[smit0847]

Well so was I. Alls I can say is the lady I was speaking to (a) couldn't find the flights I had on united.com and when I asked for other options, she rattled off about 4 different options. 3 of them were straight OW, the other was OW with *A. It was using a VA flight from PER to SYD then SYD to SFO on United. The Virgin flight was a co share with CX - so OW, but the UA is *A right?

Anyways, she ended up putting me on hold for about 20 mins (I'd already been on the line for 1hr20mins) then said that I'd need to call back as suddenly she can't find any flights into the US for me and she could not make anymore itinerary queries? Now I tried to talk her into booking it for me but she was adamant I would need to call back. My thoughts are she stuffed up major somehow and had to end the call.



Sorry - I messed up. Talking on the phone to the agent and reporting back to you guys at the same time didn't work for me. So it was a CX booking but on a code share with Virgin Australia flight VA552.

--------------------
Long story short, called up today, little wait and booked the original flights I had planned through united.com

I've read this post like 6 times and still don't understand it. Excluding AA and US metal I do not believe US will ever allow OW and *A mixed bookings and I've never heard of VA codesharing with CX.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've read this post like 6 times and still don't understand it. Excluding AA and US metal I do not believe US will ever allow OW and *A mixed bookings and I've never heard of VA codesharing with CX.

virgin Australia sold as Cathay pacific sold by US airways on behalf of American Airlines/oneworld.

virgin America codeshares (or offers connections at least) with cx.

 

[hummel]

virgin Australia sold as Cathay pacific sold by US airways on behalf of American Airlines/oneworld.

virgin America codeshares (or offers connections at least) with cx.

*grabs the champagne from the F cabin, I think I'll need a bottle to decipher that one!*

 

[bcworld]

virgin Australia sold as Cathay pacific sold by US airways on behalf of American Airlines/oneworld.

Regardless, I don't believe there is any such arrangement. KVS shows codeshares and it doesn't show VA/CX552. It does show this though:

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.4/Diamond - Operational Info: EY 6324/10 Mar 2014]

                 Planned Flight Info
Segment          Departure  Arrival    Duration
-------          ---------  ---------  --------
PER-SYD          05:35/Mon  12:50/Mon  04:15


Segment          Flight Note
-------          -------------------------------------------------------------
PER-SYD          COMMERCIAL DUPLICATE - OPERATED BY
                 VIRGIN AUSTRALIA INTL
PER-SYD          AIRCRAFT OWNER VIRGIN AUSTRALIA INTL
                 ENTIRE FLT- E/ QUALIF ONLINE CONNECTING/STOPOVER TRAFFIC ONLY
PER-SYD          OPERATIONAL LEG VA 0552
PER-SYD          DEPARTS TERMINAL 3
PER-SYD          ARRIVES TERMINAL 2
PER-SYD          ET/ ELECTRONIC TKT CANDIDATE
PER-SYD          Z999

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Regardless, I don't believe there is any such arrangement. KVS shows codeshares and it doesn't show VA/CX552. It does show this though:


[/CODE]

i don't think it is available for USDM sale... I think the agent might have been looking for a revenue fare somehow...

 

[diningdecadence]

Hi all, have some questions re: SYD - Europe on TG if anyone would like to jump in

1. would SYD-BKK in J be ok if you were connecting to BKK-Europe in F? does anyone know if TG472 and TG476 are lay flat or angled?
2. preference out of BKK-FRA or BKK-ZRH in F (or possibly munich)? (ultimate destination CDG, but the direct flight doesn't seem to have availability so would then have to connect)

much appreciated!

 

[smit0847]

Hi all, have some questions re: SYD - Europe on TG if anyone would like to jump in

1. would SYD-BKK in J be ok if you were connecting to BKK-Europe in F? does anyone know if TG472 and TG476 are lay flat or angled?
2. preference out of BKK-FRA or BKK-ZRH in F (or possibly munich)? (ultimate destination CDG, but the direct flight doesn't seem to have availability so would then have to connect)

much appreciated!

1. All SYD-BKK J is angled lie-flat. Obviously get F if you can but J is perfectly fine for a day flight.
2. BKK-FRA (overnight flight) will be A380 which is much preferable to the 747/346 which will be on BKK-ZHR.

 

[bcworld]

Hi all, have some questions re: SYD - Europe on TG if anyone would like to jump in

1. would SYD-BKK in J be ok if you were connecting to BKK-Europe in F? does anyone know if TG472 and TG476 are lay flat or angled?
2. preference out of BKK-FRA or BKK-ZRH in F (or possibly munich)? (ultimate destination CDG, but the direct flight doesn't seem to have availability so would then have to connect)

much appreciated!

SYD flights are operated by 747 with refurbed cabins which still feature angled flat J seats and F mini suites - the J seats are quite unpopular for sleeping but both of these are CURRENTLY daytime flights - although with TG's horrible new summer schedule for 472 that one is probably best avoided.

FRA on A380 (920/1) would be first preference, then MUC on 747, then FRA (922/3) or ZRH on A346. Some might put the MUC 747 ahead of the A380 due to it being a bit more suite like...others want the cachet of the A380.

Surprised you can't find CDG...it's generally quite easy to get.

 

[travelislife]

TG is causing havoc with all of it's forward cancellations and schedule changes, I would advise anyone with TG segments in their bookings to double check their reservations. The thing that gets me with these changes is first up no email is sent by USDM. Secondly is that when the flights are changed/rebooked it often misses the connecting flight which is also TG, how can they not see this issue and make a sensible rebooking before the need to call and fight!

 

[diningdecadence]

1. All SYD-BKK J is angled lie-flat. Obviously get F if you can but J is perfectly fine for a day flight.
2. BKK-FRA (overnight flight) will be A380 which is much preferable to the 747/346 which will be on BKK-ZHR.

SYD flights are operated by 747 with refurbed cabins which still feature angled flat J seats and F mini suites - the J seats are quite unpopular for sleeping but both of these are CURRENTLY daytime flights - although with TG's horrible new summer schedule for 472 that one is probably best avoided.

FRA on A380 (920/1) would be first preference, then MUC on 747, then FRA (922/3) or ZRH on A346. Some might put the MUC 747 ahead of the A380 due to it being a bit more suite like...others want the cachet of the A380.

Surprised you can't find CDG...it's generally quite easy to get.

excellent thanks. i'm looking in european summer and so guessing people booked ages ago. i may be way off the mark but TG472 is showing as a night flight later in the year (i understand you can still book any dates, until 31st march when they stop taking awards bookings?) so might have to play with united.com and awardtravelr a bit more to try and find flights that link up.