US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[boomy]

1st world question for TG experts: which F cabin is better, A380 or the 9 seats 747?

 

[smit0847]

1st world question for TG experts: which F cabin is better, A380 or the 9 seats 747?

This question has been asked about 100 times in this thread already.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

1st world question for TG experts: which F cabin is better, A380 or the 9 seats 747?

747. more private cabin with less crew movement.

 

[boomy]

This question has been asked about 100 times in this thread already.

My apologies. I was in the middle of planning a trip and noticed I have 2 options to choose from so I asked a quick question. Didn't realise it was already discussed so many times.

 

[zainman]

747. more private cabin with less crew movement.

A380. quietier and nicer. I flew both F within a week thanks to USDM

 

[Danger]

(Thank you to MEL_Traveller and Flashback for their prompt response in the successful awards booking thread.)

Please forgive me for not reading all 1800 posts.

I got the 100% buy miles bonus offer and I'm considering buying 45k (+45k bonus) to get an award booking ICN-somewhere-PER. My understanding is DM awards are return so that 90k should get me to Perth and back to Seoul again, in Business.

Is the best way to check on award availability on my dates and flights to simply phone US and ask? I can get the miles for about AUD1700 with a one-way paid Economy ticket to ICN coming in at about AUD950 which would suggest it’s reasonable value for money. What sort of taxes could I expect to have to pay on top of that? For the DM experts, does my approach seem more like a waste of money? That is, could 90k get me much better value?

Also, does anyone think stocking up with the full 100k (50k + 50k bonus) is a good idea, in light of US’s move to oneworld in a couple of weeks?

 

[alieninperth]

check united . com for availability and an indication of taxes but I would think that it would be about $100-$150 in tax.

I personally think the stock up to access OW, whenever that will be, is worth it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

(Thank you to MEL_Traveller and Flashback for their prompt response in the successful awards booking thread.)

Please forgive me for not reading all 1800 posts.

I got the 100% buy miles bonus offer and I'm considering buying 45k (+45k bonus) to get an award booking ICN-somewhere-PER. My understanding is DM awards are return so that 90k should get me to Perth and back to Seoul again, in Business.

Is the best way to check on award availability on my dates and flights to simply phone US and ask? I can get the miles for about AUD1700 with a one-way paid Economy ticket to ICN coming in at about AUD950 which would suggest it’s reasonable value for money. What sort of taxes could I expect to have to pay on top of that? For the DM experts, does my approach seem more like a waste of money? That is, could 90k get me much better value?

Also, does anyone think stocking up with the full 100k (50k + 50k bonus) is a good idea, in light of US’s move to oneworld in a couple of weeks?

I would hop on to United.com... use the booking tool there for either ICN-PER or break it up to ICN-BKK and BKK-PER.

you can only choose flights under the 'saver award' column.

once you have written down the flights, call US airways and say you would like to book the itinerary, and that you have some flights in mind.

flying to PER via BKK is probably your only option as SQ is not readily available though USDM (at least not until 14 days prior to departure).

You can have one stopover only.

90k will get you from PER to as far away as tokyo or india. But ICN ain't bad.

you can find the availability first, even book first (place the itinerary on hold) BEFORE committing to buying the miles.

so you really can't lose.

As for value... well that's subjective. Are there business class specials you can buy outright ex PER on say GA that might be in the same ball park or cheaper?

when it moves to oneworld you'll basically have the same availability as you can find on QF now. So pretty scare right? And leaving from PER you'' pretty much be limited to MH.

taxes - around the $100 as said above PLUS a $50 USDM redemption fee (phone booking fee is waived)

 

[davem]

Anyone know when the call centres change shifts?

I called at 1PM sydney time and got the Pheonix call centre (local time 8pm).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Anyone know when the call centres change shifts?

I called at 1PM sydney time and got the Pheonix call centre (local time 8pm).

i have found same call centre can return completely different results. made back to back calls the other day and the agents were chalk and cheese.

so not necessary to wait for a new crew if there's a problem.

 

[Shanye2233]

If i book one pax using USDM and he has a infant who will be under 2 years old the entire trip how do I add a infant to the booking ?

And if I buy 100k and need another 20k would it be cheaper to buy from another account who has the 100% bonus on and then share the 10k paid and 10k free to the account in need of the 20k . Because buying them outright with no bonus of $700 seems expensive .

 

[davem]

i have found same call centre can return completely different results. made back to back calls the other day and the agents were chalk and cheese.

so not necessary to wait for a new crew if there's a problem.

They engaged the supervisor because "it didnt look right that a flight from sydney to guam is only 30k points"

So just want a supervisor to change.

 

[hummel]

They engaged the supervisor because "it didnt look right that a flight from sydney to guam is only 30k points"

So just want a supervisor to change.

Just HUACA.... try not to get anything noted on your account. It takes most people a few shots at it...

 

[davem]

Just HUACA.... try not to get anything noted on your account. It takes most people a few shots at it...

I dont think they can note in accounts. Only on itineraries.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They engaged the supervisor because "it didnt look right that a flight from sydney to guam is only 30k points"

So just want a supervisor to change.

yeah... that could be a problem. let us know how it goes.

 

[Shanye2233]

I dont think they can note in accounts. Only on itineraries.

Dont think too hard

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If i book one pax using USDM and he has a infant who will be under 2 years old the entire trip how do I add a infant to the booking ?

And if I buy 100k and need another 20k would it be cheaper to buy from another account who has the 100% bonus on and then share the 10k paid and 10k free to the account in need of the 20k . Because buying them outright with no bonus of $700 seems expensive .

you'll need to call USDM and ask them for a quote for the infant. IIRC you can get a range of different prices... it should be 10% of the adult fare (which i have seen from discussion can range from the full published adult fare (which would be $2000 for the infant) to as little as 10% of the discounted fare (working out to $700-$1000))

 

[smit0847]

They engaged the supervisor because "it didnt look right that a flight from sydney to guam is only 30k points"

So just want a supervisor to change.

Call in the evening Australian time and write down the name of the operator when they answer. If you dont like what they say, HUACA immediately - its extremely unlikely you'll get the same operator twice (check their name against the names you have written down).

US Airways is a big airline and have a big call centre, even in the middle of the night, their time.

Think of it like spinning a roulette wheel with unlimited money to try and win something - sometimes your lucky number comes up, sometimes it doesn't. You just have to keep spinning until it does.

 

[smit0847]

If i book one pax using USDM and he has a infant who will be under 2 years old the entire trip how do I add a infant to the booking ?

And if I buy 100k and need another 20k would it be cheaper to buy from another account who has the 100% bonus on and then share the 10k paid and 10k free to the account in need of the 20k . Because buying them outright with no bonus of $700 seems expensive .

We've missed you Shayne.

 

[Masonic Phantom]

We've missed you Shayne.

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