US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[anat0l]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

Don't assume that these continuing relationships are long term...US has already chopped the original list in it's communications and I believe BR is no longer on it as the relationship ends very shortly after 31 March.. I think I also read elsewhere that the NZ/US relationship (as useless as it may be to us) ends in June. So some of these relationships will exist on March 31 but no for much longer.

I wouldn't have thought anyone was necessarily banking on these relationships to continue in the long term. Once US leaves the Star Alliance, that is already the big curtain closer; let's not try and kid ourselves that we could continue unabated on our standard US DM practices. In fact, before we knew anything more definitive than "US merging with AA", it was probably thought there would be no *A redemptions at all after US leaving the alliance, viz. no agreements.

As it stands, BR was not a very versatile nor reliable way to get from Australia to Asia anyway, although some people may miss the BR Royal Laurel redemptions (but then there's always AV LM). So losing them as a partner, big deal.

AusBT have specifically advised me that OW redemptions with DMs will be available from 31 March. I doubt this will actually happen.

Well, the article was out there. I guess we'll just have to see. But, just in case, better go find a hat

 

[bcworld]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

As it stands, BR was not a very versatile nor reliable way to get from Australia to Asia anyway, although some people may miss the BR Royal Laurel redemptions (but then there's always AV LM). So losing them as a partner, big deal.

BNE-TPE is the only way to the west coast of the US that's under MPM (ex BNE)...assuming no NZ availability.

AV can only combine the BNE-TPE flight with the onward flight to London...nothing else connects, well nothing flying east from TPE anyway.

However BNE-HKG on CX would make the problem go away!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

AusBT have specifically advised me that OW redemptions with DMs will be available from 31 March. I doubt this will actually happen.

ausBT knows before the FT community? that is laughable.

 

[pmdg7444]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

I wonder if they'll maintain the same award chart rates once OW becomes bookable post 31 Mar. Me thinks a tiny island in the "South Pacific" will become even more popular.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

I wonder if they'll maintain the same award chart rates once OW becomes bookable post 31 Mar. Me thinks a tiny island in the "South Pacific" will become even more popular.

My guess is that they'll either keep the same Partner award chart rates, or use the US DM on American award chart for oneworld (slightly different and I think a bit more expensive).

The interesting thing will be if and/or how routing rules may change / be different for oneworld redemptions (e.g. to bring them more in line with AA's rules or their ticketing system). Could scupper plans of exploiting any more South Pacific island via Asia breaks.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

I wonder if they'll maintain the same award chart rates once OW becomes bookable post 31 Mar. Me thinks a tiny island in the "South Pacific" will become even more popular.

JAL are the only OW carrier that fly there though and only from NRT. No OW carriers fly to its tiny neighbour.

Has anyone tried simply ringing the call centre and asking them what they have been told about March 31? Surely they'd be given training and memos if there were changes?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

JAL are the only OW carrier that fly there though and only from NRT. No OW carriers fly to its tiny neighbour.

Has anyone tried simply ringing the call centre and asking them what they have been told about March 31? Surely they'd be given training and memos if there were changes?

uh huh... the same memo some of the agents have been peddling for the last month saying they can't book star alliance awards... period... at the current time because of the merger

my last call a week ago an agent told me to 'wait two weeks' and then I could book one world. but he also said he couldn't book united for me (the next agent could).

I don't even think they know.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

Has anyone tried simply ringing the call centre and asking them what they have been told about March 31? Surely they'd be given training and memos if there were changes?

uh huh... the same memo some of the agents have been peddling for the last month saying they can't book star alliance awards... period... at the current time because of the merger

my last call a week ago an agent told me to 'wait two weeks' and then I could book one world. but he also said he couldn't book united for me (the next agent could).

I don't even think they know.

As MEL_Traveller said, I think asking an agent would be a fool's errand. Maybe they have been trained, but even if they knew then divulging that kind of information is surely breaching commercial confidence, and could cost them their job. (There is a difference between what can be divulged and who can actually do it).

Look, you've already put the high pressure on AusBT and they have a follow-up next week, so let's just hope they can clear things up or at least get closer than we already know. It might not happen anyway until very, very close to the date; which is strategically intriguing from US DM's point of view, e.g. spill something now when it is almost 12 days left in the current mileage promotion, and maybe then spill the real stuff after the current promotion finishes.

Speaking of, whilst AusBT may seem optimistic with this article, I have to say publishing it was rather not a good idea at the moment. It's OK if you could tell people "we hope it will end up like this," but the likely target audience may not be so prepared / impressed.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

Speaking of, whilst AusBT may seem optimistic with this article, I have to say publishing it was rather not a good idea at the moment. It's OK if you could tell people "we hope it will end up like this," but the likely target audience may not be so prepared / impressed.

I've already written a personal email to the editor of AusBT about the downward spiral the website is taking in regards to summarising threads like this in a 2 minute 'anyone can do it!' blog post.

Next they'll be posting a '3-steps to GUM' article!

 

[bcworld]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

Speaking of, whilst AusBT may seem optimistic with this article, I have to say publishing it was rather not a good idea at the moment. It's OK if you could tell people "we hope it will end up like this," but the likely target audience may not be so prepared / impressed.

I've read AusBT for a long time...and I've played the US airways miles consolidator game for a long time. It just seems to be recently thought that ABT has strayed into this spruiking of the miles purchase game. I think recently I've seen stories on US, United and the now dead Alaska deals. It just doesn't seem quite right to me, and I have no issues sharing the info, but it just seems like a play for hits / readership...blogger style...whereas I tend to think of AusBT operating at a higher level than that.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

Next they'll be posting a '3-steps to GUM' article!

Doubt it; how many Australian business people would be interested in detouring to Guam (rather inconveniently) for their business travel?

Besides, if Guam / Saipan gets shut down, (a) it would've likely happened anyway, especially with a juncture like a programme merger; and (b) it should have never happened anyway, so it'll be a case of "nice party, but it's over now".

As far as I know, they don't even publish other kinds of "tricks", like mileage runs, fuel dumping, mistake fares (including how to deal with them) or hidden city / throwaway ticketing.

Probably the biggest problem with publishing articles like this which involve award travel with buying up miles is a lack of consideration of informing about the dynamics of award seat availability.

 

[bcworld]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

Doubt it; how many Australian business people would be interested in detouring to Guam (rather inconveniently) for their business travel?

Unless GUM was a throwaway. Major Asian cities for 30k in J?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

Speaking of, whilst AusBT may seem optimistic with this article, I have to say publishing it was rather not a good idea at the moment. It's OK if you could tell people "we hope it will end up like this," but the likely target audience may not be so prepared / impressed.

AusBT... huh... whole article about buying miles with the hope they get to oneworld, but just one little killer sentence hidden away:

Provided that you can find an award seat on your desired travel dates, that comes in at roughly a quarter of Qantas’ asking price of A$8,485 in May.

The issue is the availability of award seats... as rare as hen's teeth on QF, and partners ex AU (decent ones) can be patchy.

I don't know what AusBT knows better than me (maybe I need to go to the opera a bit more as per the author)... but my advice to novices is NOT to buy USDM points in the hope of nice OW awards. I've always recommended USDM in star... easy availability, easy to get two (or three) seats to enable a family to fly together. Even at short notice.

The same can't be said about OW. (And to be honest, the thing saving QFFF awards atm is the easy availability of EK F... something not available through AA)

 

[smit0847]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

I've read AusBT for a long time...and I've played the US airways miles consolidator game for a long time. It just seems to be recently thought that ABT has strayed into this spruiking of the miles purchase game. I think recently I've seen stories on US, United and the now dead Alaska deals. It just doesn't seem quite right to me, and I have no issues sharing the info, but it just seems like a play for hits / readership...blogger style...whereas I tend to think of AusBT operating at a higher level than that.

Thats exactly what my email to the editor said. It also mentioned how much vital information they leave out of articles like these which will just annoy their readers when its not actually as easy as they say it is to do. They leave this information out because they dont understand the deal when they copy and paste someone elses research. Pricing QF A380 F on AA to LAX is like me drafting an acceptance speech for when I become US President.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

The issue is the availability of award seats... as rare as hen's teeth on QF, and partners ex AU (decent ones) can be patchy.

Well, not that rare as you think. Just that no one wants to redeem them (well, the associated company here anyway). Trans-Pacific is the toughest - understandable. QF F - also understandable (hard enough on QFF too). Most of the rest mid-range to Asia is OK. Funny enough, I've even managed to find Trans-Pacific J within 30 days; admittedly easier in the opposite direction (i.e. flying into AU). (Another 'advantage' of QFF - apart from first dibs at availability, the ability to call to request the release of award seats).

Then CX is usually quite good availability, especially intra-Asia. As CX tends to be the product of choice in AFF, I believe that should satisfy most people.

For some reason, BA out of Australia - the only ow F option to Asia - is pretty tough to get unless you book far in advance.

I don't know what AusBT knows better than me (maybe I need to go to the opera a bit more as per the author)... but my advice to novices is NOT to buy USDM points in the hope of nice OW awards. I've always recommended USDM in star... easy availability, easy to get two (or three) seats to enable a family to fly together. Even at short notice.

Well, they do have the voice with the airlines. Maybe what they're being told is embargoed. But enough faffing around the bush.

I wouldn't be reasonably confident in recommending purchase of US DM points for ow awards unless this article holds water, viz. oneworld redemptions on US DM will be available starting from 31 March or very shortly thereafter (viz. maximum another month). So of course, with USDM in *A, why wouldn't you recommend it that way? Makes sense. Sheesh, it's almost like one of those tough juncture decisions that your financial adviser presents to you.

I don't think ow will have an equivalent in *A with TG (the sole premium self-opening pinata) and the old SQ (easiest availability into Asia). Again, CX is probably the closest bet, then maybe QF depending on the season and routing.

But at last minute - yeah, I agree that'll be tougher. So what? Roll with the punches! That's just the game.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

This kind of news looks rather encouraging. I sincerely hope this is not a hype trip over a cliff.

If it's all apples, then it's great timing with the current Buy Miles promotion.

US Airways: earn & burn for Oneworld and Star Alliance from March 30 - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

I'm trying to look for some corroborating information on Flyertalk, but at the time of this posting I can't find anything.

has the article changed? i went and re-read it and it now doesn't seem to make any reference to OW redemptions from 1 April.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

has the article changed? i went and re-read it and it now doesn't seem to make any reference to OW redemptions from 1 April.

Looks the same to me. There was never a reference to 1 April. The first paragraph seemed to be the one that drew my attention.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

Looks the same to me. There was never a reference to 1 April. The first paragraph seemed to be the one that drew my attention.

hmmm... earn will be available from the outset as I understand. Just the redeem that will take place 'shortly' according to the official sites and other discussion boards..

 

[hossein_au]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

JAL are the only OW carrier that fly there though and only from NRT. No OW carriers fly to its tiny neighbour.

Has anyone tried simply ringing the call centre and asking them what they have been told about March 31? Surely they'd be given training and memos if there were changes?

I was talking with a USDM agent a couple of nights ago, and she was adamant that comes 31 March, OW awards can be booked through USDM... Based on her response and actions on another matter (the main reason I called USDM in the first place) I doubt her statement very much!

 

[d.diddy_13]

Re: Heads Up! (I hope)

Hi,

long time reader first time poster...

Just wondering when searching for award flights on united.com does the award seat need to be available in the 'saver award' or 'standard award' column?