US Dividend Miles - Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[hummel]

Will do a full TR when I get home but I'm currently in Guam. Some initial thoughts:

- it is GHETTO. That is the one word that keeps coming to mind. Most of it is really, really run down, roads are terrible and style left town 20 years ago.
- most locals are indigenous Chamorros, not 'Caucasian' Americans. Locals very friendly and polite.
- food and drinks (esp alcohol) very, very, very cheap. Both are promoted heavily in local media.
- every local I have spoken to has never met an Australiam and asked 'why Guam?!'
- shopping is fairly good- not as dated as I expected.
- military presence isn't obvious as they arrive, live and stay on base.
- weather changes very, very quickly here. Had a heap of rain even though it's dry season.
- 3 or 4 nights is enough time here.

Thanks for your thoughts. Still keeping your other GUM bookings? I've currently trying to work out if I could clear customs, re-checkin and get my flight within 3 hours... :|

 

[smit0847]

smit0807 - your post was a great insight

May I ask where your staying ?
Do they have US stores such as Macys, Gap etc ?
what stye of food are you dining on ?

cheers
VH-OEG

Staying at the Bayview. Got a very cheap rate ($85 per night?) for room with 2 doubles. Rooms are huge, good location, a bit dated decor and it is so humid that everything inside feels damp. Def recommend staying in Tumon to be close to everything.

Yes they have Macys, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren etc. went there today. Mall of Micronesia is pretty depressing- Premier Outlets was better. Lots of super high-end duty free (Fendi, Cartier, Burberry, Bvlgari) etc at DFO Galleria.

Food is mostly cough American take-away/diner (Denny's, Wendy's etc). Lots of Asian restaurants for the tourists, some proper Chamorro grill which are better. Def not a place to visit for the cuisine!

Thanks for your thoughts. Still keeping your other GUM bookings? I've currently trying to work out if I could clear customs, re-checkin and get my flight within 3 hours... :|

Hell yeah- still keeping my F booking! I still can't believe I managed to book that!Only here for 26 hours next time lol!

A 3 hour turnaround will be okay (excluding any immigration questions outbound) but you must either travel J on the flight into GUM or sit near the front of the plane so you can beat the crowds through immigration. The other thing you MUST do is get an ESTA (even if you don't need one). The line for non-ESTA foreigners was MASSIVE as all the Asians arriving don't get (or need?) ESTAs. The line for ESTAs was non-existent. It's not a huge airport.

Have you booked this yet? Any agent with half a brain will question a 3 hour destination!!

 

[smit0847]

Just given my long-suffering partner a peace offering- if I can take us to Guam he can pick where we spend NYE as our stopover anywhere in north or South Asia. Any suggestions? Think Shanghai or Hong Kong?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just given my long-suffering partner a piece offering- if I can take us to Guam he can pick here we spend NYE as our stopover anywhere in north or South Asia. Any suggestions? Think Shanghai or Hong Kong?

depends what you're after! clubs and drinking... Shanghai. All-round experience... Hong Kong.

 

[anat0l]

Just given my long-suffering partner a piece offering- if I can take us to Guam he can pick here we spend NYE as our stopover anywhere in north or South Asia. Any suggestions? Think Shanghai or Hong Kong?

Hong Kong sounds pretty cool.

 

[smit0847]

Spectacle (club or outdoor ie fireworks, public celebration) over just drinking.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Spectacle (club or outdoor ie fireworks, public celebration) over just drinking.

missed the big about new years. In that case go for hong kong. Shanghai is freezing then!

 

[casanovawa]

Hey, was looking today if i could see the list of airlines in *A that US Air will partner with after March, and whether this GUM trip will still be doable... Does anyone recall or have a link to the page??

 

[bcworld]

Neither UA or *** (edited - Eva are on the list...can't read!) are on the US continue to partner with list...oneworld service is limited to NRT on JAL...I think GUM will be dead at that point. Edit - I still think GUM is on the way out!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hey, was looking today if i could see the list of airlines in *A that US Air will partner with after March, and whether this GUM trip will still be doable... Does anyone recall or have a link to the page??

Aegean, Air China, Air New Zealand, Avianca, Ethiopian Airlines, Eva, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, TAM, TAP and Turkish Airways

 

[smit0847]

Neither UA or *** (edited - Eva are on the list...can't read!) are on the US continue to partner with list...oneworld service is limited to NRT on JAL...I think GUM will be dead at that point. Edit - I still think GUM is on the way out!

AND that's assuming US don't change their award chart or zoning post leaving *A to bring it more in lime with AA (who I believe zone GUM as North Asia or US like it should be!).

I agree with bc that it'll likely be dead for bookings come April 1. The BR service is only twice weekly.

 

[Fifa]

Just got an email from Thai.
Looks like all TG 747 aircraft out of SYD will operate with the Royal First Class private suites:
The latest Aircraft Guide for 30 Mar to 25 Oct '14 http://www.thaiairways.com.au/vwm/upload/fabpics/Aircraft_Guide_Mar_to_Oct_2014.pdf

Let's hope the suites stick

 

[Kangol]

Just got an email from Thai.
Looks like all TG 747 aircraft out of SYD will operate with the Royal First Class private suites:
The latest Aircraft Guide for 30 Mar to 25 Oct '14 http://www.thaiairways.com.au/vwm/upload/fabpics/Aircraft_Guide_Mar_to_Oct_2014.pdf

Let's hope the suites stick

Awesome!
I previously thought that F suites on a TG 747 was rare, based on this report:
Chasing the Sun: Thai Airways First Class Frankfurt to Bangkok - One Mile at a Time - One Mile at a Time

Does anyone know what percentage of TG 747s have the F suites?

Edit: found this link
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thai...9-tg-reveal-brand-new-747-f-class-suites.html
and this one:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thai...s/1424954-cabin-retrofit-status-tgs-747s.html

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just got an email from Thai.
Looks like all TG 747 aircraft out of SYD will operate with the Royal First Class private suites:
The latest Aircraft Guide for 30 Mar to 25 Oct '14 http://www.thaiairways.com.au/vwm/upload/fabpics/Aircraft_Guide_Mar_to_Oct_2014.pdf

Let's hope the suites stick

the bigger news is that it almost appears that the TG461/2 (0030 departure from MEL) with full flat beds in business, although you will note the code for the aircraft is still a 777 rather than 773 (which is on known and confirmed routes with full flats). So I wonder if that is just an error?

 

[Bofter]

Just got an email from Thai.
Looks like all TG 747 aircraft out of SYD will operate with the Royal First Class private suites:
The latest Aircraft Guide for 30 Mar to 25 Oct '14 http://www.thaiairways.com.au/vwm/upload/fabpics/Aircraft_Guide_Mar_to_Oct_2014.pdf

Let's hope the suites stick

Thanks for that. Interestingly MEL is shown as getting a 777-300er for one daily flight, which I hadn't seen before. In the period covered by that brochure I have two flights on TG466 and one on TG461 so get the upgraded bed once. Yes I know it's Thai and these things change.

 

[Fifa]

I had the first suites out of Sydney about 13 months ago - fantastic!
I shared the last pair of seats with my daughter but would never do that again - not as much room.
Give me 1 A & K any day .

 

[smit0847]

Thanks for that. Interestingly MEL is shown as getting a 777-300er for one daily flight, which I hadn't seen before. In the period covered by that brochure I have two flights on TG466 and one on TG461 so get the upgraded bed once. Yes I know it's Thai and these things change.

Damn- I'm taking TG 462 on 15 March!
theyre going to either have to reconfig or take possession of a lot of new aircraft to meet those product obligations!!

 

[bcworld]

Yay...seat map for TG462 on 18 Apr!

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.4/Diamond - Seat Map: 18 Apr 2014/TG 462/MEL-BKK/777/C-Business]

     A   B   |   D   E   F   G   |   J   K    
11       +           +   +           +        
12   +           -           -           -    
14       -           -   -           -        
15   +           -           -           +    
16       -           -   +           +        
17   -           -           -           -    [L]
18                   +   +                    
19   +           +           +           +    
20       -           +   +           +        
21   +           +           +           +    
22       -           -   -           -        


[+] Available     [W] Wing       [L] Lavatory  
[-] Unavailable   [E] Exit Row   [U] Upper Deck
[P] Preferred     [|] Aisle

Unfortunately I had a booking on this and changed to TG466! I have TG461 on the return though...still happy with the day flight both ways.

 

[bcworld]

Oh...and I'd advise checking your TG seat allocations for MEL flights. Even on the ones that haven't had an aircraft upgrade we had been separated and randomly placed in the cabin!

 

[bcworld]

Oh...and I'd advise checking your TG seat allocations for MEL flights. Even on the ones that haven't had an aircraft upgrade we had been separated and randomly placed in the cabin!

Oh...and apparently I ordered a Vegetarian Hindu meal all of a sudden! WTF???