US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

[casanovawa]

ok, sorry misunderstood you...

 

[mos]

Ok i jsut need a clarification here...

So a return J ticket from Aus to Europe is 120,000 miles and from Aus to US is 110,000 miles? Do they allow you to use 55,000 miles getting a one way j flight from Oz to US and then 60,000 miles on a j route from europe back to Oz (making your own way between the US and Europe or vv the other direction) or with these offers is it only allowed to be a return trip from either area with an open jaw in that region?

Hi casanovawa,

From Perth, I've found better availability and flight connections to get to the US East coast in the past by flying via Europe rather than the Pacific (e.g. PER-SIN-FRA-JFK). You could then stopover in Europe either on the way there or on the return, and all of your flights would be included with one Award (Aus-US, US-Europe (stopover), and then Europe-Aus).

Depending on the agent you get, they might even price this as SW Pacific to USA and only charge 110k miles... Don't rely on it, but it has happened

 

[Alanslegal]

Once again, you CANNOT book one way awards. (unless there have been changes in the last few weeks)

You can book one way award travel, but you pay the return award rate.

This is a newbie question;

Ignoring any bonus points promo, is there a limit on how many points I can purchase in a calendar year? I cant see it on their website and google'ing refers me to a FT thread over two years old.

 

[mhen]

Ignoring any bonus points promo, is there a limit on how many points I can purchase in a calendar year? I cant see it on their website and google'ing refers me to a FT thread over two years old.

I bought 50k on 4 occasions last year and have read all the various FT threads regarding bying US miles and have not found any indication of any restriction.

However I would be wary of buying a lot of miles into my account and then booking for other people when I was not also flying as that may be seen as possible selling of award flights.

 

[slodki]

slodki: 3xJ is not usually too bad. 3xF is very hard. If you put your destinations and your wishes down, we can help you find some suitable routes.

Hi peachy3333

Worst comes to worst I'll just travel on my own and send my parents together. The final destination is Vienna.

The routing with the best availability seems to be MEL-BKK, then BKK-IST-VIE with Turkish airways.

I haven't checked on the way back, but having a quick look shows similar types of availability.

I would ideally like to choose airlines/planes with the 'lie-flat' business class seats.

Departure dates end June/early July with return dates around 5-6 weeks later.

Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[sr81]

Ignoring any bonus points promo, is there a limit on how many points I can purchase in a calendar year? I cant see it on their website and google'ing refers me to a FT thread over two years old.

My parents have made the most of this over the last 12 months and there appears to be no restriction on the number of unbonused miles.

 

[spudwa]

Well my wife and I fly out tomorrow morning for our first Bus/First class trip to London. I'm still pinching myself that all this only cost $3500.00 each. My wife is still worried that we will just get blank stares at the Thai Business check-in tomorrow but even that just adds to the excitement ;-)

Thanks to the original poster of the "The Dream comes True" post on this thread and all the others who have given advice so freely. I'll post some pictures if it isn't considered too gauche to snap away in First :-0

 

[anat0l]

Well my wife and I fly out tomorrow morning for our first Bus/First class trip to London. I'm still pinching myself that all this only cost $3500.00 each. My wife is still worried that we will just get blank stares at the Thai Business check-in tomorrow but even that just adds to the excitement ;-)

Thanks to the original poster of the "The Dream comes True" post on this thread and all the others who have given advice so freely. I'll post some pictures if it isn't considered too gauche to snap away in First :-0

Not at all! Do consider writing a trip report; they're a great way to share your experiences and we all like to read them.

I've heard that LH staff are a little bit colder to US elites or US redemption ticket holders, but that's about it. "Obvious reasons", of course.

Enjoy your journey (no inspiration from the carrier with said phrase) - the noose is tightening on the US mile fire sales, so you probably can't do what you're doing again some time soon....

 

[sr81]

I've heard that LH staff are a little bit colder to US elites or US redemption ticket holders, but that's about it. "Obvious reasons", of course.

This really annoys me. What on earth does it matter to LH check in staff as to how the ticket was purchased.

Only check-in staff would be able to see the issuing airline as USAirways and, again, what does it matter? This smacks of a touch of jealousy because you can and they can't.

Spudwa have a great trip and report back. Don't worry about taking photos. When I sorted this out for my parents they even got the FA to help them out with a photo. Dad sitting in 2A with Mum laughing at him in the background from 3A. Actually is a pretty good photo.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've heard that LH staff are a little bit colder to US elites or US redemption ticket holders, but that's about it. "Obvious reasons", of course.

Certainly NOT the LH staff at Frankfurt, Munich or Zurich, or on board any of the LH flights. They have all been fantastic

 

[peachy3333]

sr81: did you end up finding flights. I totally forgot about the thread =\ sorry!

 

[spudwa]

Perth to Bangkok: 12J & 12K
Bangkok to London: 2E & 2F
London to Zurich: 3A & 3C
Zurich to Bangkok: 1E & 1F
Bangkok to Perth: 14A & 14B

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Perth to Bangkok: 12J & 12K
Bangkok to London: 2E & 2F
London to Zurich: 3A & 3C
Zurich to Bangkok: 1E & 1F
Bangkok to Perth: 14A & 14B

Zurich to BKK you may wish to consider row 2 - better experience with more sense of space as you're not up against the bulkhead and close to the galley.

 

[spudwa]

Zurich to BKK you may wish to consider row 2 - better experience with more sense of space as you're not up against the bulkhead and close to the galley.

I'm struggling with the concept of BAD seats in first class ;-) but its a bit late to change.

I'll let you know

 

[peachy3333]

Never too late to change. Just call up and ask =)

 

[sr81]

sr81: did you end up finding flights. I totally forgot about the thread =\ sorry!

Yep, found flights to PNQ via FRA and even got the USAirways agent to book them and place them on hold (90,000 points each) but the flight timings were to tight. We have a wedding on 26 Nov but even if everything worked we would be arriving on the 25th. Decided that this was an Indian wedding so we should have a few days either side for festivities.

I ended up booking MEL-SIN (QF F A380) SIN-BOM (QF J) on points. Used the WP card to get them to release a second seat for both flights which I was quote happy about.

Still have to get home but the BMI 20% off should be good enough for a cheapish (GBP 400 each) run home in J with SQ or TG.

 

[Alanslegal]

Looking for a AMS to SYD return ... so any creative suggestions and nice new cabins I could possibly take/try?

Currently, I'm looking at a boring AMS-ZRH-HKG-BKK-SYD-BKK-MUC-AMS

 

[peachy3333]

Alan: What cabin class?

 

[Alanslegal]

Alan: What cabin class?

Preferably First Thanks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking for a AMS to SYD return ... so any creative suggestions and nice new cabins I could possibly take/try?

Currently, I'm looking at a boring AMS-ZRH-HKG-BKK-SYD-BKK-MUC-AMS

pretty straightforward - AMS-ZRH on LX. ZRH-HKG on LX. HKG-BKK-SYD-BKK on TG F. BKK-MUC i think is operated by both TG and LH? I would take LH as you would already have had the full TG ground service on your previous flights. MUC-AMS on LH. As an arriving F passenger you will get a limo to the plane if it is at a remote gate (key here is to select a small aircraft if there is one operating - like an Avro or RJ... IF they fly to AMS - I know they do on the MUC-ZRH sector)