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

[travelislife]

Interesting, they must have been getting a heap of enquiries about it. They should have sent the email out at the registration stage to allay everyone's fears!

 

[NDiddy]

Got the same email this morning.

Wasn't really worried about it but a nice touch from points.com nonetheless.

 

[Alanslegal]

Points.com e-mail with bonus points delivery date in my inbox.

Can someone suggest what benefits Points.com have in offering these % bonus miles ?

 

[burmans]

Can someone suggest what benefits Points.com have in offering these % bonus miles ?

They get you to refister on their site and hopefully use some of the services, e.g. transfer points for which they get a fee?

 

[Terryi02]

A friend of mine received a 'targetted offer' from US, Buy Miles and get 80% bonus. Did anyone else receive one?

Yes I got it as well

 

[Oneworldplus2]

TG MEL-BKK (J) Stopover
TG BKK-FRA (J) scheduled as A380
LH FRA-JFK (J) Destination
LH JFK-FRA (J)
TG FRA-BKK (J) scheduled as A380
TG BKK-MEL (J)

I'm also planning on going to JFK end of year/next year. Can l ask, is availability SYD-LAX then onto JFK very hard to get, hence the routing via Europe? I would prefer to take the shortest route and am wondering if you tried direct and had no option but to go via Europe?

 

[QF029]

I'm also planning on going to JFK end of year/next year. Can l ask, is availability SYD-LAX then onto JFK very hard to get, hence the routing via Europe? I would prefer to take the shortest route and am wondering if you tried direct and had no option but to go via Europe?

I looked for direct but on the dates I wanted it was only available in First. I think as long as you book a while in advance (my dates are pretty much peak season) you should be OK. Having said that, availability is wide open via Europe / Asia and it's not that much longer if you can do it with 2 legs.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I looked for direct but on the dates I wanted it was only available in First. I think as long as you book a while in advance (my dates are pretty much peak season) you should be OK. Having said that, availability is wide open via Europe / Asia and it's not that much longer if you can do it with 2 legs.

is F still available?? I'd snap it up for the couple of extra bucks for the miles if you can

 

[QF029]

is F still available?? I'd snap it up for the couple of extra bucks for the miles if you can

It probably is but given I'd be paying full price for the miles it's ~ $1,000 more (than $1,500) which I don't think is worth it on United and I'd still need 2 stopovers (Syd and LA/SFO).

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Thanks for the reply QF029. When the time comes, l guess l'll be hunting either which way.

PS, Yes, l have heard that United F isn't the best.

 

[Alanslegal]

Sorry to bump, its just me again with a simple question

Just a quick query about the BKK Passenger Departure Tax;

I have had a few transits in BKK where I have left the airport, headed to the City either for the day (or overnight), and returned for my onward flight. I have had both (or more) BP printed at the first departure city so when I return to BKK I head straight through immigration and on my way. Now I have read that I may be liable to pay for a Passenger Departure Tax (700BHT or thereabouts) if I do head airside and then return .... can someone confirm this to be the case?

I have never been pulled over to pay for this PDT on my last three transits, so all is good.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry to bump, its just me again with a simple question

Just a quick query about the BKK Passenger Departure Tax;

I have had a few transits in BKK where I have left the airport, headed to the City either for the day (or overnight), and returned for my onward flight. I have had both (or more) BP printed at the first departure city so when I return to BKK I head straight through immigration and on my way. Now I have read that I may be liable to pay for a Passenger Departure Tax (700BHT or thereabouts) if I do head airside and then return .... can someone confirm this to be the case?

I have never been pulled over to pay for this PDT on my last three transits, so all is good.

As you say, it is a possibility. You are technically required to pay this tax if you leave the airport. Reports are that it is immigration (on seeing your boarding pass) who may send you back to pay. But as you have pointed out, YMMV. (I paid it once in similar circumstances, but that was several years ago).

 

[Alanslegal]

As you say, it is a possibility. You are technically required to pay this tax if you leave the airport. Reports are that it is immigration (on seeing your boarding pass) who may send you back to pay. But as you have pointed out, YMMV. (I paid it once in similar circumstances, but that was several years ago).

Thanks for that.

 

[NDiddy]

Thanks for that.

Don't know if you've seen this yet Alan but it might clarify a few things: exit & reentry to aiport one day - Bangkok Message Board - TripAdvisor

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Don't know if you've seen this yet Alan but it might clarify a few things: exit & reentry to aiport one day - Bangkok Message Board - TripAdvisor

lol... not really much of a clarification!! some poster was seeming incensed that you lose your 'in transit' status if you pass through immigration!! err... yeah... that is blindingly obvious!

 

[travelislife]

Alan, I didn't have to pay the tax when I did this twice in January and February. One was out of the airport for an overnight, the other was a full day. I was travelling on Thai Airways Business class, checked in bags and collected boarding passes in BKK each time. So don't know if it makes a difference if you already have your boarding passes. It really is luck of the draw from my readings on FT, but in my head I was prepared to pay the 700 baht and it was a win not having too.

 

[NDiddy]

lol... not really much of a clarification!! some poster was seeming incensed that you lose your 'in transit' status if you pass through immigration!! err... yeah... that is blindingly obvious!

Actually upon further reflection you're right Disregard the hastily researched link. Although I did like this summation:

It *shouldn't* cost you anything.... but.. to be fair, I've also heard reports from other TA members that some airlines are imposing the tax on passengers who voluntarily elect to leave the customs / air-side area between two international flights.
In these cases the passengers have been required to pay the BKK airports origin departure tax of B700.. but again, the enforcement of this action is not uniform as I know of other passengers who've done the exact same thing and been permitted to re-enter with no additional tax due but are traveling on other airlines.. So there's some inconsistency in the application here.
I personally think this is a misapplication of the tax, as a read of the formal wording of the tax puts it as an origin tax and not a transit tax.. So, my guess is that those airlines who are imposing the tax are taking the position that passengers who voluntarily elect to leave the air-side area when between international flights are effectively forfeiting their 'in transit' status and revert to origin passenger status.. and under this theory, any origin passenger would rightly need to pay the tax.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Actually upon further reflection you're right Disregard the hastily researched link. Although I did like this summation:

It *shouldn't* cost you anything.... but.. to be fair, I've also heard reports from other TA members that some airlines are imposing the tax on passengers who voluntarily elect to leave the customs / air-side area between two international flights.
In these cases the passengers have been required to pay the BKK airports origin departure tax of B700.. but again, the enforcement of this action is not uniform as I know of other passengers who've done the exact same thing and been permitted to re-enter with no additional tax due but are traveling on other airlines.. So there's some inconsistency in the application here.
I personally think this is a misapplication of the tax, as a read of the formal wording of the tax puts it as an origin tax and not a transit tax.. So, my guess is that those airlines who are imposing the tax are taking the position that passengers who voluntarily elect to leave the air-side area when between international flights are effectively forfeiting their 'in transit' status and revert to origin passenger status.. and under this theory, any origin passenger would rightly need to pay the tax.

that's the post I was referring to where they don't realise that if you pass out of immigration you lose your transit status!! they are confusing a 'transit' for ticketing purposes, and a 'transit' for immigration purposes. in the latter, as soon as you have to pass through immigration control you are no longer in transit.

also, iirc, it is the officers at the immigration control booth that send you back to pay the tax... not the airline.

 

[spudwa]

Can anyone confirm that my Asiana flight from ICN to JFK is direct (leaving Thursday)
A friend told me that it is via Japan

 

[bcworld]

Can anyone confirm that my Asiana flight from ICN to JFK is direct (leaving Thursday)
A friend told me that it is via Japan

I believe it's non stop. FYI a 'direct flight' can have stops as long as it keeps the same flight number.