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

[MEL_Traveller]

Just noticed my booking has disappeared from my account. called up US and apparently Thai have cancelled their TG 923 FRA-BKK on the 12/06.

Not many options avail for me apart from a long connection in BKK


current: CDG FRA FRA BKK BKK SIN SIN BNE
17;50 19:05 21:10 12;50 16:25 19;40 21:15 06:55

can change to: CDG - BKK - SIN - BNE @ 13:40 05:55 16:25 19:40 21:15 06:55

Was all perfect

Any ideas ? suck up the long connection is at worst.

either keep the alternative it up or try for one of the other routings via one of TGs other European ports. You can get a reasonable motel near the airport for about $40, they'll pick you up and drop you off included in that price.

 

[extracta]

I just booked my first trip using dividend miles. Surprisingly easy. BNE-BKK-BNE.

I received the email confirmation with the confirmation code. Is there any way to check this online anywhere, and can seat allocation be changed online.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just noticed my booking has disappeared from my account. called up US and apparently Thai have cancelled their TG 923 FRA-BKK on the 12/06.

Not many options avail for me apart from a long connection in BKK


current: CDG FRA FRA BKK BKK SIN SIN BNE
17;50 19:05 21:10 12;50 16:25 19;40 21:15 06:55

can change to: CDG - BKK - SIN - BNE @ 13:40 05:55 16:25 19:40 21:15 06:55

Was all perfect

Any ideas ? suck up the long connection is at worst.

either keep the alternative it up or try for one of the other routings via one of TGs other European ports. You can get a reasonable motel near the airport for about $40, they'll pick you up and drop you off included in that price.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I just booked my first trip using dividend miles. Surprisingly easy. BNE-BKK-BNE.

I received the email confirmation with the confirmation code. Is there any way to check this online anywhere, and can seat allocation be changed online.

If its with Singapore airlines yes you can change seats on line. If it's with Thai I just call the office and they do it for me.

 

[anat0l]

I just booked my first trip using dividend miles. Surprisingly easy. BNE-BKK-BNE.

I'd say that should've been a walk in the park for any agent.

 

[Flashback]

I'd say that should've been a walk in the park for any agent.

They were probably sitting there waiting for the 'catch'. "What, you mean you DON'T want to go via LAX, YVR and PRG?" :mrgreen:

 

[extracta]

They were probably sitting there waiting for the 'catch'. "What, you mean you DON'T want to go via LAX, YVR and PRG?" :mrgreen:

I'll get a bit more adventurous in the future. In the meantime I am just happy it went through. Anyone know why it comes up with cabin unknown, but has a seat number. I have booked business class.

 

[bcworld]

I'll get a bit more adventurous in the future. In the meantime I am just happy it went through. Anyone know why it comes up with cabin unknown, but has a seat number. I have booked business class.

It often comes up with unknown...does it also say (I)?

 

[extracta]

If its with Singapore airlines yes you can change seats on line. If it's with Thai I just call the office and they do it for me.

Thanks, I am using SQ on the way over and TG on the way back. Doing it this way the timings are great.

 

[extracta]

It often comes up with unknown...does it also say (I)?

No but the seats are in the J cabin

 

[anat0l]

I'll get a bit more adventurous in the future. In the meantime I am just happy it went through. Anyone know why it comes up with cabin unknown, but has a seat number. I have booked business class.

I don't know why, but the cabin will almost always come up as "Unknown" to start with. A little later on, you may get a new itinerary (or if you happen to be checking your booking online via the US Airways portal) where it is still "Unknown" but you'll see the class code in brackets next to it.

Class codes for *A award redemptions are O for First and I for Business (and I forget what it is for Economy... maybe X.... but no one's flying Economy here, right? )

 

[travelislife]

Ok, so yesterday I have shared 30,000+30,000 bonus between two accounts, still nothing showing up. I was going to hold off on making this booking till later in the year but with the opportunity of going F coming so cheap and noticing that TGA380 was disappearing decided to lock it in.

I have just called up and put the following trip for June/July on a 3 day hold (as I like to get all the PNRs and check that all passenger names are spelt correctly):

TG462 MEL-BKK (J)
TG201 BKK-HKT (J)
Stopover
TG222 HKT-BKK (J)
TG930 BKK-CDG (F A380)
Destination
LH1031 CGD-FRA (J)
TG921 FRA-BKK (F A380)
TG461 BKK-MEL (J)

Now the woman on the phone quoted it at 120,000 miles per person and $272 taxes and booking fee. So I probably should have gone ahead and just ticketed it then and there! But have decided to wait as have to confirm with the girlfriend that we are happy with the itinerary.

So what I have to decide is the following:

1. HKT-BKK currently gives us a 2 hour layover, hopefully enough time for a 1hr massage and that's about it, not too concerned about food as will look to have the meal on the plane. Is this long enough or should I book the earlier HKT-BKK flight at 7:00pm giving us 3hrs40min in BKK? Anyone had experiences with any of these TG HKT-BKK evening flights running late?
2. Unfortunately the direct A380 flight from CDG-BKK only has Y and J available, is it definitely worth the extra hike over to FRA for the extra F leg, I think so but open to opinions!
3. Have to decide whether to spend the day in BKK with family. Currently arrive at 6:00am straight connection to 8:00am getting in to Melbourne at 8:00pm on the Saturday night and have to go to work on the Monday. Could change to the BKK-MEL flight departing at midnight to arrive in MEL at midday on the Sunday after spending the day in BKK, but not sure if it is worth it and would like a days recovery before work I think.

Anyone have any great ideas to maximise the itinerary!

This is my 3rd DM trip booking in the last 18 months, all went smoothly on the phone and gave the lady exact flight details and she was very helpful.

Cheers,

TIL.

Follow Up: Thai Airways website down, but logged on the Lufthansa website and pulled the booking up. Selected seats for all flights, it appears Thai blocks 2F and 3F for some reason (as it is blocked on both A380 flights) which is annoying as I think 2K, 2F would be the best seats for a couple.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

if you are flying first class, then book the 3hrs 40 mins connection in Bangkok. 2 hours is pushing it for a one hour massage, if they even have an opening by the time you get there.

I would take the f sector without a second thought. business class in Thai is not fun. it's ok, but it's entirely average and merely a larger seat that you can sleep on.

skip the day in Bangkok, land at 8, get home and in bed by say 11 and then one day to recover before work.

 

[travelislife]

if you are flying first class, then book the 3hrs 40 mins connection in Bangkok. 2 hours is pushing it for a one hour massage, if they even have an opening by the time you get there.

I would take the f sector without a second thought. business class in Thai is not fun. it's ok, but it's entirely average and merely a larger seat that you can sleep on.

skip the day in Bangkok, land at 8, get home and in bed by say 11 and then one day to recover before work.

Agree MEL_traveller, except I think business class on TG's A380 will be a step up from current offerings which I have travelled on 5-6 times on the MEL-BKK route (and am travelling again at Christmas) but will stay with First, which will be my first First flights, very exciting.

As an aside all flights were searched through using awardtravelr.com, interestingly I don't think the inventory has been pulled as the same flights still have F availability. Long live TG's generous award availability! (which I think it will considering the new Thai president's idea of improving TG is through jasmine rice but that is a story for another day)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

no. the inventory probably HAS been pulled... but they added more not uncommon for at least 3-4 seats to be available in F. my parents flight next week Bangkok to Europe was showing sold out a week ago, now back to F4, but still with 2 f available for reward!

 

[QF029]

Has anyone had success upgrading from J to F (same flights) and paying the extra points without paying a change fee?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Has anyone had success upgrading from J to F (same flights) and paying the extra points without paying a change fee?

no, unless you hold high status on US.

 

[Flashback]

Ok, so yesterday I have shared 30,000+30,000 bonus between two accounts, still nothing showing up. I was going to hold off on making this booking till later in the year but with the opportunity of going F coming so cheap and noticing that TGA380 was disappearing decided to lock it in.

It generally takes the full 3 days now for points to credit, or points to share across. It's no longer instant like it used to be which is a pain as sometimes your 3 day hold can be really pushing it!

 

[anat0l]

Just having a bit of a sticky beak tonight at ANA. I'm hoping to be able to buy my folks a J or F experience next year, either to Europe or North America (the former would be better as I believe it will yield a better use of the experience).

As it stands from ANA, I'm thinking of sticking to giving them a J experience. Yes, it means I have to spend less per ticket, but moreover I'm doing random searches on ANA for 2 adults on J and F, and I'm noticing that finding pairs of seats is really, really tough. But especially in F. Yes, TG always can come through with the goods, but I never thought about just booking all TG flights (especially since I know there is definitely better than TG F out there, and I've flown them).

The other point is that booking a J ticket opens up more options (since the "handcuffs" of having to find the most F flights isn't there) - for example, TK.

That said, there are definitely a good share of people here who are booking as couples and netting a few F seats here and there - needless to say, TG is a popular choice (for an obvious reason!)

 

[Flashback]

Just having a bit of a sticky beak tonight at ANA. I'm hoping to be able to buy my folks a J or F experience next year, either to Europe or North America (the former would be better as I believe it will yield a better use of the experience).

As it stands from ANA, I'm thinking of sticking to giving them a J experience. Yes, it means I have to spend less per ticket, but moreover I'm doing random searches on ANA for 2 adults on J and F, and I'm noticing that finding pairs of seats is really, really tough. But especially in F. Yes, TG always can come through with the goods, but I never thought about just booking all TG flights (especially since I know there is definitely better than TG F out there, and I've flown them).

The other point is that booking a J ticket opens up more options (since the "handcuffs" of having to find the most F flights isn't there) - for example, TK.

That said, there are definitely a good share of people here who are booking as couples and netting a few F seats here and there - needless to say, TG is a popular choice (for an obvious reason!)

I think TG F is a good option, especially if you get the Jet Airways leased 773 ex CDG or the A380 ex FRA..... 2 seats = piece of cake to get.... you can have your cake, and eat it too :mrgreen: