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

[spudwa]

After our recent First class trip to the UK from Perth with Thai my wife and I are planning a similar trip to New York next May. I've read that getting over the Atlantic can be a lot harder than getting to Europe and I've just read that trans pacific is hard too. Is that just for Business or First class too? As the East coast US is exactly half way around the world from Perth routing east or west probably doesn't matter. I can't believe that DM cost is virtually the same

Paul

 

[sr81]

Routings accross to the pond are hard to get but not impossible.

You need to look a way in advance and be creative. I have found CO and TK to be pretty good with TK the most consistent. Check BRU, CPH, IST and FRA/MUC for options.

LH have pretty much closed down the award availability.

If you need to fly in the next 100 days you will stuggle but a little further out you should get lucky if you are flexible. Forget about F class unless you can book close to the date and LX opens up from ZRH.

 

[Forster]

Firstly, many thanks to all posters for advice and guidance.

I opened an account 11 days ago and have just put two J flights on hold for Syd - Munich (via Bkk) with Thai (naturally).

By my calcs I should be able to buy 50,000 miles (+50,000 free miles) in both my girlfriend's and my account by Sat and then seal the deal on Sun (or Sat as it would be in the US).

I also need to get my gf's Dad to gift 20,000 miles to me and 20,000 to my gf to get the 120,000 points we each need. I guess gifting takes around 24hrs to complete.

Just wondered if all this looks ok or whether there are any issues/problems that are obvious to people more experienced in following this process than I am am.

 

[bcworld]

Firstly, many thanks to all posters for advice and guidance.

I opened an account 11 days ago and have just put two J flights on hold for Syd - Munich (via Bkk) with Thai (naturally).

By my calcs I should be able to buy 50,000 miles (+50,000 free miles) in both my girlfriend's and my account by Sat and then seal the deal on Sun (or Sat as it would be in the US).

I also need to get my gf's Dad to gift 20,000 miles to me and 20,000 to my gf to get the 120,000 points we each need. I guess gifting takes around 24hrs to complete.

Just wondered if all this looks ok or whether there are any issues/problems that are obvious to people more experienced in following this process than I am am.

I'm not sure where gifting comes in to your scenario? Gifting is also instantaneous by the way.

There is no promo running for gifting currently so there is no reason to have someone else gift you the points.

Your options are you each buy the additional 20k miles you need. Cost = 20000 * 0.0275 * 1.075 = USD591.25

OR

Your gf's dad's accounts buys 20k miles in the promo to get 40k (Cost as above), then he has to SHARE (not gift) each of you 20k, sharing costs $0.01 per mile + tax + $30 fee and is also not subject to promo.

So each 20k share will cost = 20000 * 0.01 * 1.075 + 30 = USD245

In total the sharing option is therefore USD540 each as opposed to USD591 if you just bought them yourself, only $50 difference.

However there is of course a very reasonable chance of a gifting promo starting when this one ends in which case you and your GF you be able to gift each other the requried points for just USD295 each...if you waited for that possibility you would of course lose your current reservations.

 

[dean_au]

You should first of all look at theitinerary you want and the value of a RTW ticket - for example, if you just want to do Europe and the USA, and only need one stopover, then you could just redeem a ticket AUS-Europe (stop)-USA.

However, if you want stops in Asia, Europe and USA then a RTW may be for you (more stops allowed).

J availability is pretyt good on Thai - pretty much wide open. Nothing like QF classic awards.

Transatlantic is usually ok, you'll find something, might just not be on the carrier of choice (for example Lufthansa or Swiss) - but there are lots of options.

Coming back (or going) via the Pacific can be more problematic. United is booked out months (read 1 year) in advance as soon as reward seats open up. But you can find the odd flight. Air Canada also hard. Air New Zealand is a better option - with slightly more seats, but you gotta keep an eye out as seats can come and go pretty quick.

While you are allowed to fly trans pac to USA from Australia (eg SYD-BKK-LAX on TG) I'm not sure whether that would be allowed on a RTW as it might represent some backtracking if you have already been to asia on the outbound. Someone might be able to advise you on that.

Thanks very much for your help MEL_Traveller.... much appreciated have just purchased my miles...

 

[Foreigner]

Thanks to posters here. Have just received my 100k miles.

 

[hummel]

I'll be buying two lots of 100k tomorrow for the lady & I.

Then hoping for another promo soon

 

[travelislife]

Can I just thank everyone on this thread. I have followed through and purchased two tickets using bought miles for a ski trip early next year. Booked in J on Thai MEL-BKK (Stay overnight, catch up with family, but less than 24 hours so not a stopover) then BKK-LAX, LAX-ASE, 2 weeks of hitting up some of the best slopes in the world then DEN-LAX, LAX-BKK, BKK-MEL. All flights except for US domestic are in J, and price paid, $1830 (including the 110,000 miles bought, and amazingly reasonable taxes), amazing considering I couldn't even book all these flights in economy for that amount at the moment.

So thanks again to everyones help on here.

 

[spudwa]

Can I just thank everyone on this thread. I have followed through and purchased two tickets using bought miles for a ski trip early next year. Booked in J on Thai MEL-BKK (Stay overnight, catch up with family, but less than 24 hours so not a stopover) then BKK-LAX, LAX-ASE, 2 weeks of hitting up some of the best slopes in the world then DEN-LAX, LAX-BKK, BKK-MEL. All flights except for US domestic are in J, and price paid, $1830 (including the 110,000 miles bought, and amazingly reasonable taxes), amazing considering I couldn't even book all these flights in economy for that amount at the moment.

So thanks again to everyones help on here.

Was there any problem booking trans pacific from BKK. From MEL you travel a fair way west before heading east again. I'm thinking of similar routing but from Perth and was wondering if they would try and force me to go via Europe/UK

 

[travelislife]

No issue at all, I just stated what I wanted and they went through and pulled it out of the system. I had first used the Aeroplan tool to find availability for my flights so they didn't have to stuff around getting knockbacks from the system. Called using skype, so all free on that front. You are right that going via Bangkok is out of the way, but I have family there so will be good to see them and also going from Melbourne most options I was looking at required going via Sydney anyway, and that was all going to be in economy so this is a winner for me!

 

[lmere12]

Is it possible to buy 60k points to travel one way or do you have to buy rtn 120 (europe) with this program? Am new to the thought of buying miles, but looks great.

 

[yohy?!]

Is it possible to buy 60k points to travel one way or do you have to buy rtn 120 (europe) with this program? Am new to the thought of buying miles, but looks great.

Only Round Trip redemptions are possible unfortunately - it is a great little offer though

 

[travelislife]

Is it possible to buy 60k points to travel one way or do you have to buy rtn 120 (europe) with this program? Am new to the thought of buying miles, but looks great.

No you can't. The program only allows return flight redemptions. And the promotion finishes today unfortunately.

 

[anat0l]

No you can't. The program only allows return flight redemptions. And the promotion finishes today unfortunately.

Technically.... (not that this helps anyone)...

• I believe the promo ends tomorrow, since we are ahead of the US by 1 day. Still, you need to be a new member of US Dividend Miles at least 11-12 days before you can purchase miles.
• You can redeem for one-way flights, but it will be charged the same as a return redemption. So whilst it is certainly possible, it doesn't take very long for one to realise it's not a good idea.

 

[lmere12]

I am already a member (pre empting possible use) so can buy, don't have long to decide Couldn't decide between waiting for an AA or US DM. Seems to be great offer atm providing seat avail aren't too bad. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

How do you request a long transit stop so as to not use up your stopover?

Eg. SYD-BKK-LHR-JFK

I want a 22hr transit in BKK to visit some friends but my actual stopover request is LHR. Do I simply source flight times out of BKK within the 24hr period while stipulating my stopover will be in LHR?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How do you request a long transit stop so as to not use up your stopover?

Eg. SYD-BKK-LHR-JFK

I want a 22hr transit in BKK to visit some friends but my actual stopover request is LHR. Do I simply source flight times out of BKK within the 24hr period while stipulating my stopover will be in LHR?

you can try, but you have no right to do so. US is clear that they have the right to determine the routing, and the most direct routing. Basically you are asking for a SYD-LHR flight, so they will plug those points into their computer and give you what they see, which won't necessarily be a <24 hr connection.

The best way of doing it MIGHT be to select days on which the straight through connection is not available, OR, you could say that the 0500 (or whatever it is) arrival into LHR is too early for your friends to come pick you up so could you take a later flight.

They may consider any forced connection, even if less than 24 hours, and if it is at your choosing, to be considered a stopover.

 

[anat0l]

How do you request a long transit stop so as to not use up your stopover?

Eg. SYD-BKK-LHR-JFK

I want a 22hr transit in BKK to visit some friends but my actual stopover request is LHR. Do I simply source flight times out of BKK within the 24hr period while stipulating my stopover will be in LHR?

That would, IMO, be the best way to go about it.

I don't even know if you have to specify a stopover or not. The timing characteristics (i.e. a period of greater than 24 hours) should make that obvious when the agent 'validates' the routing before they throw it into ticketing.

 

[Alanslegal]

How do you request a long transit stop so as to not use up your stopover?

Eg. SYD-BKK-LHR-JFK

I want a 22hr transit in BKK to visit some friends but my actual stopover request is LHR. Do I simply source flight times out of BKK within the 24hr period while stipulating my stopover will be in LHR?

ime you just source/select the flight and times u want, so if u want a 23hr59m transit then just tell them the exact flights.

so you will b requesting a syd to nyc with a stopoverin lon, then list the flights.

 

[travelislife]

Definitely just source your flights and say what you want leg to leg. This way especially if you have already checked that there is availability it will make there life easy. Then at the very end their booking engine will calculate the points and dollars cost and if you have met the routing rules. If you don't get a friendly agent just hang up and call back apologising for the call drop out.