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

[casanovawa]

Not sure if it would pass MPM (so have to psych myself up for those calls for about 12 months!!) but for 2014 i was thinking of doing a J class redemption PER to Europe and stop (probably FRA) then FRA down to South America on LH which has 5 destinations down there (most likely BOG) and then from there to either GRU or EZE then to JNB and back to PER on SAA....

And yes SAA don't seem to have F and F is almost impossible on LH, so not a lot of help to you if you want F, i think it will be extremely hard to get it, even without running into this MPM stuff...

 

[anat0l]

What's the current situation with South Pacific to North America itineraries with a stopover in Europe?

I know that these used to be "bookable" before, but I think recent anecdotes have reported that they are drying up (along with the clampdown).

Hope I'm not on a fool's errand here, but continuing on from the recent event where my folks are now the owners of 150k miles apiece, I did tell them that there is a chance that you can book something like Australia to Europe (stop) then North America (destination), then go home. There's even a small possibility that from America to go home, they might short-circuit route via Asia direct, rather than forcing them to go all the way back through Europe then Asia etc. Either way, if such an itinerary were possible, I think they'd be very, very keen.

An itinerary that springs to mind right now is something like SYD-BKK-CDG-FRA (stop) FRA-IAD (destination) IAD-ORD-ICN-BKK-SYD (or just ICN-SYD). (Aside: I'm thinking BKK-CDG-FRA rather than BKK-FRA because the availability is better on A380 to CDG rather than to FRA, though my folks might be miffed that they can't stop in CDG rather than FRA (stopover in hub rule)).

What probably worries me the most is possibly the MPMs being exceeded (especially on the way back to Australia), or just simply that the agents will be curious as to why the loopy routing ('cos I think they're wising up and seeing cases like these). I've got no access to EF or KVS, and in any case I know little about routings and MPMs (other than until recently, agents rarely checked them anyway). I know we've seen a couple of doozy itineraries mimicking a similar situation here, though suffice to say they were in J and some of them were "forced" due to zones.

Anyone want to weigh in? Or is this a job for Flyertalk instead?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

anat0l - as a rough guide, go to great circle mapper and do IAD-SYD. then add 20%. This will give you a guide to MPM (which includes +25%). Also go to the star alliance booking tool and aeroplan and enter in IAD-SYD. See what they give you. If they route you via ORD and ICN then I think you have a good chance of USDM allowing it. (From memory i think the MPM to ORD ex Au is about 12600 miles?? so play around with that, IAD may be slightly less depending on which route US uses)

If neither of those allow, still try and see if they'll let you do it. Nothing to lose.

What i would strongly recommend is allowing USDM to come up with a route for you. If they suggest a routing via Asia then you can suggest a 'shorter' routing via Europe on the way home (thereby creating your mini-RTW), or v.v.

I'm not actually sure if you are 'short-circuiting' going back via Asia. IAD-ORD is 2 hours, ORD-ICN is 14 or so, ICN-BKK another 6 and then to SYD 9 giving 31 hours. IAD-FRA is 7, to BKK is another 10, followed by SYD at 9 = 26 hours. And all possible in F (IAD-FRA on UA F connecting with the TG A380 connecting to SYD).

 

[robcuk]

What's the current situation with South Pacific to North America itineraries with a stopover in Europe?

I know that these used to be "bookable" before, but I think recent anecdotes have reported that they are drying up (along with the clampdown).

Hope I'm not on a fool's errand here, but continuing on from the recent event where my folks are now the owners of 150k miles apiece, I did tell them that there is a chance that you can book something like Australia to Europe (stop) then North America (destination), then go home. There's even a small possibility that from America to go home, they might short-circuit route via Asia direct, rather than forcing them to go all the way back through Europe then Asia etc. Either way, if such an itinerary were possible, I think they'd be very, very keen.

An itinerary that springs to mind right now is something like SYD-BKK-CDG-FRA (stop) FRA-IAD (destination) IAD-ORD-ICN-BKK-SYD (or just ICN-SYD). (Aside: I'm thinking BKK-CDG-FRA rather than BKK-FRA because the availability is better on A380 to CDG rather than to FRA, though my folks might be miffed that they can't stop in CDG rather than FRA (stopover in hub rule)).

What probably worries me the most is possibly the MPMs being exceeded (especially on the way back to Australia), or just simply that the agents will be curious as to why the loopy routing ('cos I think they're wising up and seeing cases like these). I've got no access to EF or KVS, and in any case I know little about routings and MPMs (other than until recently, agents rarely checked them anyway). I know we've seen a couple of doozy itineraries mimicking a similar situation here, though suffice to say they were in J and some of them were "forced" due to zones.

Anyone want to weigh in? Or is this a job for Flyertalk instead?

I recently booked SYD BKK FRA (Stopover) ORD (Destination) FRA CDG BKK SYD

I didnt want to push my luck trying to obtain a stopover in the Uk so I will organise flights from FRA
myself, although it's currently looking like a 5hr 40 min wait for a flight back to blighty :-(
Although, im tempted to fly up to Berlin, spend a couple of days there and then fly back to the UK from
there.

FRA to BKK wasnt showing any openings when i looked so I have gone for the CDG option too.

When doing a dummy booking on the Thai site although it hasnt changed (there are only 3 seats taken in first)
there are still no more seats showing so the mrs has to stay in J for now!! I was hoping after I booked one
seat another would open :-( not the case.

Im with United across to ORD, tempted to ring just before I start the itinerary to see if LH shows up but I think
I had stood more chance winning the Oz Lotto

 

[bcworld]

Some info here on postponement of TG A380 service to CDG - now tentatively starting in April 2013 instead of Feb.

THAI Postpones Planned A380 Paris Service due mid-Feb 2013 | Airline Route – Worldwide Airline Route Updates

 

[bcworld]

Something else of interest - apparently CA are bringing the 77W to SYD which means another F class option.

Air China to Start Boeing 777-300ER Service to Sydney from Dec 2012 | Airline Route – Worldwide Airline Route Updates

 

[MEL_Traveller]

something else of interest - apparently ca are bringing the 77w to syd which means another f class option.

air china to start boeing 777-300er service to sydney from dec 2012 | airline route – worldwide airline route updates

oooooooooooo!!!!!!!

 

[casanovawa]

Well i just ticketed a PER-BKK-CDG-FRA (STOP) -LAX (DEST) -ICN-SIN-PER....

Not a 100% sure if this did break any MPM or whether i just got an agent and supervisor who weren't too hard core, although i think that MPM is automatically done these days so may be hard to avoid... But anyway i did it without researching the MPM for LAX... Booked on the TG A380 in July so hopefully it is actually flying by then...

 

[lmere12]

I'm feeling tempted to change my flight next May to Europe from J to F on TG.... with a 10 hr delay in BKK could be a nice option Everytime I read an F story feel like changing. Might just do it.. !!

OK well I did it !!!

not all in F but the convenience to stay in Paris a full day as opposed to a morning hopefully will outweigh F to J.
SYD - BKK - CDG - ATH - JTR // CDG - VIE - BKK - SYD

Cost was $150 to make change but I added ATH-JTR and saved almost $100 - JUSTIFIED (in my head anyways lol )

 

[MEL_Traveller]

will outweigh F to J.

I doubt it

 

[lmere12]

I doubt it

Mel_ Traveller hush....!!! lol. the F also would've been 11 hrs in BKK, now 5...

I will let you know anyways next yr. We are pushed for time so a full day in Paris is good and we'll just have to suck it up. F back from BKK to SYD.

 

[neon_crossing]

Just came back from a US Trip flying:

MEL-AKL-LAX-stop-EWR
EWR-ORD-LAX-SYD-MEL
Flying NZ & UA in J.

Which was my second successful US DM booking.

This still is the best bloody deal ever.

Just booked my parents in J on SG/TG/LH on:
ADL-SIN-BKK-(New TG A380)-FRA-VCE
BCN-FRA-(New TG 380)-BKK-SIN-ADL
in the process of purchasing points for them now
Cost $2576 including all fees and charges each.
What a great deal considering the best economy price I could find was $2200

I love this forum!

 

[casanovawa]

I guess to take advantage of this Perth people would either have to take hopefully an included additional J flight to Mel or Syd or else you booked it for after the EK 380 starts flying into Perth reputedly after mid year 2013 if the QF/EK tie up is approved... If an AA award could be used to book a QF codeshare on EK metal??? Else no F from Perth... Still not as good a value as the USDM for being able to get multi-continent itineraries it seems....

For those who did list flying QF F long haul on their bucket list it does seem eminently achieveable i suppose...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

question if anyone knows - is there a new account 'age' requirement like for USDM. i can't seem to see anything...

 

[serfty]

Some posts have been moved to the American Airlines forum:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....advantage/buy-miles-promo-50-bonus-45014.html

 

[ermen]

question if anyone knows - is there a new account 'age' requirement like for USDM. i can't seem to see anything...

To buy points, new account needs to be open for 12 days I believe...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

To buy points, new account needs to be open for 12 days I believe...

thanks you are correct. but the question was in relation to the AA promo currently running which has now been moved to its separate thread)

 

[Timba-Jet]

Any routing suggestions for getting to BUE ...... preferably flying F ex-SYD?

Getting back to a topic from a couple days ago. Between my friends and i we have managed to book these a few months ago flying out Dec.

(TG)SYD-BKK-LHR(UA)-EWR-EZE // (TK)GRU-IST-MUC(TG)-BKK-SYD.
At the time of booking I tried for:
GRU-EWR/JFK-ICN-SYD, but was told if exceeded MPM.

Inbound then later changed to: (SA)EZE-JNB-HKG(TG)-BKK(stopover)-SYD.

I also tried to change outbound to SYD-BKK-BOM-JNB-EZE, but was told this exceeded MPM when the agent tried to ticket it. (WTF!!! This is more direct than via LHR & NYC). I subsequent lost my EWR-EZE J flight , as only Y could be rebooked.

My friends have got
SYD-LAX-GUA-PTY-GRU // GRU-JNB-PER-AKL-SYD.
Again they tried to go via ICN-Nth America but was told exceeds MPM.

We had limited choices as we are traveling over Xmas season.

A good way is to get to FRA and take LH's direct FRA-EZE service but availability is hard. Also if you can get to MAD, then AV offers MAD-xBOG-EZE.

During my many hours on the phone, I've run into agents that told me their are no valid routings from Aust to Sth America, my guess is they check the star alliance tool which show no options. So HUACA and be very patient.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

GRU-EWR/JFK-ICN-SYD, but was told if exceeded MPM.

I also tried to change outbound to SYD-BKK-BOM-JNB-EZE, but was told this exceeded MPM when the agent tried to ticket it. (WTF!!! This is more direct than via LHR & NYC).

My friends have got
SYD-LAX-GUA-PTY-GRU // GRU-JNB-PER-AKL-SYD.
Again they tried to go via ICN-Nth America but was told exceeds MPM.

MPM can vary depending on which route you are flying, even to the same destination. It might have been one of the options was just a few hundred miles over MPM.

 

[smit0847]

Can anyone explain MPM to me? I dont understand it.