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

[burmans]

While it's a guess these did come around very regularly in the past, indeed last month or so is the exception, these promotions were just about continuous the back half of last year. There would have to be IMO a reasonable chance the next month or two would see the start of a new promotion if the recent past is anything to go by!

 

[hedge]

Your guess is as good as any. Fingers crossed that it happens very soon.

WRT to your comment about wanting to fly PER-JFK, buying points at full price, business class is 110k return, thus being 110 x US$35 x 1.075 = ~$4138 + taxes (~$200).

If you are happy with that price, then I would call US and see if they have space availability, and whether you can place them on a 72hr hold, then buy the points at full price.

Thanks for the cost estimation. It's in the awkward territory...currently double what a Y CX ticket from PER-HKG-JFK is. Or double + a bit of my Y SQ/LH PER-SIN-FRA-JFK ticket using points plus pay on Avianca.

 

[wafliron]

US has just updated the footnotes of the award chart to note that from Jan 1 2013 (yeah, right!) LH F redemption is no longer available.

Interesting - I wonder if they're flat-out not allowed now, or if this is US's way of telling their customers about LH F's extreme scarcity?

thankfully I just scraped in my last few LH f redemptions on New Year's Eve. now I understand why the agent was saying I was lucky to get them just in time!

For a trip in the next few weeks? Or did you somehow get lucky and find some LH F availability a fair way in advance?

 

[anat0l]

I thought you were limited to buying 50,000 miles? Or was that just a limitation on the amount of bonus miles you could receive during a promo?

With these promos you are ordinarily limited to receiving a maximum of 50,000 miles in bonus.

I believe there is no limit to the number of miles you can buy, share or gift. Naturally, not all of those miles will attract a bonus.

 

[pangwen]

With these promos you are ordinarily limited to receiving a maximum of 50,000 miles in bonus.

I believe there is no limit to the number of miles you can buy, share or gift. Naturally, not all of those miles will attract a bonus.

Ah, I see!

Having a closer look at the redemption chart, I notice that it also applies to redemptions on Hawaiian (with the note that HA redemptions are only allowed for intra-island and South Pacific flights). Since Australia fits into the "South Pacific" region in the table, has anyone been able to get any BNE-HNL or SYD-HNL redemptions through USDM? I couldn't seem to find anything about this through a quick search.

Seeing as AC, UA and NZ premium reward seats are like hen's teeth a lot of the time (and the via ICN route may be over MPM), this could offer another way of getting across the Pacific...

 

[Flashback]

Interesting - I wonder if they're flat-out not allowed now, or if this is US's way of telling their customers about LH F's extreme scarcity?

I wouldn't say scarcity - they've just been outright blocked for many months now. There's been a report on FT recently that someone finally found an agent that would long sell and get the seat that way (it appears agents have been told they'd lose their job if they did...) so very lucky to have recently got a long sell.

 

[wafliron]

I wouldn't say scarcity - they've just been outright blocked for many months now. There's been a report on FT recently that someone finally found an agent that would long sell and get the seat that way (it appears agents have been told they'd lose their job if they did...) so very lucky to have recently got a long sell.

Didn't MEL_Traveller report booking one just a few posts back? Or was that sarcasm which I've completely missed?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Didn't MEL_Traveller report booking one just a few posts back? Or was that sarcasm which I've completely missed?

yes! (it was having a dig at USDM saying LH f wasn't available from 1 January when they could have just said 'not available' period)

 

[wafliron]

yes! (it was having a dig at USDM saying LH f wasn't available from 1 January when they could have just said 'not available' period)

OK, that's my daft moment for 2013 then. Glad I got it out of the way early

 

[ferni]

Still no TG award flights showing up in November.

 

[anat0l]

Just had a quick call with US Dividend Miles call centre to confirm a few rules.

I just asked off the cuff whether I'd be allowed to book an itinerary that goes from South Pacific to USA with a stopover in Europe. The agent said that'd be totally fine. I pressed, "Are there any rules or restrictions I should know about?" She said no. :shock:

Nothing about MPMs or the like.

I also asked off the cuff as to what are the restrictions on a stopover. She replied, "It can't be in the same zone (i.e. same zone as the originating zone)". I didn't press on whether it had to be a *A hub, but then I asked, "Are there any other restrictions apart from that?" She said no. :shock:

Nothing about *A hubs.

Finally I asked her whether there were any special procedures I or my folks should follow, as I will be redeeming miles on their behalf later (i.e. and don't want to get caught in any identity theft guards etc.). She said that when I book, I won't need anything special, and the call centre will use the details in my folks' accounts to call them about 3-4 days after completing booking to check that they are happy with the miles being used. We can also call the US Dividend Miles centre to merge their bookings so it becomes one ticket (i.e. two pax on one master itinerary).

Perhaps I got a 'dumb' agent. Too bad I wasn't ready to ticket there and then. :shock::shock: Have to do it soon though, some of the availability on the sectors I'm tossing with are looking a wee bit thin for my liking, and with 2 adults to find for that's nothing to sneeze at.

Looks like my folks might just miss out on TG F on the A380, but they should at least enjoy the 773 service, which should be similar: I hear the 9W leased aircraft are being returned this year, but should be replaced with other leased 773s from BOC Aviation. Not sure if these new ones will have similar hard product to the Jet 773s (unlikely), the new F product on the A380s (maybe) or a different F product altogether (hopefully not inferior to the previous iteration of F product). Of course, not hoping I book then my parents get an equipment swap with resulting operational downgrade!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just had a quick call with US Dividend Miles call centre to confirm a few rules.

I just asked off the cuff whether I'd be allowed to book an itinerary that goes from South Pacific to USA with a stopover in Europe. The agent said that'd be totally fine. I pressed, "Are there any rules or restrictions I should know about?" She said no. :shock:

Nothing about MPMs or the like.

I also asked off the cuff as to what are the restrictions on a stopover. She replied, "It can't be in the same zone (i.e. same zone as the originating zone)". I didn't press on whether it had to be a *A hub, but then I asked, "Are there any other restrictions apart from that?" She said no. :shock:

Nothing about *A hubs.

Finally I asked her whether there were any special procedures I or my folks should follow, as I will be redeeming miles on their behalf later (i.e. and don't want to get caught in any identity theft guards etc.). She said that when I book, I won't need anything special, and the call centre will use the details in my folks' accounts to call them about 3-4 days after completing booking to check that they are happy with the miles being used. We can also call the US Dividend Miles centre to merge their bookings so it becomes one ticket (i.e. two pax on one master itinerary).

Perhaps I got a 'dumb' agent. Too bad I wasn't ready to ticket there and then. :shock::shock: Have to do it soon though, some of the availability on the sectors I'm tossing with are looking a wee bit thin for my liking, and with 2 adults to find for that's nothing to sneeze at.

Looks like my folks might just miss out on TG F on the A380, but they should at least enjoy the 773 service, which should be similar: I hear the 9W leased aircraft are being returned this year, but should be replaced with other leased 773s from BOC Aviation. Not sure if these new ones will have similar hard product to the Jet 773s (unlikely), the new F product on the A380s (maybe) or a different F product altogether (hopefully not inferior to the previous iteration of F product). Of course, not hoping I book then my parents get an equipment swap with resulting operational downgrade!

As you have found it all depends on the agent you get. This agent may appear more flexible but you may get held up at the rate desk. You may get another agent who decides to enforce the hub rule. The MPM rule is 'new' and you may find an agent who is strict on enforcing it. The agent you spoke to gave incorrect information for example on a stopover not being allowed in the originating zone - if you fly PEK-NRT-BKK-PEK you most certainly can stop-over in NRT and that is in the same originating zone (although that doesn't really apply to departures from Australia unless you were wanting to stop in SYD for example after departing MEL).

Once an agent decides to make such a determination you can run into problems if they note your booking. Generally once an agent decides (and if their supervisor agrees... the supervisor or rate desk doesn't always agree), then trying to find another agent to go against that can be hard. Sometimes you just have to get rid of the whole booking and booking history (cancel it or let it lapse) and start again.

There is no problem booking AU-Europe-USA - she was right on that. But that information is already widely known. I have no idea what the agent meant about creating one master itinerary. Either both lots of points come out of one account, or they come out of separate ones. If they come out of separate ones they can link the itineraries, but you'll still have separate bookings. Otherwise if miles are coming out of separate accounts they actually need to split an itinerary to allow ticketing.

I am unaware of USDM ever calling anyone 3-4 days after to check they are happy with the miles. I have only been asked once to confirm the use of miles and that was done at the time of ticketing. But as I have said before, if you book miles for the people listed in the account, what's the point of ringing back to confirm the people are happy? Not like the miles can be stolen or used by a thrid party fraudulently (unless they had the same names). Plus an itinerary may be mailed so the person would see account activity.

If there is availability now, book now. The worst thing you'll come up against is a $150 change fee if you change your mind.

 

[burmans]

Not like the miles can be stolen or used by a thrid party fraudulently (unless they had the same names).

Not sure what you are referring too here, you can book for anyone, in fact I have done this, booked a flight for my sister using points from my wifes account (I am on her account as authorised to operate it). Neither my wife or sister have the same last name as me. There are definitely potential opportunities for fraud there is they don't have proper controls in place!

Note I'm saying potential, in my case I believe the right controls were in place to identify, e.g. I did have authority to operate and when it came time to pay they did verify that my billing address was the same as my wifes.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure what you are referring too here, you can book for anyone, in fact I have done this, booked a flight for my sister using points from my wifes account (I am on her account as authorised to operate it). Neither my wife or sister have the same last name as me. There are definitely potential opportunities for fraud there is they don't have proper controls in place!

Note I'm saying potential, in my case I believe the right controls were in place to identify, e.g. I did have authority to operate and when it came time to pay they did verify that my billing address was the same as my wifes.

I book an itinerary for someone else from their account - I cannot see the opportunity for fraud. The account is in their name, the flights are in their name, they require suitable ID for check-in/security.

If i were to book an itinerary for someone other than the name on the account then I agree there needs to be security. But my comment was in response to USDM saying they would call 3-4 days after to see if the account holder was happy for the miles to be taken out. My question was 'why bother?' as this really adds little if all of the criteria above are met (tickets in same name as account etc) because I can't see the element of fraud. Even the TSA (for domestic USA travel) has to match the name on the boarding pass with photo ID.

 

[burmans]

I book an itinerary for someone else from their account - I cannot see the opportunity for fraud. The account is in their name, the flights are in their name, they require suitable ID for check-in/security.

If i were to book an itinerary for someone other than the name on the account then I agree there needs to be security. But my comment was in response to USDM saying they would call 3-4 days after to see if the account holder was happy for the miles to be taken out. My question was 'why bother?' as this really adds little if all of the criteria above are met (tickets in same name as account etc) because I can't see the element of fraud. Even the TSA (for domestic USA travel) has to match the name on the boarding pass with photo ID.

OK. Makes sense, incidentally people keep refering to "maybe" getting their itineraries, does this still exist as a proble, have done 3 bookings recently and have no problem with emails arriving usually within about an hour after booking.

 

[peachy3333]

Mel_traveller - But what if you are booking the flight without that person's consent or for someone you have a grudge on/dislike, without them knowing. Then that would be a big mistake would it not?

 

[anat0l]

Mel_traveller - But what if you are booking the flight without that person's consent or for someone you have a grudge on/dislike, without them knowing. Then that would be a big mistake would it not?

I suppose the implication there is then:

• Booking without that person's consent - why would you, unless (b) or as a surprise.
• Booking for someone you have a grudge on / dislike - if you know someone has a grudge against you, you'd probably be best not to be sharing your US DM account number with them. Naturally, if the relationship has just soured, or you're about to go through a bitter divorce, then that might be a problem.

The overall result is that these cases should be extremely remote and mostly preventable.

Of course, I have heard of stories of people who have called, accessed a person's booking via their FF account, changed the booking (e.g. shifted it days earlier, causing the person to no show)... tends to be easier for married couples who are divorcing rather than other kinds of couples, or between two people of the same gender (easier to impersonate a person you are targeting if you have a voice which matches the gender that they are!).


Overall, I just wanted to check whether there was any measures or not that I had to follow. They mentioned that one, which may or may not come to fruition, but even if they do, it should be trivial.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK. Makes sense, incidentally people keep refering to "maybe" getting their itineraries, does this still exist as a proble, have done 3 bookings recently and have no problem with emails arriving usually within about an hour after booking.

they are getting better with sending emails lately!

Mel_traveller - But what if you are booking the flight without that person's consent or for someone you have a grudge on/dislike, without them knowing. Then that would be a big mistake would it not?

if you booked for someone you had a grudge against then the person would (a) get an emailed itinerary (not always, but as I said above they are getting better); (b) they'd see the miles missing through their monthly account statements via email; (c) they'd see the balance discrepancy if they log-on on (may not always happen if they're not expecting anything); you (the booking person) couldn't use the ticket because it's in their name and (d) a cancellation would result is a charge of $150 to redeposit the miles... BUT... I (making the booking) would be out of pocket on my credit card for the booking fee and taxes until such time as the ticket would be cancelled.

If I hold the grudge and book the ticket in MY name then I agree USDM should verify with the account holder that the use of the miles is authorised (different name to that on the account) and that is what happened when i booked a ticket for me out of my mom's account (for the benefit of any USDM rep reading that was a no barter no fee arrangement so no need to audit the account )

 

[NDiddy]

Hey guys,

Having a bit of an issue with US Airways when trying to book our second redemption. Does anyone have a link to the T&C's for *A award redemption with particular reference to the stopover that is allowed? Many thanks for the help - thought this one would be easy but alas I think it might be a case of HUACA - just want to be armed with the info this time.

FWIW I'm trying to book the following:
SYD-LAX UA J (Destination)
LAX-ICN OZ F
ICN-BKK TG J (Stopover)
BKK-SYD TG F

Apparently I'm not allowed 2 stopovers and no matter how many times I tried to explain myself I got the "system won't allow us to ticket this". It's still on hold so haven't lost the booking but a bit frustrating that this is causing a problem. Given all the MPM discussion I was expecting to potentially have that conversation but they're adamant that 2 stopovers (even though it's clearly just 1) are not allowed.

Anyway I think a quick ref to the T&C's with the supervisor should sort this out.

 

[Bofter]

US Airways | Dividend Miles membership guide

Under Redeem Miles and Partner Travel:
"One en route stopover per itinerary is permitted for select international travel awards."

Sadly it doesn't define stopover and destination that I could see