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

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm looking at booking a redemption SYD-CDG in F return in Sept/Oct with a stopover in BKK for a couple of days on the return leg. When I look at AwardTravelr for the return flights SYD-CDG, I can find F flights on the day I want to travel and also a couple of days later. When I search just CDG-BKK, no F flights come up.

If there is a CDG-SYD F flight stopping in Bangkok on the date I want to stopover and then another CDG-SYD F flight a couple of days later when I want to continue on to SYD, how will USDM search the flights?

Am I likely to get F for the entire return?

As you say - you can just break up the itinerary as necessary. So search just SYD-BKK, then BKK-CDG etc. USDM will search for availability on each sector just like you did. You may get an agent who tries to search for the single itinerary SYD-CDG - then you may end up with problems. If you get one of those make some excuse to hang up and call back.

 

[bcworld]

These are few & far between so I thought I'd post here - excellent Air China C class trip report (77W).

Air China in C is awesome! (PEK-CDG; pro photos, too!) - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[robcuk]

We flew back from Zurich 2 weeks ago with LX and CA. LX didn't leave me wanting more to be honest as they ran out of the starter I wanted and I think half of business had no choice and they ran out of dessert full stop. The lounge in Zurich wasn't overly impressive either - perhaps I'm being harsh but when comparing it to Singapore or an Emirates lounge it wasn't very impressive. The Swiss Seat was ok though as was the entertainment system.

We stopped in Beijing for 4 hours before flying onto Shanghai. Unfortunately we had to collect out bags after each leg which was a bit of a pain as I had a bike! The other thing to be careful of if doing a similar trip is that they have 2 airports in Shanghai and we flew into one and out of the other. Its about an hour between the two although i dont remember much as i fell asleep as soon as i got on the coach.

Although we didn't get the chance to explore Shanghai we managed the Maglev which was impressive.

As for CA, the service was good, the seat to Syd was very comfortable especially as a bed although a slight grumble was the seat was a little limited in being able to move where you wanted it. The food was average and the choice of films and Tv was poor so you may want to load your iPad/laptop up with films before boarding.

Overall though I'd use CA again because I found the seat so comfy.

 

[Alanslegal]

Just some brainstorming here ..... I am looking to book for myself and +1 an ex-NYC to Sydney and then back to Europe.

1. Am I allowed NYC-xx_-SYD-xx_-EUR as I am happy to not need to go back to USA?

a) if the above is allowed, I assume I lose my stopover opportunity because of the open-jaw start/finish (say in BKK)?

2. If 1(a) is correct, I could book NYC-xx_-SYD-BKK-EUR-NYC with a stopover in BKK and not turn up for the EUR-NYC flight. I would be happy to book that leg in Y just so not to waste any J/F award space.

 

[anat0l]

Just some brainstorming here ..... I am looking to book for myself and +1 an ex-NYC to Sydney and then back to Europe.

1. Am I allowed NYC-xx_-SYD-xx_-EUR as I am happy to not need to go back to USA?

a) if the above is allowed, I assume I lose my stopover opportunity because of the open-jaw start/finish (say in BKK)?

2. If 1(a) is correct, I could book NYC-xx_-SYD-BKK-EUR-NYC with a stopover in BKK and not turn up for the EUR-NYC flight. I would be happy to book that leg in Y just so not to waste any J/F award space.

Not sure about the open jaw in another region - you may need to call up on that one.

As for the throwaway ticket, I'd only be concerned as if you had a stopover in BKK, this means that your BKK-EUR-NYC leg would require a baggage short check, or somehow your BKK-EUR and EUR-NYC legs would need to be wide enough apart that you can convince someone in BKK to only check it to EUR and it sounds reasonable. Of course, you can easily get around this by not checking in anything.

As for the consequences of no-showing / throwing away the last sector, no ideas there. My gut tells me nothing will happen (you won't even get a black mark on your record), so if you're feeling up to it, just go for it...

 

[ferni]

Ok need some advice/help please...


I've booked a few of these USDM J/F flights over the last couple of years and never had any trouble, always kept them pretty simple routings...


I've got a slightly less simple routing I booked in November for a trip coming up in March that looks(or did) something like this


MEL-BKK TG J
BKK-BRU TG J
BRU-LIS TP J
LIS-FAO TP J<destination>
CDG-BKK TG J<stop>
BKK-MEL TG J


Yes I know this is a stop over and openjaw and should not be allowed but I just asked nicely and the operator didn't blink just booked it and ticketed it (confirmed with Thai and TAP). I also at the time got the email from US with the eticket and info that matched exactly what I booked.


I've been checking it every week or so and today I checked the THAI PNR on thais website and the booking is all messed up. It's showing:


FRI 11:35 MEL SIN SQJ (I never had any SQ bookings in my ticket)
FRI 18:15 SIN BKK TG J
SAT 15:05 MEL BKK TG J (somehow I magically get back to MEL )
SAT 00:30 BKK BRU TJ J (This flight leaves at 12:30AM which is before I leave mel on the above flight)


CDG BKK
BKK MEL (These 2 flights still correct dates/times etc...)


So I login to USAir site to see what it says, and it's different again. It has


FRI 6:15 PM SIN BKK TG J (Same as thais site but shows no connecting flight out of MEL to SIN)
FRI 12:30 AM BKK BRU TG J
SAT 3:05 PM MEL BKK TG J (Somehow I'm now back in Melbourne )
SUN 11:35 AM BRU LIS TP J
SUN 3:40 PM LIS FAO TP J


CDG BKK
BKK MEL (These 2 flights still correct dates/times).


So as you can see something happened and I guess USAir 'tried' to fix it. I haven't had any notification.... So I need to call them to try and sort this out. I'm a little flexible that if they need me to leave Friday and get to Faro Saturday I can do that, but I have to be there by Sunday as I have an expensive event booked in and paid for starting Monday...


Also my wifes booking which is also USDM on a separate PNR has been messed up slightly. She was following me over the week after and meeting me in Brussels (I'm making my own way back there). Her itin was very simple.


MEL BKK TG J
BKK BRU TG J <Dest>
CDG BKK TG J <Stop>
BKK MEL TG J


Now when I look at thais site I see:


SAT 15:05 MEL BKK TG J
SAT 00:30 BKK BRU TG J (This flight leaves before the MEL BKK one)
SUN 00:30 BKK BRU TG Y (This is the flight she was originally booked on in J)


CDG BKK
BKK MEL (Both these flights ok).


WHen I look at USAirs site for my wife, he booking looks fine, exactly as we booked it. (ie different to Thais website).


So before I call USAir tomorrow, does anyone have any tips for me? Either Thai or USair have potentially stuffed up both of these (separate tickets). My guess is on USAir, no idea why as the flights are all still available (I checked dummy booking on Thai site).... I'm also a little worried about them noticing the open jaw & stopover since travel is only a month or so away I've made other travel arrangements (flights/hotel) to match the original booking.


How much can I expect/have others expericned with USAir trying to fix these things up? I've read a few horror stories before about trying to get USAir and Thai on the phone talking to each other as they both point the finger at each other... any tips much appreciated

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ferni - looks like they have booked a double flight for you, leaving one day earlier (or later as the case may be) - hence the itineraries on both FRI and SAT. Looks like they are trying to get you to BKK in time to cath the BRU flight on day 6 (saturday) at 0030.

The 4th weekly service BKK-BRU is cancelled, supposedly effective 15 April - it is only operating on days 246. perhaps the cancellation is taking effect earlier? Or they made a contingency just in case? That would explain why you are leaving MEL on FRI and connecting just after midnight on saturday.

You say your wife was originally in J on sunday (day 7) but is now in Y - looks again like more evidence that have cancelled the Sunday service and just left a 'holding flight' in the PNR as a record (and downgraded it to Y). I dunno I just guessing with all of this.

When you call US they will probably ask you to accept the changes, which will then fix the itinerary and duplicate flights for you. If it turns out the BRU flight is still going on Sunday on your intended day of travel, then they may jsut delete the earlier FRI flights ex MEL for you.

 

[ferni]

Ferni - looks like they have booked a double flight for you, leaving one day earlier (or later as the case may be) - hence the itineraries on both FRI and SAT. Looks like they are trying to get you to BKK in time to cath the BRU flight on day 6 (saturday) at 0030.

The 4th weekly service BKK-BRU is cancelled, supposedly effective 15 April - it is only operating on days 246. perhaps the cancellation is taking effect earlier? Or they made a contingency just in case? That would explain why you are leaving MEL on FRI and connecting just after midnight on saturday.

You say your wife was originally in J on sunday (day 7) but is now in Y - looks again like more evidence that have cancelled the Sunday service and just left a 'holding flight' in the PNR as a record (and downgraded it to Y). I dunno I just guessing with all of this.

When you call US they will probably ask you to accept the changes, which will then fix the itinerary and duplicate flights for you. If it turns out the BRU flight is still going on Sunday on your intended day of travel, then they may jsut delete the earlier FRI flights ex MEL for you.

Thanks for replying MEL_Traveller,

I agree with you the changes make you think that the flight has been discontinued yet all the evidence points to the fact it hasn't. I saw that The BKK-BRU Service is changing 15 April. Our flights are in early/mid March.

Thai website selling tickets on my original flight, Flightstats telling me it's available, although only F/4 A/4 P/4. No J/Y seats at all.
Similar story on the Sunday for my wifes original flight was meant to be. Still for sale on Thai site, Flightstats says it's available but only F/3 A/3 P/3 C/0 D/0 J/0 Z/0 Y/4 B/4 M/4 H/4 Q/4 T/4 K/4 S/4 V/4 W/4.

With my itn, Thais site shows a connecting MEL SIN flight, but USAirs site doesn't at all which is weird..

So in my case I'm happy to be flexible and leave a day earily and take the extra segment on SQ going MEL SIN BKK BRU LIS FAO....

But in my wifes case I'm not sure what we can do, really don't want her stuck in Y for the long BKK BRU flight.

I'll call USAir tomorrow, but still keen for hints and tips on how much USair will help, for example would they bump my Mrs for that BKK BRU leg to F without charging the extra 30k miles, or will they contact thai to try and sort something out? Any tips on how to get USAir and Thai to talk to sort this out would be good...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

just calling them would be a good start. then you will know what the issue is and what your options are. trying to plan too much in advance might be causing some unnecessary concern (you might well solve the issue in less time than typing your post )

it is highly unlikely they will bump you to F without additional miles.

USDM is responsible for the booking, they will help with options. they are unlikely to call thai. if the flight is not there anymore, then you will need to search for award availability elsewhere.

calling TG and getting TG involved would be a last resort for USDM.

 

[ferni]

Fair point... I prefer to be armed with information before making the call just so I have some other options up my sleeve and don't feel pressured into making a decision that I later find out i could have done better...

I've been in contact with Thai and the story is that originally they had cancelled the Sunday TG934 flight from 1st March, but then later reactivated it pushing the cancellation to 15th April, however they never moved us back onto the flight. And now J is totally sold out on both flights my wife and I were booked on. Annoying but nothing we can do about that now...

Thai modified my wifes booking so that she has a MEL BKK flight a day early(Friday), connecting to a BKK BRU(Sat 00:30) flight a day earlier all in J which causes a couple of minor problems but better than her sitting in Y on BKK BRU... (gee first world problem right?)

They didn't have any award availability in J for me for Friday MEL BKK but have requested/waitlisted me and said it should clear tomorrow... (There is another SQ backup option to get me to BKK if this doesn't clear)....

Once it does I have to call USAir and get them to re-ticket it, but at least the flights should all be there i just have to accept the changes and they should just re-ticket, net result we are on the same flights but a day earlier..

The only catch is my BRU LIS FAO TP flights are on Sunday but i'll be arriving in BRU on Sat, so i'll have to get USAir to move them to Sat, I can see availability on same flights on Sat so hopefully shouldn't be a problem...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

pretty much as I suspected then.

I would confirm the sq flight via sin ASAP and get the tickets reissued if not already done so. if they're not sq will likely auto cancel. ask USDM to annotate the booking that a free change will be allowed if the TG flight MEL-bkk opens up.

flying business class instead of economy has nothing to do with a first world problem or not. it's the requested and paid ticket class

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Has anyone been offered the 100% bonus if they didnt buy or share miles last year? I want to do a trip in Dec and need 2 x first tickets from perth to ORD. Can see tge flights through award traveller as well :/

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Has anyone been offered the 100% bonus if they didnt buy or share miles last year? I want to do a trip in Dec and need 2 x first tickets from perth to ORD. Can see tge flights through award traveller as well :/

on a recent targeted promo they eventually opened it up to everyone (but for a more limited time) - so worth keeping checking. Even if you didn't get the email, just plug in your details if you haven't done so and see if you're eligible. Nothing to lose.

 

[Alanslegal]

Has anyone been offered the 100% bonus if they didnt buy or share miles last year? I want to do a trip in Dec and need 2 x first tickets from perth to ORD. Can see tge flights through award traveller as well :/

Why not just proceed a dummy Buy points, enter your US # and name, and see if you are eligible. Its unlikely but who knows.

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Yeah ive been checking every day

Might just keep looking every day or hope for another bonus next month but then dont want to miss out on those award flights :/

 

[NDiddy]

Quick question guys - Anyone booked a USDM redemption for internal flights in North America. Wanted to help a buddy of mine book NY-LAX-LAS-NY in Y as he has some leftover points. I take it that he'll have to potentially do an open jaw to make this work? So potentially NY-LAX//LAS-NY? Can this be done online via the US Airways site or is this a phone call as he more than likely wont be on us airways metal for the whole itin?

 

[kezzakawasaki]

Was tempted by the AA promotion but in the end couldn't resist and just spent another AUD$900 each or so to buy 50K points for both our accounts - taking our balances to 210K each. If there is a share miles promotion in the coming month or three - will be very chuffed. Will be very interested to see what happens with the US / AA merger, although we are looking to redeem soon for an F award at the end of 2013 / beginning of 2014!

 

[bcworld]

Will be very interested to see what happens with the US / AA merger

[h=1]US Air, AMR deal could come in next two weeks - sources[/h]

 

[JohnK]

I need to do some researching but a couple of quick questions first

- I can book a reward flight for my mother from my account?
- Have I left it too late to redeem business class flights to ATH or SKG in June? Carrier not an issue

I have 100,000 miles and thinking of purchasing another 20,000 miles now rather than waiting for next buy/gift promotion.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I need to do some researching but a couple of quick questions first

- I can book a reward flight for my mother from my account?
- Have I left it too late to redeem business class flights to ATH or SKG in June? Carrier not an issue

I have 100,000 miles and thinking of purchasing another 20,000 miles now rather than waiting for next buy/gift promotion.

yes.

probably not. why not have a look?

seems like a good idea.