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

[anat0l]

No current bonus miles offers? I have not seen an offer in a while.

I thought there's still that random bonus for buying for the month of February.

Easiest way to find out if you have anything is to try and buy miles. You'll have to enter in your US DM details; if you're targeted then the buy application will update to show the bonus miles you can get.

 

[bcworld]

No current bonus miles offers? I have not seen an offer in a while.

Yeah...it's been a whole 11 days since the previous 100% offer ended!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

USDM is currently running a 50% bonus promo - open to anyone. Max purchase 60K miles with 30K bonus. (just need an AAdvantage account )

 

[JohnK]

Yeah...it's been a whole 11 days since the previous 100% offer ended!

Did I miss that one? What was I thinking?

USDM is currently running a 50% bonus promo - open to anyone. Max purchase 60K miles with 30K bonus. (just need an AAdvantage account )

OK. I do not see any + bonus miles anywhere. Is there a trick involved? Need 20,000 miles and trying to get them as cheaply as possible.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK. I do not see any + bonus miles anywhere. Is there a trick involved? Need 20,000 miles and trying to get them as cheaply as possible.

American Airlines currently has a 50% mileage bonus. USDM will own AA in the near future. hence 'USDM is running a promo, you just need an AA account'

 

[JohnK]

American Airlines currently has a 50% mileage bonus. USDM will own AA in the near future. hence 'USDM is running a promo, you just need an AA account'

I need 20,000 miles right now to book an award before eveything goes pear shaped.

Does it look like US is buying AA? I thought it was the other way around.

 

[Pumbaa]

I need 20,000 miles right now to book an award before eveything goes pear shaped.

Does it look like US is buying AA? I thought it was the other way around.

You've got a few choices
1) Buy 20 000 points from SPG and transfer to AA
2) Transfer points from AMEX MR to SPG and transfer 2:1 to AA

The only problem with both of those options is it takes a few days to clear into AA

 

[anat0l]

You've got a few choices
1) Buy 20 000 points from SPG and transfer to AA
2) Transfer points from AMEX MR to SPG and transfer 2:1 to AA

The only problem with both of those options is it takes a few days to clear into AA

Does JohnK want US DM miles or AA miles?

In any case, the SPG option (buy 20k, then transfer it to relevant programme) actually works out the best in value, but only because when you transfer the 20k from SPG you get 5k free points to go with it.

I logged into my US DM and I don't have any buy promos (so either I don't qualify, or there simply isn't one right now).

 

[Flashback]

Does JohnK want US DM miles or AA miles?

In any case, the SPG option (buy 20k, then transfer it to relevant programme) actually works out the best in value, but only because when you transfer the 20k from SPG you get 5k free points to go with it.

I logged into my US DM and I don't have any buy promos (so either I don't qualify, or there simply isn't one right now).

The 50% + 100% bonus promo running right now seems to be targeted only.

 

[JohnK]

I am struggling to try and get mum to ATH/SKG in June/July. She definitely does not want to travel out of the way and prefers to go via the Middle East. She asked me can't you get flights on Emirates as it would appear everyone she knows now goes with Emirates. Sorry mum!

Anyway I have managed to sell her this itinerary

Outbound - June 10 or June 12 SYD-BKK-IST-ATH-SKG on combination of TG, AK and A3
Inbound - July 22 SKG-ATH-FCO-BKK-SYD on combination of A3 and TG

I have tried to limit connection times as much as possible. She is not interested in spending any time in lounges (she does not want to walk around or look for them) and is worried about getting to next gate and waiting for her next flight there. There is a really long connection in BKK outbound which I cannot avoid on any combination of airlines.

Any other choices I may have missed?

 

[JohnK]

Does JohnK want US DM miles or AA miles?

In any case, the SPG option (buy 20k, then transfer it to relevant programme) actually works out the best in value, but only because when you transfer the 20k from SPG you get 5k free points to go with it.

I need 20,000 USDM miles right now. I don't know why I wasn't paying attention last month.

- One way is to go Amex MR -> SPG -> USDM
- Another is to purchase SPG and transfer to USDM. Is this cheaper than buying USDM direct?
- Buy USDM miles

Hoping to have everything finalised by Sunday (6 days away) as I am heading overseas for 2 weeks. Can I risk waiting 3 weeks and still find the same awards as above?

 

[anat0l]

Another is to purchase SPG and transfer to USDM. Is this cheaper than buying USDM direct?

Without a promo, $700 gets you 20k US DM miles, plus taxes. Fastest method, of course.

SPG flog 20k Starpoints for the same price, which then transfer to US DM at 1:1. But for every 20k Starpoints transferred to US DM (also applies to AA), you get 5k bonus points. I guess technically you don't need the extra 5k points, though it will make the next award slightly quicker to obtain.

 

[Pumbaa]

Without a promo, $700 gets you 20k US DM miles, plus taxes. Fastest method, of course.

SPG flog 20k Starpoints for the same price, which then transfer to US DM at 1:1. But for every 20k Starpoints transferred to US DM (also applies to AA), you get 5k bonus points. I guess technically you don't need the extra 5k points, though it will make the next award slightly quicker to obtain.

You can only buy a limit of 20 000 SPG points each calendar year. If you can, I'd wait until they do their twice yearly 25% off deal. That will net you the equivalent of 25 000 AA/US points for about $560.

For this case, I'd purchase points direct from US as they deposit instantly. If I see award availability I book instantly. I've been in too many a situation where "you snooze, you lose" unfortunately in the past

 

[Terryi02]

Dear Wise men,

Looking to go on 3 1/2 week holiday in early August.
Travel to is BNE-ZUR (3 night stopover) to LHR possibly also via CDG (stopover 3-4 days) .
We were looking at returning via LHR-EWA-(6 days in NY) then back to SYD (as no availability to BNE) via either SFO.LAX,SAN,HNL etc
My questions are:Is this possible or do we have to return the way we went?
Also can you leave from BNE and return to SYD?
Are you allowed to land in NY and then resume your trip from LAX etc (due to lack of availability JFK-LAX)

P.S She who must be obeyed will only fly J or F.
Your input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Dear Wise men,

Looking to go on 3 1/2 week holiday in early August.
Travel to is BNE-ZUR (3 night stopover) to LHR possibly also via CDG (stopover 3-4 days) .
We were looking at returning via LHR-EWA-(6 days in NY) then back to SYD (as no availability to BNE) via either SFO.LAX,SAN,HNL etc
My questions are:Is this possible or do we have to return the way we went?
Also can you leave from BNE and return to SYD?
Are you allowed to land in NY and then resume your trip from LAX etc (due to lack of availability JFK-LAX)

P.S She who must be obeyed will only fly J or F.
Your input would be greatly appreciated.

have a quick read of the US Airways membership guide - it will give you the low-down on stopovers. Essentially, either one stopover plus your destination, OR and open jaw and no stopover.

 

[bcworld]

Dear Wise men,

Looking to go on 3 1/2 week holiday in early August.
Travel to is BNE-ZUR (3 night stopover) to LHR possibly also via CDG (stopover 3-4 days) .
We were looking at returning via LHR-EWA-(6 days in NY) then back to SYD (as no availability to BNE) via either SFO.LAX,SAN,HNL etc
My questions are:Is this possible or do we have to return the way we went?
Also can you leave from BNE and return to SYD?
Are you allowed to land in NY and then resume your trip from LAX etc (due to lack of availability JFK-LAX)

P.S She who must be obeyed will only fly J or F.
Your input would be greatly appreciated.

If you leave from BNE and return to SYD you are not allowed ANY stopovers as your itinerary has an open jaw - the rule is open jaw OR stopover. Same if you have the open jaw (surface sector) in the US you mention - then no stopovers.

Also travel from Australia to Europe (and vv) is not allowed via North America. Note that travel from Aus to North America via Europe IS allowed.

 

[anat0l]

Dear Wise men,

Looking to go on 3 1/2 week holiday in early August.
Travel to is BNE-ZUR (3 night stopover) to LHR possibly also via CDG (stopover 3-4 days) .
We were looking at returning via LHR-EWA-(6 days in NY) then back to SYD (as no availability to BNE) via either SFO.LAX,SAN,HNL etc
My questions are:Is this possible or do we have to return the way we went?
Also can you leave from BNE and return to SYD?
Are you allowed to land in NY and then resume your trip from LAX etc (due to lack of availability JFK-LAX)

P.S She who must be obeyed will only fly J or F.
Your input would be greatly appreciated.

First up - understand that you can either have an en route stopover or an open jaw, but not both.

Departing from BNE and returning to SYD will create an open jaw, which means you can only have one stop overall when overseas (i.e. your "destination"). So you will be better off departing and returning to the same point.

As it stands - let me try and decode this - you want:

Brisbane (BNE) - Zurich (ZRH) [stop 3 nights here] - London (LHR) or Paris (CDG) [stop 3-4 days here] - Newark (EWR) [stop 6 days here] - Brisbane (BNE)

No can do this - you are trying to have 2 en route stopovers, you can only have one. As it stands, you'll need to choose whether you want to stopover in Zurich, London or Paris. You fly to that stopover, do what you want in Europe, then pick up your itinerary again to fly onto Newark. (I recommend Zurich or Paris; if you choose London, you will have to pay the UK Air Passenger Duty, increasing the amount of taxes you have to pay).

I just booked a similar itinerary for my folks. Their en route stopover was London; their "destination" was EWR; origin city was BNE. They returned to Australia via Europe, and that was purely due to timing and seat availability. The only other option to return home not going via Europe was to travel from America to Asia direct (e.g. Chicago to Seoul), then back to Australia. Availability of seats from America to Australia crossing the Pacific was almost nil in J and F, across all carriers. And just for the note, my folks depart in August and return in September.

 

[JohnK]

Without a promo, $700 gets you 20k US DM miles, plus taxes. Fastest method, of course.

SPG flog 20k Starpoints for the same price, which then transfer to US DM at 1:1. But for every 20k Starpoints transferred to US DM (also applies to AA), you get 5k bonus points. I guess technically you don't need the extra 5k points, though it will make the next award slightly quicker to obtain.

I thought so. Basically I have left it too late to have any real choice.

 

[burmans]

I thought so. Basically I have left it too late to have any real choice.

Which would appear to be the counter argument to the only buy as many as you have immediate plans for argument! Sometimes worth having a bit of a stash.

 

[JohnK]

Which would appear to be the counter argument to the only buy as many as you have immediate plans for argument! Sometimes worth having a bit of a stash.

Agree but it can happen when you keep putting things off. Was supposed to have it all ready before Christmas but other got in the way.