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

[bcworld]

Do point redemptions on US Airways include or exclude taxes?

I assume that they exclude taxes but a redemption on a SQ flight would have the same taxes as a SQ booking

It depends whether you include fuel surcharges in 'taxes'.

The cash component of US airways awards is VERY reasonable compared to some other airlines awards e.g. QF where there are massive fuel fines to pay.

The taxes for my upcoming return to the UK are $408...of which about $270 is UK APD. A QF redemption would be about $1000.

 

[anat0l]

Do point redemptions on US Airways include or exclude taxes?

I assume that they exclude taxes but a redemption on a SQ flight would have the same taxes as a SQ booking

Redemptions exclude taxes that must be paid in money.

For most USA based frequent flyer programs, the taxes/fees/charges are typically lower than most of the rest of the world, because in the USA, fuel surcharges are a rarity, and the USA based frequent flyer programs often do not pass on such surcharges from airline partners down to their customers. There are some exceptions, but you can expect this mostly to hold.

This is nominally why USA based frequent flyer programs are favoured for award redemptions (apart from generally having more generous points costs).

 

[ossi]

Redemptions exclude taxes that must be paid in money.

For most USA based frequent flyer programs, the taxes/fees/charges are typically lower than most of the rest of the world, because in the USA, fuel surcharges are a rarity, and the USA based frequent flyer programs often do not pass on such surcharges from airline partners down to their customers. There are some exceptions, but you can expect this mostly to hold.

This is nominally why USA based frequent flyer programs are favoured for award redemptions (apart from generally having more generous points costs).

Thanks for the quick responses. Much appreciated.

 

[Shanye2233]

Ok guys I'm slowly getting this I have joined now playing the waiting game. I'm going with two kids so probably go J to europe . I have joined both me and my wife do I have to join the kids too or would that be a good idea the more the better right?Another question I'm hoping Sydney to europe but I would like to fly Singapore from minor reading I heard that's the best first and service in the star alliance group. I read people saying the thAi airways isn't as good as they thought.So my second question is there another airline out of Sydney to europe on Singapore or what is the most luxurious airline SYD-BKK-LHR

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ok guys I'm slowly getting this I have joined now playing the waiting game. I'm going with two kids so probably go J to europe . I have joined both me and my wife do I have to join the kids too or would that be a good idea the more the better right?Another question I'm hoping Sydney to europe but I would like to fly Singapore from minor reading I heard that's the best first and service in the star alliance group. I read people saying the thAi airways isn't as good as they thought.So my second question is there another airline out of Sydney to europe on Singapore or what is the most luxurious airline SYD-BKK-LHR

If you are looking to redeem awards tickets for the whole family, then yes 4 accounts are better than 2.

This is because each promo is usually limited to a maximum purchase (or gift or share) of 50,000. So even with a 100% bonus, the maximum any one member can get is 100,000.

The double buying and gifting promos haven't been around for some time - that would have allowed 200k.

So based on needing 120K per person, 4 accounts that you could quickly build to 100K would be better rather than just the two of you having to build points over several rounds (and not knowing if there was going to be another promo!)

Singapore Airlines redemptions are possible ex Australia in business class. Even on the A380 ex SYD and reports of the A380 exMEL as well. Regional services within Asia and flights with old biz and first class are also redeemable (but this is now limited to SQ25/26 via FRA to new york)

Their luxury jet services (new business class and First and Suites) are generally not available for redemption.

You would need to be extremely lucky to get 4 seats available on any airline in business class. So you will need to consider splitting the family 2 and 2. (Getting 4 seats is not impossible, but higly unlikely... and if you are going to get it then it will most probably be on Thai).

Options ex Australia to London would be SQ to Singapore and Bangkok, connecting out of bangkok with Thai, Lufthansa, Turkish, Swiss or Austrian Airlines.

Ex SYD to FRA could be done on Asiana via Soeul.

Ex MEL-SYD-BNE might also be possible via Auckland and hong Kong on Air New Zealand.

The easiest availability is on Thai. They have plenty of flights and are usually good except at peak periods.

Their service is fine, but lie flat (sloping) beds unless you are flying their 77W to Paris. (And new destinations as yet not announced).

Using Thai airways is a reasonable option because they have three flights out of Australia daily from SYD/MEL and at least double daily to major European destinations such as London and Germany. This means a family of 2 can travel same day, even thought arriving about 12 hours apart.

If you spring for 150 miles for one adult and one child then it might just be possible to get the whole family one one flight using 2 First seats and 2 business seats. This will work best on Thai, but might also work on Lufthansa ex bangkok or Singapore. (But good luck getting 4 seats on Singapore Airlines to Singapore!!)

But First is only available out of SYD.

 

[travelislife]

I think people have to realise with this system of 'buying' tickets that every time one of these offers comes through it potentially could be the last one we see for a few years. The other thing is that US airways could up the redemption rates as have other US airline programs.

So never get the feeling that it is a 'sure thing' or one is entitled to these tickets, same thing goes with the availability of seats to various destinations. If one always thinks of it as a bonus then you can never be disappointed with regard to how 'luxurious' the cabin on the flight is.

Sorry if this post is a little negative, just a little reality check for people not experienced in these things.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think people have to realise with this system of 'buying' tickets that every time one of these offers comes through it potentially could be the last one we see for a few years. The other thing is that US airways could up the redemption rates as have other US airline programs.

So never get the feeling that it is a 'sure thing' or one is entitled to these tickets, same thing goes with the availability of seats to various destinations. If one always thinks of it as a bonus then you can never be disappointed with regard to how 'luxurious' the cabin on the flight is.

Sorry if this post is a little negative, just a little reality check for people not experienced in these things.

Not negative at all. Even if they doubled the redemption levels... who cares??

still gives first class to Europe for ~4000 plus taxes. Absolute bargain. I have been using these recent promos to top up the account, very cheaply, so if redemption levels rise then I have hedged.

What I got a bit confused about is some people saying they didn't buy miles in case of an increase. My response to that is... just 'buy buy buy' and if they increase then one less trip somewhere. At least if you keep buying miles each promo you have 'bought' any award rise at half price rather than potentially paying full price for miles to cover any increase later (if they also stopped these promos at the same time as the increase).

(interesting note that first class today on a double miles promo would cost us ~$2016 plus airport taxes. Compare that to when the ozzie was at .80c and the same purchase would have been $2771!! Huge difference!)

 

[Alanslegal]

Can someone do me a favour and check for a specific flight availabilty on ANA or wherever please, I can't find my ANA number as I'm stuck in Venice, Italy right now Yes its 2am here in the morning and I'm still awake!

Flight is TG 659 dep ICN, arr BKK on 7 August 2011. Looking for any number of business class seats on this flight, as we're still in economy for this leg and wanted to see if I could ring up US to change it if available. Thanks.

 

[travelislife]

Mel_traveller I do agree with you, I already have a trip to the states booked in J already and still have 200000 US miles sitting there for Europe next year in F hopefully. My whole philosophy of FF points is to get whatever flights I was planning to take in Economy already up to J.Alanslegal - just did a search using aeroplan and yes it came up with J availabilty for the 2120 flight on the 7th for 2 people

 

[travelislife]

Same for the same flight dep on the 6th at 2120

 

[anat0l]

Flight is TG 659 dep ICN, arr BKK on 7 August 2011. Looking for any number of business class seats on this flight, as we're still in economy for this leg and wanted to see if I could ring up US to change it if available. Thanks.

Just checked this flight on this date and J is showing no dice. Not even for 1 person. Y still possible, but that doesn't help you.

Next flights with J on the same day include:

• TG635 dep ICN 1730 arr BKK 2250 1 stop a/c 333 2 seats
• TG657 dep ICN 2120 arr BKK 0110+1 non-stop a/c 772 2 seats

There are also 2 seats on TG659 if you depart the next day (8/8).

This probably won't help you, but thought I'd let you know.

 

[LuisT]

Can someone do me a favour and check for a specific flight availabilty on ANA or wherever please, I can't find my ANA number as I'm stuck in Venice, Italy right now Yes its 2am here in the morning and I'm still awake!

Flight is TG 659 dep ICN, arr BKK on 7 August 2011. Looking for any number of business class seats on this flight, as we're still in economy for this leg and wanted to see if I could ring up US to change it if available. Thanks.

So how easy is it to change flights then? Are date changes allowed without too large a fee?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So how easy is it to change flights then? Are date changes allowed without too large a fee?

changes generally incur a USD150 fee.

award travel cannot be changed once you have started your journey.

some members have reported being able to change classes without a change fee (for example you are on a first class award and one or more sectors are in business class, and first class opens up on those sectors). Others have been requested to pay the fee for the same change. YMMV

I have only had a change of class processed once, when a US domestic flight had an aircraft change to one with first class - that was changed for free for me.

 

[Shanye2233]

If you spring for 150 miles for one adult and one child then it might just be possible to get the whole family one one flight using 2 First seats and 2 business seats. This will work best on Thai, but might also work on Lufthansa ex bangkok or Singapore. (But good luck getting 4 seats on Singapore Airlines to Singapore!!)But First is only available out of SYD.

I'm wondering how can 150 miles be enough for one adult ticket and one child ticket ?I'm also aware that this is not set in stone and I'mNot going to stress praying for promo etc if it happens it does I just want to be ready to go

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm wondering how can 150 miles be enough for one adult ticket and one child ticket ?I'm also aware that this is not set in stone and I'mNot going to stress praying for promo etc if it happens it does I just want to be ready to go

You need 150k for each. I said 150k for one adult and one child because you generally have to have one parent travelling with one child (depending on how old the children are). You can't have both adults in First and the two children in economy unless they meet the minimum age requirements for travel 'alone'.

So possibly your best best to get 4 seats on the one flight would be 2xF and 2x business.

 

[Alanslegal]

Alanslegal - just did a search using aeroplan and yes it came up with J availabilty for the 2120 flight on the 7th for 2 people

Just checked this flight on this date and J is showing no dice. Not even for 1 person. Y still possible, but that doesn't help you.

Next flights with J on the same day include:

• TG635 dep ICN 1730 arr BKK 2250 1 stop a/c 333 2 seats
• TG657 dep ICN 2120 arr BKK 0110+1 non-stop a/c 772 2 seats

There are also 2 seats on TG659 if you depart the next day (8/8).

This probably won't help you, but thought I'd let you know.

Many thanks guys! Unfortunately it had to be that specific flight to meet the less than 24hr transit in ICN and also I'm meeting a friend in BKK at the same time who is similarly using an US award en-route to Europe (and doing the overnight in BKK).

 

[Shanye2233]

Guys still have some more questions after doing a few more weeks research .

Firstly are we eligible for the GS promotion which occurs every year? If so I have about 10 hits but can't find anymore. Need about 40 hits I think to get the 100k bonus.

Also on a side note I have been told that the redemption for AA is about the same as US DM but obviously better carriers such as QF and BA. If this is true why hasn't anyone mentioned it ? I'm sure most would prefer to fly on QF F then TG or LH F .

Maybe the surcharges are higher but worth the extra few hundred IMO.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Guys still have some more questions after doing a few more weeks research .


Also on a side note I have been told that the redemption for AA is about the same as US DM but obviously better carriers such as QF and BA. If this is true why hasn't anyone mentioned it ? I'm sure most would prefer to fly on QF F then TG or LH F .

AA limits the purchasing of miles to 40,000 per calendar year, and they sometimes have a bonus on that.

To fly one way business class Australia to Europe via a partner award is 60k each way in business, 80 in first.

Purchasing of miles through AA is per calendar year, so you could buy 40k on Dec 31st and then another 40 on 1 Jan - but that still only gets you 80k, or if you buy during a bonus period like I did, I ended up with 135k by the time bonuses had been applied.

The bonuses come through about 6-8 weeks after the promo period ends.

The problem is award availability. If you want to fly Qantas/BA - getting 4 business class seats on any one flight to Europe at the same time may well be very tricky. Premium awards on qantas are not impossible, but it's pretty hard. Same applies to Cathay pacific, they release award seats at odd times, sometimes only close to departure. And its not always easy to plan your trip that way.

But yes - AA miles are an option, if you want to wait until Dec2011 + Jan 2012 plus 6 weeks (for bonus miles to post) and then wait another 6 months or a year to find availability on a oneworld flight (for 4 people).

 

[Shanye2233]

Yes I read 40k per year , I checked the website and there is a bonus of 25% ATM not worth it . I can wait but it creates many problems say I buy 40k in dec and 40k in Jan with promotions if possible that's only 80k maybe I can have multiple accounts and gift the miles is that free ?

I'm in no hurry may/June next year . Even if I did have multiple accouts what if once I buy they change the redemptiOn value .

Very risky

 

[Shanye2233]

What site can I use to check availability of award flGhts ? Still airplane?