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

[Foreigner]

Thanks to all those who have given suggestions. I've just booked 3x biz seats SYD-ICN on 05oct OZ, ICN-FRA on 06oct LH, FRA-BKK on 12oct LH. That's where I am stuck trying to get back to SYD. Got 72 hrs to get ticketing completed. Will appreciate ideas to complete trip. (found US Airways very cooperative. Taxes are estimated around $70 each pax.)

Got BKK-SYD confirmed for 14oct on TG in the morning. Requires overnight stay (<24uhr). Booking had to split as I saw 2 seats available. I was still talking to agent to add 3rd pax as First when she said a Business seat had become available. So the tip is to search for lesser number of seats and secure them ASAP.

Just wondering how many more miles would have been required if I had to grab a First (only) on this last sector? 120k was for J.

And using the ANA tool is brilliant. Thanks Stephen65.

 

[JohnK]

Just returned from Greece last week on this deal. The way to do this First class is to fly SYD-BKK- FRA -SKG on THAI and Aegean. (FRA- SKG sector in Business as there is no First on this route)

You will get access to the Royal Orchid SPA and receive a free 1 hour massage. On your return fly the FRA- BKK sector on Lufthansa - that way you will get access to the First class lounge. (As you are transiting, you won't get access to the First Class Terminal, however it is identical to the First Class Lounge. The only thing you miss out on will be the trip in the Mercedes from the terminal to the plane).

You also have the choice to stop over in BKK either on your way over or on your return). You meet the 8 sector rule with this itinerary so that shouldn't be a problem.

Great. Thanks for that information. It sounds like exactly what I would want to do.

I have booked a few of these trips over the last few years and have noticed that the rules have become a lot stricter. You may get the response that this is not the most direct route when you call - not sure - I didn't have any trouble but I booked my most recent trip 9 months ago. You may have to hang up and try again.

I see absolutely in spending 150,000 miles for a first award to be told I have to travel BKK-ATH in business class. I am a patient person so can try calling back over and over.

Waiting for the next promotion to purchase the other 50,000 miles and will see if I can book this trip.

Just wondering how many more miles would have been required if I had to grab a First (only) on this last sector? 120k was for J.

A return to Europe in first class is 150,000 miles.

 

[burmans]

there are times when avalibility simply means you have to take an indirect route rather than the most direct.

Yep, thats what's happening here, I don't want to take a roundabout route to JFK, that just about all that's available!

 

[lmere12]

Hi John

Just returned from Greece last week on this deal. The way to do this First class is to fly SYD-BKK- FRA -SKG on THAI and Aegean. (FRA- SKG sector in Business as there is no First on this route)

Looking at Greece next year, great info thanks

 

[Stephen65]

Sure.
It appears there are plenty of flights via ICN that have several J seats available as long as you are booking far enough out. Plenty of J (no F) on OZ from SYD-ICN and lots of J and quite a few F on LH or OZ from ICN-MUC or ICN-FRA. Easy connections across Europe from there. As I said in my original post, the ANA tool is no good here as it only allows you to search for 4 people, whereas the Aeroplan site allows searching for up to 8. Took a little bit of finding but really not too difficult. Couldnt find any TG flights for more than 2-3 people and SQ offered economy only.

Thanks for this info. I was looking for 4 J seats next June from MEL into FRA, MUC, ZHR or VIE and I could never find more than two using TG via BKK. However according to the aeroplan tool its quite easy to find 4 J on SYD-ICN and then ICN-FRA all on OZ (there also seems to be plenty of availability on LH ICN-FRA but I thought I would stick to one airline and a simple itinerary for my first try at this). It does require an 18 hour stopover on the way over and an 8 hour one on the way back in ICN but travelling with two small children its probably a good thing to break the flight.

The only disadvantage is that being a MELbournite I'll have to burn some QFF points for the MEL-SYD flights.

 

[vlado]

It does require an 18 hour stopover on the way over and an 8 hour one on the way back in ICN but travelling with two small children its probably a good thing to break the flight.

The only disadvantage is that being a MELbournite I'll have to burn some QFF points for the MEL-SYD flights.

Glad it worked for you. I presume the stopover requirement is the reason it is less popular and easier to book using points

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Glad it worked for you. I presume the stopover requirement is the reason it is less popular and easier to book using points

not forgetting of course that australian members onlyy make up a small minority of people using these awards! most traffic would be generated for this flight ex Asia!

 

[Stephen65]

Possibly or it might simply be that OZ is willing to make more J class seats available for award use than TG is - or at least is willing to show more as available at any one time.

In the successful bookings thread someone referred to booking two award J on TG and then seeing two more appear so an option for me could be to take the two TG J seats I see now and wait and see if two more appear. However if they don't I am going to be annoyed if I end up having to buy two TG J seats!

 

[bcworld]

I do remember reading somewhere (must've been either here or FT) that OZ showing many seats available can often be a red herring when it comes time to book...a bit like US's issues with LX/LH. If people are having success grabbing 4 seats etc. then perhaps not however?

 

[bcworld]

In the successful bookings thread someone referred to booking two award J on TG and then seeing two more appear so an option for me could be to take the two TG J seats I see now and wait and see if two more appear. However if they don't I am going to be annoyed if I end up having to buy two TG J seats!

Anecdoctally, and clearly a lot could have changed with the loads at anytime right up until departure...but I flew in TG F from LHR - BKK last Monday. Shorlty after I booked it (5 months before) I never saw the flight become available in F again...and I checked a few times as there was an outside chance of my partner joining me. I'm sure I checked pretty close to departure too and still nothing...my partner did end up joining me but taking an alternative route to BKK. In the end the flight went out with a 50% load factor in F...but AFAIK no O inventory was freed up for months. So I wouldn't bank on more seats appearing.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Possibly or it might simply be that OZ is willing to make more J class seats available for award use than TG is - or at least is willing to show more as available at any one time.

In the successful bookings thread someone referred to booking two award J on TG and then seeing two more appear so an option for me could be to take the two TG J seats I see now and wait and see if two more appear. However if they don't I am going to be annoyed if I end up having to buy two TG J seats!

there is another option rather than buying two j seats outright....

you could split the family to travel 2+2 on the Australia to bkk leg... get two seats n each of the Thai flights leaving a few hours apart. meet in Bangkok, then fly 2 in j and 2 in f on the same flight to Europe.

that would be f miles the whole way... but it would get you all to Europe of the same plane.

swap couple on the way back, so both get to have first for one sector.

alternatively, book 2 f ex syd all the way, meet in bkk, and have 2 in f and 2 in j to Europe on the same flight.

saves a good $3000 on j tickets outright (for each ticket!)

my friends reported buying two j seats and a third opening up by the time the first two tickets had been finalized (as was reported above). dun know if the same would apply for an extra 2.

if flying f out of syd all the way, I believe someone reported success in using the united airlines flight Mel-syd as part of their ticket... so no extra charge...

 

[travelislife]

In the successful bookings thread someone referred to booking two award J on TG and then seeing two more appear so an option for me could be to take the two TG J seats I see now and wait and see if two more appear. However if they don't I am going to be annoyed if I end up having to buy two TG J seats!

What you can do is put 2 J seats on hold for 3 days and just see if 1 or 2 more open up over the next couple of days. When it occured to me it was within the same day that the extra seats were available. No risk at all this way.

 

[travelislife]

if flying f out of syd all the way, I believe someone reported success in using the united airlines flight Mel-syd as part of their ticket... so no extra charge...

I had heard this as well, because there is no F out of Melbourne you are still taking the most direct route for that class level using the United MEL-SYD flights. Also because you are connecting on to an international flight the cabotage rules don't apply. Not sure if it is possible to use it for J class flights though due to other more direct options being available.

 

[Stephen65]

Thanks for the advice guys. I ended going with TG and booking 2xF and 2xJ on the same aircraft flying SYD-BKK-FRA/MXP-BKK-SYD. Hopefully the cabin staff will let us take turns enjoying the F seats.

In any event having two F tickets means the F travellers can guest the J travellers into the Thai F lounge in BKK.

 

[travelislife]

I had heard this as well, because there is no F out of Melbourne you are still taking the most direct route for that class level using the United MEL-SYD flights. Also because you are connecting on to an international flight the cabotage rules don't apply. Not sure if it is possible to use it for J class flights though due to other more direct options being available.

After reading about trying to do this over on FT I don't think it is something I will now attempt to do!

 

[sr81]

Thanks for the advice guys. I ended going with TG and booking 2xF and 2xJ on the same aircraft flying SYD-BKK-FRA/MXP-BKK-SYD. Hopefully the cabin staff will let us take turns enjoying the F seats.

In any event having two F tickets means the F travellers can guest the J travellers into the Thai F lounge in BKK.

Good work. Make sure you post the details including taxes in the successful booking thread.

As for swaping seats - just ask the cabin crew when you get on board. They are usually pretty good about stuff like that.

 

[Stephen65]

The USAir person I spoke with (who was exceedingly pleasant and competent) gave me the USAir PNRs and also the Thai ones, she suggested I ring Thai tomorrow to arrange seating. I'm studying the seating charts now and 3 of our legs are on A340-600s and one (TG922) on a 747 but I am not sure which version of the two Thai fly it is.

I think I will try to seat us as closely as possible given that two are in F and two in J.

Thanks very much for all the advice in this thread I can scarcely believe that deals this good are possible.

 

[bcworld]

The USAir person I spoke with (who was exceedingly pleasant and competent) gave me the USAir PNRs and also the Thai ones, she suggested I ring Thai tomorrow to arrange seating. I'm studying the seating charts now and 3 of our legs are on A340-600s and one (TG922) on a 747 but I am not sure which version of the two Thai fly it is.

I think I will try to seat us as closely as possible given that two are in F and two in J.

Thanks very much for all the advice in this thread I can scarcely believe that deals this good are possible.

The 747 used to FRA is the one with 10 F seats, not 14.

On my most recent booking the US Air agent was also great and gave me all the individual airline confirmation numbers without being asked.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

swapping seats is not a problem... just have a word with the cabin supervisor on boarding and explain you are doing.

some FTers have reported success swapping seats mid flight... so that both people can sleep and have the flat bed... but that's a bit uncool IMO...

 

[Alanslegal]

I think I will try to seat us as closely as possible given that two are in F and two in J.

Well done of 2F and 2J's. On the A346's do allocate seats in the last row of First, and the front row of Business, on the same side of the plane, that will allow you to be close as possible. Also any seats swaps (with cabin crew approval) can be done quite discreetly.

I personally would ask the crew that during meals the 2 J passengers be allowed to dine with the 2F passengers, the tables are large enough and there is an ottoman/seat that allows couple dining.