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

[Oneworldplus2]

Thank you so much for the help casanovawa (via PM), much appreciated.

The ANA website also takes some playing around.
Once you get to the right page for Star Flights searching, happy days.

Here is one l put together in 5 minutes. Test only.

View attachment 4876

(I chose Delhi as l have never been there before, same with using OS, SQ, OZ. Something different.)

 

[casanovawa]

Looks good Dan, so looking at that itinerary, you'd just be just doing one stop over in Budapest??? or was it just a test run??

Now you've planned it, all you'd just have to do is get the booking agent at US Air to agree to it... The flight to Inchon might not be quite as direct back to Sydney as going via BKK or SIN but call up and hopefully you should be able to get someone to book it for you...

Oh and the mileage fee is probably what ANA would charge to book that award through their frequent flyer program, once you book that with US Air it should only cost you 120k miles...

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Thank you so much for the help casanovawa (via PM), much appreciated.

The ANA website also takes some playing around.
Once you get to the right page for Star Flights searching, happy days.

Here is one l put together in 5 minutes. Test only.

View attachment 4876

(I chose Delhi as l have never been there before, same with using OS, SQ, OZ. Something different.)

Hi Oneworldplus2
What is the right page help wanted.....please

M.P.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Hey casanovawa, this was just a practise run through the ANA search engine, getting a feel for it.

Now l know how to use it, l'll be hiding in my room for the next few weeks coming up with something better......

(And yes, BKK will deserve a few days of fun for sure)

Kicking myself for not seeing this thread sooner. KPC alerted me to it at the QF-DO. I'm sure that Alanslegal is a pro at this, among others....

 

[kamchatsky]

Hey casanovawa, this was just a practise run through the ANA search engine, getting a feel for it.

Now l know how to use it, l'll be hiding in my room for the next few weeks coming up with something better......

(And yes, BKK will deserve a few days of fun for sure)

Kicking myself for not seeing this thread sooner. KPC alerted me to it at the QF-DO. I'm sure that Alanslegal is a pro at this, among others....

Good stuff Oneworldplus2, looks like you have mastered ANA tool. I am sure you are going to get some good redemption.

One thing though, sometimes SQ J on A380/77W are available on *A award bucket. ANA cannot show this as they blacked out them in ANA. Aeroplan.com shows them. But best to ring up and ask. As an example, I will be flying SQ15 J SFO-ICN on 77W in about 3 weeks time, using BMI Diamond Club miles+cash redemption (similar to US Dividend Miles as *A partner, but UK based). Absolute bargain. But I only found out when the OZ flight I was looking for (with their new Quadra Smartium J seats) somehow could not be booked by agent (but showing available in ANA), but then agent offered me SQ 77W (which cannot be shown in ANA tool) which is even better.

I would say focus on the following airlines for long haul *A redemption if possible to get best experience:

- SQ Singapore Airlines
- OZ Asiana Airlines
- NZ Air NZ
- TG Thai Air
- NH ANA

Yes pretty much they are all Asian *A carriers.

Both my partner and I have 100K US miles, I have not yet decided whether I should top up the miles now to 150K for both of us. I still have miles in Amex that I probably can burn.

 

[bcworld]

Good stuff Oneworldplus2, looks like you have mastered ANA tool. I am sure you are going to get some good redemption. One thing though, sometimes SQ J on A380/77W are available on *A bucket. ANA cannot show this as they blacked out them. Aeroplan.com shows them. But best to ring up and ask. I will be flying SQ15 J SFO-ICN on 77W in about 3 weeks time, using BMI Diamond Club miles+cash redemption (similar to US Dividend Miles as *A partner, but UK based). Absolute bargain. Both my partner and I have 100K US miles, I have not yet decided whether I should top up the miles now to 150K for both of us. I still have miles in Amex that I probably can burn.

There seems to be some evidence that bmi DC is getting access to SQ inventory that other *A partners can't get - no idea why that would be the case though. I think SQ is opening up a bit but not on some of the routes bmi DC seem to be getting.

 

[kamchatsky]

There seems to be some evidence that bmi DC is getting access to SQ inventory that other *A partners can't get - no idea why that would be the case though. I think SQ is opening up a bit but not on some of the routes bmi DC seem to be getting.

Apparently SQ and LH did a deal for LH to get SQ A380/77W J awards. BD is owned by LH (at the moment but they are being sold to BA/IB, YIKES!!!!!). But then again aeroplan.com (AC) shows availability for SQ A380 routes like SYD-SIN. So not really sure.

 

[bcworld]

Apparently SQ and LH did a deal for LH to get SQ A380/77W J awards. BD is owned by LH (at the moment but they are being sold to BA/IB, YIKES!!!!!). But then again aeroplan.com (AC) shows availability for SQ A380 routes like SYD-SIN. So not really sure.

Think SYD-SIN and also the new A380 service on SIN-FRA-JFK are about the only ones Aeroplan shows.

I almost stocked up on bmi miles as although the deal isn't as great as US, and the fuel surcharges are massive it would still be a great price ofr SQ C. Just on the verge of buying in the 20% promo when the IAG deal was announced - don't fancy them being transferred to Avios so didn't bother.

Used to LOVE DC when I lived in the UK...literally 1000's of miles a week pouring in, mainly from Hilton stays.

 

[JohnK]

I plotted out my legs and the flights using the ANA website i wanted and so was just able to roll them all off to the booking agent, she only had to go away and ask about an internal US flight from ATL to IAD that was showing as an F and that was then wanting to trigger the whole trip into F miles, but i was explaining how i thought it was really equivalent to international J and after being on hold for a bit they accepted it as such... I assumed that me telling the person what i wanted in detail and it all making sense was a better strategy than ummhing and ahhing on the phone and asking them for solutions...

I guess that sounds fair. So if I simply asked for a SYD-BOS return with a stopover in BKK what itinerary would they find or not find? Would they look via Europe or would they say this is not possible and would need to get to BOS on the most direct route which more than likely be UA.

Just be aware that you may encounter some F award availability issues on the TATL sectors and you might have to suck it up and fly in J :shock:

This won't be F for now. I have 100,000 miles and if it costs 90,000 miles in business class to get to BKK then for 110,000 miles I would gladly go to the USA via Europe with a stopover in BKK.

I get bored easily and a few extra flights wouldn't hurt. Sorry if I am spoiling it for anyone else.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...

but i was explaining how i thought it was really equivalent to international J and after being on hold for a bit they accepted it as such...

no. they didn't accept your reasoning of being equivalent to international business class

international award tickets booked in business ALWAYS book into first (if available) on two class aircraft within the USA. if it is a three class aircraft it books into business.

that rule does not apply to other domestic travel, for example china, where an international business award will book into economy. if you select first class on domestic china flights then you will be charged a first award for the whole trip.

 

[casanovawa]

Yeah, yeah, i wasn't trying to say that the hard product/food etc of Dom F was the equivalent of Int J etc, I was telling her that there was no J on any of the flights from ATL to IAD that day, only Y and F and with two class flights that F should be gotten at J miles etc... It was shorthand for all the stuff I had been reading on the FlyerTalk *A thread... Even as I was saying it maybe i wasn't getting the terminology precisely correct, but anyway, i knew what I wanted and what result i was going to get... To much fluffin' around and I would have just told her to stick me in coach for the flight up of a whole 1 1/2-2hours...

But thank you for setting me straight Mel...

 

[Shanye2233]

I was looking at my intinerary as I have 3 Y flights . I noticed I have two stopovers so I guess I won't be ccalling to upgrade any of my legs .

Also I'm super happy my CC points posted today for a stay last week on the 2nd . I got 55k for one stay and 54k for the other. I can help people out only via PM

 

[JohnK]

Also I'm super happy my CC points posted today for a stay last week on the 2nd . I got 55k for one stay and 54k for the other. I can help people out only via PM

People are looking for relatively cheap ways (~AUD1,700) of purchasing 100,000 miles and you got 109,000 miles for a couple of stays?

Where did you stay? The White House? Buckingham Palace?

 

[Shanye2233]

I stayed at A raddison property in the US . Cc stands for club Carlson there is a current promo on when you stay they give you a bonus 50k points. Which is good at any property in the world. It's a good promotion .

 

[bcworld]

People are looking for relatively cheap ways (~AUD1,700) of purchasing 100,000 miles and you got 109,000 miles for a couple of stays?

Where did you stay? The White House? Buckingham Palace?

Just in case it wasn't clear from Shanye's reply - he's not talking about US miles - unless there is some amazing conversion rate to US DM it's way off topic.

 

[JohnK]

Just in case it wasn't clear from Shanye's reply - he's not talking about US miles....

Apologies. And I thought I was posting in the US Dividend miles thread....

 

[neon_crossing]

I have heard of a few people getting availability in Business Class on SG A380/A345 & 77W.

I usually use ANA search tool which automatically blocks it out.

Has anyone seen it come up in any of their searches? Aeroplan etc?

Edit: I just read the last page, looks like some other people have been seeing them come up too.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have heard of a few people getting availability in Business Class on SG A380/A345 & 77W.

I usually use ANA search tool which automatically blocks it out.

Has anyone seen it come up in any of their searches? Aeroplan etc?

yes it comes up on aeroplan.

there is some discussion that lufthansa and sq have reached a deal to allow greater access to sq premium awards, and further discussion that because british midland is tied up with lufthansa that members of the diamond club may also have greater access to sq premium awards.

wherether or not that will convert to greater availability via US remains to be seen.

 

[bcworld]

yes it comes up on aeroplan.

Not sure all of it does. I've certainly seen SIN<>SYD & SIN<>FRA<>JFK upcoming A380 service but never other routes. Whereas bmi DC members seem to be happily getting SIN<>LHR and various other 'premium' routes.

 

[neon_crossing]

Not sure all of it does. I've certainly seen SIN<>SYD & SIN<>FRA<>JFK upcoming A380 service but never other routes. Whereas bmi DC members seem to be happily getting SIN<>LHR and various other 'premium' routes.

I'm finding it hard to see any availability of SIN<>FRA<>JFK in J. How long in advance do they get released?

I am booking a trip from Adelaide to USA in Sep/Oct of next year and I want to book it more than 3 months out but it looks like availability for NZ flying to the USA (aside from on their 767's) seems impossible over 3 months in advance.

It seems the top tier of J available for such a journey is SQ & NZ, maybe AC next. I am a fan of full flat beds. Does anyone know of any other carriers to offer them in J?