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

[bcworld]

thanks for your reply.
I do not want to stop over in BKK but in KUL
is this possible?
so is this mean for open jaw ticket
i can only go from
ICN -FRA
then FRA-TPE via BKK?

If you want to leave from ICN and return to TPE (an open jaw) you cannot stopover anywhere. US Airways allows EITHER one stopover OR an open jaw - NOT BOTH.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thanks for your reply.
I do not want to stop over in BKK but in KUL
is this possible?
so is this mean for open jaw ticket
i can only go from
ICN -FRA
then FRA-TPE via BKK?

you can have an open jaw or stopover - not both. So FRA could be your destination, then you could stop in KUL on the return. You would then need to route something like KUL-SIN-TPE or KUL-BKK-TPE.

 

[chianshuin]

you can have an open jaw or stopover - not both. So FRA could be your destination, then you could stop in KUL on the return. You would then need to route something like KUL-SIN-TPE or KUL-BKK-TPE.

Thanks heap!
I think I will do ICN->FRA then FRA-BKK-KUL
=)

 

[bcworld]

Thanks heap!
I think I will do ICN->FRA then FRA-BKK-KUL
=)

So you're not going to include TPE on the ticket?

 

[neon_crossing]

I can't find a single flight from AKL to North America in NZ (SFO, YVR, LAX) in J available at the moment.

Is this just because the next 2-3 months are usually busy or is it because the J seats are just not being released?

I am needing return in J between AKL & anywhere in North America in Sep/Oct, anyone know how busy it usually is then?

I have seen some AC flights avail for the times I need just no NZ in J.

 

[anat0l]

I can't find a single flight from AKL to North America in NZ (SFO, YVR, LAX) in J available at the moment.

Is this just because the next 2-3 months are usually busy or is it because the J seats are just not being released?

I am needing return in J between AKL & anywhere in North America in Sep/Oct, anyone know how busy it usually is then?

I have seen some AC flights avail for the times I need just no NZ in J.

NZ J can be diabolically difficult to find availability on such routes, especially if you are trying on LAX/AKL (i.e. new 77W service with new product).

You can always note down the flight you want and try your luck when you call US DM, though it pays to have a definitive back up routing if that falls through.


NZ J Trans-Pacific awards to/from AKL are very popular owing that it is probably the best *A J product on those sectors (i.e. linking North America to South West Pacific). Just like UA SWUs are difficult to push through on these sectors, and QF availability of F can be diabolically difficult as well. Your only best bet is to be flexible and hit hard and early. For some reason, Sep/Oct are silly months for award availability (i.e. there isn't any).

You could consider UA J, but I'd certainly consider that inferior product to NZ J.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can't find a single flight from AKL to North America in NZ (SFO, YVR, LAX) in J available at the moment.

Is this just because the next 2-3 months are usually busy or is it because the J seats are just not being released?

I am needing return in J between AKL & anywhere in North America in Sep/Oct, anyone know how busy it usually is then?

I have seen some AC flights avail for the times I need just no NZ in J.

as anat0l said - very hard to find. Might be some released closer to the date. I found availability like you did using NZ to NRT and UA onwards. Also consider SYD-ICN or via PVG/PEK.

 

[robcuk]

My in laws are visiting me in Sydney in 2 weeks and there itinerary is as follows:

LHR - BKK - SYD in J
SYD - CHC in C

2 weeks in NZ and then

ZQN - SYD in C

2 further weeks in Sydney followed by

SYD - BKK - LHR

So does that mean they have secured both an open jaw and stopover?

 

[bcworld]

So does that mean they have secured both an open jaw and stopover?

If all booked on a single ticket then yes, it does.

 

[robcuk]

Hey BCworld

Yeah thats what i thought!! Thai have changed there schedule twice and originally they had a stopover in BKK as well
as the Sydney stopover - all a little random!!

While your online BC how are they regarding flights from Uk to Syd via the states/ICN? I know in the rules its not allowed but
have you heard of any instances of this?

 

[bcworld]

While your online BC how are they regarding flights from Uk to Syd via the states/ICN? I know in the rules its not allowed but
have you heard of any instances of this?

I'm sure it's probably happened. You'd have to read through this entire thread and the monster on Flyertalk as well - I'm sure you'll find some.

People travel to North America from Australia via Europe so that particular rule is just dumb. Especially when you consider there are flights from AKL-LHR via LAX on a single flight number!

 

[robcuk]

Yeah ive been on FT quite a bit recently - guess its a case of just ringing them up and finding out if they allow it.

Also read about the availability of Singapore rewards opening up as you mentioned on expats the other day.

Luckily experienced LH in there a380 followed by SQ in there 380 in J in december and going back to LHR in July
in them when they opened up there availability up in October so hopefully they open it up again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My in laws are visiting me in Sydney in 2 weeks and there itinerary is as follows:

LHR - BKK - SYD in J
SYD - CHC in C

2 weeks in NZ and then

ZQN - SYD in C

2 further weeks in Sydney followed by

SYD - BKK - LHR

So does that mean they have secured both an open jaw and stopover?

yes. and I think it is fortuitous that travel is in two weeks. if there had been major schedule changes and someone else had a look at the booking that might have been picked up!

 

[travelislife]

I can't find a single flight from AKL to North America in NZ (SFO, YVR, LAX) in J available at the moment.

Is this just because the next 2-3 months are usually busy or is it because the J seats are just not being released?

I am needing return in J between AKL & anywhere in North America in Sep/Oct, anyone know how busy it usually is then?

I have seen some AC flights avail for the times I need just no NZ in J.

Often you will find with AirNZ they release seats about 90 days (3 months out from travel) so it might be best to set up an alert of some sort. This is not guaranteed but often you see availability around this time that previously wasn't there.

 

[Alanslegal]

Often you will find with AirNZ they release seats about 90 days (3 months out from travel) so it might be best to set up an alert of some sort. This is not guaranteed but often you see availability around this time that previously wasn't there.

FWIW managed to book for a friend a NZ J award seat LAX-AKL-SYD for Septmber 2012. It was a single seat so maybe that made a big difference.

 

[bcworld]

FWIW managed to book for a friend a NZ J award seat LAX-AKL-SYD for Septmber 2012. It was a single seat so maybe that made a big difference.

I've occasionally seen single seats for far in the future bookings...but it seems to get much better at about T-2 or 3 months.

This is for transpac only, routes to Asia (PVG,PEK,NRT,KIX etc. but with the possible exception of HKG) are easy to get.

 

[chianshuin]

So you're not going to include TPE on the ticket?

I was thinking of buying a revenue ticket to go TPE
Is there a better way to this?

 

[robcuk]

It seems an open jaw and stopover are allowed not only from my inlaws route they have planned for next week but if
im reading the conditions right :

'Open jaw travel is not permitted when an en route stopover is included in the award itinerary"

So as they are stopping in Sydney on the way home it is allowed as its not en route!?

BC im guessing you will be reading this at some point - can i just pick your brains again....

Im pretty keen on a first class route in August from Europe to Sydney so im hoping to snag
FRA to NRT in F on LH and then onto BKK for an F route with TG my question is - I will not be
returning to Europe till the following summer so obviously LH wont have any seats open in F so
far in advance therefore if i booked the outbound in J could i change to F when the seats
eventually open up?

Thanks in advance.

 

[anat0l]

It seems an open jaw and stopover are allowed not only from my inlaws route they have planned for next week but if im reading the conditions right :

'Open jaw travel is not permitted when an en route stopover is included in the award itinerary"

So as they are stopping in Sydney on the way home it is allowed as its not en route!?

You can choose between:

• Open jaw travel with no en route stopover, or
• Non-open jaw travel with optional en route stopover (i.e. stopover at a *A hub between your origin and destination)

What is your in-laws' itinerary?

Note that some exceptions can slip by the US DM people, but it isn't very common and certainly not something you can reliably argue for.

BC im guessing you will be reading this at some point - can i just pick your brains again....

Im pretty keen on a first class route in August from Europe to Sydney so im hoping to snag FRA to NRT in F on LH and then onto BKK for an F route with TG my question is - I will not be returning to Europe till the following summer so obviously LH wont have any seats open in F so far in advance therefore if i booked the outbound in J could i change to F when the seats eventually open up?

According to the FT US DM board, this is possible. I don't have any experience myself or through others I know, however.

All you need to make sure is that your award is priced initially at the F level.

 

[robcuk]

Hi Anat

If you scroll up the page you'll see the itinerary they have booked leaving LHR.

I was reading up on the rules as they have an open jaw in NZ and they have a 16 day
stopover in Sydney after leaving Queenstown. I was basically searching for answers how
I was allowed to book it.

Ok yeah thats my plan book it using the full 150k mileage.

Thanks