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

[burmans]

Given that any credit card debit is only an authorisation at this stage, it can't be disputed.

Agreed, I was thinking of if/when it happened that the debit hit and the points didn't. Not a problem for me the points have arrived after about 36 hours.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agreed, I was thinking of if/when it happened that the debit hit and the points didn't. Not a problem for me the points have arrived after about 36 hours.

that's good news!

just as a data point - have never heard (in over two years of these promos) of anyone being billed but not receiving points. I think points.com is fairly reputable.

Plenty of stories of people buying points too early (before the 12 days) and having an authorisation sit there for x number of days, but this has always dropped off (albeit inconvenient for people who might not have sufficient credit limit).

 

[burmans]

It's hot and sticky, but the Kingfishers quenched the thirst;

Ah yes, I missed that in my summary of what I like, there's something about being in a hot Asian country that just makes those local beers taste great. More of a red wine drinker at home these days but to be sure when in Asia I seem to drink a lot of beer and for some reason an ice cold beer just tastes great there. I did go to India on work some time ago (Chennai) and loved the Kingfishers but was amused by the fact that every one seemed to be in a different bottle (shape/size/colour etc).

Incidentally where did you fly to for Kerala, combining that with Sri Lanka may be a possibility!

 

[neon_crossing]

Getting super frustrated with the lack of availability in Business Class from North America in October, fluked getting from ADL > LAX via AKL & HNL available on the way up in August but looking to return from NYC to ADL in mid October 14/15/16 and it is just excruciating. Been looking at stock levels for a few months and it is so scarce across the board at the moment.
Found a lengthy way to get home EWR > SFO > ICN > PVG > AKL > ADL but I was told the booking could be invalid due to too many sectors (they told me 4 was the limit, i thought it was 5) plus it is a very roundabout way to get home anyway. Anyone have any suggestions?
Oh two seats in J is what I am after, but I cant even find availability for 1.

 

[LuisT]

Getting super frustrated with the lack of availability in Business Class from North America in October, fluked getting from ADL > LAX via AKL & HNL available on the way up in August but looking to return from NYC to ADL in mid October 14/15/16 and it is just excruciating. Been looking at stock levels for a few months and it is so scarce across the board at the moment.
Found a lengthy way to get home EWR > SFO > ICN > PVG > AKL > ADL but I was told the booking could be invalid due to too many sectors (they told me 4 was the limit, i thought it was 5) plus it is a very roundabout way to get home anyway. Anyone have any suggestions?
Oh two seats in J is what I am after, but I cant even find availability for 1.

Is getting to Adelaide the problem? Seems there's some availability to ICN/NRT/HKG, but since only SQ and NZ fly into adelaide (I think?) that could be limiting it.

Maybe you could take a positioning flight to MEL/SYD to open things up?

 

[neon_crossing]

Is getting to Adelaide the problem? Seems there's some availability to ICN/NRT/HKG, but since only SQ and NZ fly into adelaide (I think?) that could be limiting it.

Maybe you could take a positioning flight to MEL/SYD to open things up?

Yeah I have thought about that also but the problem is if I Open Jaw ADL > DEST > SYD. Then I wont get the stopover I need in the USA or it will force me to fly to SYD/MEL twice one on each end.

If I can get into AKL on the 15/16/17/18 I'll be fine, plenty of AKL-ADL avail. Nothing on the SQ SIN-ADL unfortunately.

 

[neon_crossing]

I currently use ANA & United's tools for checking avail flights.

I have heard there is a program/membership you can download for a price that can alert you if seats come available and makes for easier more accurate searches, does anyone know anything about this?

And also has SQ released any 77W / A380 J seats in recent times? I remember hearing a while back you could now book them but the ANA tool automatically blocks them as a rule?

 

[hummel]

I currently use ANA & United's tools for checking avail flights.

I have heard there is a program/membership you can download for a price that can alert you if seats come available and makes for easier more accurate searches, does anyone know anything about this?

And also has SQ released any 77W / A380 J seats in recent times? I remember hearing a while back you could now book them but the ANA tool automatically blocks them as a rule?

Not sure about SQ releasing seats but sounds like your talking about ExpertFlyer. I haven't used it but many have and have said good things.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I currently use ANA & United's tools for checking avail flights.

I have heard there is a program/membership you can download for a price that can alert you if seats come available and makes for easier more accurate searches, does anyone know anything about this?

And also has SQ released any 77W / A380 J seats in recent times? I remember hearing a while back you could now book them but the ANA tool automatically blocks them as a rule?

I think KVS can help you. But people have reported that even there, availability shows (for example of UA/LH) but US still can't see it or book it. Expertflyer I think only finds you specific seat numbers - but check it out.

Availability to the states has always been hard, especially for two seats.

ANA doesn't seem to show SQ 77W or 380 availability. Think the UA and AC booking tools are better at that, but again, even if a seat shows there it is no guarantee that US can see it.

Max number of segments is indeed 4+4. Some people have more, but these are now the exception rather than the norm. I think the general rule is US will allow more than 4 in exceptional circumstances where you cannot complete a direct itinerary in 4 segments (that is, without a backtrack). ADL is hard because of the limited number of carriers, but direct routings are possible. Is anything available in coach perhaps for the last segment if you were able to fly via SIN?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Neon,
On the off chance, try calling US Dividend Miles and get them to help you with your search. Sometimes ANA or United might not show what US Airways can see, and visa-versa.
When l successfully booked my ticket last week, the US Agent was telling me that many, many people call up and say, 'l need to go from A-B, on xx date, help me'.
Better than tearing your hair out and going bald...

 

[bobcat123]

Hi,
A q.

Background.
I am looking for SYD to NYC in May, and obviously I am not seeing much space on that route based on searching and from what everyone has said here - space on that leg is hens-teeth availability.

Thus, if there is no direct, then I am considering routing thru Europe to get to NY, with that thought in mind, and the flight time taken, I am now considering capitalising on it and taking the stopover option in Frankfurt or Zurich, with the destination in NY. (trying to avoid Asia as Ive been many times)
And then hopefully I will find a way back to SYD via Asia (ICN looks good).

Question is:
Q1. For a SYD - NYC - SYD, will the rules allow this to route thru Europe, and back via Asia. (when there are shorter mileage options via Asia both ways).
Q2. Is a stopover in Europe allowed in the rules?

thanks heaps, and I love this forum, checked daily for all your insights and banter.

Bob.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Question is:
Q1. For a SYD - NYC - SYD, will the rules allow this to route thru Europe, and back via Asia. (when there are shorter mileage options via Asia both ways).

I'm sure that casanovawa did a similar routing recently...PER-Europe-US and back

Q2. Is a stopover in Europe allowed in the rules?

As long as it's a Star Alliance hub, l think you should be ok.

There are members on here who would know better than me.

 

[Alanslegal]

Q1. For a SYD - NYC - SYD, will the rules allow this to route thru Europe, and back via Asia. (when there are shorter mileage options via Asia both ways).

I'm sure that casanovawa did a similar routing recently...PER-Europe-US and back

ryanbryan recently booked one of these routings though we do not know how easy he go that booked or whether there was multiple calls / multiple agents etc.

Booked:

SYD-BKK (TG, F)
BKK-CDG (TG, F)
CDG-FRA (LH, J) - Stopover
FRA-EWR (LH, F) - Destination
EWR-FRA (LH, F)
FRA-MUC (LH, J)
MUC-ICN (LH, F)
ICN-SYD (OZ, J)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi,
A q.

Background.
I am looking for SYD to NYC in May, and obviously I am not seeing much space on that route based on searching and from what everyone has said here - space on that leg is hens-teeth availability.

Thus, if there is no direct, then I am considering routing thru Europe to get to NY, with that thought in mind, and the flight time taken, I am now considering capitalising on it and taking the stopover option in Frankfurt or Zurich, with the destination in NY. (trying to avoid Asia as Ive been many times)
And then hopefully I will find a way back to SYD via Asia (ICN looks good).

Question is:
Q1. For a SYD - NYC - SYD, will the rules allow this to route thru Europe, and back via Asia. (when there are shorter mileage options via Asia both ways).
Q2. Is a stopover in Europe allowed in the rules?

thanks heaps, and I love this forum, checked daily for all your insights and banter.

Bob.

Stopping in europe and back via asia is ok, you might run in to a problem if you want to cross both oceans though. YMMV (some have been successful). Routing back via the Pacific might be considered too much backtracking. But no reason why would couldn't go SYD-FRA-NYC-FRA-ICN-SYD.

 

[Stephen65]

Neon,
On the off chance, try calling US Dividend Miles and get them to help you with your search. Sometimes ANA or United might not show what US Airways can see, and visa-versa.

I was booking a fare the other day and the agent could see an available F seat on a TG flight when both the ANA and aeroplan tools were showing me no F available.

 

[neon_crossing]

Hi,

.....Thus, if there is no direct, then I am considering routing thru Europe to get to NY, with that thought in mind, and the flight time taken, I am now considering capitalising on it and taking the stopover option in Frankfurt or Zurich, with the destination in NY. (trying to avoid Asia as Ive been many times)
And then hopefully I will find a way back to SYD via Asia (ICN looks good).....

Bob.

I would suggest taking a look at the newish EWR <> BRU route because they have a ****-ton of availability & they look like they have nicely fitted out A330's similar to Swiss I think and BRU is just a short hop to those stop overs you mentioned.

Could be worth a look should there be a lack of availability NYC <> MUC/FRA/etc etc

 

[laffer]

How long does it take US to usually process the points? I purchased them on Sunday and have not got any confirmation whatsoever that the transaction went through. I would expect a few days but would like at least a confirmation that they have taken the money.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

How long does it take US to usually process the points? I purchased them on Sunday and have not got any confirmation whatsoever that the transaction went through. I would expect a few days but would like at least a confirmation that they have taken the money.

Give it a few days.

I did 2 purchases last week.

First purchase, around ~26 hours to land.
Second purchase, around ~48 hours.
Only talking about points and 50% bonus, not the extra 50% from points.com.

I did send US Airways a e-mail (after 24hours for the first purchase) because last time l purchased miles during the promo (Jan), miles posting was instant.
Anyways, the miles posted soon after the e-mail, but l still got a reply from US Airways. The e-mail said that most points (99%) post instantly.

As long as your account is on the 13th day (so eligible to buy miles) a delay for this promo round is not unusual and has been reported both here and on FT. Some members have reported instant crediting, others are reporting 2-3 days.

Given that any credit card debit is only an authorisation at this stage, it can't be disputed.

Took my purchase in this promo nearly 72 hours so don't be too worried.

I would thoroughly recommend Burma. Though you are right with temperature as this time of year is summer around the Buddhist new year. Same goes for Laos, loved both, but Burma more, this was 3 years ago.

Mine took 4 days so made a 1800 call and posted 30 mins later. They apologised and advised that due to the load they were struggling to post in a timely manner, sounds like this round is getting very popular!

 

[laffer]

Give it a few days.

Thanks Oneworld. Much appreciated. I will wait until tomorrow and then drop them an email just to confirm it went through. Many thanks.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Thanks Oneworld. Much appreciated. I will wait until tomorrow and then drop them an email just to confirm it went through. Many thanks.

I understand your anxiety.

First purchase, on the 24 hour mark, no points - sent an e-mail. Points posted right after l sent the e-mail, l felt like a d!ck, lol.
Second purchase, at the 48hour mark, l was starting to think something wasn't right, but they did post not long after.

I'd put it down to date/time differences and a weekend too.
Sunday AM here is still Saturday PM there....