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

[lmere12]

I can see availability for SYD-ICN for 06 oct on OZ. Then I can get no further. I don't mind any other European city close to FRA or DUS. DUS preferred. Well, if I can't get anywhere, I'll use $$$ instead of miles.

Try into ZRH

 

[Shanye2233]

use aeroplan (air canada). If there is anything out there for the complete route it will find it.

If you really need something air china might have good availablity. Or turkish.

Every time I see air Canada available the agent can not I don't know why yet. I'm booking flights for some cousins I might open up a miles registry in their name and transfer the miles into their account to be safe. I haven't had a chance to see If it costs anything to put miles in .

As for the routing I was told 120k miles I purchased 100k which gave me enough for one ticket I called back and they said invalid. I even gave my credit ard details for the taxes. They really have no idea there I have spoken to at least 30 people. Why ? Because I have gotten 30 different answers.

I believe after the first sweep of "hits" from the US the miles points in a few weeks. Im currently doing my "MR" now at Hilton surfers paradise . Not bad .

I didn't know LH have angled Beds I'm J I Was happy to get that flight FRA-LAX direct. I will be giving it a break now until my GS miles hits arrive then will book tickets unless something changes like redemptions

As for the separate threads I'm all against it. Maybe call me selfish but I would prefer to have as less attention to this deal as possible. It feels like since
I have been hanging around like a bad smell the past 2/3 months new people are popping up everyday .

If anyone knows why the agents can't see the air canada flights aeroplan is showing I would like to know. Also I know now how to make sure I get a long sell everytime I have used the same sentence and worked 3 out of 3. Over on FT I think I'm on their most hated list makes
E laugh

 

[lmere12]

Over on FT I think I'm on their most hated list makes
E laugh

Yes been on FT, I think your correct..!

 

[travelislife]

Every time I see air Canada available the agent can not I don't know why yet. I'm booking flights for some cousins I might open up a miles registry in their name and transfer the miles into their account to be safe. I haven't had a chance to see If it costs anything to put miles in .

As for the routing I was told 120k miles I purchased 100k which gave me enough for one ticket I called back and they said invalid. I even gave my credit ard details for the taxes. They really have no idea there I have spoken to at least 30 people. Why ? Because I have gotten 30 different answers.

I believe after the first sweep of "hits" from the US the miles points in a few weeks. Im currently doing my "MR" now at Hilton surfers paradise . Not bad .

I didn't know LH have angled Beds I'm J I Was happy to get that flight FRA-LAX direct. I will be giving it a break now until my GS miles hits arrive then will book tickets unless something changes like redemptions

As for the separate threads I'm all against it. Maybe call me selfish but I would prefer to have as less attention to this deal as possible. It feels like since
I have been hanging around like a bad smell the past 2/3 months new people are popping up everyday .

If anyone knows why the agents can't see the air canada flights aeroplan is showing I would like to know. Also I know now how to make sure I get a long sell everytime I have used the same sentence and worked 3 out of 3. Over on FT I think I'm on their most hated list makes
E laugh

Shanye, I guess the thing is that everyone on here has been giving you advice and time and again you have gone against that advice. I mentioned to you that your route might be classified as RTW, I have tried time and again to suggest simple routes for your first time overseas.

Regarding the various airlines and the products they offer it is very easy to go to their websites and find out what seats they are offering on various routes, so saying you didn't know what product they offered is a bit of a cop out, very easy to search and find out what products are offered. As I said I provided you an itinerary with 4 seats in J from SYD-ZAG but you weren't interested.

With the Air Canada flights, my guess is that because you are searching on Aeroplan (Air Canada's FF program) they will show greater availability for their own members than that for other programs.

Bring on the separate threads, I am all for people being more educated about this to stop the need to call up 30 times over, absolutely ridiculous if you ask me. When you know you are going to pay and book, do it, don't put a hundred different itineraries on hold when you have no intention of booking them.

Mods can we have some input on making these threads a lot clearer?

 

[lmere12]

Got it! Thank you BCWorld.

I know this is very short time but can anyone suggest itinerary for *A award booking for 3 pax SYD to FRA, out 06/10, back 13/10. Need availability in business.

Thanks.

1 10/6 (TH) OZ602 Sydney Seoul(Incheon) 10:30 19:00 777 Business 3 2 10/6 (TH) TK091 Seoul(Incheon) Istanbul(IST) 23:55 05:50 +1 343 Business 3 3 10/7 (FR) TK1887 Istanbul(IST) Vienna 16:10 17:30 321 Business 3 10/7 (FR) LH3095 Vienna Dusseldorf(DUS) 19:15 20:50 735 Business 3

I know you said the 6th but if you could manage the 5th & overnite in Seoul. A friend is going this way and overnite for about $60.

Date	Flight	Route	Depart	Arrive	Aircraft Type	Class	Seat
1	10/5 (WE)	OZ602	Sydney Seoul(Incheon)	10:30	19:00	777	Business	3
2	10/6 (TH)	LH713	Seoul(Incheon) Frankfurt	13:45	18:25	346	Business	3

 

[Shanye2233]

As I have told you I'm the guy who believes half the fun is getting there. Also I'm going overseas once won't be going again so whatever I want to see if I can go that way I will. I have already found routing going extra places for less miles as you know. After this post I'm going to call again so 31 times no big deal.

Thank you for your air Canada explantation I didn't know that.

 

[Fifa]

As for the separate threads I'm all against it. Maybe call me selfish but I would prefer to have as less attention to this deal as possible. It feels like since
I have been hanging around like a bad smell the past 2/3 months new people are popping up everyday .

I cannot believe you could be so selfish, when so many people on numerous FF sites have gone out of their way to help you and answer your questions over and over again

Many of us have been researching these awards for quite some time and have absorbed all the info supplied so I think you will find a lot of us are not just "poppng up" every day.

I am also keen to see a US Airways sticky with numerous threads.

 

[Fifa]

After this post I'm going to call again so 31 times no big deal.

I hope you don't spoil it for the rest of us!

 

[bcworld]

I hope you don't spoil it for the rest of us!

I think we all know that people phoning up wasting agents time leads to the rules being tightened and more rigidly applied. Hopefully people who call 31 times with absolutely no intention of booking anything get their accounts blacklisted and are the first to be audited and/or shut down.

The seperate threads is a good idea but I'd be willing to bet that certain posters wouldn't be able to resist posting their fantasy itineraries and fantasy mileage quotes in the confirmed booking thread and it would quickly become a farce.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. Maybe call me selfish but I would prefer to have as less attention to this deal as possible. It feels like since
I have been hanging around like a bad smell the past 2/3 months new people are popping up everyday .

Not maybe.

What a sad perspective. If we all had your attitude there would not be a forum.

Takes some gall to in one paragraph ask that information be kept private, and in the next paragraph ask yet another question expecting assistance.

 

[straitman]

Several people are getting dangerously close to crossing the line with their comments about others.

If you do not like what someone posts then you have three choices:

1. Report the post if that is appropriate,
2. Comment about the topic,
3. Ignore the poster.

Do not start commenting about each other or you will suddenly become very unloved by the mods. :shock:

 

[Shanye2233]

<Redacted> Off topic

People have given me advice and I thank them and have used it however I have found others not on AFF whom have given me advice and used it as well.

Best to give it a break.

Appreciate all advice given

 

[Foreigner]

Try into ZRH

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.)

 

[Alanslegal]

I hope this is Ok, a new thread where we can post our successful booking using US Dividend Miles

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ograms/us-dividend-miles-post-your-33057.html

 

[vlado]

Anyway - Can the previous poster come back with further info about 7 seats and 5 J seats including VS. From everything I have seen getting 4 seats is hard but that number is amazing.

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.

Regarding the VS flight, these do not show up at all on either Aeroplan or ANA, but lots of seats available on the continental site. I rang and had no problems booking or ticketing. Have confirmation codes and seat numbers, and have been able to reorganise seats so looking good at this stage. I wasnt aware this wasnt supposed to be possible, and the agent didnt bat an eyelid when I gave her these flights as part of my itinerary. YMMV

A quick question: i have been able to check flights and arrange seating on the LH website for most of my flights (including VS), but I cant find an easy way to do this on the OZ website. It appears you need to be a member to do this- correct? Any good shortcuts?

Is there a place on the USAirways website the whole itinerary is shown?

Thanks again for all the help

 

[vlado]

PS. note that travel via ICN mostly requires overnighting in Seoul. I presumed this was why the flights there were easier to find?

The advantage is 2 x 11 hour daytime flights to Europe, with a night in a real 'ground-bed' in between

 

[JohnK]

Do not start commenting about each other or you will suddenly become very unloved by the mods. :shock:

I don't want to attack anyone but this thread went way off topic a while back.

You can remove this post if you wish but it is not easy to ignore a poster when their posts are mixed in with a whole lot of useful information.

And no I would not want this thread to be split up but a certain saga did not belong here 3 months ago and does not really belong here now.

 

[burmans]

Maybe I'm losing it but thought I saw somewhere on this forum that where there are only two class aircraft (First and Coach) for US internal travel this get regarded as Business for ticketing purposes if part of a broader trip from Aus, can anyone confirm or deny. Have been unable to relocate the post!

I.e.
SYD - ICN J
ICN - LAX J
LAX - EWR First
JFK - ICN J
ICN - SYD J

would be treated as a business ticket.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Maybe I'm losing it but thought I saw somewhere on this forum that where there are only two class aircraft (First and Coach) for US internal travel this get regarded as Business for ticketing purposes if part of a broader trip from Aus, can anyone confirm or deny. Have been unable to relocate the post!

I.e.
SYD - ICN J
ICN - LAX J
LAX - EWR First
JFK - ICN J
ICN - SYD J

would be treated as a business ticket.

This is correct. but ONLY if the aircraft in question is two class... which most of them except AA/UA flagship transcons are (and UA for not much longer anyway).

The same principle does NOT apply for other domestic flights... for example in china if you connect from business you can only fly economy. If you choose first for the domestic sector then the wholee ticket is charged in First.

Regarding way out itineraries... US has some record in tightening the rules in response to complex itineraries which might technically be within the rules but are realy outside what might be deemed 'fair and ause'.

New rules introduced/now enforced over the last couple of years include the 'no travel from South Pacific to Europe via USA' and stopovers only on most direct routes, and now US using the star alliance booking tool to determine most direct routing (and this affects transits which might be considered stopovers if not on most direct route).

I am sure agents talk about the calls they have had... most people talk about work. These things come up. And it seems the rule makers listen to that.

What might we expect from this? higher award levels ex Southwest pacific? Increase in phone booking fees? Further restrictions on routings (even more direct).

Why does this matter? because there are times when avalibility simply means you have to take an indirect route rather than the most direct. In the long term, this potentially has the ability to mean that we can no longer route home from europe via ICN or tokyo when a more direct 'via BKK' is full. (for example there could be a restriction that you can only transit one zone other than origin and destination.

I'd hate to see that happen.

I dont even mind new members coming on... that is what AFF is about. And one of those new members one day will be the first to discover some great new deal that we will all benefit from. Thankfully we don't have the problem here, but it was posted over on FT that a new member didn't get the attention they wanted and said they would post the US deal on an Australian bargain webstie as pay-back.

 

[gzmourg]

Don't need to visit the first class terminal that badly. First priority would be BKK and then SKG.<br>
<br>
<br>
Final destination would be SKG so if possible avoid transit in ATH unless absolutely necessary.

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)

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.

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.

There is only 1 flight from FRA- SKG per day on Aegean- flight leaves around 2pm in the afternoon which will mean an 8 hour wait at FRA airport, if your TG flight arrives at 6am.

Also, you could do the BKK- FRA and FRA- BKK sectors both on LH -- it will depend on availability. I personally preferred the LH flight - there are only 8 seats in first and they provide you with a thick mattress when they prepare your bed. More comfortable than the TG seat.

Good luck with your booking.