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

[Flashback]

I was thinking of a trip in F for Mrs Flashware for her milestone birthday in June. Really need to think about it today in order to purchase some miles in the 100% promo. I have 100k in my account already, but can find ways to get the other 100k (50 for me, 50 for her) via AMEX CC (albeit at 1000:5000 via SPG then 20k->25k SPG-US) if no other promo comes up in Feb, as would need to book soon due to June being peak. I don't realllllllllllllllllly want to go to Aus. Mrs Flashware's not a fan of the states. Obvious options are via FRA for some OZ F and then via BKK for some TG F. Wonder if that prices slightly lower than Aus...... Could do CDG-BKK / BKK-ICN-FRA-LGW. She would think we were just going to Paris.. (for a week .. ha! then I'd surprise her and say we're off to the airport after our first night in Paris. If the price is the same as Aus, then could always hit SYD with a quick hop over to PER to visit family & new nieces/nephews, etc.

What do you think? Any other thoughts/suggestions?

It looks like it is SWP.

Our best options to "experience" First look to be to either North Asia (100), South & Central Asia (110k), Middle East (80k) or Africa (100k). She has flown J before from LON-MNL, but never First.

Cheeky option could be CDG-BKK-ICN (organise own flight somewhere else) then ICN-FRA-LGW. Another option is CDG-BKK-SIN, SIN-ICN-FRA-LGW. Should price in at 110k in F (South & Central Asia).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thought I'd better check my booking for May and now they're CANCELLED - possibly due to the TG changes... On the phone now... stressed much !

flight details?

 

[lmere12]

Sorry MEL_Traveller, I removed the post as quick as possible. Where they used to show my OLD flight was changed over to my NEW flight and had a big cancel on it. I had been accessing each flights info in 2 different areas so they changed it after many months and I panicked then noticed the change over. tks

 

[neon_crossing]

Ahh promo ends today, to stock up or not to stock up??? always a hard question. I wonder if an impending merger will affect points at all. Surely Oneworld points wont be as effective heading to North America or will they actually be better? (large hypothetical question I know)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ahh promo ends today, to stock up or not to stock up??? always a hard question. I wonder if an impending merger will affect points at all. Surely Oneworld points wont be as effective heading to North America or will they actually be better? (large hypothetical question I know)

one world points won't be better going to USA on direct services. you'll be limited to qf availability, unless AA/us decides to get into the market in their own right.

what it will open up is cheaper award prices (for the same measles qf availability) and no fuel surcharges. it also opens up triple daily cx services to all of Asia, at 35k one way, or 70k return, with a full flat bed, and no fuel fines. even opens up transpacific services to USA on cx (long way around I know) for 35k (biz class to hkg) + 67k (f class to USA) on cx or aa (still coming in way under qf).

I didn't buy this time around. was wondering if I should even just so I can get a targeted offer next time. but with 700k odd miles sitting in 'valuable' program such as lifemiles, AA and BA, I think there is better value out there than USDM at this moment.

 

[alieninperth]

new promo for Feb. I hope this isn't an indication of things to come...

[TABLE="width: 580, align: center"]

[TR]
[TD][/TD]
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[TD][/TD]
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[TR]
[TD="width: 580, bgcolor: #333333"] Get a 50% bonus when you buy or gift miles* [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE="width: 580"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2ECF8"][TABLE="width: 347"]
[TR]
[TD]Buying miles is the easy way to get award travel, and gifting miles lets you help friends and family members reach their award travel goals quickly. You'll get a 50% bonus – up to 50,000 miles – when you buy or gift miles through February 28, 2013.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buy 10,000 miles → Get 15,000 miles
Buy 25,000 miles → Get 37,500 miles
Buy 50,000 miles → Get 75,000 miles
Buy 100,000 miles → Get 150,000 miles*[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

[Flashback]

new promo for Feb. I hope this isn't an indication of things to come...

[TABLE="width: 580, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 580, bgcolor: #333333"] Get a 50% bonus when you buy or gift miles* [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE="width: 580"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2ECF8"][TABLE="width: 347"]
[TR]
[TD]Buying miles is the easy way to get award travel, and gifting miles lets you help friends and family members reach their award travel goals quickly. You'll get a 50% bonus – up to 50,000 miles – when you buy or gift miles through February 28, 2013.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buy 10,000 miles → Get 15,000 miles
Buy 25,000 miles → Get 37,500 miles
Buy 50,000 miles → Get 75,000 miles
Buy 100,000 miles → Get 150,000 miles*[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Darn. I just purchased 50+50, so got in just in time!

 

[smit0847]

new promo for Feb. I hope this isn't an indication of things to come...

[TABLE="width: 580, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 580, bgcolor: #333333"] Get a 50% bonus when you buy or gift miles* [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE="width: 580"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2ECF8"][TABLE="width: 347"]
[TR]
[TD]Buying miles is the easy way to get award travel, and gifting miles lets you help friends and family members reach their award travel goals quickly. You'll get a 50% bonus – up to 50,000 miles – when you buy or gift miles through February 28, 2013.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buy 10,000 miles → Get 15,000 miles
Buy 25,000 miles → Get 37,500 miles
Buy 50,000 miles → Get 75,000 miles
Buy 100,000 miles → Get 150,000 miles*[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Ugh. I hope its not a sign of things to come too. I hope they werent doing relentless promos all last year to get their cash balances up so their balance sheet looked more attractive for the AA merger due diligence and now they're starting to slowly phasing out the DM program!

 

[anat0l]

Ugh. I hope its not a sign of things to come too. I hope they werent doing relentless promos all last year to get their cash balances up so their balance sheet looked more attractive for the AA merger due diligence and now they're starting to slowly phasing out the DM program!

They had to put the brakes on some time. The rest of the alliance is probably getting a bit sick of their antics.

Basically now the cost of a AUS/EUR F rises from about $3,000 to $4,000 (i.e. figuring about $2,000 for 50k + 50k points, with scaling it's now $4,000 for 100k + 50k points).

I wonder how much F tickets cost with some of these airlines. Would people be in a position to figure, "with prices like so-and-so, why would I do the US DM thing?" On the other hand, this may turn people off because even if $4,000 is good value for a F ticket, it's still... $4,000.

 

[bcworld]

They had to put the brakes on some time. The rest of the alliance is probably getting a bit sick of their antics.

Basically now the cost of a AUS/EUR F rises from about $3,000 to $4,000 (i.e. figuring about $2,000 for 50k + 50k points, with scaling it's now $4,000 for 100k + 50k points).

This is hardly a sign that they've permanently applied the brakes. They've run +50% and +75% promos before, followed by more typical +100% promos.

 

[Flashback]

Just FYI also my points posted straight away

 

[anat0l]

This is hardly a sign that they've permanently applied the brakes. They've run +50% and +75% promos before, followed by more typical +100% promos.

True, but I guess if I may shift my position to state that they just can't keep on going like this in fifth gear.

 

[burmans]

This is hardly a sign that they've permanently applied the brakes. They've run +50% and +75% promos before, followed by more typical +100% promos.

That was exactly what I thought at soon as I saw those posts, some of you are way too quick to read things into a short term promotions, some US promos are better than others, the fact that the latest isn't as good is generally no prediction of next months.

As for the merger, well US latest results were the best of all US airlines so not all would agree these constant promos are a bad thing financially, it seems to be working for them. And if they are going to leave *A under a merger do they really care that much about appeasing these current partners?

 

[bcworld]

That was exactly what I thought at soon as I saw those posts, some of you are way too quick to read things into a short term promotions, some US promos are better than others, the fact that the latest isn't as good is generally no prediction of next months.

As for the merger, well US latest results were the best of all US airlines so not all would agree these constant promos are a bad thing financially, it sems to be working for them. And if they are going to leave *A under a merger do they really care that much about appeasing these current partners?

Apparently some are getting 100% bonus still anyway!

Targeted: Up to 100% Bonus on Purchased US Miles - Hack My Trip

 

[Flashback]

Apparently some are getting 100% bonus still anyway!

Targeted: Up to 100% Bonus on Purchased US Miles - Hack My Trip

Just tried mine - no 50% or 100%.

 

[mhen]

Apparently some are getting 100% bonus still anyway!

Targeted: Up to 100% Bonus on Purchased US Miles - Hack My Trip

Seems to be targeted with some getting 50% bonus and others 100%. The 100% requires payment by US Air Dividend miles credit card.

US has had a number of different offers in the past including targeted and non-targeted, differing bonuses for credit card holders and non-credit card holders and as previously mentioned bonus rates have varied. To me it's just business as usual at the US miles marketing dept.

However I haven't been targeted this time.

 

[Alanslegal]

If anyone is free on time or bored or just wanting to give me a hand on some travel goals of mine, then I'd be very grateful

Now, I want to go from SYD to MIA (or even a nearby airport) for a electronic dance music festival starting Friday 22/3 (so prefer to get there a day or two before hand).

From MIA, I hope to fly to EUR (any major port is fine) straight after the three day rave, so leaving MIA say on Monday 25/3 or Tuesday 26/3.

From there I plan to 'park' the ticket in the EUR port and set a return date of early August. I.e destination MIA with a 4-5 month stopover in EUR. [will return home using a combination of QF/SQ points and even Scoot airlines if need be, then make my way back in early July via the same method].

The final legs EUR to SYD part shouldn't be too much of an issue I think so my main concern is SYD-MIA-EUR.

Anyone will to look this up? If not, it's totally cool I will get my searching skates on once I get back home from the states late next week.

 

[Shanye2233]

I suggest you give the electric disco a miss and spend your points on something else. If your desperate to go use LM and go SYD-MAJ to HNL then cut across to MIA via CJJ

 

[travelislife]

It should be doable, but going through Europe both ways is the best way to look at I think.

Long time no see Shanye.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I suggest you give the electric disco a miss...

Are you crazy?