US Dividend Miles - Oneworld Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[boomy]

Anyone knows how many miles needed for intra-Europe F class?
The partner award chart shows n/a

 

[tm.smile]

I'm not sure there would be any F seats possible inter-Europe? Is there a specific route/airline you know of that does?

 

[boomy]

BA has F on some of their 777s

 

[sergeyvzn]

I'm not sure there would be any F seats possible inter-Europe? Is there a specific route/airline you know of that does?

BA's B747 LHR to DME has first class

 

[tm.smile]

Heres a thread recently on AA. I assume it'd be a similar answer for US?

BA F LHR-DME available but unavailable because AA thinks it doesn't exist - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[boomy]

I'm not very optimistic about the result but I should probably give US a call about it.

 

[luxurytraveller]

Hi Everyone,

I have a question in regards to making changes to the itinerary that is already booked with USDM.

I have a 6 flight itinerary all on business class. I saw yesterday on BA.com that a first class award seat had opened up. I called USDM a couple of times yesterday and they said for me to make a change 1 flight from business to first - I would have to cancel my whole itinerary and then book again. Their reason being that on their computer systems - they cannot do this (unlike when they were with Star Alliance a few months ago which they could) in regards to changing cabins. BUT you could change your destinations, times etc - just not the change in cabins.

This would mean that I would have to be charged a cancellation fee of $150, I receive my taxes back - then rebook and paying another $210 in booking fee and taxes. The risk of doing this would also mean if I cancelled and rebooked - there is a chance the seats won't come up straight away on their system or the seats would be snapped up straight away.

Anybody else have this experience? Is this the norm now for USDM?

 

[bcworld]

Anybody else have this experience? Is this the norm now for USDM?

I think it's always been the case. You have a ticketed business class award which you now want to change to first class - I think that has always been a cancel and rebook case.

It would be different if you had ticketed a first class award, with business class segments and wanted to upgrade one of them when F became available.

 

[ferni]

So i signed up for a JAL account to search CX award availability. It made me sign up through the Asia Pac JAL site.... Searching through JAL for F seats showed nothing available around 330days out... but searching through award nexus CX(JL) option did show CX F available on 2 dates which I can't see on JAL... anyone got any ideas?

 

[bcworld]

A strange new footnote on the award chart:

2) Redemptions on Cathay Pacific from the N. America to Africa and the Middle East must be routed via the Atlantic

Given that CX only flies westbound across the Pacific from N America what are they trying to do here??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A strange new footnote on the award chart:



Given that CX only flies westbound across the Pacific from N America what are they trying to do here??

seems like 'CX may not be used for travel from USA to Africa/ME'.

unless it opens the way for some future CX flight that ma go via the atlantic (similar to SQ)

 

[anat0l]

A strange new footnote on the award chart:



Given that CX only flies westbound across the Pacific from N America what are they trying to do here??

seems like 'CX may not be used for travel from USA to Africa/ME'.

unless it opens the way for some future CX flight that ma go via the atlantic (similar to SQ)

What are the chances one may be able to argue that JFK-HKG goes via the Atlantic?

Either that or it really is, if you're thinking North America to Africa or Middle East, then as for CX, sod off. That would restrict one wanting to travel via Asia to then consider only AA, JL and MH.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

well.. maybe they meant to restrict awards on the non-stop flights rather than those via YVR. But it would be a long stretch! I can't see USDM allowing USA-Africa via HKG anyway. not the most direct route.

 

[bcworld]

well.. maybe they meant to restrict awards on the non-stop flights rather than those via YVR. But it would be a long stretch! I can't see USDM allowing USA-Africa via HKG anyway. not the most direct route.

I don't think SFO-HKG-JNB is really that outlandish though.

 

[jgm]

The average USDM agent is so geographically challenged that they wouldn't know the difference between the Pacific & the Atlantic, or where they are. You could probably even convince them that the Atlantic is and arm of the Pacific or at least that HKG is on the Atlantic.

 

[lmere12]

Would appreciate some advise pls, looking at booking J seats for friends CNS-NYC // VYR - CNS 31/05 - 29/06 (dates flex by a week)

called up and have on hold CX J CNS-HKG-JFK with a dummy return so I could secure the way over but couldn't find seats with CX YVR-HKG-CNS booked YVR-LA-BNE-CNS on the 02/06 .. Friends are happy to pay the $150 change fee. Agent said they couldn't join the 2 PNR's to one.

is this the best plan of attack or could I try something better . Wait until 335 after the return date / different legs home ? TIA

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Would appreciate some advise pls, looking at booking J seats for friends CNS-NYC // VYR - CNS 31/05 - 29/06 (dates flex by a week)

called up and have on hold CX J CNS-HKG-JFK with a dummy return so I could secure the way over but couldn't find seats with CX YVR-HKG-CNS booked YVR-LA-BNE-CNS on the 02/06 .. Friends are happy to pay the $150 change fee. Agent said they couldn't join the 2 PNR's to one.

is this the best plan of attack or could I try something better . Wait until 335 after the return date / different legs home ? TIA

Seems about the best option at the moment given availability for the return is not yet showing.

If all the miles are coming from one account they will have the same PNR. If different accounts, they cannot be 'merged'. But a note can be put into the booking to cross-reference the two PNRs (FWIW).

 

[lmere12]

thanks MEL_Traveller. I thought they could merge them. Will ask them to put a note in when I call back. cheers

 

[sighing]

I've just put the following itinerary on hold:

Late Oct 2014: SYD-HKG-LHR-CDG-HKG-SYD.

SYD-HKG & HKG-SYD are in economy on CX.

HKG-LHR and CDG-HKG are in first on CX.

LHR-CDG is business on BA.

Total is 150K with appropriate taxes and fuel surcharges due to the LHR/BA component at around $750 USD. There is currently no availability in the premium cabin for the SYD-HKG; HKG-SYD sectors.

With this arrangement, I have these questions:

1. The USDM agent was unable to see any cabin other than coach, business, or first. In other words, NO premium economy availability even though the SYD - HKG sectors offer this cabin. FWIW, KVS tells me there are a few Y+ seats available for award travel. Does anyone know why USDM agents cannot access this?

2. I'm taking my chances that a business seat will become available on either or both the SYD-HKG-SYD sectors between now and late Oct. Also, my understanding is I will be up for $150 USD change fee if the seat becomes available - is this right and would it apply twice if one seat change is made and then another is made separately?

3. If the current itinerary holds, what lounge access will I be afforded for any of the sectors that are in economy - assuming I hold no status?

4. As this is my first CX first itinerary, I am wondering what difference there is between 777 ER business and first and is it worth the extra points?

As always, all advice and feedback is much appreciated...thanks all.

Cheers,
Sigh

 

[bcworld]

With this arrangement, I have these questions:

1. The USDM agent was unable to see any cabin other than coach, business, or first. In other words, NO premium economy availability even though the SYD - HKG sectors offer this cabin. FWIW, KVS tells me there are a few Y+ seats available for award travel. Does anyone know why USDM agents cannot access this?

2. I'm taking my chances that a business seat will become available on either or both the SYD-HKG-SYD sectors between now and late Oct. Also, my understanding is I will be up for $150 USD change fee if the seat becomes available - is this right and would it apply twice if one seat change is made and then another is made separately?

3. If the current itinerary holds, what lounge access will I be afforded for any of the sectors that are in economy - assuming I hold no status?

4. As this is my first CX first itinerary, I am wondering what difference there is between 777 ER business and first and is it worth the extra points?

As always, all advice and feedback is much appreciated...thanks all.

Cheers,
Sigh

1. Their award chart doesn't feature premium economy. Their award booking system is probably set up to mask it.

2. Yes, you'll pay $150 each time you amend your itinerary.

3. OneWorld rules grant you lounge access based on connecting to or from a same day flight in business or first, regardless of cabin class, so unless you have stopovers you should be entitled to some lounge access before each flight

4. I would say yes it's worth it for a long sector of CX F. The J seat is my favourite anywhere, however the rest of the soft product will be vastly superior in F...CX F&B in J is really not anything to get excited about.