US Dividend Miles - Oneworld Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[bcworld]

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

Actually, sorry...I think I'm going to take this one back! I think it has to be a short haul or domestic Y connection...so you probably wouldn't be eligible at SYD. You might have some luck at HKG though having arrived in F.

 

[sighing]

bcworld - thanks for your views and answers. So, it appears I must play a waiting game with some steady nerves IF i'm wanting to avoid 2 x $150 and assuming seats become available. Appreciate the info on lounge access too. As I'm stopping overnight on the outbound SYD-HKG sector, I'll assume therefore no lounge access at SYD...

 

[sergeyvzn]

bcworld - thanks for your views and answers. So, it appears I must play a waiting game with some steady nerves IF i'm wanting to avoid 2 x $150 and assuming seats become available. Appreciate the info on lounge access too. As I'm stopping overnight on the outbound SYD-HKG sector, I'll assume therefore no lounge access at SYD...

You did think about going on QF J SYD to BKK or SIN and then on CX J or F to HKG, didn't you
or else SYD or MEL to KUL-HKG on MH that is almost always available

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You did think about going on QF J SYD to BKK or SIN and then on CX J or F to HKG, didn't you
or else SYD or MEL to KUL-HKG on MH that is almost always available

no lounge access in SYD, and also, technically, no lounge access prior to your economy flight HKG-SYD, as the rules state it must be long-haul to short haul or vv. As SYD-HKG is long haul, technically no access. I would say the chances are pretty good something will open up in business class on the Australia sectors however, especially in the couple weeks prior to departure (although depending how long you are away you might miss out on the return).

 

[sighing]

You did think about going on QF J SYD to BKK or SIN and then on CX J or F to HKG, didn't you
or else SYD or MEL to KUL-HKG on MH that is almost always available

Almost nothing available on QF - well, nothing that suited my dates anyway when it comes to SYD-SIN. I did some spot checks on the BKK options but will give it more of a look in now that you've suggested it (thanks). I've heard MH in first is very good but I'm not sure I'm ready to travel via that particular airline yet - even though I know that may sound a bit silly...

 

[sighing]

no lounge access in SYD, and also, technically, no lounge access prior to your economy flight HKG-SYD, as the rules state it must be long-haul to short haul or vv. As SYD-HKG is long haul, technically no access. I would say the chances are pretty good something will open up in business class on the Australia sectors however, especially in the couple weeks prior to departure (although depending how long you are away you might miss out on the return).

It is a fairly short trip (less than 2 weeks) and yes, I am keeping fingers crossed on seats opening closer to departure.
Thanks for your confirmation on the lounge access. So in theory, if the seat coming back to SYD opens up, I can at least hope for Cathay's business class lounge in HKG.

 

[sergeyvzn]

It is a fairly short trip (less than 2 weeks) and yes, I am keeping fingers crossed on seats opening closer to departure.
Thanks for your confirmation on the lounge access. So in theory, if the seat coming back to SYD opens up, I can at least hope for Cathay's business class lounge in HKG.

Also Qatar has a good availability, their business class is excellent and you can fly their first (even better) from/to both LHR and CDG to Doha.

You could do SYD -PER-DOH-LHR returning CDG-DOH-PER-SYD.

Would save you fuel surcharges on BA and the UK APD. And with the money saved I'd buy a one way 1st class ticket on Eurostar between London and Paris.

Just a thought

 

[diningdecadence]

Also Qatar has a good availability, their business class is excellent and you can fly their first (even better) from/to both LHR and CDG to Doha.

You could do SYD -PER-DOH-LHR returning CDG-DOH-PER-SYD.

Would save you fuel surcharges on BA and the UK APD. And with the money saved I'd buy a one way 1st class ticket on Eurostar between London and Paris.

Just a thought

isn't routing through the middle east considered 2 awards unless you're on the same flight number or something?

 

[sergeyvzn]

isn't routing through the middle east considered 2 awards unless you're on the same flight number or something?

I don't think so. It's not AA rules yet -

 

[bcworld]

isn't routing through the middle east considered 2 awards unless you're on the same flight number or something?

AA rules, not USDM.

 

[sighing]

Also Qatar has a good availability, their business class is excellent and you can fly their first (even better) from/to both LHR and CDG to Doha.

You could do SYD -PER-DOH-LHR returning CDG-DOH-PER-SYD.

Would save you fuel surcharges on BA and the UK APD. And with the money saved I'd buy a one way 1st class ticket on Eurostar between London and Paris.

Just a thought

Very creative suggestion. It does appear this is an option worth considering and the availability as you say, is there. Thanks sergeyvzn. I will R&D this further.

 

[sighing]

Quick update for anyone interested...I'm sticking with my original itinerary as I'm quite keen to experience CX first.

This evening I was able to update my booking after spotting a business cabin seat on one of the CX flights from SYD-HKG. So at this point, my only economy sector remains HKG-SYD on CX. The call with the agent took less than 5 minutes - a record for me!

 

[sergeyvzn]

Quick update for anyone interested...I'm sticking with my original itinerary as I'm quite keen to experience CX first.

This evening I was able to update my booking after spotting a business cabin seat on one of the CX flights from SYD-HKG. So at this point, my only economy sector remains HKG-SYD on CX. The call with the agent took less than 5 minutes - a record for me!

Anything in J on CX HKG-BNE-SYD or HKG-MEL-SYD (or maybe even via Adelaide) on the day?

 

[sighing]

Anything in J on CX HKG-BNE-SYD or HKG-MEL-SYD (or maybe even via Adelaide) on the day?

You know, i didn't think to try ADL! PER, BNE, MEL, CNS are all on the radar but sadly nothing open outside of Y at this stage. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though. Thanks for the suggestions...

Cheers
Sigh.

 

[sighing]

Ok - all confirmed with one minor differance!

I changed HKG-SYD to HKG-MNL on CX F, followed by MNL-SYD on QF J. Actually this works out pretty good as I now have an extra day to spend in Manila followed by the overnight in QF20 and then straight to the office.

Also ensures the use of lounges all the way which given the layover times involved will be well-used and appreciated.

Now to figure out the best way to kill time in HKG between 2200 and 0950 the following day.

Will most likely spend the day in Mall of Asia in Manila on the way back.

Oh, and for some strange reason the taxes and processing fee reduced from $768+50 USD to $328 USD inclusive. I'm still travelling via LHR and taking a BA flight from LHR to CDG. I've noticed this anomaly reported here in the past so I'm assuming that the itinerary will be honoured in any event.

Trip Report promised and thanks again for all the suggestions.

cheers,
sigh

 

[sergeyvzn]

Ok - all confirmed with one minor differance!

I changed HKG-SYD to HKG-MNL on CX F, followed by MNL-SYD on QF J. Actually this works out pretty good as I now have an extra day to spend in Manila followed by the overnight in QF20 and then straight to the office.

Also ensures the use of lounges all the way which given the layover times involved will be well-used and appreciated.

Now to figure out the best way to kill time in HKG between 2200 and 0950 the following day.

Will most likely spend the day in Mall of Asia in Manila on the way back.

Oh, and for some strange reason the taxes and processing fee reduced from $768+50 USD to $328 USD inclusive. I'm still travelling via LHR and taking a BA flight from LHR to CDG. I've noticed this anomaly reported here in the past so I'm assuming that the itinerary will be honoured in any event.

Trip Report promised and thanks again for all the suggestions.

cheers,
sigh

I bet they applied YQs to your CX flights from Paris all the way to SYD when they quoted $768, that's why. It has been reported before that if there's one sector on BA, somehow the fuel surcharges get applied to the rest of the journey. Good they checked it and corrected it

 

[sighing]

Pardon my ignorance but what is YQ?

So. it is correct not to be charged the fuel surcharge even though I have a connection via LHR and the BA flight from LHR-CDG? If so, I'm glad I got the right agent this time.

I was also fortunate in that event as the skype call got cut off half-way through ticketing. I called back and got the same agent!

cheers,
sigh.

 

[sergeyvzn]

Pardon my ignorance but what is YQ?

So. it is correct not to be charged the fuel surcharge even though I have a connection via LHR and the BA flight from LHR-CDG? If so, I'm glad I got the right agent this time.

I was also fortunate in that event as the skype call got cut off half-way through ticketing. I called back and got the same agent!

cheers,
sigh.

YQ = fuel surchages
Only apply to BA/Iberia. Your BA leg is fairly short so the surcharge should be $70 or so
But what often happens is that if there's a serious of flights involving a leg on BA in the beginning all following legs on different carriers (CX in your particular case) got hit with the fuel surcharge as well whereas they shouldn't

 

[sighing]

YQ = fuel surchages
Only apply to BA/Iberia. Your BA leg is fairly short so the surcharge should be $70 or so
But what often happens is that if there's a serious of flights involving a leg on BA in the beginning all following legs on different carriers (CX in your particular case) got hit with the fuel surcharge as well whereas they shouldn't

Thanks sergeyvzn for the clarification. Good to know. I have to say I'm pretty chuffed at how this turned out.

 

[bcworld]

Pardon my ignorance but what is YQ?

So. it is correct not to be charged the fuel surcharge even though I have a connection via LHR and the BA flight from LHR-CDG? If so, I'm glad I got the right agent this time.

I was also fortunate in that event as the skype call got cut off half-way through ticketing. I called back and got the same agent!

cheers,
sigh.

What is your destination? LHR or CDG?