US Dividend Miles - Oneworld Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[anat0l]

No doubt it has changed but apparently some still managed to do it on JL.

Is that in the early days of the cut over or just recently?

EF is giving funny results. There is no published fares for MEL-GUM or SYD-GUM, but in the calculated mileage section you can read off an MPM anyway (albeit generic IATA YY carrier). That said, the 25M value makes it impossible to go from Australia to Asia to GUM using the oneworld system. In fact, if the strict rules were applied you'd also have almost no chance using *A either, unless - as I suspect - EF is reporting the wrong MPM values.

 

[bcworld]

Is that in the early days of the cut over or just recently?

EF is giving funny results. There is no published fares for MEL-GUM or SYD-GUM, but in the calculated mileage section you can read off an MPM anyway (albeit generic IATA YY carrier). That said, the 25M value makes it impossible to go from Australia to Asia to GUM using the oneworld system. In fact, if the strict rules were applied you'd also have almost no chance using *A either, unless - as I suspect - EF is reporting the wrong MPM values.

The MPM was drastically reduced at about the time of US' s entry into OW. It used to be in the 7-8k miles range from MEL and SYD.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I'd like to know if I'm going to run into MPM issues with this
MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG(stop)-JFK(dest)-HKG-MEL

JFK can be swapped for anything really in the US..

you can try but it may not work MEL-CDG>MEL-JFK. Only BOS may work

 

[bcworld]

Does anyone have any experience if you can take an existing *A award and change it to a OW award within the same zones?

I have an existing MEL-GUM booking (via various places obviously!) which I'd happily change to MEL-BME...for 2 x $150.

Otherwise I'm going to have to cancel the GUM booking anyway at 2 x 150 and then make a new booking for BME.

 

[smit0847]

Does anyone have any experience if you can take an existing *A award and change it to a OW award within the same zones?

I have an existing MEL-GUM booking (via various places obviously!) which I'd happily change to MEL-BME...for 2 x $150.

Otherwise I'm going to have to cancel the GUM booking anyway at 2 x 150 and then make a new booking for BME.

I think you'll be able to change it rather than cancelling. If you can't and the cancel fee is the same as the change fee isn't the only additional cost the 2 x $50 booking fee for booking the 'new' booking? They waive this if they're forced the cancel it purely because the old booking is on one system and the new one on another.

GUMs really not that bad! Are you changing it because schedule changes have no longer made it viable or just change or mind?

 

[bcworld]

GUMs really not that bad! Are you changing it because schedule changes have no longer made it viable or just change or mind?

Not my change of mind, no. It's all your fault!

 

[smit0847]

Not my change of mind, no. It's all your fault!

We were just being honest!

Did he read my trip report? If so and he still doesn't want to go I can understand.

 

[boomy]

We were just being honest!

Did he read my trip report? If so and he still doesn't want to go I can understand.

If I remember correctly you had some bad luck with the weather in Guam. We were a bit more lucky to have perfect sunny weather and that's makes all the difference because there is not much to do there in a rainy day (unless you like shopping).
I think Guam is a nice place for a stopover and relaxation on the way home after a trip to Asia

 

[get me outta here]

Bit OT, but I was in GUM last week for 3 days. I did a south of the Island tour for 4 hours and that was pleasant cost $30 on special because the Russian charter flights suddenly stopped.

It's fine for short stop over, sort of a cross between a Pacific Island and HNL 30 + years ago with a learning tourist industry. There were a couple of great storms, usually at night.

If I remember correctly you had some bad luck with the weather in Guam. We were a bit more lucky to have perfect sunny weather and that's makes all the difference because there is not much to do there in a rainy day (unless you like shopping).
I think Guam is a nice place for a stopover and relaxation on the way home after a trip to Asia

 

[smit0847]

If I remember correctly you had some bad luck with the weather in Guam. We were a bit more lucky to have perfect sunny weather and that's makes all the difference because there is not much to do there in a rainy day (unless you like shopping).
I think Guam is a nice place for a stopover and relaxation on the way home after a trip to Asia

You are correct - we were there for 6 days in the dry season (Feb) and it rained on 3 of those days which was unfortunate. I liked that Guam was cheap, the people and beaches were very nice and when the weather was clear it was excellent. I didn't like the roads and traffic, food or the fact that the whole place was pretty run down.

I'd happily return if it was a good deal (going back in a month ; P)

 

[r01x]

I liked that Guam was cheap, the people and beaches were very nice and when the weather was clear it was excellent. I didn't like the roads and traffic, food or the fact that the whole place was pretty run down.

That's a pretty fair summary. Anything outside of Tumon does have a very rustic feel to it. Food is well, typical American. Still not a bad place to visit all around though... esp for a good price.

 

[Swan]

Can anyone advise an easy way to get seat allocations. Apart from US, BA and JL I have not found a way to get seat allocations online with other one world carriers.
Phoning takes a lot of time and has specific carrier problems. CX is easy but a long telephone wait. AA try to charge so it takes several calls before I can get a free allocation. QR always tell me they cant do it and I have to get seats allocated at the airport. This requires explaining that it is possible and eventually someone works out how to do it. TAM play the handball game and eventually speak to someone in Brazil, takes a lot of time and patience.
When travelling with the family it is nice to be seated together and as we are ticketing out of each of our own USDM accounts the airlines don't link the bookings.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

CX is very straight forward, just get the PNR and off you go, can do it on line.

AA is the same... just bring up the booking and off you go. if you have status with OW, you enter that in to the AA site and it opens up preferred seating.

worth noting AA will link any associated bookings without status (if you are flying in coach) and afford preferred seating to members of the same party. In my case it was separate tickets and AA was happy carry over the status benefits.

 

[hossein_au]

anyone think issues might occur if my wife and I used the same cc to purchase miles? I'm just concerned about audits which think the accounts are owned by the same person....

Never had a problem. I've always bought points for myself, kids, and parents, all on the same CC. But if course, these are not phantom people; I can provide proper documentation if audited.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

Can anyone advise an easy way to get seat allocations. Apart from US, BA and JL I have not found a way to get seat allocations online with other one world carriers.
Phoning takes a lot of time and has specific carrier problems. CX is easy but a long telephone wait. AA try to charge so it takes several calls before I can get a free allocation. QR always tell me they cant do it and I have to get seats allocated at the airport. This requires explaining that it is possible and eventually someone works out how to do it. TAM play the handball game and eventually speak to someone in Brazil, takes a lot of time and patience.
When travelling with the family it is nice to be seated together and as we are ticketing out of each of our own USDM accounts the airlines don't link the bookings.

I used the online QR site. Not all my flights are with qr I have a mix of Cx, qantas and qr. From the qr site I was able to choose all my seats for all flights. It was very simple and quick.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

anyone think issues might occur if my wife and I used the same cc to purchase miles? I'm just concerned about audits which think the accounts are owned by the same person....

I have used the same cc for my husband and I and we have different surnames. I have also purchased points for my parents all with the same card. I've never had a problem.

 

[Swan]

I used the online QR site. Not all my flights are with qr I have a mix of Cx, qantas and qr. From the qr site I was able to choose all my seats for all flights. It was very simple and quick.

All my bookings with USDM have no reference for CX, QR or TAM. How are you finding the trip on the QR site?

 

[curtainbounce]

Can anyone advise an easy way to get seat allocations. Apart from US, BA and JL I have not found a way to get seat allocations online with other one world carriers.
Phoning takes a lot of time and has specific carrier problems. CX is easy but a long telephone wait. AA try to charge so it takes several calls before I can get a free allocation. QR always tell me they cant do it and I have to get seats allocated at the airport. This requires explaining that it is possible and eventually someone works out how to do it. TAM play the handball game and eventually speak to someone in Brazil, takes a lot of time and patience.
When travelling with the family it is nice to be seated together and as we are ticketing out of each of our own USDM accounts the airlines don't link the bookings.

Hi Swan, I've been able to use the QR website fine to allocate seats. Just enter the PNR and last name under Manage My Booking and do it there. In fact I've been able to change my Qantas and airberlin seats also through the QR website but in general each carrier's own website does it. I did my CX ones online on their website as well.

 

[curtainbounce]

All my bookings with USDM have no reference for CX, QR or TAM. How are you finding the trip on the QR site?

Sorry just saw this - you need the 6 digit PNR as well as the US Airways confirmation code. USDM can give it to you.

 

[Swan]

Sorry just saw this - you need the 6 digit PNR as well as the US Airways confirmation code. USDM can give it to you.

I have asked for this and have been told on a number of occasions that they cannot provide PNR's for QR. I have been told to call QR as that is the only way to get seat allocations. Curtainbounce certainly contradicts this.