US Dividend Miles - Oneworld Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[baggyred]

I'm aware that when booking USDM flights, the max transit if 24 hours - however is there a minimum transit time?

Whilst I appreciate from a real world point of view you don't want to be cutting it too fine - wondering if there is an official policy

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm aware that when booking USDM flights, the max transit if 24 hours - however is there a minimum transit time?

Whilst I appreciate from a real world point of view you don't want to be cutting it too fine - wondering if there is an official policy

it will be the airport/airline minimum connecting time. Somewhere (generally) between 1-2.5 hours (the latter for arrivals into the usa for example).

the airline will not allow ticketing if you are under MCT.

therefore, being all on one ticket, it doesn't really matter if you cut things fine, the airline will carry you to your destination.

 

[d.diddy_13]

Just wondering can you have an open jaw at both ends...

HKG - LHR
DXB - HKG - KUL

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just wondering can you have an open jaw at both ends...

HKG - LHR
DXB - HKG - KUL

Under the rules you cannot, and they are fairly consistent with that. Assuming you have a LHR-DXB flight in that itinerary, you could add KUL-JKG and not fly the last sector.

 

[diningdecadence]

is someone able to check the following please?

SYD-HKG rtn J
- 90k USDM (South Pacific - North Asia). With current 100% promo = USD1,575 (plus any taxes)
- 60k Alaska Miles. with current 40% bonus - 39k (+15,600) $1,072.50 + 5k (+1k) - 137.50 = USD1210 (plus any taxes)

anything obvious i'm missing?

 

[bcworld]

is someone able to check the following please?

SYD-HKG rtn J
- 90k USDM (South Pacific - North Asia). With current 100% promo = USD1,575 (plus any taxes)
- 60k Alaska Miles. with current 40% bonus - 39k (+15,600) $1,072.50 + 5k (+1k) - 137.50 = USD1210 (plus any taxes)

anything obvious i'm missing?

The 90k miles USDM will cost you USD1693 including the 7.5% tax charge...I'm not sure if you're including that in your ++ or you only mean taxes associated with the flights.

 

[r01x]

There are reports that AS have blocked non-North American cardholders from purchasing miles.

 

[bcworld]

There are reports that AS have blocked non-North American cardholders from purchasing miles.

Again? Because they did that before (a few months ago)...then allowed it again.

 

[r01x]

Again? Because they did that before (a few months ago)...then allowed it again.

You may be right, I haven't been following them for a while.

 

[Limewood]

I see many are booking with USDM to an end destination but routing via various cities to get there, is this done by the operator?.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I see many are booking with USDM to an end destination but routing via various cities to get there, is this done by the operator?.

in many ways, USDM is the same as Qantas when it comes to redeeming awards. you need to find the availability you want.

once you have found flights, call USDM to have them make the reservation and ticket. sometimes the preferred route you want is not available, so you have to find other ways (and connections) to get where you want.

the rules for ticketing, and allowed routings, are outlined in the membership guide.

You must also stay within the allowed miles for the total journey (MPM). this isn't normally a problem for straight forward reasonable itineraries. if you start trying to get 'maximum value' from an award you might run into difficulties. (the only exception is east coast Australia to west coast usa... that is available only direct, or via a couple of Asian cities because the mileage allowance is tight)

once you have found the flights you want (availability), call us airways. if they don't allow something you feel is 'within the rules', we can advise you on that.

 

[Limewood]

Yes I'll find the flights and various scenarios then call them.

 

[ms1]

I have a question about an upcoming GUM trip.

I'm flying into GUM on JL941 and from then I have an open jaw and I have arranged my own way back to NRT on Delta the following day. I have just noticed that QF have award class availability on JL942 the same day I get into GUM. Can anyone advise if I will have any issue flying back to NRT same day on different tickets? I would guess that I will fly back on the same plane so wouldn't have to worry about any delays on the outbound flight.

I was thinking I could leave my luggage in storage at NRT and go with carry on only to GUM and that way I could online check in for the inbound leg in before I left NRT.

Thoughts?

 

[d.diddy_13]

Under the rules you cannot, and they are fairly consistent with that. Assuming you have a LHR-DXB flight in that itinerary, you could add KUL-JKG and not fly the last sector.

Sorry i am not sure what you mean…. can you explain a bit more.

For a bit more clareification i am using Qantas points to fly emirates from FCO - DXB

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry i am not sure what you mean…. can you explain a bit more.

For a bit more clareification i am using Qantas points to fly emirates from FCO - DXB

you cannot have a double open jaw.

I wasn't sure if the LHR-DXB was on your ticket but the principle is the same. For either a stopover in DXB or an open jaw leaving DXB, your itinerary must end back in HKG.

You could do this by adding a KUL-HKG sector to complete the ticket, and simply not take the last flight.

 

[Limewood]

Would BNE/HKG/CDG stopover then on return HKG stopover then BNE fit within the rules?.

Im tossing up wether to go out of HKG or BNE have enough points/miles to do both.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Would BNE/HKG/CDG stopover then on return HKG stopover then BNE fit within the rules?.

Im tossing up wether to go out of HKG or BNE have enough points/miles to do both.

provided you only have one stopover for your entire itinerary (in addition to your destination), you are fine.

if you haven't already done so, a quick read of the US Airways membership guide is a good starting point... only takes 5 minutes to read, and answers many of the questions around routing and stopovers.

 

[Limewood]

provided you only have one stopover for your entire itinerary (in addition to your destination), you are fine.

Perfect then...

thank you.

 

[Limewood]

Looking at USDM rules it doesn't say whether a mix of OW airlines is allowed to destination.

We are at an age where we like to have a stopover on long haul flights where possible.

Our destination is CDG from OZ, we need to stopover on return in HKG.

Can see better flight times via HKG / DXB both less than 24hr overnight departure to destination CDG but there are other connections that leave within hours.

So if I find the USDM flights (with less than 24hours departure) that suit us better so we can break the journey overnight would they allow this (if they have them) or would operator choose other quicker connection flights?.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking at USDM rules it doesn't say whether a mix of OW airlines is allowed to destination.

We are at an age where we like to have a stopover on long haul flights where possible.

Our destination is CDG from OZ, we need to stopover on return in HKG.

Can see better flight times via HKG / DXB both less than 24hr overnight departure to destination CDG but there are other connections that leave within hours.

So if I find the USDM flights (with less than 24hours departure) that suit us better so we can break the journey overnight would they allow this (if they have them) or would operator choose other quicker connection flights?.

you can choose flights that suit you - as i mentioned in post #1051 you find the flights you want (same as you would using the QF tool), and call USDM to have them book and ticket. It is sometimes helpful to have alternatives in case USDM can't see the same availability as you might have found via the QF/BA/JL tools.

mix of OW airlines is permitted, the partner award chart (OW) states this clearly at the top: http://www.usairways.com/en-US/Resources/_downloads/dividendmiles/oneworldawardtravel.pdf