US Dividend Miles - Oneworld Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

Any fool proof methods? I'm sure it's been answered before but things change all the time.

the only fool-proof method is to call USDM. Sometimes they can't see what is offered on the JL/BA/QF sites, but quite often they can see availability that's not showing on any of those. So it can work in your favour to call them and check flights.

 

[paultiffen]

Thanks and as of today what's the latest date I can book? Is it 331 days US time?

 

[sergeyvzn]

Thanks and as of today what's the latest date I can book? Is it 331 days US time?

Go to their website and see what's the latest date in the calendar under Book a Flight

edit - just done it and it's 01 October 2015

 

[paultiffen]

Go to their website and see what's the latest date in the calendar under Book a Flight

edit - just done it and it's 01 October 2015

Hi,

Another question. If I book ZRH DOH BKK SYD in J and the BKK SYD segment in F becomes available do I need to pay a change fee?

Thx

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi,

Another question. If I book ZRH DOH BKK SYD in J and the BKK SYD segment in F becomes available do I need to pay a change fee?

Thx

not only would you need you need to pay the change fee, but USDM will most likely want to cancel the whole booking and start again. You would lose any existing seats, and may not get them back.

 

[paultiffen]

Ok so for change of class of any segment they want to cancel and redo? We already have a segment in first so it's not changing from business to first

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ok so for change of class of any segment they want to cancel and redo? We already have a segment in first so it's not changing from business to first

it seems so. I tried to change class of travel and 5 agents were unwilling to assist. Higher class of service already booked on other legs. You may be lucky to find an agent willing to do it, but it is by no means assured.

 

[paultiffen]

Ok so options at the moment are:

1) Book ZRH HKG BNE SYD in CX F/J and QF
Issues: Overnight in Brisbane arriving 11:25 PM departing 6 AM next monring
Only one seat available in F on ZRH HKG flight

2) Book ZRH LHR KUL SYD in BA, MH F/J
Only one seat available in F, 2 never released from what I can tell
Similarly for flight to Sydney only one in Business
Probably not as nice as CX

3) ZRH DOH PER SYD in QR, QF or ZRH DOH KUL SYD
No Qantas availaility
No actual F cabin just J at the moment

4) Wait

5) Change award to be North Asia to Europe and use 100K miles instead of 150K

6) Wait for AA integration and fly Etihad F both ways with Econ tagged on

For (1) what do you think the chances that if I book one F seat another one becomes available before March? any thoughts otherwise on best options to get back?

Thanks
Paul

 

[Danger]

Hi everyone. I thought it might be useful to post an update/learning from my recent attempts to change a relatively new USDM booking . . .

Always good to hear a story about the knowledgable FF prevailing.

 

[anat0l]

Anyone had any experience booking awards between Australia and South America?

Checking AA, BA and QF, there's about as much Business Class award space (for two people) on QF27 (SYD/SCL) for almost all of May - Jul 2015 as there are hookers in the Vatican City (and for one person, you'd be lucky to find anything anyway - QF PE, on the other hand, isn't all that bad).

Checking the QF website, there's availability on the LA flight, but QF gives the availability under its codeshare flight number (QF321). If I search for the same seats on BA, there is no availability. This suggests to me that there's probably nil chance of picking these up (I'd book and try but have no definite dates yet, just scoping).

If I can't get to South America directly over the Pacific, I can only see this happening by either trying via DOH (as someone else has ambitiously set out to do), or via North America (e.g. via LAX or DFW, both push the PN MPM to South America, assuming US DM will allow the use of that indicator).

 

[sergeyvzn]

I'm planning a trip to South America and I'm facing the same problem - now I'm even thinking about making a side trip to South America either from Europe or North America as part of a RWT trip...it seems it's just plain impossible between South Pacific and Santiago

 

[Swan]

Availability and MPM made it impossible for me. I called numerous times but could not get from Aust to S America. I eventually opted for a side trip from USA. Whilst this obviously is a more expensive option it still was a cheap Business trip to S America, particularly as I was going to the USA anyway. I had a lot of difficulty getting availability to GRU and EZE but eventually managed it out of CLT. The trip has since become quite messy following AA cancelling our flight from CLT to GRU. Now have to go via MIA with long wait but were lucky to get this as there is very limited choice.

 

[Gold Member]

Anyone had any experience booking awards between Australia and South America?

QR PER-DOH-GRU is just within MPM and tickets fine on US and AA given availability. If originating form the East Coast of Oz, it's a simple AA/US QF biz award one way or return.

EDIT: though not USDM/AA related, when I was researching I also found excellent value and availability on SA PER-JNB-GRU using LifeMiles. From memory it was 45k biz each way!

 

[Doggy]

QR PER-DOH-GRU is just within MPM and tickets fine on US and AA given availability. If originating form the East Coast of Oz, it's a simple AA/US QF biz award one way or return.

EDIT: though not USDM/AA related, when I was researching I also found excellent value and availability on SA PER-JNB-GRU using LifeMiles. From memory it was 45k biz each way!

Actually I'm pretty sure you can book SA with USDM as they're a partner. But it'll be 120k. Not 45k.

 

[Gold Member]

Actually I'm pretty sure you can book SA with USDM as they're a partner. But it'll be 120k. Not 45k.

Good call. Forgot that US was still partnering with SAA.

 

[baggyred]

Hi all - so just booked my first Europe trip (well it is on hold)

Ended up getting nervous and booked the outbound as seats were scarce. I currently have a dummy return with the whole booking on hold for 3 days.

So... the question I was going to ask was - can I call back up in 3 days, make a slight amendment to the booking and then put it on hold again? Has anyone actually tried?

My thoughts were - just wear the cost, but if one can get around the $150USD fee per Pax - that is better in my pocket

 

[Limewood]

My understanding is they do not charge the $150 if on booking hold only changes made after its actually booked.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My understanding is they do not charge the $150 if on booking hold only changes made after its actually booked.

correct. Change fee is $150 after ticketing.

 

[baggyred]

Ended up ticketing last night - as a J flight from HKG to anywhere in Europe was pretty scarce. I didn't want the scenario where the booking is lost and they don't come back into the melting pot.

I have successfully booked Per-Hkg-Ams-Lhr in J. I booked a dummy return which will need to be changed in about 2 weeks.

I know I have asked this before - but this time the USDM staff said - you will need to check baggage allowance for this award booking... I assume i'll get the standard J allowances.

I did find it interesting that BA charge nearly $50 for seat selection in advance. For their ****ty Euro 767 - i won't bother.

 

[sergeyvzn]

Ended up ticketing last night - as a J flight from HKG to anywhere in Europe was pretty scarce. I didn't want the scenario where the booking is lost and they don't come back into the melting pot.

I have successfully booked Per-Hkg-Ams-Lhr in J. I booked a dummy return which will need to be changed in about 2 weeks.

I know I have asked this before - but this time the USDM staff said - you will need to check baggage allowance for this award booking... I assume i'll get the standard J allowances.

I did find it interesting that BA charge nearly $50 for seat selection in advance. For their ****ty Euro 767 - i won't bother.

You can select your BA seat when you check in online, 24 hrs before the flight. With their 767 you never know - you may end up on one of older long haul configs with older style J seats (those with fan partitions). Happened to me in September on LHR-ARN, we were pleasantly surprised though the IFE was not working