US Dividend Miles - Oneworld Award Booking Questions and General Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

Whats all the talk about not being able to change flight numbers in a third zone? If this was not possible no one (near enough) would be able to book any form of complex itin. I thought the single flight number rule was only for AUS-EU through the sandbox, ie QF direct. Routing AU-SEA-EU would still be allowed, with the necessary flight number changes. Is this a new rule?

we got side-tracked in the discussion and were talking about AA rules as a possible reason for a disallowed itinerary.

USDM rules are as you say

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

agree you probably won't be able to stopover in EAS (or even perhaps get there on Iberian). But I can't see why this wouldn't be ok:
Melb-Syd-HKG-MXP-MAD (stop - open jaw)
[take fast train Madrid to San Sebastian (don't miss san sebastian!!!) & overland to Vienna]
VIE-FRA-HKG-Melb

Note you can also get cheap Easyjet flights into Bilbao if needs be. I'll be in the Basque country in two months time and can almost taste to pintxos already.

Enjoy your pintxos, I can't wait to go myself . Spain is one of the best countries. We took the fast train from Madrid to Toledo last time - WOW, it was fantastic.

Thanks for the ideas about the allowable routes and the idea of flying into Bilbao.

 

[dexter_jambles]

Take 2 at trying to assemble an itinerary - would appreciate any advice on viability of MEL-SYD-SCL(QF)/-MIA-SJU(AA)//-MIA-LAX(AA)-HKG-MEL(CX)

How do you work out the MPM? I've just been plugging in the desired vs most direct route into GCM to see how they compare. I recall reading in some posts that the +25% buffer for MPM has been removed & is starting to be policed - if this is the case the above itinerary is 20% over the most direct route (as calculated using GCM).

Also having trouble locating any award availability on LAN for intra-South America or South America to Central America/US. Have tried AA & QF search engines but no LAN is coming up. Is this due to actually no availability or a known issue with the search engines?

If LAN availability is available I could potentially swap the SCL-MIA-SJU segment with SCL-CCS-SJU or even change destination to PUJ to enable direct flight from SCL.

 

[Beta4Me]

MEL-SJU is 16,650 25M
MEL-MIA is 15,423 25M
Figures from KVS tool.

 

[bcworld]

How do you work out the MPM?

You can't. It's a number determined by the airline, but it can't be calculated based on anything. I don't think 25M has been removed, that's just rumour. However even if its true your proposed outbound routing is well within even M. The return is a shade over 15M.

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.8 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: MEL-SJU/US]

         GI       M      5M     10M     15M     20M     25M     
MPM      PA   13320   13986   14652   15318   15984   16650

Have you checked out typical availability on SYD-SCL?

 

[Alanslegal]

Good luck with syd-scl availability in J. Easier to win the power ball sadly.

 

[dexter_jambles]

Thanks for the MPM info guys. I get the impression that MEL-SYD-SCL(QF)/-MIA-SJU(AA)//-MIA-LAX(AA)-HKG-MEL(CX) is quite doable - availability permitting of course.

Given The itinerary is well within MPM, maybe I can push it further?!

How viable is MEL-SYD-SCL(QF)/-MAD-TLV(IB)//-MAD(IB)-DFW-LAX(AA)-HKG-MEL(CX)?

Have you checked out typical availability on SYD-SCL?

Yep, realise SYD-SCL is tight but once I've worked out the preferred itinerary I'll be staying on the look out for a seat to become available & pounce if/when it does.

 

[bcworld]

How viable is MEL-SYD-SCL(QF)/-MAD-TLV(IB)//-MAD(IB)-DFW-LAX(AA)-HKG-MEL(CX)?

It's not. At all.

 

[dexter_jambles]

It's not. At all.

Hehe. A bit over-extended...

 

[Swan]

You can't. It's a number determined by the airline, but it can't be calculated based on anything. I don't think 25M has been removed, that's just rumour. However even if its true your proposed outbound routing is well within even M. The return is a shade over 15M.

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.8 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: MEL-SJU/US]

         GI       M      5M     10M     15M     20M     25M     
MPM      PA   13320   13986   14652   15318   15984   16650

Have you checked out typical availability on SYD-SCL?

My experience is the 25% has been removed. I have had two separate attempts to book MEL-JFK via Atlantic and each time I have been informed the MPM is only around 11,000 mile. When I have suggested it should be around the 15,000 the response both times was that they key in the itinerary and the screen shows the MPM, no further discussion.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

Thanks to everyone’s help I now understand how to construct my flights and what is allowed but I have another question on a similar theme.

Can I call and put the first legs to Europe on hold and then call back within the 48-72 hours call back and book the return dummy booking?

I have read that there is a risk that the second operator will cancel the whole booking and start again therefore losing my first leg. Is it risky to put the first leg on hold and then call back to book the return leg rather than wait the few days until both become available?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks to everyone’s help I now understand how to construct my flights and what is allowed but I have another question on a similar theme.

Can I call and put the first legs to Europe on hold and then call back within the 48-72 hours call back and book the return dummy booking?

I have read that there is a risk that the second operator will cancel the whole booking and start again therefore losing my first leg. Is it risky to put the first leg on hold and then call back to book the return leg rather than wait the few days until both become available?

The consensus seems to be to book the entire return on the first call. Then change the return when it becomes available.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

The consensus seems to be to book the entire return on the first call. Then change the return when it becomes available.

Thanks MEL_Traveller, I will take your advice and wait it out

 

[ferni]

Has anyone done MEL-HKG-JFK with MEL-HKG on QF or CX and HKG-JFK on CX? Would there be any issues? Looks like it would be within MPM?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Has anyone done MEL-HKG-JFK with MEL-HKG on QF or CX and HKG-JFK on CX? Would there be any issues? Looks like it would be within MPM?

per bcworld's MPM chart - MEL-JFK is 15607. Via HKG is fine.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

HELP PLEASE!!!

I have been patiently waiting for my flights to become available and I have just called US Air only to be told there aren't any.
When I look up the KVS Tool it shows First & Business for all my flights with enough required seats. I have call twice and both agents have told me that there aren't ANY seats, not even economy. Are they just looking in the wrong system? I don't understand??? Why can't they see the flights and book them.

Is there something I need to be telling them???

Help please

 

[MEL_Traveller]

HELP PLEASE!!!

I have been patiently waiting for my flights to become available and I have just called US Air only to be told there aren't any.
When I look up the KVS Tool it shows First & Business for all my flights with enough required seats. I have call twice and both agents have told me that there aren't ANY seats, not even economy. Are they just looking in the wrong system? I don't understand??? Why can't they see the flights and book them.

Is there something I need to be telling them???

Help please

can you quickly remind us which airlines and routes?

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

can you quickly remind us which airlines and routes?

Hello all I just thought I would update you. After a very nervous and stressful evening I have now been able to book my first leg to Europe, it wasn't exactly what I was wanting but pretty happy. I just managed to get a FANTATIC agent on the phone and she just kept trying different things to make the routing work for me.

The main problem last night was that CX was showing many phantom flights . Every time I worked out my routing and I called US, they informed me that the CX flights were not available or only had Y seats.

At this point the return leg is a dummy booking. When I finalise and confirm my booking I will post the details and cost.

 

[Beta4Me]

The main problem last night was that CX was showing many phantom flights . Every time I worked out my routing and I called US, they informed me that the CX flights were not available or only had Y seats.

Use JL for accurate CX availability.

 

[bcworld]

Use JL for accurate CX availability.

It only lets you search 330 days out and WLM was looking between 331-340 days I think.