US Dividend Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here.

[wafliron]

Just booked the following (actually replacing another Australia-to-USA-via-Europe USDM redemption due to some plans changing):

SYD-BKK - TG 747 F
BKK-CDG - TG A380 F
(stop, open jaw)
FCO-FRA - LH A321 "J"
FRA-ICN - OZ 747 (combi) F
ICN-BKK - TG A333 J
BKK-SYD - TG 747 F

All for mid/late August 2013. Overnight stop in BKK (about 9.5 hours). There is some minor backtracking (FCO-FRA and ICN-BKK), plus I'm pretty sure the return is over MPM, but no issues getting it priced / ticketed.

I could've come "directly" home (FCO-xBKK-SYD), but hey, this way I get to try OZ F and also a couple of additional F lounges (FRA and ICN)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just booked the following (actually replacing another Australia-to-USA-via-Europe USDM redemption due to some plans changing):

SYD-BKK - TG 747 F
BKK-CDG - TG A380 F
(stop, open jaw)
FCO-FRA - LH A321 "J"
FRA-ICN - OZ 747 (combi) F
ICN-BKK - TG A333 J
BKK-SYD - TG 747 F

All for mid/late August 2013. Overnight stop in BKK (about 9.5 hours). There is some minor backtracking (FCO-FRA and ICN-BKK), plus I'm pretty sure the return is over MPM, but no issues getting it priced / ticketed.

I could've come "directly" home (FCO-xBKK-SYD), but hey, this way I get to try OZ F and also a couple of additional F lounges (FRA and ICN)

worth it for the OZ sector. but the lounge in icn is nothing spectacular... and I'm not sure if you will get in. I believe they allow you access flying OZ f to OZ c if F is not available on the connecting service. coming from OZ F to TG c you might have an issue (but try anyway).

and no F lounge in fra. you'll have access to the senator lounge, which is just a business class lounge (but much nicer than their actual business class lounges which can be a bit dire).

edited to add... for access to the OZ f linge in icn you would need a boarding pass with 'first lounge access' printed on it. this is automatic when connecting to an OZ service, but won't appear on the TG boarding pass.

 

[wafliron]

worth it for the OZ sector. but the lounge in icn is nothing spectacular... and I'm not sure if you will get in. I believe they allow you access flying OZ f to OZ c if F is not available on the connecting service. coming from OZ F to TG c you might have an issue (but try anyway).

edited to add... for access to the OZ f linge in icn you would need a boarding pass with 'first lounge access' printed on it. this is automatic when connecting to an OZ service, but won't appear on the TG boarding pass.

Hmm, I thought I'd read on FlyerTalk that arriving on OZ F and connecting to *A J was enough to get access - maybe people were specifically saying OZ J and I missed that though. Anyway, if I do have it wrong I'll try arguing my case on the basis that no carrier offers F on a direct ICN-BKK service - if it works, great, if it doesn't, no big deal as there's always the OZ J lounge / Priority Pass lounges / an airport I haven't been to before to explore.

and no F lounge in fra. you'll have access to the senator lounge, which is just a business class lounge (but much nicer than their actual business class lounges which can be a bit dire).

Yeah, sorry, I was aware of that - shouldn't have said "F lounges"

Thanks for the info.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hmm, I thought I'd read on FlyerTalk that arriving on OZ F and connecting to *A J was enough to get access - maybe people were specifically saying OZ J and I missed that though. Anyway, if I do have it wrong I'll try arguing my case on the basis that no carrier offers F on a direct ICN-BKK service - if it works, great, if it doesn't, no big deal as there's always the OZ J lounge / Priority Pass lounges / an airport I haven't been to before to explore.

Thanks for the info.

its OZ F to OZ J - if you are flying with TG then TG has to pay for the lounge access, which is extra for F. There is the normal J lounge, although IIRC I read TG leaves from the remote terminal?? Can you change your connecting flight to OZ?

 

[wafliron]

its OZ F to OZ J - if you are flying with TG then TG has to pay for the lounge access, which is extra for F. There is the normal J lounge, although IIRC I read TG leaves from the remote terminal??

No idea which terminal TG leaves from - I don't know anything about Seoul airport. It's a 5hr connection though, so assuming I can freely move between terminals the location of the lounge shouldn't matter too much?

Can you change your connecting flight to OZ?

Unfortunately not - looking back at the spreadsheet I used to plan all of this, only TG J available on days / times that work. Even if OZ J was available, do you think it would really be worth the $150 USD change fee?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No idea which terminal TG leaves from - I don't know anything about Seoul airport. It's a 5hr connection though, so assuming I can freely move between terminals the location of the lounge shouldn't matter too much?



Unfortunately not - looking back at the spreadsheet I used to plan all of this, only TG J available on days / times that work. Even if OZ J was available, do you think it would really be worth the $150 USD change fee?

I have only arrived and departed from the main terminal. not sure what the security arrangements are between the main terminal and the concourses (if you have gone through one section if you can go back for example). I just remember reading somewhere on this issue of the first class lounge access that someone wrote TG leaves from the remote terminal.

the incheon airport website seems to suggest you go to the concourses after security, but I don't know if you have to do that straight away. seems only asiana and Korean are in the main terminal.

matter of personal preference, but the $150 would essentially be buying 5 hours worth of first class lounge access. the lounges are nicely decorated, but the food is pretty lame. the first and business class lounges are almost identical, except the first class is less crowded.

 

[anat0l]

All TG flights at ICN (indeed, all non-OZ and non-KE flights) leave from the Concourse. it's connectable via shuttle train freely after passing security screening.

It is technically possible to use the OZ lounges at the main terminal, but if your flight leaves from the Concourse you'll be encouraged to use the Boarding Gate lounge over there.

 

[Alanslegal]

Hmm, I thought I'd read on FlyerTalk that arriving on OZ F and connecting to *A J was enough to get access - maybe people were specifically saying OZ J and I missed that though. Anyway, if I do have it wrong I'll try arguing my case on the basis that no carrier offers F on a direct ICN-BKK service - if it works, great, if it doesn't, no big deal as there's always the OZ J lounge / Priority Pass lounges / an airport I haven't been to before to explore.

its OZ F to OZ J - if you are flying with TG then TG has to pay for the lounge access, which is extra for F.

MEL_Traveller is correct.

My GF who flew in on OZ F and connected to TG C were declined F lounge access, and a friend who flew OZ F into ICN from LAX and connected to OZ C to SYD, were allowed in.

 

[wafliron]

Thanks for the extra info gents. Given I can only find seats on TG J flights I guess I'll just have to live with the J lounge! Will keep an eye out for OZ J over the next few months though, just in case... if they become available I can then decide if it's worth $150 for F lounge access. Glad to know I can move between the main and satellite terminals freely at least, given I have a long layover!

 

[hummel]

I did TG J ICN-BKK (via TPE) and we used the OZ J lounge. Found it quite nice to be honest and no problems, this was the first lounger after being in LH FCT.

 

[dk4]

Even though, IMO, we do need to be posting topics like this is new threads now that there is a USDM Forum (even if it is about OZ lounge access when flying TG), here goes...

OZ will likely only allow access to one of their lounges, once (making a visit to both the main departure AND concourse lounges unlikely).

OZ will probably also insist that you get a reprint of your BP on TG stock at the transfer desk (if you had it issued prior to ICN by a different airline) before they will admit you to one of their ICN lounges for a TG flight.

Anyway, IMO the concourse lounge is a better layout than the main terminal lounge. I find the dividers offer more privacy and the layout of the furniture is more "regular lounge" style than their "everything aimed towards the piano" odd-layout main lounge.

If you like Scotch, then you will love duty free shopping at ICN, just note that you must finalise your purchase 1 hour prior to SYD departures or they won't sell any LAGs to you.

 

[wafliron]

OZ will likely only allow access to one of their lounges, once (making a visit to both the main departure AND concourse lounges unlikely).

Thanks for the info dk4, very useful.

Are OZ actually "allowed" to enforce an access limitation like that (only one of their lounges, only once) though? Given the *A lounge access rules don't mention any sort of limitations - they simply say "Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers' owned Business Class lounges."

If you like Scotch, then you will love duty free shopping at ICN, just note that you must finalise your purchase 1 hour prior to SYD departures or they won't sell any LAGs to you.

I do like Scotch - my stocks are running a little low now, but up until recently I had 15 different single malts in my bar However, I'm travelling ICN-xBKK-SYD so I can't buy any in ICN Can't remember exactly what the range at BKK is like but I think it was pretty decent, as were prices. Is Scotch-shopping at ICN that much better than the other major Asian airports?

 

[dk4]

Are OZ actually "allowed" to enforce an access limitation like that...

What they "should do", as part of an alliance, and what they "do do", may be different things. YMMV (They will probably let you back into the same lounge that you have vacated, to have a shopping break or whatever, but OZ doesn't deal all that well with customers who "stray" from the "standard procedures" which have been "set out" for how "customers should behave", very Korean!)

However, I'm travelling ICN-xBKK-SYD so I can't buy any in ICN Can't remember exactly what the range at BKK is like but I think it was pretty decent, as were prices...

Sorry to bare bad news, but there's no duty free booze shopping for AU bound flights permitted at BKK...and worse still, TG doesn't carry booze as part of its onboard duty free range. So you arrive into AU you buy at AU arrival prices. :evil: (Also locked checked bags, are highly likely to get "security checked" during airside international transit through BKK; i.e. someone will cut off the lock, even if it is a TSA one.)

 

[wafliron]

What they "should do", as part of an alliance, and what they "do do", may be different things.

Fair enough - will just have to see how I go. I'm also *A Gold, hopefully that will help!

Sorry to bare bad news, but there's no duty free booze shopping for AU bound flights permitted at BKK...and worse still, TG doesn't carry booze as part of its onboard duty free range. So you arrive into AU you buy at AU arrival prices. :evil: (Also locked checked bags, are highly likely to get "security checked" during airside international transit through BKK; i.e. someone will cut off the lock, even if it is a TSA one.)

Ah dammit, I didn't even think about the whole deliver-to-the-gate thing now that most of the major Asian hub airports offer it. Irritating... AU duty free prices are still better than AU non-duty-free prices, but I don't like buying from the AU merchants on principle. Oh well, at the end of the day flying back via BKK means I'm flying F BKK-SYD - and I'd rather fly F than save a bit of money on booze!

Thanks for the tip re security checks on transiting bags at BKK too - will try and remember use an old, non-TSA lock for this flight.

 

[Spizz]

So just got another successful booking for my parents next year. Relatively simple!

SYD-BKK (F)
BKK-CDG (F) - Dest
CDG-BKK (F) - Stopover
BKK-SYD (F)

All with TG. mid next year.

150,000 miles each. The booking and everything went fine, but I imagine that would be too be expected with simple itenery.

That is the same itn I want to do for my parents. Checking the ANA Tool its showing the same sectors as 200,000 points for June next year (using a mixture of TG 777/A380s ). How do you get 150,000 point requirement (or is that just the ANA requirement as opposed to the USDM?) and also do you know what the taxes were?

Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That is the same itn I want to do for my parents. Checking the ANA Tool its showing this same sectors as 200,000 points for June next year. How do you get 150,000 point requirement and also do you know what the taxes were?

Thanks

As you are booking through US Airways, the miles quoted on the ANA site don't apply. All you are searching for on ANA is the availability. You then book through USDM, and pay their prices.

 

[Flashback]

That is the same itn I want to do for my parents. Checking the ANA Tool its showing the same sectors as 200,000 points for June next year (using a mixture of TG 777/A380s ). How do you get 150,000 point requirement and also do you know what the taxes were?

Thanks

Don't take notice of the points as they're for ANA not USDM.

 

[Spizz]

As you are booking through US Airways, the miles quoted on the ANA site don't apply. All you are searching for on ANA is the availability. You then book through USDM, and pay their prices.

Awesome, and thought so to. I want to experience LH F and the F Lounge in FRA but it seems very difficult to find. Is that blocked like SQ F Suites, etc? Sorry if this is going OT.

Don't take notice of the points as they're for ANA not USDM.

Thanks to

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Awesome, and thought so to. I want to experience LH F and the F Lounge in FRA but it seems very difficult to find. Is that blocked like SQ F Suites, etc? Sorry if this is going OT.

Yeah, it's 'officially' blocked now

 

[Flashback]

Awesome, and thought so to. I want to experience LH F and the F Lounge in FRA but it seems very difficult to find. Is that blocked like SQ F Suites, etc? Sorry if this is going OT.

Thanks to

You won't be able to book F on any Miles&More carrier e.g. LX, LH