US Dividend Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here.

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi guys,

I have lost my USDM virginity a few days ago, on October 1 to be precise. In my USDM profile, I can see three different record locators, one each for US, TG and LX. An eticket number is also visible and when calling up TG and LX to select seats, they found my bookings without a problem.

However, I am slightly concerned that I cannot locate either of the bookings on checkmytrip.com. I actually like checking my booking from time to time, should I be worried? Entering each reservation number on the airline's website displays the booking but it is my understanding that checkmytrip should also work for USDM bookings... or maybe I am wrong.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

all airlines confirmed they have ticket numbers to you? (the ticket number on the USDM website means nothing).

 

[Peter78]

all airlines confirmed they have ticket numbers to you? (the ticket number on the USDM website means nothing).

I didn't really ask for eticket numbers as I thought it was sufficient that they were able to locate our bookings without a problem, and to confirm seats. Accessing the information on Thai's and Swiss' website works but there is no mentioning of a different eticket number, and the reservation is still in our USDM profile - surely it would have been cancelled if it had failed to ticket by now, about ten days after making the booking?

I really wished checkmytrip or another gadget would work: Thai's flights booked through Lifemiles does so I guess this means that Avianca works with CMT/ Amadeus but US Air doesn't... any suggestions/ should I call TG and LX again?

 

[bcworld]

I didn't really ask for eticket numbers as I thought it was sufficient that they were able to locate our bookings without a problem, and to confirm seats. Accessing the information on Thai's and Swiss' website works but there is no mentioning of a different eticket number, and the reservation is still in our USDM profile - surely it would have been cancelled if it had failed to ticket by now, about ten days after making the booking?

I really wished checkmytrip or another gadget would work: Thai's flights booked through Lifemiles does so I guess this means that Avianca works with CMT/ Amadeus but US Air doesn't... any suggestions/ should I call TG and LX again?

One thing you can look at is to pull up your reservation here using the eticket number:

http://www.saudiairlines.com (Manage my bookings)

The ticket should be split into the 2 fields as 037 in the first and the rest in the second box - possibly dropping the last digit.

However what you see here is likely to cause more confusion than comfort!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I didn't really ask for eticket numbers as I thought it was sufficient that they were able to locate our bookings without a problem, and to confirm seats. Accessing the information on Thai's and Swiss' website works but there is no mentioning of a different eticket number, and the reservation is still in our USDM profile - surely it would have been cancelled if it had failed to ticket by now, about ten days after making the booking?

I really wished checkmytrip or another gadget would work: Thai's flights booked through Lifemiles does so I guess this means that Avianca works with CMT/ Amadeus but US Air doesn't... any suggestions/ should I call TG and LX again?

a reservation can exist independently of a ticket.

however without a ticket number you will be refused travel. at worst case, an airline may review their flights and can (and do) cancel any reservation without a ticket number. this can happen at any time, not necessarily within 24, 72 or however many days.

once cancelled, you need to rely on having award inventory available to recreate your booking.

cancelling seats because a ticket number has not been received in time happens often enough on SQ and OZ for it to be an issue.

most recently this happened to my friend just last weekend on a USDM ticket for travel on TG. changed flights from BKK-BRU-CDG to the direct BKK-CDG flight three months ago. called to reconfirm his booking three days prior and TG had no ticket number. he would have been denied travel.

being able to retrieve your booking, select seats, book the cook or do anything else with your reservation does not mean it has been ticketed.

the ticket number issued by USDM will be the same for all airlines, even though different airlines may have a separate PNR for you.

calling the airline and specifically asking if they have a ticket number against the booking takes a few seconds, but is invalubabke 'insurance'.

(note there are some airlines such as UA that will display the ticket number on their website when you access your booking. you don't need to call them as the ticket has already been listed.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

just some further comment on the above... there are hundreds of thousands of tickets issued every day. the chance of your ticket numbers not going across is extraordinarily slim, but the impact can be high in terms of disruption to your travel plans and pre-paid accommodation etc.

if you were on a full fare, nothing to worry about. you have the flexibility to put things right at whatever stage. but when we pay pennies for long haul travel, the bookings really should be baby-sat. check all available sources regularly... airlineroute.net is a good example... it will give you a heads-up weeks or months in advance about flight changes, cancellations or equipment changes.

being able to respond to these early means you can book alternative award flights without too much hassle. common issues altered by airlineroute include TG cancelling some of their daily services to syd, TG removing first class to BRU, LX amending schedules to Canada, united swapping out three class planes to two class trans-Atlantic and Asiana swaps from three to two class aircraft.

 

[Peter78]

MEL_Traveller, in a hint of paranoia after reading your posts, I have just called Thai's and Swiss' Sydney office and they both confirmed that they have ticket numbers against our bookings. You are absolutely right, spending a few minutes is a very small price to pay for the privilege of flying across the globe in premium classes for pennies.

I am calmer now and I will follow your advice in relation to airlineroute.net; without wishing to sound like a broken record, or a child who didn't get his favourite toy, using CMT would have been ideal but it seems I have to utilise alternative tools for USDM bookings.

Thank you again for the input, I know how to deal with USDM bookings in the future!

 

[casanovawa]

Is that saudi website a good one for helping to select seats on Asiana??

 

[bcworld]

Is that saudi website a good one for helping to select seats on Asiana??

No. Asiana has removed on line seat selection as well for now. You'd have to call them.

 

[robd]

Same experience here, Tumi ones on the (old 10 F) SYD-BKK and Rimowa on the A340 BKK-ZRH

SYD-BKK 747 got Tumi
BKK-CDG A380 got Rimowa
ZRH-BKK A340 got Rimowa
BKK-SYD - just about to board - TBA.

 

[appaz]

just popped my reward cherry.. put this on hold for this december/jan

NYE in NYC

PER-SIN SQ J 772
SIN-TPE BR J 77W
TPE-JFK BR J 77W

6 nights in NYC

LGA-DEN UA J 752

destination = DEN 7 nights here

return
DEN-SEA UA J 320
SEA-NRT NH J 788 dreamliner
over night in Tokyo
NRT-PEK NH J 788 dreamliner
PEK-SIN CA J 333
SIN-PER SQ J 772

pretty happy considering such late notice and a very busy time of the year

All done and paid for... no issues

110,000 points and $221 in taxes/fee

now to call each airline and get a decent seat

 

[robd]

SYD-BKK 747 got Tumi
BKK-CDG A380 got Rimowa
ZRH-BKK A340 got Rimowa
BKK-SYD - just about to board - TBA.

It was Tumi BKK - SYD.

 

[anat0l]

It was Tumi BKK - SYD.

Seems to be completely random! Except for A380 flights - guaranteed Rimowa.

 

[Alanslegal]

This thread has very blurred off tangent to the original idea of "post your successful bookings" thread :shock: but no worries, USDM might not be around for long.

However, just to update what amenities some received:-

BKK-LHR 744 Rimowa
BKK-ZRH 346 Rimowa
FRA-BKK 388 Rimowa
FRA-BKK 346 Rimowa
SYD-BKK-SYD 744 Tumi

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Seems to be completely random! Except for A380 flights - guaranteed Rimowa.

it seems first class to Europe gets rimowa. first class to Australia gets tumi. not too random (don't look at the aircraft, look at the destinations )

 

[ozbeachbabe]

it seems first class to Europe gets rimowa. first class to Australia gets tumi. not too random (don't look at the aircraft, look at the destinations )

Has anyone got s photo of these amenity kits?

That might warrant s thread of its own.

 

[anat0l]

Has anyone got s photo of these amenity kits?

That might warrant s thread of its own.

This is a Rimowa kit

And this is a Tumi kit

The Rimowa kits come in various colours. These photos are a bit old; I believe the contents may have been updated with different components.

 

[appaz]

you get the same Rimowa kit on EVA Air Royal Laurel class (business)

same exact package with different logo

 

[MEL_Traveller]

unfortunately while the bag is nice from rimowa ... the TG contents are awful (probably one of the worst contents out there).

but still... bag on eBay regularly get over €100.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

but still... bag on eBay regularly get over €100.

Seriously?

 

[mhen]

but still... bag on eBay regularly get over €100.

and I gave half a dozen to the 3 small boys across the road who use them to store lego character figures!