US Dividend Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here.

[MEL_Traveller]

Just found out on FT that a TPAC + TATL award is legal. USDM only classes round the world if there are 5 or more stops. So my MEL-xLAX-xPHX-DEN, DEN-xORD-CPH, CPH-xSIN-MEL is OK.

unfortunately that's incorrect.

a round the world is defined in the membership guide. it is NOT defined as five or more stops and is essentially anything more than two stops (stopover + destination) which you are allowed under the standard award, up to five stops.

 

[smit0847]

I'm going to miss these guys so much.

Just had the most wonderful operator who helped me book SYD-GUM in first for 40,000 with 2 (!) stopovers in Oct 2014:

SYD-BKK (TG F)
BKK-KIX (TG F) (arrive KIX 7AM, fly out 9:30PM)
KIX-GUM (UA J) (dest 2 nights)
GUM-NRT (UA J) (stopover 4 nights)
HND-HKG (NH J) (stopover 1 night)
HKG-BKK (TG F)
BKK-SYD (TG F)

No dramas at all with the stopovers, the weird thing was she tried to find the flight I originally wanted from NRT-HKG but she didn't see availability, so she just checked HND and found a flight the next morning. She actually asked if the destination was Guam or not and was happy to price it at 40K. All done with $190ish in taxes in 23 minutes.

I've got two trips booked with them for 2014 now, since I figured I'd better make sure I get this one in before the merger and I already have a 110k business Australia to US via Asia trip planned for April. When I booked that I had to HUACA twice because the operators weren't sure about the MPM and they both seemed weird about me listing them the flights - no such dramas here, I couldn't have had a better time if I'd booked it myself.

I am so torn about whether to jump in one more time for another GUM booking - I have absolutely no need to go again but the thought of an F redemption with a HKG stopover is irresistible!

 

[Timba-Jet]

I'm going to miss these guys so much.

Just had the most wonderful operator who helped me book SYD-GUM in first for 40,000 with 2 (!) stopovers in Oct 2014:

SYD-BKK (TG F)
BKK-KIX (TG F) (arrive KIX 7AM, fly out 9:30PM)
KIX-GUM (UA J) (dest 2 nights)
GUM-NRT (UA J) (stopover 4 nights)
HND-HKG (NH J) (stopover 1 night)
HKG-BKK (TG F)
BKK-SYD (TG F)

Great work. I just came back from a very similar itinerary in Oct (which I forgot to post here).
Instead of HKG, I had NRT-TPE(overnight transit)-BKK. 4 day stopover in KIX, including nice side trip to Kyoto.

My original itinerary was:
SYD-BKK (TG F)
BKK-KIX (TG F) - 25 hr stopover
ITM-cough (NH Y)
cough-GUM (UA J) - 4 night dest

GUM-cough (UA J)
cough-HND (NH Y) - overnight transit
NRT-TPE (BR J) - overnight transit
TPE-BKK (BR J) - overnight transit
BKK-SYD (TG F)

I first gave the agent GUM as the destination, no luck, so then I fed him flights, he was happy to give it a go. With the KIX/ITM 25 hr stopover, I was hoping the he would not pickup on this being 2hr+, but when I tried for a stopover on way back, he said only 1 stopover allowed.

Agent was dubious this was a valid intinerary but tried to price it, after no system response, referred it to rate desk, came back & said due to backtracking not allowed, suggesting the extra cough and TPE transits were the cause. As he was saying this, the system started processing and he was let's say speechless for a bit, but was happy to ticket it and suggested I take it before the system changed its mind.

When I called back a month later to change routing after seeing UA flights from KIX-GUM-NRT open up, the agent I spoke to was slow and had limited knowledge of geography, referring to Osaka as 'Iraq' but the main thing is she took down my flight segments, and eventually bingo!

Moral is be patient with agents and you will succeed.

 

[jgm]

unfortunately that's incorrect.

a round the world is defined in the membership guide. it is NOT defined as five or more stops and is essentially anything more than two stops (stopover + destination) which you are allowed under the standard award, up to five stops.

Even so, you are still allowed to travel TPAC & TATL on a standard award.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Even so, you are still allowed to travel TPAC & TATL on a standard award.

yes - that is well established.

 

[Foreigner]

Would 28,910 miles, as calculated by Great Circle Mapper, be over permitted mileage for SYD to USA trip via Asia through IST?

 

[Flashback]

Would 28,910 miles, as calculated by Great Circle Mapper, be over permitted mileage for SYD to USA trip via Asia through IST?

SYD is the starting point .. need to know the destination city to work out MPM.

 

[Foreigner]

SYD is the starting point .. need to know the destination city to work out MPM.

It is IAD


............

 

[smit0847]

Great work. I just came back from a very similar itinerary in Oct (which I forgot to post here).
Instead of HKG, I had NRT-TPE(overnight transit)-BKK. 4 day stopover in KIX, including nice side trip to Kyoto.

My original itinerary was:

BKK-KIX (TG F) - 25 hr stopover

I'm going to miss these guys so much.

Just had the most wonderful operator who helped me book SYD-GUM in first for 40,000 with 2 (!) stopovers in Oct 2014:

BKK-KIX (TG F) (arrive KIX 7AM, fly out 9:30PM)

Did you both only book for 1 pax? I'm only seeing availability on 1 F seat per BKK-KIX or KIX-BKK flight even looking 10 months out.

 

[bcworld]

It is IAD
............

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.1 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: SYD-IAD/US]

         GI       M      5M     10M     15M     20M     25M     
MPM      PA   11748   12335   12922   13510   14097   14685

So your routing in each direction should not exceed 14685.

Some examples:

Great Circle Mapper = 14535
Great Circle Mapper = 14571
Great Circle Mapper = 15348

 

[Foreigner]

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.1 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: SYD-IAD/US]

         GI       M      5M     10M     15M     20M     25M     
MPM      PA   11748   12335   12922   13510   14097   14685

So your routing in each direction should not exceed 14685.

Some examples:

Great Circle Mapper = 14535
Great Circle Mapper = 14571
Great Circle Mapper = 15348

Outward journey as planned 14,784...exceeds by 99.

Return 12,700.

 

[MaxLaughton]

Did you both only book for 1 pax? I'm only seeing availability on 1 F seat per BKK-KIX or KIX-BKK flight even looking 10 months out.

I'm for 1, yes.

 

[Flashback]

Outward journey as planned 14,784...exceeds by 99.

Return 12,700.

Give it a try, you may be lucky with the agent roulette and get one who doesn't enforce it although sometimes the rate desk picks up on it.

 

[Foreigner]

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.1 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: SYD-IAD/US]

         GI       M      5M     10M     15M     20M     25M     
MPM      PA   11748   12335   12922   13510   14097   14685

So your routing in each direction should not exceed 14685.

Some examples:

Great Circle Mapper = 14535
Great Circle Mapper = 14571
Great Circle Mapper = 15348

That MPM info is most useful...

bcworld, 14,685 miles is correct though the ticketing agent was attempting to confuse me (deliberately, IMO) about stopovers being the issue.

Finally I got to know that one stopover IS allowed in inward journey (to destination). So, one stop in addition to turnaround point, IAD in my case.

I am able to work within MPM by cutting out SYD and using MEL as departure point. I just wonder if the agent will kick up fuss about my returning to SYD instead of MEL. I will know more when I call shortly.

 

[bcworld]

I am able to work within MPM by cutting out SYD and using MEL as departure point. I just wonder if the agent will kick up fuss about my returning to SYD instead of MEL. I will know more when I call shortly.

If you want a stopover then you are not allowed an openjaw (which you are proposing)...it's either stopover OR openjaw.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That MPM info is most useful...

bcworld, 14,685 miles is correct though the ticketing agent was attempting to confuse me (deliberately, IMO) about stopovers being the issue.

Finally I got to know that one stopover IS allowed in inward journey (to destination). So, one stop in addition to turnaround point, IAD in my case.

I am able to work within MPM by cutting out SYD and using MEL as departure point. I just wonder if the agent will kick up fuss about my returning to SYD instead of MEL. I will know more when I call shortly.

it's unlikely the agent was deliberately trying to mislead you. In all probability they simply didn't know the exact reason why the itinerary rejected and just gave what they thought was the reason.

This happens quite frequently.

the value of these boards (because let's face it - the application of the rules can be hit and miss) is to help work out the real reason why something might have been rejected so you can work on resolving that issue.

 

[Foreigner]

If you want a stopover then you are not allowed an openjaw (which you are proposing)...it's either stopover OR openjaw.

That's right. After spending 68 minutes with agent I got booking confirmed. It had been checked for validity on five occasions during the call. The less than 24 hour rule was strictly applied, leading me to get an extra segment in J. Origin and return MEL.

It's been a steep learning curve for a multi-city itinerary. Will help me be more creative for future bookings before the merger with AA.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's right. After spending 68 minutes with agent I got booking confirmed. It had been checked for validity on five occasions during the call. The less than 24 hour rule was strictly applied, leading me to get an extra segment in J. Origin and return MEL.

It's been a steep learning curve for a multi-city itinerary. Will help me be more creative for future bookings before the merger with AA.

lol. I spend my time trying to get as FEW segments as humanly possible (and yes, my eyes are peeled for availability on united transpac!!)

 

[Foreigner]

lol. I spend my time trying to get as FEW segments as humanly possible (and yes, my eyes are peeled for availability on united transpac!!)

Each to their own...

I got a night in each of NRT, ICN, BKK. Have friends in Seoul and Bangkok so opportunity to visit them, albeit just for a short time. NRT will be interesting as I have had stopover some 12 years ago when I travelled from SYD to DFW (in Y) with QF-AA connection. Intend to stay a night in Narita town.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Did you both only book for 1 pax? I'm only seeing availability on 1 F seat per BKK-KIX or KIX-BKK flight even looking 10 months out.

Yes just 1.