US Dividend Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here.

[smit0847]

I prefer the upper deck on the 747. I like how private and quiet it is, and if you sit in front of the exit row there's hardly anyone in front of you in a 2-2 config and the massive side bins are great - we didn't put a thing in the overhead. Yes downstairs may be quieter but you're facing the F curtain to remind you that there's a better class right in front.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I prefer the upper deck on the 747. I like how private and quiet it is, and if you sit in front of the exit row there's hardly anyone in front of you in a 2-2 config and the massive side bins are great - we didn't put a thing in the overhead. Yes downstairs may be quieter but you're facing the F curtain to remind you that there's a better class right in front.

lol... the very fact that you're upstairs reminds you there is a better class somewhere else!

as for the side bins, I have never known them to be able to accommodate a standard international cabin bag

 

[smit0847]

lol... the very fact that you're upstairs reminds you there is a better class somewhere else!

as for the side bins, I have never known them to be able to accommodate a standard international cabin bag

I forgot there was a downstairs after a while - you just feel like you're on a mini 30 seat jet!

 

[anat0l]

Finally booked travel for my folks.

• HKG-ICN TG B777-200 J
• ICN-IST TK A340-300 J
• IST-CPH TK B737-800 J (stop)
• CPH-LHR SK A321-200 J
• LHR-YEG AC B767-300 J
• YEG-YVR AC E190 J (stop)
• YVR-HKG AC B777-300 J

Total of 80k miles + USD 155.93 taxes + USD 50.00 award fee apiece.

That's one redemption down. Possibly one more to go...

 

[somebol]

Booked my GUM trip, for march.

SYD-BKK TG F
BKK-cough TG J
cough-GUM UA J
GUM-KIX UA J
KIX-PEK CA J
PEK-NRT NH J
NRT-BKK TG F
BKK-SYD TG F

 

[wrzl]

Well, it took five calls over a period of a few days, but I'm now a member of the GUM club!

Reasons for failed attempts included "there's no way in the world our system would allow me to ticket a seat to GUM via anywhere in Asia!", and "yes ma'am, I'm certain there are no seats at all ex SYD in business class on any airline in June". Of course, both flat out untrue but HUACA won out in the end.

Finally managed to ticket 3 seats:
SYD-ICN
ICN-NRT
NRT-GUM (destination: 3 nights)
GUM-NRT (stop: 7 nights)
NRT-ICN
ICN-SYD

All OZ in J, except for UA J in and out of GUM.

30,000 miles + USD167.72 tax + USD50 processing per passenger.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Booked my GUM trip, for march.

SYD-BKK TG F
BKK-cough TG J
cough-GUM UA J
GUM-KIX UA J
KIX-PEK CA J
PEK-NRT NH J
NRT-BKK TG F
BKK-SYD TG F

You will need to check the transfer arrangements at PEK to make sure you can transfer without leaving the departures area. If for any reason your bags can't be checked through (you'll need to confirm) and you need to collect them and re-check, you won't be eligible for a transit without visa (TWOV) and will be denied boarding at KIX.

You will need to further check if you can get any other sort of transit.

 

[anat0l]

You will need to check the transfer arrangements at PEK to make sure you can transfer without leaving the departures area. If for any reason your bags can't be checked through (you'll need to confirm) and you need to collect them and re-check, you won't be eligible for a transit without visa (TWOV) and will be denied boarding at KIX.

You will need to further check if you can get any other sort of transit.

Doesn't PEK have a 24 hour (or 72 hour now) transit with no prior visa required? (At least for Australian passports)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Doesn't PEK have a 24 hour (or 72 hour now) transit with no prior visa required? (At least for Australian passports)

PEK has both 24 and 72 hour TWOV (the former if you are going to more than one city, the latter if you are staying in PEK only)

however... to be eligible you must be flying A-B-C, that is, a transit to a third country.

returning back to the same country is not allowed. so in the case of the OP they will need to check the rules for their specific situation ... they are returning back to Japan.

 

[serfty]

I forgot there was a downstairs after a while - you just feel like you're on a mini 30 seat jet!

... until it become time to disembark ... and you are last in class off ...

 

[bcworld]

Booked my GUM trip, for march.

SYD-BKK TG F
BKK-cough TG J
cough-GUM UA J
GUM-KIX UA J
KIX-PEK CA J
PEK-NRT NH J
NRT-BKK TG F
BKK-SYD TG F

KIX-PEK-NRT-BKK? WTF were they thinking allowing that!

 

[legroom]

KIX-PEK-NRT-BKK? WTF were they thinking allowing that!

Is there a better illustration of backtracking ?

Man, he/she was so lucky to have met such an agent.

 

[boomy]

Booked my GUM trip, for march.

SYD-BKK TG F
BKK-cough TG J
cough-GUM UA J
GUM-KIX UA J
KIX-PEK CA J
PEK-NRT NH J
NRT-BKK TG F
BKK-SYD TG F

March this year?! Nice last minute booking!

 

[somebol]

You will need to check the transfer arrangements at PEK to make sure you can transfer without leaving the departures area. If for any reason your bags can't be checked through (you'll need to confirm) and you need to collect them and re-check, you won't be eligible for a transit without visa (TWOV) and will be denied boarding at KIX.

You will need to further check if you can get any other sort of transit.

Good pick up. I was originally on the pek-bkk flight (qualifying for TWOV), but TG schedule change forced me to connect via NRT and the visa thing just slipped off my mind.

Will be applying for chinese tourist visa today, I am leaving on the weekend so hope to get it before that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good pick up. I was originally on the pek-bkk flight (qualifying for TWOV), but TG schedule change forced me to connect via NRT and the visa thing just slipped off my mind.

Will be applying for chinese tourist visa today, I am leaving on the weekend so hope to get it before that.

Standard processing is 4 working days? might need to go for an express option for peace of mind.

 

[somebol]

Standard processing is 4 working days? might need to go for an express option for peace of mind.

Applied just now. They assured me it would be done by Thursday. I am leaving on Sunday..

edit.. the visa center people thought I was eligible for TWOV, until I pointed out that I cannot return to the same country.

 

[legroom]

Gurus & Friends

Just got off the phone with a lovely agent.

SYD BKK (TG F, 747)

BKK CDG (TG F, A380)

CDG IST (TK J, A330) - destination

****

IST FRA (TK J, A340)

FRA BKK (TG F, A380)

BKK SYD (TG F, 747)

300K + ~USD430 approx. (2 pax)


Flights were selected to get the A380s instead of the A340s.

Ticket numbers are in the USDM accounts.

Will call TG tomorrow to lock in some favourite seats.

It is a simple, point-to-point leisure trip with no roundabouts or corners.

I thought the to / from IST sectors are not going to be allowed because of some backtracking but .... I am not complaining.

"Do you want to go ahead now ?"

You bet I did .... earnestly want to lock it in.

Without the sharing & guidance from you guys / gals here, this would not be possible to dream, let alone to action it.

I tip my hat to you lot.

Cheers

PS: called up TG (UK) as it is in the "right" timezone and obtained the reservation code. Without even asking, I was asked if I would like to pre-select my seats. Could not say no, so I grabbed 1A, 1K (747) and 1K, 2K (A380) as per seatguru plans (747, 380).

 

[bcworld]

Gurus & Friends

Just got off the phone with a lovely agent.

SYD BKK (TG F, 747)

BKK CDG (TG F, A380)

CDG IST (TK J, A330) - destination

****

IST FRA (TK J, A340)

FRA BKK (TG F, A380)

BKK SYD (TG F, 747)

300K + ~USD430 approx. (2 pax)


Flights were selected to get the A380s instead of the A340s.

Ticket numbers are in the USDM accounts.

Will call TG tomorrow to lock in some favourite seats.

It is a simple, point-to-point leisure trip with no roundabouts or corners.

I thought the to / from IST sectors are not going to be allowed because of some backtracking but .... I am not complaining.

"Do you want to go ahead now ?"

You bet I did .... earnestly want to lock it in.

Without the sharing & guidance from you guys / gals here, this would not be possible to dream, let alone to action it.

I tip my hat to you lot.

Cheers

FYI you can access your TG booking and find the TG booking reference here:

Pre-order Inflight Meal Page

...using your US Airways ticket number as displayed on the US site or in your confirmation email.

Once you have your TG booking reference you can use the main manage booking function for online seat selection.

Government | Booking | Thai Airways

 

[somebol]

Applied just now. They assured me it would be done by Thursday. I am leaving on Sunday..

edit.. the visa center people thought I was eligible for TWOV, until I pointed out that I cannot return to the same country.

Got my visa today, so all set for my GUM adventure.

Thanks to Mel_Traveller for spotting up my error.

 

[legroom]

FYI you can access your TG booking and find the TG booking reference here:

Pre-order Inflight Meal Page

...using your US Airways ticket number as displayed on the US site or in your confirmation email.

Once you have your TG booking reference you can use the main manage booking function for online seat selection.

Government | Booking | Thai Airways

Thanks for the helpful tip.

For some reasons, my e-ticket number (from USDM) has one extra digit at the end.

I have to leave that last digit out for the TG link to recognise it.