Booked 3 trips before USDM goes into One World
1st Trip in April 2014 for 1 passenger
SYD->ICN (J) - layover
ICN->YVR (Y) - layover
YVR->SEA (Y) - Destination
SEA->NRT (F) - stopover
NRT->ICN (F) - layover
ICN->BKK (J) - connection flight
BKK->SYD (J)
Cost was 140,000 miles + $250 tax.
Took 2 calls before I could get the agent to do this itinery for me. The 1st agent said that this itinery exceeded the normal number of miles. Did a HUACA - and the second agent was okay - call was about 25 minutes.
2nd Trip in Sept 2014 for 4 passengers
SYD->ICN (J) - connection flight
ICN->SPN (J) - Destination
SPN->ICN (J) - stopover
ICN->SYD (J)
Cost was 30,000 miles + $170 tax each person
Took 5 calls before I could get the right arent to bill me 30,000 miles. The last call took me 90 minutes.
3rd Trip in Jan 2015 for 6 passengers
SYD->BKK (J) - layover
BKK->HKG (F) - connection flight
HKG->GUM (Y) - Destination
GUM->HKG (Y) - stopover
HKG->BKK (F) - layover
BKK->SYD (J)
Cost was 40,000 miles + $170 tax each person
Took 6 calls before I could get the right agent to bill me 40,000 miles. The last call took me 80 minutes.
My advice if you book these trips with these agents from experience is the following:
1. Call at about 10pm Sydney time. I have always had success 1st time getting an agent. Don't call during the day time - you could be on hold for more than 1 hour.
2. If 1st agent does not give you the miles you want - take a hold of their name, then call again - making sure you don't get the same agent.
3. All agents are different and inconsistent with their approach. If you hear them needing to confirm with their supervisor/manager on something - I recommend you do a HUACA and not waste anymore time on the current call.
4. When booking these trips - make sure that you have done your research and are ready to pay for it. Don't hold the reservations as the next time you call back to pay for it - the new agent will possibly give you another higher miles to be charged. That is what happened to me a few times.
5. After you have made the booking - ask the agent for the Reference numbers for the respective airlines. This is so you can book seats online.
6. If you have booked Asiana Airlines or Air Canada - you will need to contact their reservation department to book the seats. Thai Airways, United Airlines are pretty good online.
Hope this helps
