US Dividend Miles - Post Your SUCCESSFUL oneworld bookings here

[LordGarlic]

Hi guys,

I decided to significantly change my holiday plans with the wife for January next year. Decided to cancel our trip to Dubai and Hong Kong and change it to a 3 week USA trip!

PER-HKG (CX Y)
HKG-JFK (CX F)
LAX-HKG (CX F)
HKG-PER (CX J)

Total was 280 000 points + $250 taxes and fees

I had to pay $300US to cancel and rebook the new itinerary, but I gained 20 000 points from changing my itinerary from AUS-MIDDLE EAST, to AUS-USA. I'm hoping some J seats open up from the PER-HKG flight in the next few months.

I'm finding US can't see all the OW award seats. I've called numerous times and they just cannot see CX or MH flights that I can see on BA/QF etc. I wonder if US is purposely blocking seats, or their IT has integrated with OW partners properly yet!?

I am struggling to find cx flights too

 

[tm.smile]

BA and QF are showing phantom space... Reports are that JAL is showing OW space accurately...

 

[Pumbaa]

BA and QF are showing phantom space... Reports are that JAL is showing OW space accurately...

I find this hard to believe, because I can easily ticket these flights with my QF points if i wanted to!

 

[anat0l]

BA and QF are showing phantom space... Reports are that JAL is showing OW space accurately...

I find this hard to believe, because I can easily ticket these flights with my QF points if i wanted to!

I believe it's "phantom" to US, AA and AS. Not sure if it's a form of "retaliation".

 

[JKjnr]

I have KVS tool and also have been looking with QF, CX and JAL FF. Been trying for ANY east coast departure to LAX or NYC via Asia with any airline in J and F on any dates from Feb next year onwards. It has been maddening with US Air. I find a dream trip, call US Air, they can't see seats - or see only one seat and not two seats (when there ARE two) - or go to ticket it and then "computer says no" - or it all goes South. I am on verge of giving up but we have 140K points each. This is making these flyer miles 100% worthless as I am not interested in numerous trips around OZ on QF. Is there any hope this will resolve?

 

[Alanslegal]

I am on verge of giving up but we have 140K points each. This is making these flyer miles 100% worthless as I am not interested in numerous trips around OZ on QF. Is there any hope this will resolve?

In probably in the small minority but I am hoping USDM points convert/morph into AA points soon.

 

[anat0l]

In probably in the small minority but I am hoping USDM points convert/morph into AA points soon.

Any reason? I don't see how AA should have more availability than US, just that AAgents are typically more competent.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Any reason? I don't see how AA should have more availability than US, just that AAgents are typically more competent.

hopefully their system will be better suited to seeing oneworld availability? I haven't ever had a problem with AA seeing CX/JL/QF etc etc.

 

[Pumbaa]

In probably in the small minority but I am hoping USDM points convert/morph into AA points soon.

I used to have that same view Alan, but after making 2 US OW redemptions, I must admit, US Airways seems more generous than AA. I do like AA for its flexibility (one-way awards), but for value US is hard to beat.

110,000 points for a return J fare Aus-USA is great value as you can route through Asia/Europe if required. Trying to do the same with AA will require significantly more points (170,000).

Also return J fares on Qantas within Australia is amazing value at 30,000 points VS 35,000 points on AA.

I did the maths looking at AMEX MR points for domestic J travel.
72,000 points for QF redemption
50,000 points for CX redemption
50,000 points for AMEX MR --> SPG --> US (You even get a free stopover!)

 

[JKjnr]

"110,000 points for a return J fare Aus-USA is great value as you can route through Asia/Europe if required. Trying to do the same with AA will require significantly more points (170,000)"

Have tried to book BNE to LAX via HKG (in F and J) all weekend and 5 out of 5 agents have all said same thing "illegal routing" including 2 referring to supervisor. They are now saying has to be direct (so QF out of MEL to LAX - yeah sure) or will allow JAL out of Sydney via NRT to JKF - but not to LAX. What is happening here. And CX availability still not matching what is showing on JAL (a good source). Would love to hear of any very recent successful BNE to LAX via Asia please - esp in CX. The agents are getting better I believe but seem to be having "routing" enforcement.

Can someone confirm what the official line regarding routing is at US Air with Aust (east coast) to LAX via Asia ? (is there an official line?)

 

[Pumbaa]

"110,000 points for a return J fare Aus-USA is great value as you can route through Asia/Europe if required. Trying to do the same with AA will require significantly more points (170,000)"

Have tried to book BNE to LAX via HKG (in F and J) all weekend and 5 out of 5 agents have all said same thing "illegal routing" including 2 referring to supervisor. They are now saying has to be direct (so QF out of MEL to LAX - yeah sure) or will allow JAL out of Sydney via NRT to JKF - but not to LAX. What is happening here. And CX availability still not matching what is showing on JAL (a good source). Would love to hear of any very recent successful BNE to LAX via Asia please - esp in CX. The agents are getting better I believe but seem to be having "routing" enforcement.

Can someone confirm what the official line regarding routing is at US Air with Aust (east coast) to LAX via Asia ? (is there an official line?)

I have 2 bookings to the USA

1) SYD-DFW-EWR//YYZ-LHR-KUL-MEL-SYD (All in J, but they charged 120 000 points per passenger instead of 110 000)
2) PER-HKG-JFK//LAX-HKG-PER

Maybe try BNE-PER-HKG-LAX//LAX-HKG-PER-BNE?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

"110,000 points for a return J fare Aus-USA is great value as you can route through Asia/Europe if required. Trying to do the same with AA will require significantly more points (170,000)"

Have tried to book BNE to LAX via HKG (in F and J) all weekend and 5 out of 5 agents have all said same thing "illegal routing" including 2 referring to supervisor. They are now saying has to be direct (so QF out of MEL to LAX - yeah sure) or will allow JAL out of Sydney via NRT to JKF - but not to LAX. What is happening here. And CX availability still not matching what is showing on JAL (a good source). Would love to hear of any very recent successful BNE to LAX via Asia please - esp in CX. The agents are getting better I believe but seem to be having "routing" enforcement.

Can someone confirm what the official line regarding routing is at US Air with Aust (east coast) to LAX via Asia ? (is there an official line?)

looks like they might be enforcing MPM, or alternatively, they're might be following AA routing rules?

if it's MPM then you either need to make it within MPM (direct flight) or, make sure you have a brand new booking and try again. if you have an existing booking, it won't matter how many times you call if one of the agents has put a note in the booking.

bcworld did a chart on MPM. that will help you work out if indeed it it MPM (it may not be).

MPM for MEL-LAX is 11915. so BNE might be slightly less? and BNE-HKG-LAX comes in at 11566. actual miles.

 

[Pumbaa]

Hi guys,

I've been trying to convince US to refund me 10,000 miles per passenger for one of my USA redemptions. I was charged 120,000 miles each instead of the 110,000 miles as stated on the award chart.

SYD-DFW (J)
DFW-EWR (F)

YYZ-LHR (J)
LHR-KUL (J)
KUL-MEL (J)
MEL-SYD (J)

The first operator I spoke to said my route was invalid as I was flying past 2 oceans, and can only fly past one. She advised me that I was lucky to have it ticketed, and shouldn't push for the 10,000 miles refunded as if it had to be approved, the computer may cancel the flight redemption! This scared me a little, so I stopped calling.

Today I thought I'd try my luck again, this time 2 different flight operators said because one of my segments was in F (DFW-EWR), it should be ticketed as 140,000 miles each. The weird thing was after the first person I spoke to told me that, i hung up, called again, and then the second operator said, according to her notes on the screen, the first operator is right!

I definitely thought all F flights in domestic USA was considered a business flight. Also, is there any truth about how you cannot route past 2 different oceans. I have never read anything saying the ticket is invalid.

Should I stop pushing my luck and accept the 120,000 booking, or should I persist in trying to get 10,000 miles back. It is quite annoying that each time I call up I get a different response!

 

[hummel]

Hi guys,

I've been trying to convince US to refund me 10,000 miles per passenger for one of my USA redemptions. I was charged 120,000 miles each instead of the 110,000 miles as stated on the award chart.

SYD-DFW (J)
DFW-EWR (F)

YYZ-LHR (J)
LHR-KUL (J)
KUL-MEL (J)
MEL-SYD (J)

The first operator I spoke to said my route was invalid as I was flying past 2 oceans, and can only fly past one. She advised me that I was lucky to have it ticketed, and shouldn't push for the 10,000 miles refunded as if it had to be approved, the computer may cancel the flight redemption! This scared me a little, so I stopped calling.

Today I thought I'd try my luck again, this time 2 different flight operators said because one of my segments was in F (DFW-EWR), it should be ticketed as 140,000 miles each. The weird thing was after the first person I spoke to told me that, i hung up, called again, and then the second operator said, according to her notes on the screen, the first operator is right!

I definitely thought all F flights in domestic USA was considered a business flight. Also, is there any truth about how you cannot route past 2 different oceans. I have never read anything saying the ticket is invalid.

Should I stop pushing my luck and accept the 120,000 booking, or should I persist in trying to get 10,000 miles back. It is quite annoying that each time I call up I get a different response!

Is 20,000 miles that important to you? I wouldn't bother.

 

[Pumbaa]

Is 20,000 miles that important to you? I wouldn't bother.

Thanks for the advice. That was my original thought, but the points did cost around $500!

 

[sergeyvzn]

There's no rule about crossing oceans. However, even if it's a domestic F and only for one sector the whole trip becomes an F class award and they should charge you 140K. If I were you I'd drop it

 

[anat0l]

However, even if it's a domestic F and only for one sector the whole trip becomes an F class award and they should charge you 140K. If I were you I'd drop it

I believe this is wrong, unless the systems have changed or agents have been told otherwise. A USA domestic F award does not cause a J itinerary to become an F one if there are no other F segments on the itinerary. AAgents know this quite well; not sure about US DM agents in the new system. From experience, although sometimes you would get a "thick" agent, in the old *A system, booking a US Airways operated F flight on an award would not push the itinerary into an F one as long as all other segments are not First Class. The main reason for this is all of these services (domestic USA) are operated by two class aircraft which are branded as First and Economy (or Coach, as it is referred to there).

The only exception, I think, is if you select domestic F on a service which is operated by a three class aircraft, viz. F/J/Y. These are usually the flagship US transcontinental services. UA has them, and so does AA. But as far as I know, DFW/EWR is not such a service.

As for the 120k vs 110k points thing, we could have a mini-debate on this. I see this is an open jaw itinerary so you're not entitled to any en route stopover. Since your destination is in the USA, one would suppose the itinerary should be costed at 110k. However, on your way back, you are transiting a zone (Europe) which would normally attract a higher cost (120k). Now many will say that because you have no stopover or destination in that zone, it should not affect the calculation (cost should be purely based on origin to destination, with any applicable en route stopover). However, there's also a thought that if you are going to pass through that zone, you will bear this extra cost.

If it were up to me, I'd be content to let it go. It's not a clear overcharge (e.g. being charged an F rate when there are no bona fide international F segments, or clearly the wrong zone, or two awards worth of points); letting through this one to the keeper as part of the swings and roundabouts that is US DM (for now) isn't such a big punch in the arm, and overall still a winner in $ terms.

US agents are given a lot more "responsibilities" that normally a software system which is properly set up should handle for them. This sometimes results in frustrations, but other times also results in some "tricks".

 

[Pumbaa]

Thats for the advice and the clarification. I will let it go. The change from Star Alliance to One World has been good in many ways, but also bad in others. I'm kinda glad I've burnt nearly all my points, I have a feeling a significant devaluation / change in rules is coming up soon.

 

[sergeyvzn]

A OneWorld J award books into the Y class on a domestic 2 class service in the US. If it's in F, the whole trip is considered to be an F redemption

 

[Pumbaa]

I know what you are saying sergeyvzn, but I've booked numerous AA/US redemptions in the past, and F domestic trips in the USA have always been priced as a J and never F.