Mar 30, 2014, 12:53 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
WIKI POST: Using US Dividend Miles for oneworld Award Flights
As further details become available, please fill in this wikipost.
As further details become available, please fill in this wikipost.
N.B. Booking opportunities for new Dividend Miles awards of all kinds ended 11:59 PM Wednesday, 25 March 2015. Please continue using this thread for trips booked or in progress through 24 March 2016.
Changes on USDM oneworld award tickets
This is the only official statement about changing issued USDM award tickets:
If I need to make changes to a Dividend Miles award reservation, which program’s rules will apply?
Minor changes such as date/time can be made provided seats are available without requiring a new award to be claimed. More substantive changes such as changes to stopovers or origin/destination may result in the need to reinstate the previously claimed Dividend Miles award, then claiming a new AAdvantage award under the existing AAdvantage program rules.
The old membership rules do 'generally' still appy to USDM tickets.
For awards ticketed / reticketed on 001- ticket stock, go to the AA Refunds site with your ticket number at hand (unsure if it works with 037- stock at this time)to:
- Print a receipt with ticket number (instead of Request a refund)
- See total fees, taxes, etc. attached to your ticket
- See applicable detailed fare rules
- Request a refund (may not be useful for awards)
- Some were able to change their ticket without beeing charged the USD 150.- changing fee.
- No chance to change a ticket after the first flight segment has been flown.
- ...
Old stuff
oneworld member airlines - airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines (Sibir), SriLankan Airlines, TAM Airlines, US Airways and their affiliates.
Award Chart for oneworld awards using US Dividend Miles:
http://shopping.usairways.com/en-US/...wardtravel.pdf
You can use the American Airlines, British Airways, JAL, or Qantas sites to search for oneworld award inventory. AA and QF also allows you to search for award inventory using a handy 30 day calendar view. However, availability on the calendar is dependent on site coverage (e.g. QF does not include JL or MH, AA does not include CX and others). Also, the calendar view may not be completely accurate on all partners, so use it as a guide but do not rely on it fully.
One of the easiest ways to search for oneworld availability is through the use of an outside tool such as Award Nexus, ExpertFlyer, KVS Tool, or The Wandering Aramean oneworld Search.
Award Nexus has a free community membership for flyertalk members, and award email alert with premium membership. ExpertFlyer has email alerts and direct GDS access to select oneworld award inventories, such as AA, QF, and US. ExpertFlyer can also search J class certificate upgrade inventory. With KVS Tool, you can search QF, BA, JL and CX's search engines, in addition to other alliances, on your PC (Mac / Linux with CrossOver). You can also set up an alert via The Wandering Aramean oneworld Search. This tool will automatically search on QF for your alert once per day with a free account and four times per day with a paid account.
N.B. With all of the above tools, it is best to search one segment at a time. Most oneworld search engines have difficulty marrying segments.
For route searching with itinerary information, use the interactive oneworld map and timetable.
For searching Intra-North America availability, the best tool is AA.com. Unlike the other oneworld engines, AA is pretty good at marrying segments, so you can search origin to destination.
Regarding availability, the strategy that has been most effective for people looking to book award travel on oneworld is to start searching right at 330 days prior to departure. This is generally when availability is at its best. After that, availability tends to be sporadic until starting 8 weeks prior to departure where some airlines open up availability, and will vary all the way up until the day of departure.
If you're having trouble finding availability, it may be best to look at alternate airports (JL, for example, serves SAN, YVR, and BOS, in addition to the larger markets of SFO, LAX, YYZ, ORD, and JFK).
(N.B. Although US was not adding fuel surcharges to awards, there are reports that they have started doing this for awards containing BA flights.) With the exception of BA & IB, no oneworld carriers require you to pay a fuel surcharge for awards. With BA, be aware that you may have to pay both a fuel surcharge as well as the UK Air Passenger Duty departure tax for intercontinental J and F flights out of UK. These fees vary with class of service and length of flight and are determined by BA; the Air Passenger Duty (see specific thread) is due for all UK departures not under 24 hour connecting flights. APD applies to coach tickets, too, but at a reduced rate. The fuel /YQ surcharge with IB is generally considered minimal.
Known Problems / Workaround:
- Dep 00:00AM : Some agents have difficulty finding flights leaving between midnight and 2 AM. This is because the US systems show it leaving the day before. If the agent cannot find it, please ask to look at the day before. > source <
- LA : Flights put on hold will be cancelled after 24h. Workaround: Issue the ticket immediately. > source <
- JL : US Rep cannot find available seats. Workaround: "Always have to remind Rep to open JL reservations on a new screen". > source <
- MH : US Rep cannot find awards in First Class. Workaround: First class needs to be booked in P-cl instead of Z-cl (as on most other OW carriers). > source < booking classes: > KVS <
- All : If you are booking outbound flights at the US Air 335 day window US Air will often allow you to put your reservation on a longer than 3 day hold to capture the return seats once they open up at T+335. There is a report of this for 30 days here, and FT user beofotch was successful in getting a 13 day hold here. Workaround: Huaca until you get an agent who is competent enough to do this. It may help to act naive and ask for your return flight on your preferred date even if it is after T+335 days. Once they get an error from the computer may be a good time to bring it up.
- ...
Fixed Problems:
- CX : US Rep cannot find seats on flight CX 645 HKG-DOH. Workaround: none so far, search for different routing/carrier (CMB/DXB/...?)... > source < > fixed <
> fixed < - CX : US Rep cannot find seats on flight CX 640 DOH-HKG. They admit, the flight exists, but are unable to book <source>. Workaround: none so far, search for different routing/carrier
> fixed < - BA/Comair : US rep could not see / or unable to book intra-South Africa flights in BA flight number operated by Comair despite AA treats Comair a full fledged oneworld member under BA, in the same context as KA under CX. Only one reported success booking - poster reported agent had trouble at first but on consulting a supervisor was told "where to look"; the agent did not give any further information. Most everyone else reported unable to book Comair flights.
> fixed < - IB : Flights will be cancelled after ticket issued. Workaround: None yet... > source <
> fixed <
LUS: USDM oneworld Award Bookings - (Closed to new bookings) [Master FAQ and Help]
Feb 20, 2015, 4:44 am
#3541
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
you could check online on the usairways site 1st and see if it is there - I think that UL uses amadeus too which would mean that 1 reference would cover all of them
Feb 20, 2015, 5:34 am
#3542
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,205
Thanks DN, nice USDM agents provided QF/CX PNR, so seats selected.
I can now also use the CX/QF PNR with UL, so all done.
Cheers, TK
I can now also use the CX/QF PNR with UL, so all done.
Cheers, TK
Feb 20, 2015, 8:00 am
#3543
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 5
Word of caution-- I just tried calling the Canadian/UK number again and, after asking me where I was calling from, they kicked me back to the dreaded automated US number!
I have been trying to ticket this flight ALL WEEK. Not cool.
I have been trying to ticket this flight ALL WEEK. Not cool.
Feb 20, 2015, 8:31 am
#3544
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: most of them
Posts: 3,283
That's interesting. I called the UK/Europe number (888.240.4770) a couple of times this morning and they were happy to help me. First call revealed that my long legs (JFK-HKG and HKG-ORD) were no longer open. Had to adjust my dates and try again, but it all worked out for me in the end. Hope I didn't mess things up for the rest of you!
Feb 20, 2015, 9:49 am
#3545
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 5
I called back 20 minutes later, got a different agent and booked a last-minute award flight from Alabama to Bangkok for $180 -- after ALL taxes and fees -- via Qatar Airways.
$180 is so much better than the $700 they initially quoted me for an award flight through London!
$180 is so much better than the $700 they initially quoted me for an award flight through London!
Feb 20, 2015, 6:35 pm
#3546
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,308
I called back 20 minutes later, got a different agent and booked a last-minute award flight from Alabama to Bangkok for $180 -- after ALL taxes and fees -- via Qatar Airways.
$180 is so much better than the $700 they initially quoted me for an award flight through London!
$180 is so much better than the $700 they initially quoted me for an award flight through London!
And you got a MUCH better airline too
Feb 20, 2015, 6:40 pm
#3547
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA MM PP, MR LT Plat, Globalist
Posts: 1,002
Interesting discussion. It seems this is getting beyond my depth. 
I ticketed LA-DFW-LHR-PAR-LHR-PVG-HKG-LAX.
Last year, under Star, I ticked LAX-EWR-LIS-BCN-FRA-PEK-PVG-PEK-LAX.
This time, agents wouldn't approve LA-DFW-LHR-CDG-HKG-PVG-HKG-LAX.
Above, I bolded what I perceive to be the destination, and italicized what I thought was the stopover.
For (rejected) itinerary 3 above, if HKG is taken as the destination, then total mileage is 12141. For itinerary 1, if PVG is the dest., then LA-...-PVG is 12154 miles.
I ticketed LA-DFW-LHR-PAR-LHR-PVG-HKG-LAX.
Last year, under Star, I ticked LAX-EWR-LIS-BCN-FRA-PEK-PVG-PEK-LAX.
This time, agents wouldn't approve LA-DFW-LHR-CDG-HKG-PVG-HKG-LAX.
Above, I bolded what I perceive to be the destination, and italicized what I thought was the stopover.
For (rejected) itinerary 3 above, if HKG is taken as the destination, then total mileage is 12141. For itinerary 1, if PVG is the dest., then LA-...-PVG is 12154 miles.
There is no minimum time required at destination and you cannot pick destination on where is most conveniant for it to be
In the example of poster wanting to go t PVG , I cannot see how HKG cannot be the destination unless it is modified so as to start returning on same path
In your example it would appear that the agent didn't pick up on it but from reports it seems that US has put work into the system post star to avoid it being down to agents to validate the itinerary but having the system pick up on it
perhaps just time to see whether USDM allows his desired itinerary
For SYD-HKG-MNL , this is not a circle trip but a round trip ; the passenger is turning around at the destination and reversing path; for a r/t ticket there is no mileage calculation on where the furthest point is
If the person flew SYD-KUL-MNL(stop)-HKG-SYD however, then the situation would be different with HKG being the destination
Also consider - someone does SYD-KUL-HKG-MNL-SYD with < 24 hours in each stop ; where is the destination?
In the example of poster wanting to go t PVG , I cannot see how HKG cannot be the destination unless it is modified so as to start returning on same path
In your example it would appear that the agent didn't pick up on it but from reports it seems that US has put work into the system post star to avoid it being down to agents to validate the itinerary but having the system pick up on it
perhaps just time to see whether USDM allows his desired itinerary
For SYD-HKG-MNL , this is not a circle trip but a round trip ; the passenger is turning around at the destination and reversing path; for a r/t ticket there is no mileage calculation on where the furthest point is
If the person flew SYD-KUL-MNL(stop)-HKG-SYD however, then the situation would be different with HKG being the destination
Also consider - someone does SYD-KUL-HKG-MNL-SYD with < 24 hours in each stop ; where is the destination?
Feb 20, 2015, 7:35 pm
#3548
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Interesting discussion. It seems this is getting beyond my depth.
I ticketed LA-DFW-LHR-PAR-LHR-PVG-HKG-LAX.
Last year, under Star, I ticked LAX-EWR-LIS-BCN-FRA-PEK-PVG-PEK-LAX.
This time, agents wouldn't approve LA-DFW-LHR-CDG-HKG-PVG-HKG-LAX.
Above, I bolded what I perceive to be the destination, and italicized what I thought was the stopover.
For (rejected) itinerary 3 above, if HKG is taken as the destination, then total mileage is 12141. For itinerary 1, if PVG is the dest., then LA-...-PVG is 12154 miles.
I ticketed LA-DFW-LHR-PAR-LHR-PVG-HKG-LAX.
Last year, under Star, I ticked LAX-EWR-LIS-BCN-FRA-PEK-PVG-PEK-LAX.
This time, agents wouldn't approve LA-DFW-LHR-CDG-HKG-PVG-HKG-LAX.
Above, I bolded what I perceive to be the destination, and italicized what I thought was the stopover.
For (rejected) itinerary 3 above, if HKG is taken as the destination, then total mileage is 12141. For itinerary 1, if PVG is the dest., then LA-...-PVG is 12154 miles.
Assuming you could cut out one of the HKG transits... say fly CDG-HKG-PVG-USA (same as you did on the first itinerary above): PVG is the destination, otherwise you would have the situation where CDG was stopover #1, HGK is the 'destination', and PVG is stopover #2. Which is of course not allowed.
Feb 20, 2015, 11:06 pm
#3549
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: PHX
Programs: AA, SPG, UR
Posts: 329
Hello! Just need some direction. A buddy has USDM and looking to go US to BOM preferably from LAX. I am on hold for past 1 hour to get to a live body at DM reservation desk. What are my options? I am seeing LAX-HKG-BOM flights for his dates probably return some other way. Will USDM work for this? What are some other options to reach BOM using USDM? I called AA but they said they cannot yet use US miles so Etihad is out of question. I can search well on my own (have EF sub and logins at most airlines) just looking for leads due to this AA/US pre-merger deadlocks. thx.
Feb 21, 2015, 4:09 am
#3550
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Hello! Just need some direction. A buddy has USDM and looking to go US to BOM preferably from LAX. I am on hold for past 1 hour to get to a live body at DM reservation desk. What are my options? I am seeing LAX-HKG-BOM flights for his dates probably return some other way. Will USDM work for this? What are some other options to reach BOM using USDM? I called AA but they said they cannot yet use US miles so Etihad is out of question. I can search well on my own (have EF sub and logins at most airlines) just looking for leads due to this AA/US pre-merger deadlocks. thx.
Feb 21, 2015, 5:03 am
#3551
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Anyone else come across a problem with agents not seeing QR 847/848 between KUL/DOH?
When searching on the BA site these were coming up but US could see the other daily QR flights but not these. Of course there's the possibility of phantom availability.
When searching on the BA site these were coming up but US could see the other daily QR flights but not these. Of course there's the possibility of phantom availability.
Feb 21, 2015, 8:16 am
#3552
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391
There is no minimum time required at destination and you cannot pick destination on where is most conveniant for it to be
In the example of poster wanting to go t PVG , I cannot see how HKG cannot be the destination unless it is modified so as to start returning on same path
In the example of poster wanting to go t PVG , I cannot see how HKG cannot be the destination unless it is modified so as to start returning on same path
I've booked itineraries with US where HKG was the destination (North Asia), and there was a 23 hour transit through BKK (South Asia) to Europe. No problem, as BKK was a pretty logical connection point for HKG-Europe (this was when US was in *A, might not be as much of one today, though it should be possible with some combination of CX/QR/BA/RJ/UL).
Also, if you look back in the thread, posters have tried doing < 24 hour transits in HKG to try and get RTW itineraries involving Europe from North America. Doesn't work unless you stay the full day. Otherwise US thinks it's a connection/transit under 24 hours, and won't allow the routing because you can't fly Europe-North America itineraries though Asia.
The problem likely is, as mentioned, the HKG-PVG-HKG backtrack.
Feb 21, 2015, 8:26 am
#3553
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhatra...tional_Airport
Cross reference with this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneworld
You can't combine 9W with anyone other than US. They are not a OW partner.
Cross reference with this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneworld
Feb 21, 2015, 9:42 am
#3554
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Feb 21, 2015, 11:18 pm
#3555
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
I didn't specifically ask because I was looking at 3 consecutive days and thought they might catch any availability; also the KUL-DOH flight departs at 3AM which isn't within the midnight-2AM slot the wiki mentions. I now realize I should have dug a bit deeper.