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]
Nov 29, 2015, 4:15 am
#4366
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,053
Change for free, or with a fee? Not really familiar with the US program, but it seems that while you could make changes to your award (including origin/destination), there was a $150 fee involved. I'm sure some former US flyers can chime in here on whether my understanding is correct.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150207...mberguide.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20150207...mberguide.html
Last edited by xliioper; Nov 29, 2015 at 4:26 am
Nov 29, 2015, 6:15 am
#4367
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
There's a special group of agents at AA that deals with changes to US-issued awards. Make sure you were/are talking to someone in that group. If you did or do and that's the answer, that's the answer-- as pointed out above a little unclear if they won't let you make the change at all or for free.
Nov 29, 2015, 7:06 am
#4368
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: State College, PA
Programs: US Airways CP, UA 1K, DL Plat, Marriott Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 286
I have a DM tickets that I got on the last day I could and it was my understanding that changes could be made but not depart-dest cities. I am not sure if I read it or was told it.
There are a group of "double agents" that work on both AA and US tickets until all the US DM tickets are done so you should definitely make sure they check with them.
There are a group of "double agents" that work on both AA and US tickets until all the US DM tickets are done so you should definitely make sure they check with them.
Nov 29, 2015, 8:18 am
#4369
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
We have merged this query into the existing (and long!) master thread. Please be sure to read the wiki at the top of the page; it contains germane information to this issue.
/Moderator
/Moderator
Nov 29, 2015, 12:23 pm
#4370
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA LT Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 956
Change for free, or with a fee? Not really familiar with the US program, but it seems that while you could make changes to your award (including origin/destination), there was a $150 fee involved. I'm sure some former US flyers can chime in here on whether my understanding is correct.
I used to be a Chairman's Preferred of US Airways. I am equally an Executive Platinum of AA. It is not on the fees that I have a problem, it is AA's refusal to change my departure city. BTW, thank you for the link.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150207...mberguide.html
I used to be a Chairman's Preferred of US Airways. I am equally an Executive Platinum of AA. It is not on the fees that I have a problem, it is AA's refusal to change my departure city. BTW, thank you for the link.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150207...mberguide.html
There's a special group of agents at AA that deals with changes to US-issued awards. Make sure you were/are talking to someone in that group. If you did or do and that's the answer, that's the answer-- as pointed out above a little unclear if they won't let you make the change at all or for free.
I have a DM tickets that I got on the last day I could and it was my understanding that changes could be made but not depart-dest cities. I am not sure if I read it or was told it.
There are a group of "double agents" that work on both AA and US tickets until all the US DM tickets are done so you should definitely make sure they check with them.
There are a group of "double agents" that work on both AA and US tickets until all the US DM tickets are done so you should definitely make sure they check with them.
Nov 29, 2015, 12:34 pm
#4371
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA LT Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 956
Change for free, or with a fee? Not really familiar with the US program, but it seems that while you could make changes to your award (including origin/destination), there was a $150 fee involved. I'm sure some former US flyers can chime in here on whether my understanding is correct.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150207...mberguide.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20150207...mberguide.html
Nov 29, 2015, 1:06 pm
#4372
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,597
What is the details of the itinerary and what you want to change it to? Also , has travel commenced
My understanding of the situation is that simple changes , such as date and/or time ( where changes are permitted ) would be permitted to US awards
Any non simple change will require that the award be reissued as an AA award and so will then be subject to AA's award terms
My understanding of the situation is that simple changes , such as date and/or time ( where changes are permitted ) would be permitted to US awards
Any non simple change will require that the award be reissued as an AA award and so will then be subject to AA's award terms
Nov 29, 2015, 1:08 pm
#4373
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
In the "official" statement quoted above:
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.
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.
Nov 30, 2015, 2:39 am
#4374
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA LT Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 956
What is the details of the itinerary and what you want to change it to? Also , has travel commenced
My understanding of the situation is that simple changes , such as date and/or time ( where changes are permitted ) would be permitted to US awards
Any non simple change will require that the award be reissued as an AA award and so will then be subject to AA's award terms
My understanding of the situation is that simple changes , such as date and/or time ( where changes are permitted ) would be permitted to US awards
Any non simple change will require that the award be reissued as an AA award and so will then be subject to AA's award terms
"Travel on US Airways
Changes are subject to award seat availability. Changes to the point of origin, destination, stopover, class of service and award level are permitted if the new itinerary is within the travel areas allowed by the original award. A service fee applies for these changes and changes to flight times, dates and connecting points.
Travel on airline partners
Changes are not permitted once travel has begun. Before travel begins, you can change the point of origin, destination, airline carrier and stopover for a fee if the new itinerary is allowed with the original award redeemed. A fee applies if you change flight times and dates before travel begins. Changes are subject to award seat availability. Paper tickets may need to be reissued at an authorized US Airways ticketing facility.
Airline partners cannot change Dividend Miles award reservations or tickets and will accommodate members only in the cabin for which the ticket was issued, including instances in which a member accepts an award ticket for a cabin class lower than intended for the award redeemed."
Nov 30, 2015, 2:49 am
#4375
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA LT Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 956
What is the details of the itinerary and what you want to change it to? Also , has travel commenced
My understanding of the situation is that simple changes , such as date and/or time ( where changes are permitted ) would be permitted to US awards
Any non simple change will require that the award be reissued as an AA award and so will then be subject to AA's award terms
My understanding of the situation is that simple changes , such as date and/or time ( where changes are permitted ) would be permitted to US awards
Any non simple change will require that the award be reissued as an AA award and so will then be subject to AA's award terms
Nov 30, 2015, 9:01 am
#4377
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: State College, PA
Programs: US Airways CP, UA 1K, DL Plat, Marriott Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 286
My view on all this is that the USDM program was great and really had some nice redemptions. I managed to get one the day before they stopped doing them. AA has done several changes with no change to origin-dest and kept the USDM routes, as they stated they would.
Your choice is to keep the booking or redeposit the miles and book under AA, and DOT is not going to help you.
Nov 30, 2015, 9:08 am
#4378
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
US management took over AA, made numerous changes to AAdvantage redemptions, and kept USDM awards unless they incorporated several kinds of changes - including origin or destination, in which case miles redeposit and a new AA award are required. All of these were announced at one time or another; the applicable one has been included in the wiki, and now upthread.
It sucks, but it is what it is. Thank Messrs. Parker, Kirby et al or not, and think how you can gain any advantage here in flying the existing award or acquiring a new one.
TW flyers had a number of losses, but that was how AA treated TW Aviator and Ambassador Club members. Now it's how HP-US management has chosen to treat LUS and LAA flyers.
Nov 30, 2015, 12:22 pm
#4379
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,388
You're arguing over pretty small potatoes. But I suppose it's a matter of principle as you see it, despite what has been pointed out (that AA stated it wasn't going to allow certain changes to US ticketed awards after the US program was shut down in March).
Nov 30, 2015, 12:58 pm
#4380
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
You could call back and ask for someone well-versed in US-specific awards. Those are the "double agents" who are trained in both the US and AA systems.