US Airways Dividend Miles - I just booked a flight from Orlando to Durban in 'C' for $1800!

Just got off the phone with U.S Airways and have booked 2 Business Class tickets on SAA/United for $1800 per person.

I bought 50 000 miles, got 50 000 free and bought the extra 10 000 needed for a Business class award to Africa and booked it!

Anyone wanting to go to Africa...This is the way to do it!

Check out my last trip reports with SAA in Business:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/998836-saa-premium-class-trip-report-iad-jnb-dur-lots-pics.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/1006782-premium-class-trip-report-saa-dur-gru-lots-pics.html

I just used the same method to book:

JFK-PEK-SYD-JFK

A week in PEK, four days in SYD. All in C. Cost 90,000 miles which I bought for an all-in cost of $1400.

People like to bash US but their *A award redemptions are phenomenal (especially when you can get an agent to ignore stopover and routing rules :D).

I must say that out of all the *A airlines i have looked at for redemption for *A Awards, they are by far the best value.

I went onto SAA's website to look at how many miles they charge and the taxes on the exact same ticket. They are 145 000 miles and $550 in taxes per passenger. Using their own frequent flyer programme!!!

Whereas U.S. Airways is 110 000 miles and $175 in taxes! It's a joke...

I must say that out of all the *A airlines i have looked at for redemption for *A Awards, they are by far the best value.

I went onto SAA's website to look at how many miles they charge and the taxes on the exact same ticket. They are 145 000 miles and $550 in taxes per passenger. Using their own frequent flyer programme!!!

Whereas U.S. Airways is 110 000 miles and $175 in taxes! It's a joke...

Yes, it's ridiculous cheap! I just redeemed 125,000 miles for JFK-IST-HKG-IST-JFK with all four legs booked in THY first. The taxes were less than $118 USD!!!!!

Now that i have booked tickets for my partner and i to South Africa, does anyone know if there is a maximum number of segments you can do for an award booking?

Right now i have: MCO-IAD-JNB-DUR-JNB-IAD-MCO all for 110 000 miles in J per ticket. But i was wondering if it would be possible to change it to:
MCO-IAD-JNB-CPT(stop over for 3 days)-DUR-JNB-IAD-MCO

Thanks for your thoughts :p

Now that i have booked tickets for my partner and i to South Africa, does anyone know if there is a maximum number of segments you can do for an award booking?

Right now i have: MCO-IAD-JNB-DUR-JNB-IAD-MCO all for 110 000 miles in J per ticket. But i was wondering if it would be possible to change it to:
MCO-IAD-JNB-CPT(stop over for 3 days)-DUR-JNB-IAD-MCO

Thanks for your thoughts :p

In the past, I was told by US Airways reps that the maximum is 8 legs round-trip, though if you get a nice ticketing agent, he(s) may allow you to have more.

In the past, I was told by US Airways reps that the maximum is 8 legs round-trip, though if you get a nice ticketing agent, he(s) may allow you to have more.

If i change my ticket to include Cape Town i will be at the 8 leg maximum...so i will phone in the next few weeks and let you know what happens!;)

If they do change the tickets for me, are they going to charge me a $250 change fee? Or what is there change fee for award tickets?

RyanG - What time of the year are you travelling? Is it during the World Cup?

If they do change the tickets for me, are they going to charge me a $250 change fee?...

Yes, it's $250 change fee for international, per ticket.

From website,
For travel with our airline partners, no changes of any kind are permitted once travel has commenced. Before travel commencement, changes to the point of origin, destination, airline carrier or stopover are permitted but are subject to a service fee, provided the new itinerary is allowed with the original award redeemed. A fee applies to change flight times and/or dates before travel begins. Changes must be requested by contacting Reservations and are subject to award seat availability. Paper tickets may require re-issuance at an authorized US Airways ticketing facility.

RyanG - What time of the year are you travelling? Is it during the World Cup?

I'm flying in May 2010. So a month before the world Cup.

I just checked my credit card and they have charged me twice per ticket for the airport taxes. So i called the Dividend miles number and she said that i need to email customer relations and ask for a refund for the two additional charges?

Does anyone have experience with who i need to get in contact with? I emailed Customer relations, but i would much rather speak to someone over the phone and get it resolved...

Thanks

Ryan