United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Help.. Wedding at the dumbest time.. Need advice on when to redeem/book (USA-MEL)

I told her not to do it..
She asked me as an experienced traveler...
"Scott, when should I plan my wedding so you, as my brother can attend, given as you are in Chicago and I am in Melbourne, Aus..."
I say: NOT over 10 dec to 20 jan..

So.. *sigh* now I have work out how to get myself, my wife, and my 7yo (recently invited to be a bridesmaid.. yes.. ) to Melbourne at -peak- times..

Ok.. Some background... I am a a Silver on UA.. Good chance (given no funding disasters... ) I will make gold this year.. I have enough to send TC + little tornado (wife and daughter) on saver points (I have 160K) rtn to aus in Y
Now outgoing, all that is available is Christmas day, and back is the 13th of Jan..

Now do is now as good as it gets for availability? or should I shoot?

Bummed.. I really was planning to use my miles to finally enjoy international F.. But family comes first and I am ready to burn, even given the poor value my points for two Y ORD-MEL-ORD tix.. At a BAD time of year..

Any advice very very very welcome...

Can I use my points on Air NZ? etc...

You can indeed use them on NZ..but the odds you'll be able to get saver seats during that time period on UA or NZ are about zero...and if you can, you probably won't be able to book them until within a few days of the flight (even then it's highly unlikely). Looks like you'll need to book what's available now, book standard awards, or bite the bullet and pay for the tickets.

Thanks.. Not enough miles for std awards.. Can still get saver for two BIS ORD-MEL-ORD for 12/25 -> 01/14.. and then only 2k for me..

So from what I can read from your advice is availability does not get any better closer to the date...

If someone sets up their wedding at the stupidest time, why feel obligated to come? Especially when she asked the best time. I don't care if it's your sister. Tell her to set up a webcast, and you'll watch it.

Over the past few years, both Y and C saver award seats for around Christmas/new year have opened up a few weeks beforehand - however realistically there's no way I suggest relying on that occurring. The combination of Christmas, New Year and it being summer in Australia makes that a very busy time, and it's unusual for flights to go out without being at least almost full.

And of course, it's not a good time to be having to pay for flights either - they aren't exactly cheap...

I have enough to send TC + little tornado (wife and daughter) on saver points (I have 160K) rtn to aus in Y
Now outgoing, all that is available is Christmas day, and back is the 13th of Jan..

If you can find someone to trade with that has AA miles, AA/Qantas have 3 seats available on Dec 9 or 11 AUS-MEL with quite a few different routings, and 2 seats on the 10th. After those two dates the next available flights are not until Jan 1. If you originate at LAX, there are 19 dates with flights in December for 2 or 3 passengers LAX-MEL. Have not looked at the return dates, but can check for you (just ask).

AA charges 75K for RT in economy from the U.S.

Have you looked at routings via SE Asia? Longer travel time but more likely to have seats available.

I'm no expert, but I did some reward travel to Oz (IAH-MEL; CNS-IAD) earlier this year and even six months out when I booked it, and even though it was the low season, availability wasn't great.

A cursory search of December and January suggests that even with different origins and destinations (e.g. reward ticket terminates in AKL, SYD, CNS, BNE, etc. or ticket originates at LAX or SFO, under the assumption you could cover the domestic ticket on either end) didn't help availability much. A smattering of days with standard rewards would open up, but I didn't find any saver rewards.

Sorry I can't offer more help. Best of luck!

Wow, that's a poor time even for people in Australia to attend a wedding, with family vacations, higher hotel costs, etc.

Your personal cash budget's ability to augment redemptions is the only other thing I can think of to play with. What about terminating somewhere relative nearby in SE Asia/SW Pacific - if there is a reasonably priced revenue flight to MEL? Even that won't be truly cheap given the season even with LCCs.

Or if you just flat-out can't make it work, then hopefully she will understand. It's not worth blowing your finances and/or mileage balances.

What is the actual day that you have to be there?

Your best bet is going to be to book something that will "work" and then keep trying to improve the schedule. Maybe even send wife and flowergirl on a head?

awardnexus.com is a good site at which you can sign up for and get email alerts if and when award flights open up. But it will cost you $50 for the site status that includes the alert function.

Hope it all works out.

awardnexus.com is a good site at which you can sign up for and get email alerts if and when award flights open up. But it will cost you $50 for the site status that includes the alert function.

Hope it all works out.

Free alerts at www.wandr.me if you're interested. :cool:

hey thanks for the advice.. Wedding is on the 28th of Dec...
And yes.. bad timing..

Thanks for the Asia advice I will definitely look into this.. How do people generally see availability? Expert flyer?

Cash is a massive issue.. I am scientist so not the best remunerated.. But I travel a bit for work..

Again: What are people's thoughts about last minute bargains? Either redemption or $$?

Of course being a true FT-er.. I do look at this as an opportunity to send my wife and daughter on miles and pay for my own ticket and perhaps make UA plat this year :D

Free alerts at www.wandr.me if you're interested. :cool:

Awesome, Thanks!

My recollection from last year is that award space to Australia did suddenly open up at the last minute (I briefly considered heading back to celebrate xmas with my family... and then thought "naah" and went skiing in Tahoe instead).

But of course you can't count on that.

Hello,
I am not up on exactly what the flight situation is, but I would suggesting to book it NOW. This is actually peak time and towards the end of your trip we have the Australian Open in Melbourne. I will be crowded, and most hotels will book out early.
Also plan for very hot weather, as it over this time it has been known to get over 110F+.

I really wish you and your family good luck and enjoy yourself which u are in Melbourne.

Again: What are people's thoughts about last minute bargains? Either redemption or $$?


I would not even consider last minute if you still want to be a married man after the new year ;). I assumed all 3 of you have to be on the same flights. Then your issue is your revenue ticket has to match whatever your wife and daughter award ticket is. This is one of the time I would consider get enough miles to book all 3 on award tickets. If you already has a United Explorer card, open a chase sapphire card and buy whatever left is needed to get 240k miles. You can route through Asia but it will not be cheap as revenue ticket.

Also book award ticket now, you can always change the ticket if something comes along better closer to departure date. Revenue ticket will be tough to change.

If someone sets up their wedding at the stupidest time, why feel obligated to come? Especially when she asked the best time. I don't care if it's your sister. Tell her to set up a webcast, and you'll watch it.

There are some of us who would do anything for one's sister. Using all one's miles is nothing... that's what they exist for, to use when tickets cost too much $$. I am sorry for you that you don't feel the same.

OP, There are saver seats available for departure on Dec 24 which would allow for a slight recovery from jet lag before the wedding. Connection in SFO is long, but there would be time to take the BART into town and have a real meal.

ORD-JAC 24DEC UA 550 950A-1212P
JAC-SFO 24DEC UA6407 1240P- 211P
SFO-SYD 24DEC UA 863 1040P- 810A+2
SYD-MEL 26DEC UA 839 940A-1120A

There are some of us who would do anything for one's sister. Using all one's miles are nothing... that's what they exist for, to use when tickets cost too much $$. I am sorry for you that you don't feel the same.
Sounds more like a Charlie Brown and Lucy type relationship. After a few times of getting the football pulled away, you should learn.

Some folks don't have the miles or cash to spend.

Especially in this circumstance, where she specifically asked when the bad time to come would be. Some people aren't very considerate, I guess.

Especially in this circumstance, where she specifically asked when the bad time to come would be. Some people aren't very considerate, I guess.
100% agreed. Asking then ignoring the advice is worse than failing to ask.

My SIL did a similar thing for her wedding. But the choice was, suck it up and pay for flights and hotels or never hear the end of it. Not my sister, not my choice to cause friction. :rolleyes:

OP - Use AA miles to get OneWorld awards. Sign up for a free QF account because they have the best tool for finding OneWorld awards. There is usually availability on CX (even premium awards) if you route through HKG, and they tend to open up availability as it gets within a few weeks of the flights. Make a CC trade with an EXP to use AA miles and get free date/routing changes.

If you can't do the trade, and you haven't already churned cards through AA, it's pretty easy for you plus wife to sign up for all the AA/Citi bonus cards and quickly accumulate enough miles to pay for some of the trip.

ETA: Looks like LAX-MEL has 3 QF award seats on Dec 29 and 30 if you're looking to push the date that way. Return flights are crazy, though. Nothing until Jan 14.

Why not save your miles & buy the cheapest tkts psbl (even if it's not on UA & you don't earn miles? At least you'll still have your miles for that $15-20K F tkt later if you spend $3-4K now

Op... Check out UA. There are running a business sale between Canada and Australia. $4461 yyz-Mel and $3564 yyz-syd. Typical us-oz business fares run ~$8500.

short notice is possible going to syd in Dec, but coming back to usa is another story. you have to wait till school is open so will be near the end of jan 2013 to come back

ORD-JAC 24DEC UA 550 950A-1212P
JAC-SFO 24DEC UA6407 1240P- 211P
Is a 28 minute connection even allowed let alone sane when transferring in Chicago during the winter?

Is a 28 minute connection even allowed let alone sane when transferring in Chicago during the winter?

OP is not connecting at ORD; he is originating there. The 28 min connection is at Jackson Hole, CO -- not exactly a place with great distance between the gates. Moreover, should the ORD-JAC flight be delayed, UA could easily put traveller on ORD-SFO nonstop -- there are plenty that day. The connection in JAC was recommended only as pax wanted saver award seats.

If someone sets up their wedding at the stupidest time, why feel obligated to come? Especially when she asked the best time. I don't care if it's your sister. Tell her to set up a webcast, and you'll watch it.

Acts of nature aside, cannot not attend sister's wedding regardless of scheduling snafus.

100% agreed. Asking then ignoring the advice is worse than failing to ask.

My SIL did a similar thing for her wedding. But the choice was, suck it up and pay for flights and hotels or never hear the end of it. Not my sister, not my choice to cause friction. :rolleyes:

OP - Use AA miles to get OneWorld awards. Sign up for a free QF account because they have the best tool for finding OneWorld awards. There is usually availability on CX (even premium awards) if you route through HKG, and they tend to open up availability as it gets within a few weeks of the flights. Make a CC trade with an EXP to use AA miles and get free date/routing changes.

If you can't do the trade, and you haven't already churned cards through AA, it's pretty easy for you plus wife to sign up for all the AA/Citi bonus cards and quickly accumulate enough miles to pay for some of the trip.

ETA: Looks like LAX-MEL has 3 QF award seats on Dec 29 and 30 if you're looking to push the date that way. Return flights are crazy, though. Nothing until Jan 14.

Exactly the return is what is killing me..


As to the other comments: Listen, we all get it, and we can see the issues, by my sister has lived in Aus all her life.. Believe it or not she is marrying a Qantas engineer so she has been to visit me twice in Chicago on Staff travel..

I am one person from one side of the family traveling to this wedding (well three people traveling)

The big complication came when she asked if my 7yo Daughter could be a bridesmaid.. Now my daughter is fixated on it, to the point of saying she does not want a birthday party if it diminishes the chances of going...

I am completely bipolar on deciding... My main reason for posting was to get an idea of how time affects my choices.. ie should I decide now of can things evolve as a function of time? (ie can availability open up as well as close down..)

Thanks for all your comments though.. I am pleased and surprised at the comments I have had here as well as the PMs.. Reminds me why I love this forum!

I would not even consider last minute if you still want to be a married man after the new year ;). I assumed all 3 of you have to be on the same flights. Then your issue is your revenue ticket has to match whatever your wife and daughter award ticket is. This is one of the time I would consider get enough miles to book all 3 on award tickets. If you already has a United Explorer card, open a chase sapphire card and buy whatever left is needed to get 240k miles. You can route through Asia but it will not be cheap as revenue ticket.

Also book award ticket now, you can always change the ticket if something comes along better closer to departure date. Revenue ticket will be tough to change.

Good point.. I guess the gamble on booking seats on miles now is only a few 100$..

I do not need to be on the same flight as the wife and Daughter.. in fact it is looking unlikely I will be able to as I will probably fly back revenue earlier as I have a meeting to attend..

short notice is possible going to syd in Dec, but coming back to usa is another story. you have to wait till school is open so will be near the end of jan 2013 to come back

Yep! That seems to be the case!

Good point.. I guess the gamble on booking seats on miles now is only a few 100$..

I do not need to be on the same flight as the wife and Daughter.. in fact it is looking unlikely I will be able to as I will probably fly back revenue earlier as I have a meeting to attend..

Did you check out what an one-way would cost, perhaps you can do award over on saver level and revenue back or vice versa if the availability and cost works better?

Saver seats are available on the following itinerary:

MEL-BKK TG466 04JAN 305P-815P
BKK-BJS TG674 04JAN 1159P-540A+1
BJS-JFK CA981 05JAN 100P-130P
LGA-ORD UA681 06JAN 100P-238P

Do note that an overnight at NYC is required.

Did you check out what an one-way would cost, perhaps you can do award over on saver level and revenue back or vice versa if the availability and cost works better?

On all of the major airlines, one-way flights US/Australia generally book into high fare codes (think W or higher, sometimes B) and cost as much or more as a return flight.

On all of the major airlines, one-way flights US/Australia generally book into high fare codes (think W or higher, sometimes B) and cost as much or more as a return flight.

The cheap way to get to Australia is to purchase a fare on a second tier middle eastern airline (GF or MS) ex. JFK via middle east and southeast asia from a consolidator in SFO.