US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - award travel- how long can one stay over

I am planning to book PHL-BCN on Star using US Airways miles. I want to book PHL-BCN for early January. When is the latest that I am allowed to book the return flight BCN-PHL, would I be able to use it in December? There is no fee for changing the dates (given award seats are available)? hopefully with the new nonstop starting next year, more seats will be available...

I am planning to book PHL-BCN on Star using US Airways miles. I want to book PHL-BCN for early January. When is the latest that I am allowed to book the return flight BCN-PHL, would I be able to use it in December? There is no fee for changing the dates (given award seats are available)? hopefully with the new nonstop starting next year, more seats will be available...

Technically you can stay up to 331 days (I believe). However, there are a number of potential pitfalls you may run into.
1 -- What kind of availability you can get for THIS January (it is already late to be making such a booking, even though it is a low season)
2 -- When you can make a return reservation -- it will be no more than 331 days from when you make the outbound reservation

So, in theory, lets say you find availability to fly PHL-FRA-BCN on Lufthansa in January, and make a return reservation for October (the latest available dates). As a Star Alliance award, once you start travel, you will NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE DATES.

The only solution is to book a US Award ticket, where you can change dates for free. The new service to BCN won't help you, since will be a summer-only service, so no flights in January or in December next year. I think your best bet is to try and book the PHL-MAD nonstop with a return as far out as possible, and then call US to change the returtn date once you are 331 days (or fewer) out from when you return. MAD-BCN can be done fairly cheaply on JK (and you can earn miles as well).

Good luck!

I checked with US today and they can only book 331 days in advance for award travel. No flights were available PHL-BCN on star, but PHL-MAD and PHL-LGW are available from January 12 and on. From MAD one can fly JK to BCN, or from LGW one can go from Gatwick to Stanstead and fly on Ryannair for 16 pounds to the other airport in Barcelona!

I booked PHL-MAD for January 12, and booked the return for October 2005 (the latest from today, 331 days). They told me I can change it without penalty to December, once the seats open up. I have to complete return travel within one year of the outbound flight (not one year from the day of ticketing). It is a e-ticket so it is no problem to change the date over the phone. If it were a paper ticket (on a *a carrier), I WOULD be able to change it, but only at a US Airways ticket office. They told me that I might be able to book BCN-PHL for my return if seats were available, but there would be a $50 fee to change the city and carrier.

Anyone with any experiences contrary to what I was told? Earlier this year I was able to change the date on my EWR-SIN-TPE SQ award ticket by bringing it to the LGA ticket counter, no penalty (but some taxes charged).

Anyone with any experiences contrary to what I was told? Earlier this year I was able to change the date on my EWR-SIN-TPE SQ award ticket by bringing it to the LGA ticket counter, no penalty (but some taxes charged).

That sounds right to me -- date changes are free on US and should be free on Star Alliance tickets if you haven't started travel yet and don't make any routing or carrier changes.

I think your plan for flying PHL-MAD and returning on the same route makes sense. You shouldn't have trouble getting a return seat for next December if you call at the right time in January/February. This will also give you the flexibility of deciding closer to the time how you actually want to do your trip -- i.e. take the train to Madrid, fly a few days early etc.

Enjoy! Have some tapas for me (and chocolate and churros when out late at night)!

Noah- thank you for your help and advice. A ticket on Iberia MAD-BCN is $60 one way, I'm going to try Spannair because it's *A.

One additional note: the second reservations agent I spoke with told me that all travel must be completed within one year of the date of ISSUE of the ticket, not the date of the first FLIGHT. So I'm out of luck for next December because I booked it today. I booked PHL-MAD for Dec 31- the only date available between Dec 24 and January 10!

Not to disrespect Noah, but a US agent once told me that changes to the carrier can be made for $50. I'm not sure if this is allowed only before travel begins? It seems as if the agents at the international desk are just as confused as us- the third agent I spoke with told me that award tickets have unlimited time for the return, but I asked her to check with her supervisor and she confirmed that they must be wholly used within one year of the date of issue, NOT first flight! Can anyone else clarify this....

You can fly from LGW to BCN on Easy Jet for 8 pounds. I am doing it this January. Cheaper than RyainAir.