US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Involuntary Downgrade on *A Award

In June, I booked two F tix on LH, DEN-FRA-FCO and FCO-FRA-SFO return. Paid the 200,000 DM.

In August or September, I found out the DEN-FRA leg had been changed to a two-class 7x7, so we would be flying outbound in C. I called DM and they told me that I had no real recourse, since the cost (in DM) for any trip is determined by the highest class of any segment in the itinerary. I said "Oh" and hung up.

Now, someone over in the LH forum says I should maybe re-book as two one-ways (?) and pay the cheaper price for the outbound segment.

Is this possible? Is this desirable, since the time is approaching for the flights (mid-December)? Would there be redeposit fees, etc.?

Not sure whether to just swallow the miles or make a stink about it.

I had something similar (nearly) happen last summer. I was to fly Swiss in First class for 100k, but ended up getting rerouted on USairways in Business class. I was able to get the mileage adjusted for the difference. This was done by contacting Dividend MIles directly.

It would seem to me in this case that they owe you 40k miles, originally you had an F ticket, now you have a C ticket, and based on redemption of 80k miles that's the difference.

Any issues, i'd contact Consumer Relations, but i'd go into it asking for 40k miles to be redeposited to your account.

More like 20K than 40K -- the return leg is still in F.

Still, 20K is nothing to sneeze at. Now if I could only be assured I'd be able to use them in the future...

But, since I have some time this week (holidays and all), perhaps a few minutes chatting with DM might well be in order.

On a Star award, at least in the DM program, there is no such thing as two one-ways, and the policy is that the award is deducted based on the highest class traveled. If you search around, you'll see plenty of stories of people on C awards having to take Y seats and people on F awards ending up in C because that is the best seat available when they want to travel.

If I were you, I'd probably try to get them to re-book the FRA-SFO ticket into C and then therefore you'll be on a C award for the whole trip, and deserve to get 40K miles back (20K x 2). You should NOT have to pay a re-deposit or re-booking fee. There is no difference between F and C on the FRA-FCO legs (almost no difference between C and Y for that matter) so essentially you are paying the extra miles just for the F seat FRA-SFO and IMHO that isn't worth it.

The alternative would be to try and get into F for the DEN-FCO trip -- perhaps flying DEN-IAD/ORD-FRA/MUC-FCO

OK - I've re-booked. We're now flying in F IAH-FRA-FCO. The problem, of course, is getting DEN-IAH! There was no availability (in any class) on the most convenient flight.

I've found paid availability at a reasonable price, but I could always wait to see if something opens up on UA.

My fear is that I will wait and nothing will open up, and I'll be forced to pay almost walk-up fares to get to Houston. Alternatively, I can buy the tix now, and then gnash my teeth (and my wallet) if something does open up.

What would you do? (We're flying out of IAH on Dec 18). Anybody have any clue about UA's loads these days DEN-IAH? At least it's not CO, where standard availability never happens, or so such is reported here.