Oct 14, 2013, 4:55 pm
Last edit by: NewbieRunner
Update 08APR2014: Star Alliance Awards must have been booked by March 30, 2014. They are no longer available through US. This thread is mostly useful for historic purposes, and discussing issues such as schedule changes/route changes that affect FTers existing *A awards booked before 3/31/2014.
Discussion on using US miles to book oneworld awards is available here.
If you are looking for discussion on US's new partner awards that use various partners not in oneworld (many of whom are former *A partners), see the devoted thread on using US miles to book NON-oneworld partners here.
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Update 07JAN14: American Airlines award tickets bookable online on usairways.com or through reservation.
Please see the devoted thread on using US miles to book AA here.
Discussion on using US miles to book oneworld awards is available here.
If you are looking for discussion on US's new partner awards that use various partners not in oneworld (many of whom are former *A partners), see the devoted thread on using US miles to book NON-oneworld partners here.
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Update 07JAN14: American Airlines award tickets bookable online on usairways.com or through reservation.
- Award travel must be wholly on American Airlines or a combination of American Airlines and US Airways.
- American Airlines awards cannot be combined with any of our current partner.
- American Airlines award travel chart (PDF)
Please see the devoted thread on using US miles to book AA here.
Star Alliance Award Bookings Using US Airways Miles - FAQ and Help Thread [MERGED]
Aug 24, 2013, 8:30 pm
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 821
just wondering how strict for US airways for stop over HUB city policy? I'm try to get Paris or London as stop over fly AC or UA
Aug 25, 2013, 3:41 am
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
It's quite strict. But LHR and CDG are US Airways gateways and you should be fine with a stopover (see rules). Mind, if you make a stopover at the UK on a business or first class ticket, you will be charged the UK luxury tax (+/- £50-100, depending on distance flown from the UK)...
Aug 25, 2013, 8:25 am
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
I've been flying LH F frequently using US miles - the UA evening flights from PVD are on time ~0% of the time, and I always have them reroute me on LH, LX, or SQ (to FRA). I earn miles too flying this way 
Aug 25, 2013, 10:53 am
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AMS
Programs: DL Silver,DM Silver, HH Gold VIP, IHG Platinum
Posts: 28
After checking the weather in AMS - it doesn't look good. I found comments from last years and weather sites that it is far from warm. Around 10-15 Celcius plus drizzle/rain.
Is it better to cross out AMS and visit it during warmer period?
In that case, what destination to add to China trip (with USAir miles), given that passengers have been to Japan and Thailand before. A beach destination would be great as well.
Thank You everyone for your input and patience with my numerous questions.
Is it better to cross out AMS and visit it during warmer period?
In that case, what destination to add to China trip (with USAir miles), given that passengers have been to Japan and Thailand before. A beach destination would be great as well.
Thank You everyone for your input and patience with my numerous questions.
If you have questions about something else just let me know!
Something else, having read some of the response in this thread below, can we assume that no matter what US is leaving *A after November 1st for OneWorld?
Aug 25, 2013, 11:05 am
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
Aug 25, 2013, 11:23 am
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AMS
Programs: DL Silver,DM Silver, HH Gold VIP, IHG Platinum
Posts: 28
Good to hear, going to help my parents soon for a nice US partner award trip to Asia then. Hopefully some nice seats will be made available soon then, since the availability lately sucked on several routes whereas it used to be good. Probably some prior merger issues, let's hope as soon as the news comes out off DoJ award availability is restored. ^
Aug 25, 2013, 1:21 pm
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, UA-Premier Silver, AA EXP, Hilton Gold, SPG Plat.
Posts: 191
Award Ticket Changes
I have flights on UA using US miles in J. If F opens up on UA before travel date can I upgrade using more miles? With UA I know I can do this, not sure with US Thanks!
Aug 25, 2013, 2:15 pm
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
You can't upgrade a mileage ticket. You have to cancel the C-cl ticket, pay the fee of $150.-, and then you can issue the F-cl ticket, with all fees applying...
Aug 25, 2013, 3:06 pm
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
Moderator Warning
Posts of an overtly personal nature have been deleted. Kindly stay on the subject at hand, without making things personal.
-AZ
Moderator
-AZ
Moderator
Aug 25, 2013, 5:01 pm
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL, USA
Programs: Former Dividend Miles Chairman's, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 1,122
I just asked for equal treatment for upcoming LH F availability (ANA) which was promptly denied.
The supervisor said they were not familiar with the OP's blog . To me? Braggadocio is a component of any of these boards. Just my 2cents.
Last edited by TPA us ff; Aug 25, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Aug 25, 2013, 5:48 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
So how does one book an award that is not in the award table? I've asked DM and a supervisor said the matter was suspicious and would be investigated.
I just asked for equal treatment for upcoming LH F availability (ANA).
The supervisor said they were not familiar with the OP's blog but will hand over to security. To me? Sounds bogus.
I just asked for equal treatment for upcoming LH F availability (ANA).
The supervisor said they were not familiar with the OP's blog but will hand over to security. To me? Sounds bogus.
the other way is to request an agent to do a 'long sell', a manual request for something which doesn't automatically show.
but reports on FT suggest agents have been instructed not to long sell for LH F. knowing that, I personally wouldn't ask an agent to do something that could get them into trouble.
as for the blogger writing about LH F... maybe it was booked before the explicit 'no LH F' was added to the award chart... but he says it was booked at short notice, which implies after the award chart was changed.
even after someone commented on his blog with a link to this thread, his comments remained.
I don't know whether it was an attempt to get business. but if it was me I probably would have removed the offending part of the blog to at least protect the agents involved.
as a buyer of USDM miles I thank USDM for the opportunity and live with the restrictions (which really aren't that onerous).
but if I were a BIS US elite, slogging it out every week to get my miles, I'd be concerned if someone was able to swing the system to get availability that I couldn't.
Aug 25, 2013, 8:55 pm
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Velocity Gold
Posts: 1,069
Here's one I haven't had before and may be a little OT. Have been helping a couple of friends out with booking their first trip using USDM, they signed up for accounts (one each) on Sunday the 4th of August. On Wednesday the 21st I called up and put their reservations on hold for them. On Thursday the 22nd my friend went and bought the miles 100,000 with the bonus and 10,000 without for a total of 110,000. They all went fine in to his account. He did the same for the other account (his girlfriends) with the same credit card but the miles haven't shown up >24hrs later. He called up the credit card company and confirmed all transactions were approved. He called up US airways and they said that when transactions from one card happen on multiple accounts they put a freeze on it to check it out for fraud prevention. They said it can take a couple of days to clear it.
So annoyingly at the moment the funds are off his card but only one account has the 110,000 miles in it but the reservation is on hold with the expiry coming up soon.
I have never had this issue before and have always used the one credit card across multiple accounts so it is a little annoying for this to happen to my newbie friends who I am walking through the process. Has anyone else had this before? I have always had the miles credited within 24 hours.
I haven't been there when he has had the conversation with US so am getting the info second hand. As an aside should he contact points.com?
So annoyingly at the moment the funds are off his card but only one account has the 110,000 miles in it but the reservation is on hold with the expiry coming up soon.
I have never had this issue before and have always used the one credit card across multiple accounts so it is a little annoying for this to happen to my newbie friends who I am walking through the process. Has anyone else had this before? I have always had the miles credited within 24 hours.
I haven't been there when he has had the conversation with US so am getting the info second hand. As an aside should he contact points.com?
Outbound
MEL-BKK TG 777
16 hours in BKK
BKK-NRT TG A380
Stopover: 1 week in Japan
NRT-SFO UA 747
Destination: 6 weeks in NA
Inbound
SFO-NRT UA 747
NRT-BKK TG A380
BKK-MEL TG 777
All inbound on about 2 hour connections. Unfortunately the direct flight back from SFO-MEL was gone when United announced they were downgrading to 777 with less business seats, prior to that there had been availability on the 747. All done for 110,000 miles bought during the current promo plus $145 in taxes, plus $50 booking fee. No talk of or issues with MPM.
Aug 25, 2013, 11:37 pm
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 821
according US airways official rule, for my understanding LHR and CDG are not allowed unless you fly to LHR/CDG by US airways
You’re allowed one stopover per US Airways itinerary at a US Airways gateway or international destination, or in a partner hub city if you’re traveling on an award partner.
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/divid...mberguide.html
You’re allowed one stopover per US Airways itinerary at a US Airways gateway or international destination, or in a partner hub city if you’re traveling on an award partner.
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/divid...mberguide.html
It's quite strict. But LHR and CDG are US Airways gateways and you should be fine with a stopover (see rules). Mind, if you make a stopover at the UK on a business or first class ticket, you will be charged the UK luxury tax (+/- £50-100, depending on distance flown from the UK)...
Aug 25, 2013, 11:48 pm
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 175
I have a ticketed US airways *alliance award routing Asia to NA via Europe. No problem getting it ticket but one of my flight (United) from EWR to NRT was put in economy since no seats were available.
Called back after a week and a business class seat did open up, agent then explained that I would have to cancel my ticket and loose all my other seats and pay the 150 fee.
Now I dont have a problem with the fee but I cant loose my other seats and hope they will be rebooked since those flights I specially need (flying with someone else on a paid ticket)
What can I do to get the J seat with UNited? Should I speak to United directly since I have a United PNR?
Called back after a week and a business class seat did open up, agent then explained that I would have to cancel my ticket and loose all my other seats and pay the 150 fee.
Now I dont have a problem with the fee but I cant loose my other seats and hope they will be rebooked since those flights I specially need (flying with someone else on a paid ticket)
What can I do to get the J seat with UNited? Should I speak to United directly since I have a United PNR?
Aug 26, 2013, 12:42 am
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349