Mar 30, 2014, 12:53 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
WIKI POST: Using US Dividend Miles for oneworld Award Flights
As further details become available, please fill in this wikipost.
As further details become available, please fill in this wikipost.
N.B. Booking opportunities for new Dividend Miles awards of all kinds ended 11:59 PM Wednesday, 25 March 2015. Please continue using this thread for trips booked or in progress through 24 March 2016.
Changes on USDM oneworld award tickets
This is the only official statement about changing issued USDM award tickets:
If I need to make changes to a Dividend Miles award reservation, which program’s rules will apply?
Minor changes such as date/time can be made provided seats are available without requiring a new award to be claimed. More substantive changes such as changes to stopovers or origin/destination may result in the need to reinstate the previously claimed Dividend Miles award, then claiming a new AAdvantage award under the existing AAdvantage program rules.
The old membership rules do 'generally' still appy to USDM tickets.
For awards ticketed / reticketed on 001- ticket stock, go to the AA Refunds site with your ticket number at hand (unsure if it works with 037- stock at this time)to:
- Print a receipt with ticket number (instead of Request a refund)
- See total fees, taxes, etc. attached to your ticket
- See applicable detailed fare rules
- Request a refund (may not be useful for awards)
- Some were able to change their ticket without beeing charged the USD 150.- changing fee.
- No chance to change a ticket after the first flight segment has been flown.
- ...
Old stuff
oneworld member airlines - airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines (Sibir), SriLankan Airlines, TAM Airlines, US Airways and their affiliates.
Award Chart for oneworld awards using US Dividend Miles:
http://shopping.usairways.com/en-US/...wardtravel.pdf
You can use the American Airlines, British Airways, JAL, or Qantas sites to search for oneworld award inventory. AA and QF also allows you to search for award inventory using a handy 30 day calendar view. However, availability on the calendar is dependent on site coverage (e.g. QF does not include JL or MH, AA does not include CX and others). Also, the calendar view may not be completely accurate on all partners, so use it as a guide but do not rely on it fully.
One of the easiest ways to search for oneworld availability is through the use of an outside tool such as Award Nexus, ExpertFlyer, KVS Tool, or The Wandering Aramean oneworld Search.
Award Nexus has a free community membership for flyertalk members, and award email alert with premium membership. ExpertFlyer has email alerts and direct GDS access to select oneworld award inventories, such as AA, QF, and US. ExpertFlyer can also search J class certificate upgrade inventory. With KVS Tool, you can search QF, BA, JL and CX's search engines, in addition to other alliances, on your PC (Mac / Linux with CrossOver). You can also set up an alert via The Wandering Aramean oneworld Search. This tool will automatically search on QF for your alert once per day with a free account and four times per day with a paid account.
N.B. With all of the above tools, it is best to search one segment at a time. Most oneworld search engines have difficulty marrying segments.
For route searching with itinerary information, use the interactive oneworld map and timetable.
For searching Intra-North America availability, the best tool is AA.com. Unlike the other oneworld engines, AA is pretty good at marrying segments, so you can search origin to destination.
Regarding availability, the strategy that has been most effective for people looking to book award travel on oneworld is to start searching right at 330 days prior to departure. This is generally when availability is at its best. After that, availability tends to be sporadic until starting 8 weeks prior to departure where some airlines open up availability, and will vary all the way up until the day of departure.
If you're having trouble finding availability, it may be best to look at alternate airports (JL, for example, serves SAN, YVR, and BOS, in addition to the larger markets of SFO, LAX, YYZ, ORD, and JFK).
(N.B. Although US was not adding fuel surcharges to awards, there are reports that they have started doing this for awards containing BA flights.) With the exception of BA & IB, no oneworld carriers require you to pay a fuel surcharge for awards. With BA, be aware that you may have to pay both a fuel surcharge as well as the UK Air Passenger Duty departure tax for intercontinental J and F flights out of UK. These fees vary with class of service and length of flight and are determined by BA; the Air Passenger Duty (see specific thread) is due for all UK departures not under 24 hour connecting flights. APD applies to coach tickets, too, but at a reduced rate. The fuel /YQ surcharge with IB is generally considered minimal.
Known Problems / Workaround:
- Dep 00:00AM : Some agents have difficulty finding flights leaving between midnight and 2 AM. This is because the US systems show it leaving the day before. If the agent cannot find it, please ask to look at the day before. > source <
- LA : Flights put on hold will be cancelled after 24h. Workaround: Issue the ticket immediately. > source <
- JL : US Rep cannot find available seats. Workaround: "Always have to remind Rep to open JL reservations on a new screen". > source <
- MH : US Rep cannot find awards in First Class. Workaround: First class needs to be booked in P-cl instead of Z-cl (as on most other OW carriers). > source < booking classes: > KVS <
- All : If you are booking outbound flights at the US Air 335 day window US Air will often allow you to put your reservation on a longer than 3 day hold to capture the return seats once they open up at T+335. There is a report of this for 30 days here, and FT user beofotch was successful in getting a 13 day hold here. Workaround: Huaca until you get an agent who is competent enough to do this. It may help to act naive and ask for your return flight on your preferred date even if it is after T+335 days. Once they get an error from the computer may be a good time to bring it up.
- ...
Fixed Problems:
- CX : US Rep cannot find seats on flight CX 645 HKG-DOH. Workaround: none so far, search for different routing/carrier (CMB/DXB/...?)... > source < > fixed <
> fixed < - CX : US Rep cannot find seats on flight CX 640 DOH-HKG. They admit, the flight exists, but are unable to book <source>. Workaround: none so far, search for different routing/carrier
> fixed < - BA/Comair : US rep could not see / or unable to book intra-South Africa flights in BA flight number operated by Comair despite AA treats Comair a full fledged oneworld member under BA, in the same context as KA under CX. Only one reported success booking - poster reported agent had trouble at first but on consulting a supervisor was told "where to look"; the agent did not give any further information. Most everyone else reported unable to book Comair flights.
> fixed < - IB : Flights will be cancelled after ticket issued. Workaround: None yet... > source <
> fixed <
LUS: USDM oneworld Award Bookings - (Closed to new bookings) [Master FAQ and Help]
Jul 27, 2014, 4:23 am
#1531
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
You know Happy I appreciate your reply but not the tone.. I followed your steps numerous times and nothing comes up since it keeps getting an error. I have not been able to SEE any availability at all on the BA site or the other site I was given since it keeps telling me they are having problems, I can't even get to put in any flight information since I don't get to see that page.
I have spent endless hours reading the helpful threads and none seem to work for me, sorry it is not due to my not devoting time and effort as I do for all my trips.
Thanks again.. I will have to see what other ways I can use the air miles once it has become AA as their website works great.
ETA: and Again... this is what I get
Sorry, the map to check flight prices and availability is not working at the moment.
I have spent endless hours reading the helpful threads and none seem to work for me, sorry it is not due to my not devoting time and effort as I do for all my trips.
Thanks again.. I will have to see what other ways I can use the air miles once it has become AA as their website works great.
ETA: and Again... this is what I get
Sorry, the map to check flight prices and availability is not working at the moment.
FDW
Jul 27, 2014, 4:31 am
#1532
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Here today, gone tomorrow
Programs: Nothing shiny :-(
Posts: 2,493
Jul 27, 2014, 5:03 am
#1533
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Worth noting for others who may come across this is that the 'first-on-domestic' rule applies to connections in the USA only. If you are booking domestic flights in other countries, the higher class will apply for the entire ticket (for example, domestic connections in China in F will attract an F price for the whole ticket). Of course again, YMMV, some have been lucky to have a domestic F in China priced at biz class, but this is the exception rather than the norm.
Jul 27, 2014, 5:19 am
#1534
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Jul 27, 2014, 8:45 am
#1535
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat
Posts: 573
Is US (or BA) trying to collect on missing YQ surcharge?
I've searched for an answer for this question, but given how long the thread is the answer isn't immediately jumping out at me...
I've read through all the posts about how US didn't charge the YQ surcharge for a while on BA flights. Fortunately, I got a PHL-LHR-NRT/ICN-LHR-PHL flight in F without any YQ. Now that it's been a few months, have there been any reports of US (or BA) trying to collect the surcharge after the fact? I'm concerned that my itinerary will be canceled or I'll show up at the airport and they'll demand a few thousand dollars.
I've read through all the posts about how US didn't charge the YQ surcharge for a while on BA flights. Fortunately, I got a PHL-LHR-NRT/ICN-LHR-PHL flight in F without any YQ. Now that it's been a few months, have there been any reports of US (or BA) trying to collect the surcharge after the fact? I'm concerned that my itinerary will be canceled or I'll show up at the airport and they'll demand a few thousand dollars.
Jul 27, 2014, 9:08 am
#1536
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
I've searched for an answer for this question, but given how long the thread is the answer isn't immediately jumping out at me...
I've read through all the posts about how US didn't charge the YQ surcharge for a while on BA flights. Fortunately, I got a PHL-LHR-NRT/ICN-LHR-PHL flight in F without any YQ. Now that it's been a few months, have there been any reports of US (or BA) trying to collect the surcharge after the fact? I'm concerned that my itinerary will be canceled or I'll show up at the airport and they'll demand a few thousand dollars.
I've read through all the posts about how US didn't charge the YQ surcharge for a while on BA flights. Fortunately, I got a PHL-LHR-NRT/ICN-LHR-PHL flight in F without any YQ. Now that it's been a few months, have there been any reports of US (or BA) trying to collect the surcharge after the fact? I'm concerned that my itinerary will be canceled or I'll show up at the airport and they'll demand a few thousand dollars.
There should be no problem with a ticket without YQ, as long you don't make any voluntary changes on it.
Jul 27, 2014, 10:01 am
#1537
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Wine Country, Finger Lakes
Programs: LFFRS BOD
Posts: 1,355
thanks anyways
Jul 27, 2014, 10:08 am
#1538
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Wine Country, Finger Lakes
Programs: LFFRS BOD
Posts: 1,355
same here. Ba site has been behaving quite normally in recent months.
The pull down menu under baec has spend avios. Once you choose that, then on the left side there is the book flight with avios. I have been using it every couple days monitoring a cpt-jnb availability since june. Not a single time i encounter the issue poster mentions.
No idea why the poster keeps having issue when others dont have.
I would assume all the issues mentioned are resulted from user error - that poster still does not know how to navigate ba site.
As for aa site works great, wait till he has a need to search partners that do not show on aa site...
Just helped someone in aa forum using ba tool to find the jl award seats and booked with aa miles.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23263093-post5062.html
so the ba site functions properly for most everyone except the poster...
Come to think about it, i seem to be the only person who gave the poster detailed, step by step instruction on how to perform the search... Apparently that is still not enough... it occurs to me he does not seem to realize that ba site is the tool, not the place to book his award... May be that is this reason he did not use the spend avios / book flight with avios function, thus he is getting all these crazy errors? Or may be he never even logs in the ff account? If so, then ...
well, we have given as much advice as possible if the poster does not like the way how it is delivered, so be it.
The pull down menu under baec has spend avios. Once you choose that, then on the left side there is the book flight with avios. I have been using it every couple days monitoring a cpt-jnb availability since june. Not a single time i encounter the issue poster mentions.
No idea why the poster keeps having issue when others dont have.
I would assume all the issues mentioned are resulted from user error - that poster still does not know how to navigate ba site.
As for aa site works great, wait till he has a need to search partners that do not show on aa site...
Just helped someone in aa forum using ba tool to find the jl award seats and booked with aa miles.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23263093-post5062.html
so the ba site functions properly for most everyone except the poster...
Come to think about it, i seem to be the only person who gave the poster detailed, step by step instruction on how to perform the search... Apparently that is still not enough... it occurs to me he does not seem to realize that ba site is the tool, not the place to book his award... May be that is this reason he did not use the spend avios / book flight with avios function, thus he is getting all these crazy errors? Or may be he never even logs in the ff account? If so, then ...
well, we have given as much advice as possible if the poster does not like the way how it is delivered, so be it.
Wrong Wrong Wrong....!!! I am done pursuing this..I am not a Moron.. I did as you posted. :-(
ps. I am a she not a he
Jul 27, 2014, 10:18 am
#1539
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,904
Maybe I've misunderstood your original question, but I think you're looking for awards on FinnAir and Air Berlin. Is that correct? If so, the AA.com website will find those and is easier to use. If you have any trouble, then search for individual segments one at a time. When you've found the Finn or AB flights you want, then call US to redeem your US miles.
Only use the BA site if you're looking for a carrier the AA site doesn't support.
Last edited by rrgg; Jul 27, 2014 at 10:29 am
Jul 27, 2014, 12:02 pm
#1540
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scandinavia
Programs: Eurobonus EBD, BW Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, IHG Plat Amb, HH Diamond
Posts: 352
outbound over pacific homebound over atlantic
Hi,
I've seen ppl booking trips to north asia ex-USA routing first over the pacific and homebound over europe ( back in the *a days), has anyone had any recent booking like this, ive heard they are sticking more to mpm now a days.
For me i'm looking at Nyc-sfo-nrt-hkg (destination) and hkg-lhr (stopover) - nyc. Is that still doable?
I'll soon be by the computer looking for availability and trying my luck on the USDM wheel of fortune but any hints would be welcome. Cheers
I've seen ppl booking trips to north asia ex-USA routing first over the pacific and homebound over europe ( back in the *a days), has anyone had any recent booking like this, ive heard they are sticking more to mpm now a days.
For me i'm looking at Nyc-sfo-nrt-hkg (destination) and hkg-lhr (stopover) - nyc. Is that still doable?
I'll soon be by the computer looking for availability and trying my luck on the USDM wheel of fortune but any hints would be welcome. Cheers
Jul 27, 2014, 12:55 pm
#1541
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: AA Exec Plat, UA , SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, United, Aeroplan, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 144
i'm checkin BA for cathay flights and there are seats and i called US airways they said they dont see it. i call AA, its showing 5seats+, but US airways isnt seeing it. i'm lookin for a cathay flight from HKG-DOH sept 1st in business class
Jul 27, 2014, 1:45 pm
#1542
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Hi,
I've seen ppl booking trips to north asia ex-USA routing first over the pacific and homebound over europe ( back in the *a days), has anyone had any recent booking like this, ive heard they are sticking more to mpm now a days.
For me i'm looking at Nyc-sfo-nrt-hkg (destination) and hkg-lhr (stopover) - nyc. Is that still doable?
I'll soon be by the computer looking for availability and trying my luck on the USDM wheel of fortune but any hints would be welcome. Cheers
I've seen ppl booking trips to north asia ex-USA routing first over the pacific and homebound over europe ( back in the *a days), has anyone had any recent booking like this, ive heard they are sticking more to mpm now a days.
For me i'm looking at Nyc-sfo-nrt-hkg (destination) and hkg-lhr (stopover) - nyc. Is that still doable?
I'll soon be by the computer looking for availability and trying my luck on the USDM wheel of fortune but any hints would be welcome. Cheers
Well known issue... No workaround... Look for another routing!
Jul 27, 2014, 4:04 pm
#1543
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scandinavia
Programs: Eurobonus EBD, BW Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, IHG Plat Amb, HH Diamond
Posts: 352
thanks, yes starting in the US, the only problem now is that my route due to availability would be with a MH flight and routing through KUL which would make it for a harder sell to the agent I reckon
Jul 27, 2014, 8:57 pm
#1544
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
Given the current situation, one could not rule out a possible BK and you do not want to be caught in a situation with flight cancellation and have to scramble to find alternative.
Jul 27, 2014, 9:02 pm
#1545
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
If your possible itinerary only involves AB and AY - then AA site should have shown it to you whether there is availability or not. You may need to break it down to city pair to search on AA site.