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]
Aug 6, 2014, 9:44 pm
#1666
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: YYC, SFO, OAK
Programs: AS MVP 75K, AA Platinum, IHG Platinum, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 734
Working on a 120k F/J award from US to N. Asia with a stop in Europe on the way home. Here's what I have so far:
MCI-ORD (AA F)
ORD-HKG (CX F) layover <24H
HKG-KIX (CX J) destination
KIX-DOH (QR J) layover <24H
DOH-MAD (QR J) stopover
MAD-CLT (US J)
CLT-MCI (US F)
I thought it looked "good" (well, you know what I mean
), but the agent said I've exceeded the MPM, caused by the segment from HKG-KIX. She said the rate desk's words were "stay out of Japan." I held the flights, but we'd like to make KIX work if possible since it's the quickest way to get to Kyoto. Any advice on how to make it work? HUACA, or can someone who has EF tell me if it's a lost cause with that type of routing?
MCI-ORD (AA F)
ORD-HKG (CX F) layover <24H
HKG-KIX (CX J) destination
KIX-DOH (QR J) layover <24H
DOH-MAD (QR J) stopover
MAD-CLT (US J)
CLT-MCI (US F)
I thought it looked "good" (well, you know what I mean
), but the agent said I've exceeded the MPM, caused by the segment from HKG-KIX. She said the rate desk's words were "stay out of Japan." I held the flights, but we'd like to make KIX work if possible since it's the quickest way to get to Kyoto. Any advice on how to make it work? HUACA, or can someone who has EF tell me if it's a lost cause with that type of routing?[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.9 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: MCI-KIX/US]
Code:
GI M 5M 10M 15M 20M 25M
MPM PA 7803 8193 8583 8973 9363 9753
MPM AT 13514 14189 14865 15541 16216 16892
HUACA
Aug 6, 2014, 10:32 pm
#1667
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Kansas City - MCI
Programs: AA Exec Plat, WN CP, Hilton GoId, IHG Spire, Hyatt Globalist, Citi, Barclay, Chase, Amex, CapOne
Posts: 257
I'm not sure why the extra 5k (anyone know?), but it's probably just worth it to take the ticket and run since I like the routing.
Aug 6, 2014, 10:49 pm
#1668
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Kansas City - MCI
Programs: AA Exec Plat, WN CP, Hilton GoId, IHG Spire, Hyatt Globalist, Citi, Barclay, Chase, Amex, CapOne
Posts: 257
Nevermind... figured it out. They are seeing it as a 125k F award to Europe with a stop in Asia instead of a 120k F award to Asia with a stop in Europe. That's kind of absurd, considering the MPM and routing... Gotta love US.
Aug 6, 2014, 11:34 pm
#1669
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: YYC, SFO, OAK
Programs: AS MVP 75K, AA Platinum, IHG Platinum, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 734
Unfortunately a lot of pricing is done these days by the rate desk rather than by the phone agent, which means you're playing roulette twice, once with the phone agent and a second time with who on the rate desk looks at your itinerary. I've sometimes had to wait a few hours to get a different rate desk shift on duty to get a fresh set of eyes on things.
Aug 7, 2014, 1:32 am
#1670
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
It isn't absurd that the airline is pricing the higher price of the 2 awards where a stopover is occurring and reported a fair number of times; it is also in line with normal fares where HIP/HIF would apply
Aug 7, 2014, 1:41 am
#1671
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
USDM has been pricing awards at the higher stopover zone for a long time now.
Aug 7, 2014, 2:05 am
#1672
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
• Stopovers are allowed only for the most direct route of travel.
Aug 7, 2014, 6:55 am
#1673
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,980
Are US agents getting good at catching that? How many segments are they allowing in each direction to Australia if going via Europe. Are they making an exception for DOH connections in the same way they do for Africa?
Aug 7, 2014, 7:37 am
#1674
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
The 10-segment rule seems to be more frequently discussed where there are domestic connections. Having an itinerary limited to 8 segments of purely international travel was not rare in the past (you can pretty much reach anywhere in the world with 4 segments)... perhaps a crude implementation of 'travel on the most direct route' limitation.
Aug 7, 2014, 8:34 am
#1675
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 49
Hello Everyone
I have a question what is the award fare for American Airlines Business Class and First Class? Are U and Z like Oneworld partners? US Airways will only book these with those fares?
I have a question what is the award fare for American Airlines Business Class and First Class? Are U and Z like Oneworld partners? US Airways will only book these with those fares?
Aug 7, 2014, 9:09 am
#1676
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
The 10-segment rule seems to be more frequently discussed where there are domestic connections. Having an itinerary limited to 8 segments of purely international travel was not rare in the past (you can pretty much reach anywhere in the world with 4 segments)... perhaps a crude implementation of 'travel on the most direct route' limitation.
They are also looking on the number of segments. 4 legs per way were ok, 3 on the outbound and 5 on the inbound not... And the word backtracking was fallen very often... And lot of phantom availability on BAEC and lot of flights US can not or does not want to see (i.ex. MH)...
Aug 7, 2014, 10:09 am
#1677
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: YYC, SFO, OAK
Programs: AS MVP 75K, AA Platinum, IHG Platinum, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 734
Aug 7, 2014, 10:22 am
#1678
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,980
They are definitely tighten up the screw regarding routings... USA East Cost to Sydney is possible via Middle East, they will enforfe the MPM. Every routing with a mile over the 25M will be rejected (JFK-SYD 25M are 14933mi, my straight fwd routing 15066mi : NIET!).
They are also looking on the number of segments. 4 legs per way were ok, 3 on the outbound and 5 on the inbound not... And the word backtracking was fallen very often... And lot of phantom availability on BAEC and lot of flights US can not or does not want to see (i.ex. MH)...
They are also looking on the number of segments. 4 legs per way were ok, 3 on the outbound and 5 on the inbound not... And the word backtracking was fallen very often... And lot of phantom availability on BAEC and lot of flights US can not or does not want to see (i.ex. MH)...
I have a feeling that will exceed MPMs
or they will disallow SYD-MEL as backtracking (it is but only availability found)
Aug 7, 2014, 10:33 am
#1679
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: YYC, SFO, OAK
Programs: AS MVP 75K, AA Platinum, IHG Platinum, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 734
Call them and try. And if they won't ticket it, at least have them keep it on hold for you.
And then call back and get a different agent to see if they'll ticket it.
Aug 7, 2014, 7:55 pm
#1680
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Kansas City - MCI
Programs: AA Exec Plat, WN CP, Hilton GoId, IHG Spire, Hyatt Globalist, Citi, Barclay, Chase, Amex, CapOne
Posts: 257
I discovered that by being willing to HUACA frequently, most of US' subjective rules can be violated. And hence there's no point in trying too hard to conform to anything any particular agent mentions unless it's 3-4 in a row who say it. Once you discover the trick of never waiting on hold to talk to US, it becomes easy
) two more times and got it ticketed for 120k and the same taxes and fees I mentioned earlier. ^ Thanks everyone for your help! 