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 programs 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]
Sep 4, 2014, 9:19 pm
#1906
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
I'm not sure about your itinerary...they may consider it travel between the US and Africa not via the Atlantic (which is a new rule recently added to the award chart).
If allowed it should price as 70k in economy, yes.
Sep 4, 2014, 10:26 pm
#1907
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1, BA GGL, AS GMVP
Posts: 512
Is this considered backtracking?
My proposed routing was
MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG-BOS-HKG-MEL Or MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG-BOS-LHR-HKG-MEL
The issue is getting from CDG-BOS, the only routes that come up is CDG-JFK-BOS or CDG-PHL-BOS. Is this considered backtracking? I would really like to avoid BAs YQ.
Also, do US tend have more award space on CDG-PHL flights in comparison to searches on QF/BA?
My proposed routing was
MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG-BOS-HKG-MEL Or MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG-BOS-LHR-HKG-MEL
The issue is getting from CDG-BOS, the only routes that come up is CDG-JFK-BOS or CDG-PHL-BOS. Is this considered backtracking? I would really like to avoid BAs YQ.
Also, do US tend have more award space on CDG-PHL flights in comparison to searches on QF/BA?
Sep 4, 2014, 10:45 pm
#1908
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,752
Is this considered backtracking?
My proposed routing was
MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG-BOS-HKG-MEL Or MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG-BOS-LHR-HKG-MEL
The issue is getting from CDG-BOS, the only routes that come up is CDG-JFK-BOS or CDG-PHL-BOS. Is this considered backtracking? I would really like to avoid BAs YQ.
Also, do US tend have more award space on CDG-PHL flights in comparison to searches on QF/BA?
My proposed routing was
MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG-BOS-HKG-MEL Or MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG-BOS-LHR-HKG-MEL
The issue is getting from CDG-BOS, the only routes that come up is CDG-JFK-BOS or CDG-PHL-BOS. Is this considered backtracking? I would really like to avoid BAs YQ.
Also, do US tend have more award space on CDG-PHL flights in comparison to searches on QF/BA?
The latter would seem to be much more likely to be approved; If you are planning a stopover , make sure it is a hub
Going CDG-JFK-BOS would not seem likely to be too much of an issue
Sep 4, 2014, 10:56 pm
#1909
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1, BA GGL, AS GMVP
Posts: 512
What about the issue with getting to BOS from CDG? I think the routing in the end may end up being something like this
MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG(stop)-JFK-BOS(dest)-JFK-LHR-HKG-MEL.
MEL-DXB-DOH-CDG-PHL-BOS-PHL-LHR-HKG-MEL.
1. Would it be problematic in trying to and from BOS via JFK/PHL as they may be consider it backtracking?
2. When I'm searching on KVS for award space for US/AA flights from CDG-BOS via either JFK/PHL, space seems pretty limited. Would US have more spaces open for CDG-PHL/JFK-BOS flights as I'm booking an award with them?
Sep 5, 2014, 12:05 am
#1910
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
1. Would it be problematic in trying to and from BOS via JFK/PHL as they may be consider it backtracking?
2. When I'm searching on KVS for award space for US/AA flights from CDG-BOS via either JFK/PHL, space seems pretty limited. Would US have more spaces open for CDG-PHL/JFK-BOS flights as I'm booking an award with them?
2. When I'm searching on KVS for award space for US/AA flights from CDG-BOS via either JFK/PHL, space seems pretty limited. Would US have more spaces open for CDG-PHL/JFK-BOS flights as I'm booking an award with them?
2. no, why should they?
Sep 5, 2014, 12:09 am
#1911
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,752
Since CDG is not a OW hub, having a stopover there may not work
Sep 5, 2014, 12:11 am
#1912
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1, BA GGL, AS GMVP
Posts: 512
Sorry, missed that little part at the bottom of Daves post.
As for 2, I would assume that was due to the fact that US would tend to have more spaces for their own members instead of partners? Its like looking at CX F award space with AsiaMiles would show more availability than looking at QF/BA.
Does that make sense?
Interesting.. maybe I've been mislead. I thought you're able to have a stopover at a trans-atlantic gateway?
As for 2, I would assume that was due to the fact that US would tend to have more spaces for their own members instead of partners? Its like looking at CX F award space with AsiaMiles would show more availability than looking at QF/BA.
Does that make sense?
Interesting.. maybe I've been mislead. I thought you're able to have a stopover at a trans-atlantic gateway?
Last edited by TheSYDTraveller; Sep 5, 2014 at 12:16 am
Sep 5, 2014, 12:15 am
#1913
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,409
Sep 5, 2014, 12:17 am
#1914
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1, BA GGL, AS GMVP
Posts: 512
Sep 5, 2014, 12:19 am
#1915
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,752
I didn't think that just being a destination made an airport a hub and was under impression that stopovers were permitted at hubs
Sep 5, 2014, 12:21 am
#1916
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1, BA GGL, AS GMVP
Posts: 512
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. US Airways hub/international gateway cities include Charlotte, Philadelphia and Phoenix. Call Reservations for additional US Airways international gateways and partner hub cities.
US Airway Award vs Partner Award I guess... maybe its just poorly written
Sep 5, 2014, 12:23 am
#1917
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,752
Stopovers: Travel outside the continental U.S., Canada and Alaska
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. US Airways hub/international gateway cities include Charlotte, Philadelphia and Phoenix. Call Reservations for additional US Airways international gateways and partner hub cities.
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. US Airways hub/international gateway cities include Charlotte, Philadelphia and Phoenix. Call Reservations for additional US Airways international gateways and partner hub cities.
I haven't had US in any award Ive booked, so didn't notice that extra case
In principle your routing should likely be ok then and worth attempting to price. Australia-US via Europe is still allowed , just need to see whether the combination of flights is ok
Sep 5, 2014, 12:57 am
#1918
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,409
Ahh, so any US destination also counts as well as hubs; in which case should be ok
I haven't had US in any award Ive booked, so didn't notice that extra case
In principle your routing should likely be ok then and worth attempting to price. Australia-US via Europe is still allowed , just need to see whether the combination of flights is ok
I haven't had US in any award Ive booked, so didn't notice that extra case
In principle your routing should likely be ok then and worth attempting to price. Australia-US via Europe is still allowed , just need to see whether the combination of flights is ok
whether or not US will start cracking down on that (as with MPM and change of class), who knows.
Sep 5, 2014, 1:06 am
#1919
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,613
Thanks for all the feedback guys, so my routing CDG-HKG-YVR-JFK-CDG is out... And I assume the same for a simple CDG-HKG-YVR-HKG-CDG right?
I'll have to research how to make it work, I'm mainly interested in flying with CX or MH as I think Asian carriers have the best products.
I'll have to research how to make it work, I'm mainly interested in flying with CX or MH as I think Asian carriers have the best products.
Sep 5, 2014, 1:09 am
#1920
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,752
US metal is has not previously been a requirement in order to use the destination city as a stopover (ie it is possible to fly entirely on partners, but still stop in CDG, or LHR when USDM was part of star).
whether or not US will start cracking down on that (as with MPM and change of class), who knows.
whether or not US will start cracking down on that (as with MPM and change of class), who knows.