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]
Oct 25, 2014, 1:07 pm
#2371
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
I have the following on hold at US for 120K miles:
BOS-LHR BA F
LHR-DOH QR F
DOH-HKG CX J (destination - 2 hours)
HKG-KUL CX J
KUL-CDG MH F (stopover - 5 days)
CDG-ORD AA J
ORD-BOS AA F
However, they rejected it because I'm planning to spend less than 24 hours at my 'destination' (HKG). Is that an actual policy or a made-up rule?
Second question, if the agent noted on the reservation that it requires a min 24 hour stay in HKG, is there any use in trying to HUCA?
Thanks for your advice!
BOS-LHR BA F
LHR-DOH QR F
DOH-HKG CX J (destination - 2 hours)
HKG-KUL CX J
KUL-CDG MH F (stopover - 5 days)
CDG-ORD AA J
ORD-BOS AA F
However, they rejected it because I'm planning to spend less than 24 hours at my 'destination' (HKG). Is that an actual policy or a made-up rule?
Second question, if the agent noted on the reservation that it requires a min 24 hour stay in HKG, is there any use in trying to HUCA?
Thanks for your advice!
https://membership.usairways.com/en-...mberguide.html
Travel from North America to Europe is not allowed via Asia
I think it's perfectly fair for US to call BS on that itinerary, because otherwise, that rule is meaningless (anyone could say ANY connection going N. America-Asia-Europe was a "destination"). It's not like you were actually going to enter Hong Kong with a 2 hour time between flights, right? In fact, it's probably the next flight to KUL within MCT after you arrive in HKG, right?
Stay 24 hours+ in HKG and the problem goes away. Nice try at trying to pull a fast one, though.
Oct 25, 2014, 3:11 pm
#2374
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
Oct 25, 2014, 4:04 pm
#2375
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
Oct 26, 2014, 12:30 am
#2376
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Bergen, Norway
Programs: AA PLT, CC Concierge, A3*G
Posts: 291
If there's a chance, do you have any idea who I should contact? The ticketing office?
Oct 26, 2014, 1:48 am
#2377
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 184
Hello guys.
Also regarding flights from AA, from Brazil to States.
I'm trying to use my Dividend Miles, from GRU to JFK, but I can only find Business and First Class on the old 777 AA metal (using the USDM website and KVS). Any hint where I can find availability on the 77W ones?
Thanks in advance!
Also regarding flights from AA, from Brazil to States.
I'm trying to use my Dividend Miles, from GRU to JFK, but I can only find Business and First Class on the old 777 AA metal (using the USDM website and KVS). Any hint where I can find availability on the 77W ones?
Thanks in advance!
Oct 26, 2014, 1:51 am
#2379
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 184
You can see that TAM have tons of contact center in Europe, but none in Norway. I dunno if they will be able to help you, but you should give it a try!
Oct 26, 2014, 9:14 am
#2380
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
Hello guys.
Also regarding flights from AA, from Brazil to States.
I'm trying to use my Dividend Miles, from GRU to JFK, but I can only find Business and First Class on the old 777 AA metal (using the USDM website and KVS). Any hint where I can find availability on the 77W ones?
Also regarding flights from AA, from Brazil to States.
I'm trying to use my Dividend Miles, from GRU to JFK, but I can only find Business and First Class on the old 777 AA metal (using the USDM website and KVS). Any hint where I can find availability on the 77W ones?
Oct 26, 2014, 4:31 pm
#2381
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
I want to sample JJ F before it goes away.
I don't have a visa for GRU.
Can I do a same-day turn, stay in GRU for a few hours, then come back to USA without having a visa?
Essentially, I'd be using GRU as a transit point, although it's also my destination.
I have the award on hold already, but I just want confirm I want have any issues.
I don't have a visa for GRU.
Can I do a same-day turn, stay in GRU for a few hours, then come back to USA without having a visa?
Essentially, I'd be using GRU as a transit point, although it's also my destination.
I have the award on hold already, but I just want confirm I want have any issues.
Oct 26, 2014, 5:03 pm
#2382
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
I want to sample JJ F before it goes away.
I don't have a visa for GRU.
Can I do a same-day turn, stay in GRU for a few hours, then come back to USA without having a visa?
Essentially, I'd be using GRU as a transit point, although it's also my destination.
I have the award on hold already, but I just want confirm I want have any issues.
I don't have a visa for GRU.
Can I do a same-day turn, stay in GRU for a few hours, then come back to USA without having a visa?
Essentially, I'd be using GRU as a transit point, although it's also my destination.
I have the award on hold already, but I just want confirm I want have any issues.
I would suggest going to http://www.staralliance.com/en/servi...sa-and-health/ and checking the rules based on the passport which you will be using
Oct 26, 2014, 5:14 pm
#2383
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
It depends on the visa rules of the country. There are some where a transit without visa is only applicable when connecting onto a 3rd countty
I would suggest going to http://www.staralliance.com/en/servi...sa-and-health/ and checking the rules based on the passport which you will be using
I would suggest going to http://www.staralliance.com/en/servi...sa-and-health/ and checking the rules based on the passport which you will be using
[KVS Availability Tool 7.5.1/Diamond - TIMATIC: Visa/Entry Requirements]
Code:
National USA (US) /Embarkation USA (US) Transit Brazil (BR) /Destination Brazil (BR) ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW [Visa Information - Transit] Brazil (BR) [Information For Normal Passports] TWOV (Transit Without Visa): Visa required, except for Holders of onward tickets in transit [[TIRULES/R32]] through Rio de Janeiro Galeao International (GIG) or Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU). [Health Information] Brazil (BR) Vaccinations not required. [Visa Information - Destination] Brazil (BR) [Information For Normal Passports] Passport required. - Passports and/or passport replacing documents must be valid for the period of intended stay. Passport Exemptions: - Holders of emergency or temporary passports. - Holders of a "Laissez-Passer" issued by Brazil. Visa required. Additional Information: - The validity of long term (1, 3 and 5 years) tourist and business visas starts on the day of issuance. - The validity of short term (30, 60, 90 days) tourist and business visas begins from the day of first entry in Brazil. - Extension of stay possible for visa exempt visitors. - Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay and documents required for their next destination. - Passengers registered in passport of companion must hold an individual visa. - A valid visa in an expired passport is accepted provided:[[TIDFT/BR/VI/AI/ID51746]] - Holders of multiple entry Temp V visa issued by Brazil must:[[TIDFT/BR/VI/AI/ID55705]]. Warning: - Visitors not holding return/onward ticket could be refused entry. - Exempt are holders of a "VIPER" visa issued by Brazil. [Health Information] Brazil (BR) Vaccinations not required. Recommended: - Vaccination against Yellow Fever (10 days prior to travel date) for all passengers over 9 months of age visiting areas where transmission risk exists, including rural areas in: Acre, Amap, Amazonas, Distrito Federal (incl. the capital city of Brasilia), Gois, Maranho, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Par and Rondnia States, Roraima, Tocantins, and to other state areas where transmission risk exists including all the states of Minas Gerais and specific areas of Bahia, Espirito Santo, Paran, Piaui, Rio Grande so Sul, Santa Catarina and So Paulo states. Vaccination is also recommended for travellers visiting Iguazu Falls. The complete list of municipalities are available at [[http://www.saude.gov.br/svs05]] - Malaria prophylaxis: malaria risk is negligible in the states outside the administrative region of the Amazones. Malaria risk, mainly due to P. vivax but also P. falciparum exists in most forested areas below 900m of the Amazon region. Recommended prevention in risk areas: C. CHECK [[TINEWS/N1]] - SOUTH AFRICA - REQUIREMENT FOR MINORS TO HOLD BIRTH CERTIFICATE POSTPONED UNTIL 1 JUNE 2015 26 Oct 2014 / 23:09 [UTC]
Oct 26, 2014, 5:28 pm
#2384
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
Using the star alliance tool, it gives me an odd error. Using KVS, however, it shows this:
[KVS Availability Tool 7.5.1/Diamond - TIMATIC: Visa/Entry Requirements]
So, as long as I have a return ticket back to USA, in this case an "onward ticket", wouldn't the above mean to say I'd be fine using GRU as a same-day turn?
[KVS Availability Tool 7.5.1/Diamond - TIMATIC: Visa/Entry Requirements]
Code:
National USA (US) /Embarkation USA (US) Transit Brazil (BR) /Destination Brazil (BR) ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW [Visa Information - Transit] Brazil (BR) [Information For Normal Passports] TWOV (Transit Without Visa): Visa required, except for Holders of onward tickets in transit [[TIRULES/R32]] through Rio de Janeiro Galeao International (GIG) or Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU).
TIMATIC seems to indicate brazil has the same requirement (ie, third country).
Perhaps best to check with the Brazilian Embassy if you need further information.
Oct 26, 2014, 5:29 pm
#2385
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
Transit without visa is generally afforded to passenger travelling onwards to a third country, not those holding a return ticket to where they started.
TIMATIC seems to indicate brazil has the same requirement (ie, third country).
Perhaps best to check with the Brazilian Embassy if you need further information.
TIMATIC seems to indicate brazil has the same requirement (ie, third country).
Perhaps best to check with the Brazilian Embassy if you need further information.