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 26, 2014, 8:15 pm
#2386
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
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).
Code:
R32) TWOV
....
Transit Without Visa (TWOV): Passing through an international
transit area of the airport in order to board a connecting (or
to proceed by the same) flight, without entering the country
(i.e. clearing immigration).
Unless stated otherwise, passengers wishing to TWOV must:
- be en-route to a third country (e.g. itinerary TYO-LON-TYO
is not considered TWOV);
- prove that they will continue their journey within the
prescribed period (e.g. hold onward tickets);
- have documents required for entry into the country of
destination and for transit through countries en-route;
- remain in the transit area (airside) or on the aircraft.
Note: Fot transit purposes through China (People's Rep.), Hong
Kong (SAR China) and Macao (SAR China) are considered as third
countries, as they have their own entry regulations.
Note: TWOV is not intended for those holding stand-by tickets,
e.g. airline employees or other passengers travelling on
industry discount.
CHECK [[TINEWS/N1]] - SOUTH AFRICA - REQUIREMENT FOR MINORS TO
HOLD BIRTH CERTIFICATE POSTPONED UNTIL 1 JUNE 2015
27 Oct 2014 / 02:11 [UTC]
Oct 26, 2014, 10:02 pm
#2387
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
Rule of thumb for TWOV- it's ALWAYS to a third country, like KVS and LHR/MEL/Europe FF say.
You may get some funny looks at doing an immediate turn on entry/departure from Brazil, even if you have the visa. It would likely be safer to spend time in Brazil or actually do the TWOV correctly to a third country...
Oct 26, 2014, 10:05 pm
#2388
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
LOL... nice advance planning there on the visa.
Rule of thumb for TWOV- it's ALWAYS to a third country, like KVS says.
You may get some funny looks at doing an immediate turn on entry/departure from Brazil. It would likely be safer to spend time in Brazil or actually do the TWOV correctly to a third country...
Rule of thumb for TWOV- it's ALWAYS to a third country, like KVS says.
You may get some funny looks at doing an immediate turn on entry/departure from Brazil. It would likely be safer to spend time in Brazil or actually do the TWOV correctly to a third country...
Funny looks from whom? My understanding is I wouldn't even see an immigration agent, as I'd stay airside during my connection/return.
Oct 26, 2014, 10:15 pm
#2389
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
Came up with the idea on Saturday night; thought I'd try to give JJ F a try before it goes away for good. Not much I could do with the time constraints.
Funny looks from whom? My understanding is I wouldn't even see an immigration agent, as I'd stay airside during my connection/return.
Funny looks from whom? My understanding is I wouldn't even see an immigration agent, as I'd stay airside during my connection/return.
Also... they could deny you boarding in the USA without proof of visa or an onward flight (as opposed to a return). Airlines get fined for transporting passengers in violation of immigration rules... and they will deny you boarding in order to avoid the fine.
Oct 26, 2014, 10:34 pm
#2390
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
Depends on how the airport's laid out and what they do at checkpoints- if they ask for documentation of your onward flight and you show them an immediate RETURN flight, that could be a problem for TWOV. You don't necessarily just get to walk off the plane and hang out at the gate like you do on USA domestic flights.
Also... they could deny you boarding in the USA without proof of visa or an onward flight (as opposed to a return). Airlines get fined for transporting passengers in violation of immigration rules... and they will deny you boarding in order to avoid the fine.
Also... they could deny you boarding in the USA without proof of visa or an onward flight (as opposed to a return). Airlines get fined for transporting passengers in violation of immigration rules... and they will deny you boarding in order to avoid the fine.
Yeah, I agree, that's a concern. It's also not insurmountable.
Me thinks my desire to fly JJ F trumps these not insurmountable obstacles
Oct 26, 2014, 11:20 pm
#2391
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
. . . except Brazil isn't the USA, and Homeland Security isn't manning the post at GRU.
Transit pax do not go through immigration, period. They stay airside. . .
Transit pax do not go through immigration, period. They stay airside. . .
Last edited by AZ Travels the World; Oct 26, 2014 at 11:54 pm Reason: Remove rule-violating comments and responses to them
Oct 26, 2014, 11:34 pm
#2392
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
The airline staff at the departure point will verify that you hold valid documents for the destination and if they do not match the requirements, then you will not leave the US; if timatic indicates that transit to a 3rd country is required to be able to enter without the visa, then you can expect the airline staff to decline issuance of a boarding pass
The airline receives a large fine for allowing passengers to travel without the appropriate visas/passports etc , so is not something that they will waive
Last edited by Dave Noble; Oct 27, 2014 at 12:16 am
Oct 26, 2014, 11:57 pm
#2393
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
Moderator Note
Posts which violate FT rules, and responses to them, have been removed from this thread.
Kindly continue this discussion within the bounds of the rules of the board.
Thank you,
Moderator
Kindly continue this discussion within the bounds of the rules of the board.
Thank you,
Moderator
Oct 27, 2014, 1:20 am
#2394
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
If you do not have the appropriate visas as needed, then you will not be permitted to board
The airline staff at the departure point will verify that you hold valid documents for the destination and if they do not match the requirements, then you will not leave the US; if timatic indicates that transit to a 3rd country is required to be able to enter without the visa, then you can expect the airline staff to decline issuance of a boarding pass
The airline receives a large fine for allowing passengers to travel without the appropriate visas/passports etc , so is not something that they will waive
The airline staff at the departure point will verify that you hold valid documents for the destination and if they do not match the requirements, then you will not leave the US; if timatic indicates that transit to a 3rd country is required to be able to enter without the visa, then you can expect the airline staff to decline issuance of a boarding pass
The airline receives a large fine for allowing passengers to travel without the appropriate visas/passports etc , so is not something that they will waive
Oct 28, 2014, 2:03 am
#2395
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sydney
Programs: Le Club Accorhotels Platinum, SPG Gold, Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 35
Hi guys - needing some advice for a holiday I am planning in April 2015 for 2 pax, looking to potentially make use of US Airways award redemption in Business class.
This might be a simple question, but it's specifically in relation to the open jaw / stopover rule, which for some reason I'm having a brain freeze in understanding.
Basically I am looking to spend 4 days in each city, starting my journey from Sydney.
SYD - KUL (4 days in KUL)
KUL - LGK* (4 days in LGK*)
LGK* - BKK (via KUL) (4 days in BKK)
BKK - HKG (4 days in HKG)
HKG - SYD (via MEL)
Now I understand that this will be an open jaw as I arrive in KUL and depart from HKG back to Sydney, but what about all the stops in between?
Would that be a valid routing? A search of each segment shows availability via the BA site.
Any advice appreciated!
This might be a simple question, but it's specifically in relation to the open jaw / stopover rule, which for some reason I'm having a brain freeze in understanding.
Basically I am looking to spend 4 days in each city, starting my journey from Sydney.
SYD - KUL (4 days in KUL)
KUL - LGK* (4 days in LGK*)
LGK* - BKK (via KUL) (4 days in BKK)
BKK - HKG (4 days in HKG)
HKG - SYD (via MEL)
Now I understand that this will be an open jaw as I arrive in KUL and depart from HKG back to Sydney, but what about all the stops in between?
Would that be a valid routing? A search of each segment shows availability via the BA site.
Any advice appreciated!
Last edited by yaksha98; Oct 28, 2014 at 3:11 am
Oct 28, 2014, 2:06 am
#2396
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
Hi guys - needing some advice for a holiday I am planning in April 2015 for 2 pax, looking to potentially make use of US Airways award redemption in Business class.
This might be a simple question, but it's specifically in relation to the open jaw / stopover rule, which for some reason I'm having a brain freeze in understanding.
Basically I am looking to spend 4 days in each city, starting my journey from Sydney.
SYD - KUL (4 days in KUL)
KUL - LGW (4 days in LGW)
LGW - BKK (via KUL) (4 days in BKK)
BKK - HKG (4 days in HKG)
HKG - SYD (via MEL)
Now I understand that this will be an open jaw as I arrive in KUL and depart from HKG back to Sydney, but what about all the stops in between?
Would that be a valid routing? A search of each segment shows availability via the BA site.
Any advice appreciated!
This might be a simple question, but it's specifically in relation to the open jaw / stopover rule, which for some reason I'm having a brain freeze in understanding.
Basically I am looking to spend 4 days in each city, starting my journey from Sydney.
SYD - KUL (4 days in KUL)
KUL - LGW (4 days in LGW)
LGW - BKK (via KUL) (4 days in BKK)
BKK - HKG (4 days in HKG)
HKG - SYD (via MEL)
Now I understand that this will be an open jaw as I arrive in KUL and depart from HKG back to Sydney, but what about all the stops in between?
Would that be a valid routing? A search of each segment shows availability via the BA site.
Any advice appreciated!
You're only entitled to one stopover OR one open jaw. You actually do NOT have an open jaw in your proposed routing, but you do have THREE stopovers, which is not not allowed.
You can pick one place en-route to the destination (which "usually* is the farthest point from your origin) to have a stopover for >24 hours, and you can also stay at your destination for as long as you'd like, provided all travel is completed within a year.
(As an aside, I don't believe there is even an airline that flies KUL-LGW or LGW-BKK. Perhaps you mean LHR?)
Last edited by thexfactor; Oct 28, 2014 at 2:13 am
Oct 28, 2014, 2:17 am
#2397
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sydney
Programs: Le Club Accorhotels Platinum, SPG Gold, Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 35
Unfortunately, not even close.
You're only entitled to one stopover OR one open jaw. You actually do NOT have an open jaw in your proposed routing, but you do have THREE stopovers, which is not not allowed.
You can pick one place en-route to the destination (which "usually* is the farthest point from your origin) to have a stopover for >24 hours, and you can also stay at your destination for as long as you'd like, provided all travel is completed within a year.
(As an aside, I don't believe there is even an airline that flies KUL-LGW or LGW-BKK. Perhaps you mean LHR?)
You're only entitled to one stopover OR one open jaw. You actually do NOT have an open jaw in your proposed routing, but you do have THREE stopovers, which is not not allowed.
You can pick one place en-route to the destination (which "usually* is the farthest point from your origin) to have a stopover for >24 hours, and you can also stay at your destination for as long as you'd like, provided all travel is completed within a year.
(As an aside, I don't believe there is even an airline that flies KUL-LGW or LGW-BKK. Perhaps you mean LHR?)
Perhaps if I edited my awards redemption to:
SYD - KUL
HKG - SYD (via MEL)
and bought my own tickets intra-Asia (KUL-LGK-BKK-HKG) that would be a valid routing?
Oct 28, 2014, 2:24 am
#2398
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,407
Yes that would be valid.
Oct 28, 2014, 3:27 am
#2399
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sydney
Programs: Le Club Accorhotels Platinum, SPG Gold, Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 35
Oct 28, 2014, 10:01 pm
#2400
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,764
Tiny schedule changes, safe to "Accept Change"?
Have a trip booked with QR and IB - 2 tickets from 2 accounts. One account received email alert on schedule change, one account so far has no notification.'
Carefully check all the flights, the changes are 15 to 20 minutes change on the departure on 4 out of 5 QR flights and both IB flights.
Is it safe to "accept change" online to initiate the re-validation or better to call and make sure agent would do it, and do it properly? Currently unable to see the details of the reservation because of the "Accept Change" blockage.
Last time this happened, the front line agent had no clue on what to do. A supervisor ended up handled it.
Carefully check all the flights, the changes are 15 to 20 minutes change on the departure on 4 out of 5 QR flights and both IB flights.
Is it safe to "accept change" online to initiate the re-validation or better to call and make sure agent would do it, and do it properly? Currently unable to see the details of the reservation because of the "Accept Change" blockage.
Last time this happened, the front line agent had no clue on what to do. A supervisor ended up handled it.