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]
Dec 14, 2014, 5:40 am
#2776
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Dec 14, 2014, 5:45 am
#2777
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,051
Dec 14, 2014, 7:16 am
#2778
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Just call US and ask an agent to check award availability on those Dividend Miles partners that do fly to DEL. You cannot book such an award at usairways.com.
Avoid award flights on BA metal unless you are willing to pay hefty surcharges. Your best options will probably be QR via DOH, or AY via HEL, although CX via HKG might be an option depending on where in the U.S. you are originating.
Avoid award flights on BA metal unless you are willing to pay hefty surcharges. Your best options will probably be QR via DOH, or AY via HEL, although CX via HKG might be an option depending on where in the U.S. you are originating.
Dec 14, 2014, 7:54 am
#2779
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
Can't seem to find an answer to this but I'm sure it's been talked about before....has anyone had any luck saving booking a US-Europe round-trip in business with a stopover in HKG on the way back for 100,000 miles (instead of 110,000)....something like JFK-CDG-HKG (stopover)-JFK.....since it is essentially a JFK-CDG round-trip in business, it would seem to qualify as a 100,000 redemption.
Dec 14, 2014, 8:25 am
#2780
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: UAL 1P, Bonvoy Plat, Delta Silver Med, AA Gold
Posts: 154
Taxes on Award Reservations due to Schedule Change
Hi,
Awhile back my partner and I booked a DM award to Croatia in J using VCE as the outbound gateway. Original outbound itinerary was FLL---CLT (US)---MAD (US)---VCE (IB). Since the reservation was booked 330 days in advance, I have been checking my itinerary weekly to verify that no schedule changes have occurred (thanks to the advice from many on this board). Sure enough, this week I discovered that US retimed the CLT-MAD segment such that I now have a misconnect in MAD. I called US thinking they would put me on a later MAD-VCE flight, but much to my surprise, they opened inventory on their direct PHL-VCE flight. All good. Original taxes on the ticket were quite high ($256 USD/pp), which I attributed, in part, to the IB portion of the trip. The agent indicated that with the new outbound itinerary the taxes dropped quite a bit, although she did not indicate the amount. She then claimed that unless we classified the change as "voluntary", in which case the $150 pp reticketing fee would apply as we are not CP, that US gets to keep the tax savings. I have never heard of this before. Have others experienced the same thing? She also indicated that, in my case, incurring the 150 pp change fee would more than offset tax savings.
Awhile back my partner and I booked a DM award to Croatia in J using VCE as the outbound gateway. Original outbound itinerary was FLL---CLT (US)---MAD (US)---VCE (IB). Since the reservation was booked 330 days in advance, I have been checking my itinerary weekly to verify that no schedule changes have occurred (thanks to the advice from many on this board). Sure enough, this week I discovered that US retimed the CLT-MAD segment such that I now have a misconnect in MAD. I called US thinking they would put me on a later MAD-VCE flight, but much to my surprise, they opened inventory on their direct PHL-VCE flight. All good. Original taxes on the ticket were quite high ($256 USD/pp), which I attributed, in part, to the IB portion of the trip. The agent indicated that with the new outbound itinerary the taxes dropped quite a bit, although she did not indicate the amount. She then claimed that unless we classified the change as "voluntary", in which case the $150 pp reticketing fee would apply as we are not CP, that US gets to keep the tax savings. I have never heard of this before. Have others experienced the same thing? She also indicated that, in my case, incurring the 150 pp change fee would more than offset tax savings.
Last edited by wanderlustFL; Dec 14, 2014 at 8:30 am
Dec 14, 2014, 9:08 am
#2781
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,051
Hi,
Awhile back my partner and I booked a DM award to Croatia in J using VCE as the outbound gateway. Original outbound itinerary was FLL---CLT (US)---MAD (US)---VCE (IB). Since the reservation was booked 330 days in advance, I have been checking my itinerary weekly to verify that no schedule changes have occurred (thanks to the advice from many on this board). Sure enough, this week I discovered that US retimed the CLT-MAD segment such that I now have a misconnect in MAD. I called US thinking they would put me on a later MAD-VCE flight, but much to my surprise, they opened inventory on their direct PHL-VCE flight. All good. Original taxes on the ticket were quite high ($256 USD/pp), which I attributed, in part, to the IB portion of the trip. The agent indicated that with the new outbound itinerary the taxes dropped quite a bit, although she did not indicate the amount. She then claimed that unless we classified the change as "voluntary", in which case the $150 pp reticketing fee would apply as we are not CP, that US gets to keep the tax savings. I have never heard of this before. Have others experienced the same thing? She also indicated that, in my case, incurring the 150 pp change fee would more than offset tax savings.
Awhile back my partner and I booked a DM award to Croatia in J using VCE as the outbound gateway. Original outbound itinerary was FLL---CLT (US)---MAD (US)---VCE (IB). Since the reservation was booked 330 days in advance, I have been checking my itinerary weekly to verify that no schedule changes have occurred (thanks to the advice from many on this board). Sure enough, this week I discovered that US retimed the CLT-MAD segment such that I now have a misconnect in MAD. I called US thinking they would put me on a later MAD-VCE flight, but much to my surprise, they opened inventory on their direct PHL-VCE flight. All good. Original taxes on the ticket were quite high ($256 USD/pp), which I attributed, in part, to the IB portion of the trip. The agent indicated that with the new outbound itinerary the taxes dropped quite a bit, although she did not indicate the amount. She then claimed that unless we classified the change as "voluntary", in which case the $150 pp reticketing fee would apply as we are not CP, that US gets to keep the tax savings. I have never heard of this before. Have others experienced the same thing? She also indicated that, in my case, incurring the 150 pp change fee would more than offset tax savings.
Dec 14, 2014, 10:37 am
#2782
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: UAL 1P, Bonvoy Plat, Delta Silver Med, AA Gold
Posts: 154
I don't know whether they are indeed taxes or fuel surcharges. But does it matter? I only had that one segment on IB. And the agent specifically stated that the "Fees" went down when the MAD-VCE segment was removed. But the only way for me to receive the savings would be for the change to be classified as "voluntary", in which case the 150 change fee pp would apply.
Dec 14, 2014, 10:44 am
#2783
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 27
I'm trying to do Washington DC to BKK with award travel and even after looking at BA, AA or award nexus, I'm not able to find any business class rewards for my dates of travel or anything in the vicinity.
Could it be that I'm doing something wrong?
Could it be that I'm doing something wrong?
Dec 14, 2014, 10:46 am
#2784
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: BKK
Programs: AA Plat, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,395
Let's see if this doesn't get better attention here in the dedicated US airways forum. Good Luck!
~Moderator, Information Desk
~Moderator, Information Desk
Dec 14, 2014, 10:52 am
#2785
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
eg. try IAD-DOH and DOH-BKK separately.
You will not find QR award flights on AA. BA engine may be your best bet if you do not have any paid service like EF or KVS Tool
Dec 14, 2014, 12:56 pm
#2786
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
I have come across it with bookings where an an airline's schedule change has caused a need to rebook plus it works both ways; if ending up rebooked on a flight which is more expensive , no charge applied
Dec 14, 2014, 3:37 pm
#2787
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Can't seem to find an answer to this but I'm sure it's been talked about before....has anyone had any luck saving booking a US-Europe round-trip in business with a stopover in HKG on the way back for 100,000 miles (instead of 110,000)....something like JFK-CDG-HKG (stopover)-JFK.....since it is essentially a JFK-CDG round-trip in business, it would seem to qualify as a 100,000 redemption.
And USDM rules say that the routing via Asia on an award USA-EU is not permitted.
Dec 14, 2014, 6:41 pm
#2789
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
As noted above, you will have to call US to attempt to book an award trip to DEL with your miles.
Ask about TPA-PHL-BRU-DEL on US/9W; or TPA-MIA/PHL/ORD-DOH-DEL on AA/US/QR.
The only possible one-stop routing would be TPA-LHR-DEL on BA or BA/9W. But each long-haul flight on BA will incur hefty surcharges.
Ask about TPA-PHL-BRU-DEL on US/9W; or TPA-MIA/PHL/ORD-DOH-DEL on AA/US/QR.
The only possible one-stop routing would be TPA-LHR-DEL on BA or BA/9W. But each long-haul flight on BA will incur hefty surcharges.
Dec 14, 2014, 7:03 pm
#2790
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
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