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]
Jan 3, 2015, 6:58 am
#2941
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
What do you mean by "miss"? If a carrier late delivers you to a connection point, it is responsible for rebooking you. If you simply noshow for a segment, that segment and the remainder of the itinerary will be cancelled. Whether the ticket retains any value will be determined by your specific fare conditions. Those could range from simply being rebooked for $0 to paying for a new ticket at the then prevailing prices.
Jan 3, 2015, 9:07 am
#2942
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: PTY
Posts: 7
Kinda freakin' out here, and need some expert advice...
I've been saving the bulk of my USDM miles since moving to the CLT area, making sure I'd have at least 250K for a FS-class honeymoon trip to MUC or ZRH this Aug (supposedly 110K/RT each). I had 'em by last Fall, but on the US site, it's a min of 220Kpp for F-class award now... and oddly, the monthly availability shows the very same screen (using "flexible dates) no matter how I try to route the trip. US flights don't show up on my new KVS Tool, and rarely AA either (using Awards/OW function on "Diamond" version)... just BA, and IB where it can. which I suppose means that US/AA simply isn't giving ANY FS-class awards from its US hubs to the EU through Nov? Since I cashed in all my CO (now UA) points in '11 for 4 FS tickets (110K/pp) on a 3-month lead with no problem, I honestly (stupidly?) thought booking 8 mos out would insure just 2 FS awards. With Alpine B&B's (and such) booking near solid in Aug as we speak, I'm not sure if I should just "give in" by using all my miles to book Y/Econ tickets, or wait and see if US/AA might "loosen up a bit"... and begin allowing some FS award seats? I'm actually WAY more excited about the honeymoon than the actual wedding... and for weeks now, I'm afraid my bumbling "my part" of the deal may just cost me the ENTIRE thing! :-/
I've been saving the bulk of my USDM miles since moving to the CLT area, making sure I'd have at least 250K for a FS-class honeymoon trip to MUC or ZRH this Aug (supposedly 110K/RT each). I had 'em by last Fall, but on the US site, it's a min of 220Kpp for F-class award now... and oddly, the monthly availability shows the very same screen (using "flexible dates) no matter how I try to route the trip. US flights don't show up on my new KVS Tool, and rarely AA either (using Awards/OW function on "Diamond" version)... just BA, and IB where it can. which I suppose means that US/AA simply isn't giving ANY FS-class awards from its US hubs to the EU through Nov? Since I cashed in all my CO (now UA) points in '11 for 4 FS tickets (110K/pp) on a 3-month lead with no problem, I honestly (stupidly?) thought booking 8 mos out would insure just 2 FS awards. With Alpine B&B's (and such) booking near solid in Aug as we speak, I'm not sure if I should just "give in" by using all my miles to book Y/Econ tickets, or wait and see if US/AA might "loosen up a bit"... and begin allowing some FS award seats? I'm actually WAY more excited about the honeymoon than the actual wedding... and for weeks now, I'm afraid my bumbling "my part" of the deal may just cost me the ENTIRE thing! :-/
Jan 3, 2015, 9:25 am
#2943
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Kinda freakin' out here, and need some expert advice...
I've been saving the bulk of my USDM miles since moving to the CLT area, making sure I'd have at least 250K for a FS-class honeymoon trip to MUC or ZRH this Aug (supposedly 110K/RT each). I had 'em by last Fall, but on the US site, it's a min of 220Kpp for F-class award now... and oddly, the monthly availability shows the very same screen (using "flexible dates) no matter how I try to route the trip. US flights don't show up on my new KVS Tool, and rarely AA either (using Awards/OW function on "Diamond" version)... just BA, and IB where it can. which I suppose means that US/AA simply isn't giving ANY FS-class awards from its US hubs to the EU through Nov? Since I cashed in all my CO (now UA) points in '11 for 4 FS tickets (110K/pp) on a 3-month lead with no problem, I honestly (stupidly?) thought booking 8 mos out would insure just 2 FS awards. With Alpine B&B's (and such) booking near solid in Aug as we speak, I'm not sure if I should just "give in" by using all my miles to book Y/Econ tickets, or wait and see if US/AA might "loosen up a bit"... and begin allowing some FS award seats? I'm actually WAY more excited about the honeymoon than the actual wedding... and for weeks now, I'm afraid my bumbling "my part" of the deal may just cost me the ENTIRE thing! :-/
I've been saving the bulk of my USDM miles since moving to the CLT area, making sure I'd have at least 250K for a FS-class honeymoon trip to MUC or ZRH this Aug (supposedly 110K/RT each). I had 'em by last Fall, but on the US site, it's a min of 220Kpp for F-class award now... and oddly, the monthly availability shows the very same screen (using "flexible dates) no matter how I try to route the trip. US flights don't show up on my new KVS Tool, and rarely AA either (using Awards/OW function on "Diamond" version)... just BA, and IB where it can. which I suppose means that US/AA simply isn't giving ANY FS-class awards from its US hubs to the EU through Nov? Since I cashed in all my CO (now UA) points in '11 for 4 FS tickets (110K/pp) on a 3-month lead with no problem, I honestly (stupidly?) thought booking 8 mos out would insure just 2 FS awards. With Alpine B&B's (and such) booking near solid in Aug as we speak, I'm not sure if I should just "give in" by using all my miles to book Y/Econ tickets, or wait and see if US/AA might "loosen up a bit"... and begin allowing some FS award seats? I'm actually WAY more excited about the honeymoon than the actual wedding... and for weeks now, I'm afraid my bumbling "my part" of the deal may just cost me the ENTIRE thing! :-/
Check every route over the atlantic with US, AA, AB, AY, BA, IB... On the last tow carriers, fuel surcharges of a few hundred $ will be imposed... Also check flights ex MIA, ORD, JFK to DUS, TXL, HEL, etc...
Due to lack of availability (high season / summer), most available seats were booked the max of 11 months out... Good luck!
Jan 3, 2015, 11:41 am
#2944
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: TXL
Programs: US, LH, HH
Posts: 725
If I'm not mistaken he could also book US-North Asia with a "stopover" in Europe? So at least one way you could skip to pay BA and make it even more interesting. For end of August I could find CLT-ORD-NRT-HKG-ZRH with either a stay in NRT or HKG for 2 days, all in F except NRT-HKG.
Jan 3, 2015, 12:05 pm
#2945
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Hey Everybody -
Had a couple questions I was hoping you could help me out with. We are looking at booking some version of the following (2 passengers):
SFO->SYD (Destination) -> LHR (Stopover) ->SFO
Overall it looks like we will realistically need to do this:
LAX->HKG->SYD (Destination) ->NRT->HEL->LHR (Stopover) ->JFK->LAX
I am hopeful that we can get this booking in business, and have more or less found some sort of availability.
Had a couple questions I was hoping you could help me out with. We are looking at booking some version of the following (2 passengers):
SFO->SYD (Destination) -> LHR (Stopover) ->SFO
Overall it looks like we will realistically need to do this:
LAX->HKG->SYD (Destination) ->NRT->HEL->LHR (Stopover) ->JFK->LAX
I am hopeful that we can get this booking in business, and have more or less found some sort of availability.
There is pretty much close to zero chance that the itinerary will be permitted anyway
The MPM for SFO-SYD ( with 25% over ) is 11138 miles and LAX-SYD is 11,242
SYD-LHR is 10,573 on its own and LHR-LAX is 5456 miles fpr 16,029 miles ( 42% over the allowed distance )
Yup unfortunately that about answers all of them. Is there any help for missed flights?
I know with an AA booking once I missed a flight (not the airlines fault) and I think it was $150 and they rebooked us for a few days later. If you miss a flight on this is the whole itinerary cancelled?
I know with an AA booking once I missed a flight (not the airlines fault) and I think it was $150 and they rebooked us for a few days later. If you miss a flight on this is the whole itinerary cancelled?
Most of AA paid fares allow changes for a fee
If you miss a flight, then be ready to purchase a new ticket
Last edited by Dave Noble; Jan 3, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Jan 3, 2015, 2:16 pm
#2946
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
AA Awards are searchable via multiple Methods, including [Awards/OneWorld]:
http://Help.KVSTool.com/#US
http://Help.KVSTool.com/#AA
Jan 3, 2015, 4:24 pm
#2947
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: PTY
Posts: 7
Took at least a week to figure it all out (and it's been hell, I tell ya), but managed to get a GREAT route from CLT>ZHR and back... F all the way (C within the EU). However, when I went to AmEx to transfer 150K points from them into my USDM account, they informed me they're not partners with US/AA/OW... and I can't use them. I'd done it before with CO (now UA), and "assumed" FAR too much. Since cashing in DM miles recently for a trip to FL (thinking no worries, I have my AmEx points yet), I've not enough to get to the EU... even in Y.
Anyway, really sorry for wasting y'all's time... but sincerely appreciate the help, and effort. Haven't been home since finding all this out, and not sure I should go home! This was a "First Class honeymoon trip to the EU" I've been promising for 4 years.
Soon To Be Single in Charlotte
(Paul)
Anyway, really sorry for wasting y'all's time... but sincerely appreciate the help, and effort. Haven't been home since finding all this out, and not sure I should go home! This was a "First Class honeymoon trip to the EU" I've been promising for 4 years.
Soon To Be Single in Charlotte
(Paul)
Jan 3, 2015, 4:27 pm
#2948
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
You can transfer AMEX MR points to Starwood and then from Starwood to US
I am not sure what the exchange rate is there ( here 2 AMEX points = 1 Starwood )
20,000 starwood points => 25,000 US Airways points
I am not sure what the exchange rate is there ( here 2 AMEX points = 1 Starwood )
20,000 starwood points => 25,000 US Airways points
Jan 3, 2015, 5:13 pm
#2949
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: TXL
Programs: US, LH, HH
Posts: 725
3:1 in the US for SPG. If you want to stay in the OW camp, the current +40% bonus for AMEX to BA might be interesting (resulting in 1000 AMEX -> 1400 Avios).
Jan 3, 2015, 7:12 pm
#2950
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,395
However, when I went to AmEx to transfer 150K points from them into my USDM account, they informed me they're not partners with US/AA/OW... and I can't use them. I'd done it before with CO (now UA), and "assumed" FAR too much. Since cashing in DM miles recently for a trip to FL (thinking no worries, I have my AmEx points yet), I've not enough to get to the EU... even in Y.
Unless that was a super expensive cash ticket on Christmas Eve or something like that... kind of a rookie move compared to cashing in for first class on BA.
And yes, understanding a program and transfer partners is a good idea.
OP, I suggest you read up on British Airways Avios...
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Jan 3, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Jan 3, 2015, 7:31 pm
#2951
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
depending on the planned itinerary, be aware that BA mileage redemption rates can be much higher plus the surcharges can be high. For a simple TATL, the surcharges may be better value than the low exchange rate to US
Jan 4, 2015, 12:06 am
#2952
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,395
It is more a 200 -> 75 conversion rather tham 3 -> 1 with the 25% bonus on 20K transfers
depending on the planned itinerary, be aware that BA mileage redemption rates can be much higher plus the surcharges can be high. For a simple TATL, the surcharges may be better value than the low exchange rate to US
depending on the planned itinerary, be aware that BA mileage redemption rates can be much higher plus the surcharges can be high. For a simple TATL, the surcharges may be better value than the low exchange rate to US
60k is ONE partner Y USA-Europe award on US round trip. ONE.
An East Coast-LHR award in F is 120k round trip (and yes, plus YQ). OP is based in CLT.
I maintain it would be foolish to burn AMEX->SPG->US at that rate if the OP's goal with those AMEX points is to fly in F to Europe on his honeymoon. Now, if the OP is willing to eat their promises and fly Y... sure (though it dould make more sense to convert AMEX->SPG->AA since offseason Y as an AA redemption is cheaper most of the time during offseason, except for a few weeks of the year when it's cheaper on US.)
Also, good luck finding OW F TATL not involving BA. Go look at all the gnashing of teeth and rending of garments over in the AA forum at non-BA availability if you doubt me. (I see this as well doing searches using the AS award engine- lots of AA Y to Europe, [censored]-all for AA C and F, decent availability for BA C and F until you hit peak season).
TBH, I would consider SQ redemptions on JFK-FRA if the OP is trying to wow the fiancee and get to Europe in style- AMEX is nice that way in that you are not locked into one alliance.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Jan 4, 2015 at 12:16 am
Jan 4, 2015, 12:22 am
#2953
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
if using BA miles for redemption , can expect to pay YQ whether flying on BA or not ( excluding EI iirc ) so no need to worry about trying to find availability elsewhere
I would def agree that for a simple TATL, that crediting to BA vs SPG would be likely good value vs credit to US via SPG, though still need to add the miles/taxes/YQ for the intra Europe flight and the YQ would be $828 just r/t to London - I think I would be looking at a Star Scheme with reasonable redemption rates to get better availability though rather than OW
In general, need to check redemption rates though since on many options BA's redemption rates can be much higher; e.g. if wanting to fly to South PAcific requirement using BA miles would be 300,000 r/t plus YQs vs 140,000 with US
I would def agree that for a simple TATL, that crediting to BA vs SPG would be likely good value vs credit to US via SPG, though still need to add the miles/taxes/YQ for the intra Europe flight and the YQ would be $828 just r/t to London - I think I would be looking at a Star Scheme with reasonable redemption rates to get better availability though rather than OW
In general, need to check redemption rates though since on many options BA's redemption rates can be much higher; e.g. if wanting to fly to South PAcific requirement using BA miles would be 300,000 r/t plus YQs vs 140,000 with US
Last edited by Dave Noble; Jan 4, 2015 at 12:28 am
Jan 4, 2015, 7:58 am
#2954
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: PTY
Posts: 7
Good Lord... y'all are AMAZING!!! Well... I finally DID go home last night (after insuring all "tender parts" were well protected), and much to my surprise - the fiance was more supportive, than mad! Sure she was bummed at first, but almost immediately started spouting out alternative ideas to "getting our way". Now to picking apart all the GREAT advice here with a fine-tooth comb... and getting to WORK!!! THANKS, you guys!!!
I'm definitely going to check into the transfer to BA, and not put so much emphasis on being in F the whole way (was "principle" bent before). However, if BA's point + surcharges get ridiculous... would it be idiotic (and it seems I'm on a roll in that dept) to look at buying Y tickets, and trying to use points for upgrade?
To clarify... I originally stated I had 250K points, because I was including the AmEx points (which I "assumed" would transfer to DM). I only burned 70K for us on the FL trip (Y/35KX2).
THANKS AGAIN!!! PJ
I'm definitely going to check into the transfer to BA, and not put so much emphasis on being in F the whole way (was "principle" bent before). However, if BA's point + surcharges get ridiculous... would it be idiotic (and it seems I'm on a roll in that dept) to look at buying Y tickets, and trying to use points for upgrade?
To clarify... I originally stated I had 250K points, because I was including the AmEx points (which I "assumed" would transfer to DM). I only burned 70K for us on the FL trip (Y/35KX2).
THANKS AGAIN!!! PJ
Jan 4, 2015, 12:42 pm
#2955
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Using BA points you can upgrade on BA H,B or Y fares from economy to Premium economy or most fares from premium economy to business
You would need to look at what the premium economy fares are and decide on its worth, though given the ridiculously high surcharges that BA has, for business class may work out better to buy a PE ticket and upgrade
I would work out which you intend to do before transferring points from AMEX since less points will be needed to upgrade vs an award
You would need to look at what the premium economy fares are and decide on its worth, though given the ridiculously high surcharges that BA has, for business class may work out better to buy a PE ticket and upgrade
I would work out which you intend to do before transferring points from AMEX since less points will be needed to upgrade vs an award