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 8, 2015, 5:51 am
#3001
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
APD is only charged when the UK is your origin or a stopover point. On a simple connection under 24 hours, no APD is charged (and from personal experience, US Airways rate desks agents are aware of this). The UK Passenger Service Charge is about US$50, though, which is not trivial.
Jan 8, 2015, 6:25 am
#3002
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: PHL
Programs: HHonors: Diamond. US Dividend Miles: Gold. Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 179
JFK-HKG-SIN[stop]-BNE[destination]-HKG-EWR isn't valid because SIN can't be my stopover since it's not a hub.
JFK-HKG-KUL[stop]-MEL[destination]-HKG-EWR isn't valid because they were saying I had two stopovers which didn't make sense to me, but had something to do with having a ~23 hour connection in HKG on way back.
I'm thinking to call back and just try JFK-HKG[stop]-BNE[destination]-HKG-EWR and just do HKG-DPS with BA miles or separate US award and the same for flights around Australia.
JFK-HKG-KUL[stop]-MEL[destination]-HKG-EWR isn't valid because they were saying I had two stopovers which didn't make sense to me, but had something to do with having a ~23 hour connection in HKG on way back.
I'm thinking to call back and just try JFK-HKG[stop]-BNE[destination]-HKG-EWR and just do HKG-DPS with BA miles or separate US award and the same for flights around Australia.
Jan 8, 2015, 11:14 am
#3003
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Is this doable?
Hi guys, I just ticketed the following route using USDM 80k miles per person a few days ago:
GMP-HND-DOH-VCE, FCO-DOH-HKG-ICN
(GMP is another airport in Seoul on top of ICN, fyi)
The departure route actually includes a back-tracking leg (ie GMP-HND) but I had no problem while booking.
So now am wondering if I could also book this route, a little bit more complicated...
ICN-HKG-CDG(destination), CDG-DOH-DXB(stop)-DOH-HND-GMP
I have checked above route has no MPM issue; it exceeds about 15% so this should be permitted.
HND-GMP, a back-tracking leg, would also have no problem based on my previous booking.
So the potential issue on which I have concerns is DOH-DXB-DOH. It is a kind of back-and-forth routing which I have never tried before... so I would like to hear if anyone has tried and made a success.
Any advice would help, many thanks in advance.
Cheers
GMP-HND-DOH-VCE, FCO-DOH-HKG-ICN
(GMP is another airport in Seoul on top of ICN, fyi)
The departure route actually includes a back-tracking leg (ie GMP-HND) but I had no problem while booking.
So now am wondering if I could also book this route, a little bit more complicated...
ICN-HKG-CDG(destination), CDG-DOH-DXB(stop)-DOH-HND-GMP
I have checked above route has no MPM issue; it exceeds about 15% so this should be permitted.
HND-GMP, a back-tracking leg, would also have no problem based on my previous booking.
So the potential issue on which I have concerns is DOH-DXB-DOH. It is a kind of back-and-forth routing which I have never tried before... so I would like to hear if anyone has tried and made a success.
Any advice would help, many thanks in advance.
Cheers
Jan 8, 2015, 11:42 am
#3004
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
(Trick question, the answer is "none, there is no OW airline hubbed in DXB".)
So, backtracking AND not a legit stopover. I say if you're going to ignore the rules, start playing the HUACA game... let us know how it goes. US tickets bogus itineraries all the time. Sometimes they enforce rules, sometimes they ignore them. Only way to find out for sure is to play the game.
PS: a FlyDubai LCC r/t DOH-DXB-DOH is $150 USD. It's a 235 mile flight. You'll probably live on a LCC carrier in Y on a hour flight.
Alternately, fly ICN-HKG-CDG(dest)-DOH-DXB(stop)-HKG-HND-GMP and skip the back and forth. Odds are decent they'll let that slip because you're not backtracking.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Jan 8, 2015 at 11:48 am
Jan 8, 2015, 12:02 pm
#3005
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA Gold, Marriot Titanium
Posts: 65
Which OW airline has a hub in DXB to make it a stopover within the US DM rules?
(Trick question, the answer is "none, there is no OW airline hubbed in DXB".)
So, backtracking AND not a legit stopover. I say if you're going to ignore the rules, start playing the HUACA game... let us know how it goes. US tickets bogus itineraries all the time. Sometimes they enforce rules, sometimes they ignore them. Only way to find out for sure is to play the game.
PS: a FlyDubai LCC r/t DOH-DXB-DOH is $150 USD. It's a 235 mile flight. You'll probably live on a LCC carrier in Y on a hour flight.
Alternately, fly ICN-HKG-CDG(dest)-DOH-DXB(stop)-HKG-HND-GMP and skip the back and forth. Odds are decent they'll let that slip because you're not backtracking.
(Trick question, the answer is "none, there is no OW airline hubbed in DXB".)
So, backtracking AND not a legit stopover. I say if you're going to ignore the rules, start playing the HUACA game... let us know how it goes. US tickets bogus itineraries all the time. Sometimes they enforce rules, sometimes they ignore them. Only way to find out for sure is to play the game.
PS: a FlyDubai LCC r/t DOH-DXB-DOH is $150 USD. It's a 235 mile flight. You'll probably live on a LCC carrier in Y on a hour flight.
Alternately, fly ICN-HKG-CDG(dest)-DOH-DXB(stop)-HKG-HND-GMP and skip the back and forth. Odds are decent they'll let that slip because you're not backtracking.
Jan 8, 2015, 1:31 pm
#3006
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
No, it's not. ICN and GMP are co-terminal airports for SEL (Seoul) the same way NRT-HND are for TYO (Tokyo), and JFK/LGA/EWR are for NYC. As far as US is concerned, the OP is flying back to point of origin (SEL).
US allows co-terminal bookings on awards and doesn't consider them open jaws. I've flown into NRT on a stopover and out of HND. Nobody blinked an eye when it got ticketed, even though that meant there was a ~50 mile land segment on my award...
US allows co-terminal bookings on awards and doesn't consider them open jaws. I've flown into NRT on a stopover and out of HND. Nobody blinked an eye when it got ticketed, even though that meant there was a ~50 mile land segment on my award...
Jan 8, 2015, 3:08 pm
#3007
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
Well in fact, DXB is a secondary hub for QF...whether that's 'hub enough' for US, the rules don't make that clear.
Jan 8, 2015, 4:19 pm
#3008
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Perth has loads more services than Dubai, yet found that not to be counted as a valid stopover point between London and Auckland
Jan 8, 2015, 4:40 pm
#3009
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
Jan 8, 2015, 5:19 pm
#3010
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
It would be surprising to me if US classed DXB as a OW hub city, but who knows what US will do
Jan 8, 2015, 6:53 pm
#3011
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
Schedule Change email that I could not find any change?
Got schedule change emails today on our upcoming trip to JNB and IST (QR & IB)
I found the last version of the itinerary that was accepted on Oct 30 and compared to the latest email - I could not find ANYTHING that has changed - Date, Segment, Flight Number, Departure Time - nada. Especially the Date - last time on an UA award TG canceled our flight and put us on identical flight the next day without moving us on the previous flight that led to the flight being canceled and I literally missed the date change because everything else remained the same. So now I pay special attention on Date when everything else remains the same. Still nothing.
After printing out both emails and comparing every single element again, the only differences I saw are:
1) Previously it listed JNB-IST as ONE segment but listed the connection flights details underneath, as JNB-DOH, DOH-IST.
Current email breaks up JNB-IST and lists it as 2 segments.
2) On one segment the arrival time has a 10 minutes difference.
I dont remember a change on arrival time would trigger a Change of Itinerary that requires Acceptance of the Change. Departure time, yes, even for a 5 minutes difference.
So, did I miss anything in checking the "changes" ? What might trigger this Change of Itinerary email? I just want to make sure I have not missed anything before "Accept" it.
I found the last version of the itinerary that was accepted on Oct 30 and compared to the latest email - I could not find ANYTHING that has changed - Date, Segment, Flight Number, Departure Time - nada. Especially the Date - last time on an UA award TG canceled our flight and put us on identical flight the next day without moving us on the previous flight that led to the flight being canceled and I literally missed the date change because everything else remained the same. So now I pay special attention on Date when everything else remains the same. Still nothing.
After printing out both emails and comparing every single element again, the only differences I saw are:
1) Previously it listed JNB-IST as ONE segment but listed the connection flights details underneath, as JNB-DOH, DOH-IST.
Current email breaks up JNB-IST and lists it as 2 segments.
2) On one segment the arrival time has a 10 minutes difference.
I dont remember a change on arrival time would trigger a Change of Itinerary that requires Acceptance of the Change. Departure time, yes, even for a 5 minutes difference.
So, did I miss anything in checking the "changes" ? What might trigger this Change of Itinerary email? I just want to make sure I have not missed anything before "Accept" it.
Jan 8, 2015, 7:05 pm
#3012
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
2) On one segment the arrival time has a 10 minutes difference.
I dont remember a change on arrival time would trigger a Change of Itinerary that requires Acceptance of the Change. Departure time, yes, even for a 5 minutes difference.
So, did I miss anything in checking the "changes" ? What might trigger this Change of Itinerary email? I just want to make sure I have not missed anything before "Accept" it.
I dont remember a change on arrival time would trigger a Change of Itinerary that requires Acceptance of the Change. Departure time, yes, even for a 5 minutes difference.
So, did I miss anything in checking the "changes" ? What might trigger this Change of Itinerary email? I just want to make sure I have not missed anything before "Accept" it.
Jan 8, 2015, 7:58 pm
#3013
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
)PS: a FlyDubai LCC r/t DOH-DXB-DOH is $150 USD. It's a 235 mile flight. You'll probably live on a LCC carrier in Y on a hour flight.
Alternately, fly ICN-HKG-CDG(dest)-DOH-DXB(stop)-HKG-HND-GMP and skip the back and forth. Odds are decent they'll let that slip because you're not backtracking.
Alternately, fly ICN-HKG-CDG(dest)-DOH-DXB(stop)-HKG-HND-GMP and skip the back and forth. Odds are decent they'll let that slip because you're not backtracking.
The reason I'd like to fly between DOH-HND by QR is to enjoy B787 Dreamliner for 11 hours...
So would like to return from DXB to DOH.Anyway I will post the result after playing a few gams with USDM... thanks again. Happy new year!
Jan 8, 2015, 10:38 pm
#3014
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
(scroll down a bit, the Glossary is useful for all of our TLAs...
ICN-HKG-CDG(destination), CDG-LHR(BA)-DXB(stop)-DOH-HND-GMP
No backtracking, at least. Could also do RJ CDG-AMM-DXB. It's not like QR is the only way to get to DXB.
Jan 8, 2015, 11:11 pm
#3015
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572