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 22, 2015, 6:42 pm
#3166
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: A3 *G, Marriott Plat, AS 75K
Posts: 995
I see what you mean. The agent was telling ZRH wasn't a valid stopover location because it's not an OW hub... but it is a US overseas destination... so I guess non-hub stopovers are YMMV.
Jan 22, 2015, 6:44 pm
#3167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
'US Airways destination' has generally been fine for a stopover. In the days before oneworld, a London stopover was fine under these rules, and there have been similar examples after joining OW.
I'd at least try a different agent, and refer them to the USDM rules for a proper determination.
Jan 22, 2015, 11:06 pm
#3168
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: A3 *G, Marriott Plat, AS 75K
Posts: 995
1) Taxes re-calc:
I moved the SO from ZRH to MAD, and taxes dropped. Pretty sure the 1st agent calculated incorrectly.
SFO-CLT-MAD - <SO> - HKG - <POT> - HND - SFO ($125.99)
2) Sample valid routing (i didn't book this one)
SFO-CLT-MAD-ZRH-DOH-HKG
3) My final booking
SFO - CLT - MAD - <SO> - DOH - <22hr> - DXB - <23hr55m> - HKG - <POT> - HND-SFO ($133.25)
US(J) - US(J) - QR(J) - QR(F) - CX(J) - CX(F) - JL(F)
The QR(F) is actually just J. It's just a booking code.
4) Call center trick
Try US Airways' international call center #s! Canada has a 1800# and I called twice during the day and I waited <20seconds each time!
Last edited by beepyou; Jan 23, 2015 at 10:33 am
Jan 22, 2015, 11:30 pm
#3169
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Am trying to ticket my existing reservation of which itinerary is like below:
ICN-DOH-BCN, BCN-DOH-DXB(stop)-HKG-ICN in J class
I am still dealing with the next agent but the previous lady told me I need to pay 120k miles per person... not 80k.
I think ICN is a departure city (N Asia) and BCN is a destination city (Europe) so 80k is right but the lady said as I will make stopover at DXB (M/E), I need 120k/person as J in M/E requires 120k...
I've read rules of USDM but here is the statement that 80k should be right...
•US Airways is the final authority in choosing the routing and Dividend Miles partner for award travel based on the desired origin and destination.
Am I wrong? I have already spent more than 3 hours...
ps) huh... completely pissed off now- this lady said even I cannot do a stopover at DXB as I'm not flying with QF and she would add message that my route is not valid. I didn't say any bad thing... wow never experienced such a rude behaviour before.
ICN-DOH-BCN, BCN-DOH-DXB(stop)-HKG-ICN in J class
I am still dealing with the next agent but the previous lady told me I need to pay 120k miles per person... not 80k.
I think ICN is a departure city (N Asia) and BCN is a destination city (Europe) so 80k is right but the lady said as I will make stopover at DXB (M/E), I need 120k/person as J in M/E requires 120k...
I've read rules of USDM but here is the statement that 80k should be right...
•US Airways is the final authority in choosing the routing and Dividend Miles partner for award travel based on the desired origin and destination.
Am I wrong? I have already spent more than 3 hours...
ps) huh... completely pissed off now- this lady said even I cannot do a stopover at DXB as I'm not flying with QF and she would add message that my route is not valid. I didn't say any bad thing... wow never experienced such a rude behaviour before.
Last edited by noeatbutgo; Jan 22, 2015 at 11:45 pm
Jan 22, 2015, 11:40 pm
#3170
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
Am trying to ticket my existing reservation of which itinerary is like below:
ICN-DOH-BCN, BCN-DOX-DXB(stop)-HKG-ICN in J class
I am still dealing with the next agent but the previous lady told me I need to pay 120k miles per person... not 80k.
I think ICN is a departure city (N Asia) and BCN is a destination city (Europe) so 80k is right but the lady said as I will make stopover at DXB (M/E), I need 120k/person as J in M/E requires 120k...
I've read rules of USDM but here is the statement that 80k should be right...
•US Airways is the final authority in choosing the routing and Dividend Miles partner for award travel based on the desired origin and destination.
Am I wrong? I have already spent more than 3 hours...
ICN-DOH-BCN, BCN-DOX-DXB(stop)-HKG-ICN in J class
I am still dealing with the next agent but the previous lady told me I need to pay 120k miles per person... not 80k.
I think ICN is a departure city (N Asia) and BCN is a destination city (Europe) so 80k is right but the lady said as I will make stopover at DXB (M/E), I need 120k/person as J in M/E requires 120k...
I've read rules of USDM but here is the statement that 80k should be right...
•US Airways is the final authority in choosing the routing and Dividend Miles partner for award travel based on the desired origin and destination.
Am I wrong? I have already spent more than 3 hours...
ICN-BCN is longer than ICN-DXB, therefore, BCN is the destination.
They may argue that transiting a higher cost region entails the higher cost, but I think you will win the argument, as long as nobody has put it in writing in the PNR.
Jan 22, 2015, 11:47 pm
#3171
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Assuming your "DOX" is really typo for DOH, I think you are right, mostly.
ICN-BCN is longer than ICN-DXB, therefore, BCN is the destination.
They may argue that transiting a higher cost region entails the higher cost, but I think you will win the argument, as long as nobody has put it in writing in the PNR.
ICN-BCN is longer than ICN-DXB, therefore, BCN is the destination.
They may argue that transiting a higher cost region entails the higher cost, but I think you will win the argument, as long as nobody has put it in writing in the PNR.
Jan 22, 2015, 11:49 pm
#3172
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bay Area
Programs: HH, PC, SPG, MR, GP, US, UA, AA
Posts: 3,466
How does US calculate mixed cabin award? For example, SFO-HKG on CX J, SHA-SFO on JL Y. Would it be 85K (110/2+60/2), or 110K? Thanks.
Jan 23, 2015, 12:00 am
#3173
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
in many cases it makes no difference, but if the stopover zone is higher, agents are more often than not charging accordingly.
Jan 23, 2015, 12:06 am
#3174
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Perhaps like someone suggested (maybe you?), I would purchase a cheap RT tickets between DOH-DXB or just give up the stopover.
Thanks for all your replies.
Jan 23, 2015, 12:12 am
#3175
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
I don't know for certain what definition IATA (or whomever) puts on 'hub', but an airline with two flights that pass through each day, with possibly relatively few (if any) passengers transferring between those flights, is probably not a 'hub'.
onemileatatime has a list of oneworld hubs... for QF I think it is just SYD and MEL.
Jan 23, 2015, 2:31 am
#3176
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
I can understand US not accepting that 2 refuelling stops each way a day makes it a genuine hub regardless of marketing QF makes in regard to its codeshare services
Jan 23, 2015, 5:52 am
#3177
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Jan 23, 2015, 7:06 am
#3178
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
What's wrong with them today...
Jan 23, 2015, 7:48 am
#3179
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Hi guys, thanks for all your advices.
I finally ticketed below new route after wasting more than 5 hours today...
ICN-DOH-MAD-SVQ / BCN-MAD-DOH-ICN
Although MAD-SVQ and BCN-MAD legs are with IB, the total tax per person was US$120. I am not sure if this amount is correct as USDM award chart tells USDM imposes at least US$53 surcharge per one-way.
Isn't it applied to domestic routes of IB?
Anyway this booking was the most horrible experience... had no luck to meet good agents.
I finally ticketed below new route after wasting more than 5 hours today...
ICN-DOH-MAD-SVQ / BCN-MAD-DOH-ICN
Although MAD-SVQ and BCN-MAD legs are with IB, the total tax per person was US$120. I am not sure if this amount is correct as USDM award chart tells USDM imposes at least US$53 surcharge per one-way.
Isn't it applied to domestic routes of IB?
Anyway this booking was the most horrible experience... had no luck to meet good agents.
Jan 23, 2015, 9:27 am
#3180
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666