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 programs 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]
Jun 16, 2015, 12:58 pm
#4261
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Hi all,
Before Dividend Miles merged with AAdvantage, I booked PHL-DOH-IKA; SYZ-DOH-PHL in Business Class for 120K miles, taxes and a $50 booking fee.
Fast forward to last week: The dates were no longer going to work for me, so I called the AA Gold desk to request a change of dates, leaving the city pairs the same. They completed the requested change without incident.
A few minutes later, I noticed that the agent had booked me a 30-minute connection in DOH. I called Qatar Airways and they confirmed that (a) a 30-minute connection is illegal and (b) Qatar Airways couldn't even see my inbound flight, presumably because of this error.
I called the AA Gold desk and explained the situation. When it became clear that no reasonable alternative was available, they offered to refund the miles and taxes, but not the service fee. While I fully believe that the service fee shouldn't be refunded if I were to cancel an itinerary, this particular cancellation was solely due to an error made by a US/AA agent.
Do I have any recourse?
Before Dividend Miles merged with AAdvantage, I booked PHL-DOH-IKA; SYZ-DOH-PHL in Business Class for 120K miles, taxes and a $50 booking fee.
Fast forward to last week: The dates were no longer going to work for me, so I called the AA Gold desk to request a change of dates, leaving the city pairs the same. They completed the requested change without incident.
A few minutes later, I noticed that the agent had booked me a 30-minute connection in DOH. I called Qatar Airways and they confirmed that (a) a 30-minute connection is illegal and (b) Qatar Airways couldn't even see my inbound flight, presumably because of this error.
I called the AA Gold desk and explained the situation. When it became clear that no reasonable alternative was available, they offered to refund the miles and taxes, but not the service fee. While I fully believe that the service fee shouldn't be refunded if I were to cancel an itinerary, this particular cancellation was solely due to an error made by a US/AA agent.
Do I have any recourse?
/Moderator
Jun 16, 2015, 3:21 pm
#4262
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 224
The dates in June that I had originally booked were unfavourable for me, so I requested to change the trip to December. The agent found appropriate flights and ticketed the itinerary for me to my new dates. American Airlines doesn't charge a change fee on award tickets, provided the city pairs remain the same.
The problem is that the new itinerary (which I intended to use) was booked with an illegal connection, rendering it useless. Once I recognized this (after I was off the phone), I called back to ask to have the booking shifted back to the original dates, but they were gone. There also weren't any available flights on the dates I'd requested.
Thus, I was forced to cancel the itinerary. Had the December option not been available, I would have travelled in June.
The problem is that the new itinerary (which I intended to use) was booked with an illegal connection, rendering it useless. Once I recognized this (after I was off the phone), I called back to ask to have the booking shifted back to the original dates, but they were gone. There also weren't any available flights on the dates I'd requested.
Thus, I was forced to cancel the itinerary. Had the December option not been available, I would have travelled in June.
Jun 18, 2015, 11:55 am
#4263
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,724
So once travel on an itinerary has been commenced, I can't make any changes to the remaining legs. I don't want to call in either to make the changes lest the US agents make a mistake.
But is it possible to ask a gate agent to take an earlier flight if there is availability?
But is it possible to ask a gate agent to take an earlier flight if there is availability?
Jun 18, 2015, 12:04 pm
#4264
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
So once travel on an itinerary has been commenced, I can't make any changes to the remaining legs. I don't want to call in either to make the changes lest the US agents make a mistake.
But is it possible to ask a gate agent to take an earlier flight if there is availability?
But is it possible to ask a gate agent to take an earlier flight if there is availability?
Jun 18, 2015, 3:35 pm
#4265
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
So once travel on an itinerary has been commenced, I can't make any changes to the remaining legs. I don't want to call in either to make the changes lest the US agents make a mistake.
But is it possible to ask a gate agent to take an earlier flight if there is availability?
But is it possible to ask a gate agent to take an earlier flight if there is availability?
Jun 18, 2015, 5:01 pm
#4266
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,724
Maybe possible to change with an agent at the airport at checkin as RogerD408 suggested.
Jun 18, 2015, 5:09 pm
#4267
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
If on an intra EU flight, I would not plan on getting to the airport earlier and getting on an earlier flight to that which you are booked on
Jun 18, 2015, 5:21 pm
#4268
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
The only exception has been Qantas on their domestic connecting services from international in sydney... they'll roll you forward if your incoming flight has arrived early... but they pretty much do that as standard anyway.
Jun 18, 2015, 10:12 pm
#4269
Join Date: Feb 2001
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select, Accor Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,228
It's certainly possible to ask. I have no experience of BA in this situation, but chances are generally higher if it suits the airline and/or if you have status. In particular, if the flight you are on is very heavily sold or over-sold and the earlier flight has a much lower load, they may be quite happy to shift you. (Of course, in the opposite situation, the chances fall to zero.)
Jun 22, 2015, 11:06 pm
#4270
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
ETKTs can be revalidated, if same routing etc.
AFIK as revalidation can cause problems that the corresponding carrier doesn't always receive the proper informations transferred, ETKTs generally will be reissued, even if it's only a flight/date change with the same city pairs...
AFIK as revalidation can cause problems that the corresponding carrier doesn't always receive the proper informations transferred, ETKTs generally will be reissued, even if it's only a flight/date change with the same city pairs...
That is not correct. Ticket validity date (award or revenue, doesn't matter) on all airlines is 1 year from date of issue. Any airline that shows the ticket validity date will show that it expires/is valid until 1 year from issue date and no longer. After 1 year the ticket coupon value expires if unused. It is generally not extended upon reticketing (should not be), but sometimes (with some airlines) it may be (wrongly) extended upon reticket to be 1 year from the reticket date. That would so happen if a brand new ticket is issued manually.
No - It isn't
From section 3.3 of the IATA general conditions of carriage ( see http://www.transportrecht.de/transpo...1145517747.pdf for example )
From section 3.3 of the IATA general conditions of carriage ( see http://www.transportrecht.de/transpo...1145517747.pdf for example )
3.2 Period of Validity
A ticket is valid for carriage for one year from the date of commencement of travel or if no portion of the ticket is used, from the date of issue thereof, except as otherwise provided in the ticket, these Conditions or Carrier's Regulations.
In my case, I always make the changes after travel started, so the one year from commencement of travel rule applies.A ticket is valid for carriage for one year from the date of commencement of travel or if no portion of the ticket is used, from the date of issue thereof, except as otherwise provided in the ticket, these Conditions or Carrier's Regulations.
IB has done this for me, but BA has not. But that's just my one-off experience.
Jun 22, 2015, 11:38 pm
#4271
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Ticket can be issued for travel commencing up to around 355 days prior to departure date and the return date can be 1 year after that. Whether you make changes before travel starts or after travel has commenced makes no difference to its validity
Jun 30, 2015, 8:14 am
#4272
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: US CP, *wood Gold, Marriott gold, Hilton something
Posts: 1,458
US desk says they can't change award ticket on BA?
Morning folks,
A year ago, I cashed in a few miles for an FC reward from IAD-LHR- JNB. The routing is on British Air.
On the return, the JNB-LHR leg didn't have any FC seats. So, I've been calling in once every few weeks to see if anything opened up.
Today, two agents both told me they couldn't even look because it's "against regulations to look at seats on another carrier." When I pressed them, insisting I'd made some changes just two weeks ago, they told me their colleague must have "violated policy".
So am I really up a creek on trying to move from coach to FC?
A year ago, I cashed in a few miles for an FC reward from IAD-LHR- JNB. The routing is on British Air.
On the return, the JNB-LHR leg didn't have any FC seats. So, I've been calling in once every few weeks to see if anything opened up.
Today, two agents both told me they couldn't even look because it's "against regulations to look at seats on another carrier." When I pressed them, insisting I'd made some changes just two weeks ago, they told me their colleague must have "violated policy".
So am I really up a creek on trying to move from coach to FC?
Jun 30, 2015, 8:52 am
#4273
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
We've moved your query from the "Combined Airline and Prigram" forum to this extant thread dealing with one world awards secured with US Dividend Miles.
/Moderator
/Moderator
Jul 1, 2015, 4:07 am
#4274
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Norway
Programs: EB*D, Hilton Diamond, Carlson Gold Elite, Amex Plat
Posts: 159
Does anyone have experience with changing the destination for last leg at check-in desk? I have a booking with Cathay that ends with HKG-PVG, where HKG is a stop over for 3 days. Just wondering about the possibilities to change the last leg til HKG-PEK at check-in, since itīs in business with Cathay. Donīt know how flexible they are?
Jul 1, 2015, 4:14 am
#4275
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
Does anyone have experience with changing the destination for last leg at check-in desk? I have a booking with Cathay that ends with HKG-PVG, where HKG is a stop over for 3 days. Just wondering about the possibilities to change the last leg til HKG-PEK at check-in, since itīs in business with Cathay. Donīt know how flexible they are?