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]
Jul 10, 2015, 9:17 pm
#4291
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
Have a J flight booked with USDM BNE / CDG / BNE, the return flight is DOH / PER / BNE so long way home and really terrible 2am departure time, have found a few much better flight time returns in J via HKG or SIN or BKK etc, but no flights from these back to BNE, is it allowed to change the CDG return flight and make own way home from ASIA destinations?
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.
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.
Jul 11, 2015, 4:33 am
#4292
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
I have an intra-Europe flight on BA on my USDM ticket I booked earlier this year, and this flight keeps getting dropped from the itinerary.
It happened twice over the past month, and each time I had to call US/AA to get the flight back.
This is pretty annoying since I never know when it is going to happen again and award space may not be available at some point when I try to get back to the flight.
Does anyone else have similar experience?
It happened twice over the past month, and each time I had to call US/AA to get the flight back.
This is pretty annoying since I never know when it is going to happen again and award space may not be available at some point when I try to get back to the flight.
Does anyone else have similar experience?
Did you already contact BA and asked if your USDM ticket-no (037...) is properly displayed in the BA booking system? That could be a reason that the flight will be cancelled again and again...
Jul 11, 2015, 11:59 am
#4293
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 256
Weird, I got an AA email saying my US award to Australia via HKG/NRT for next March was changed. It's all partner flights (no US/AA), and I compared with the original itinerary, and there are no changes (besides an aircraft swap on a JL flight). But my ticket number is still 037 stock, not 001.
When they move to SABRE in October, will my 037 ticket be reissued as a 001 ticket? Does that mean that any changes I make will require a redeposit and void the routing through Asia? I was hoping to move my departure flight back one day, but there's currently no CX/JL availability, and I'm banking on something opening up closer to the departure date.
When they move to SABRE in October, will my 037 ticket be reissued as a 001 ticket? Does that mean that any changes I make will require a redeposit and void the routing through Asia? I was hoping to move my departure flight back one day, but there's currently no CX/JL availability, and I'm banking on something opening up closer to the departure date.
Jul 11, 2015, 11:59 am
#4294
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Escondido, CA
Programs: US Chairman no more. AA EXP
Posts: 682
Yep, I had IB flights dropped twice, luckily the award space went back into inventory. There is a workaround known to at least some in Winston Salem and Phoenix.
Jul 11, 2015, 12:43 pm
#4296
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
What is it that makes you think it might be the case?
The agents do not suddenly lose their memory of the rules with the switchover, and neither do the restriction notations on the tickets just get deleted with the switch.
The agents do not suddenly lose their memory of the rules with the switchover, and neither do the restriction notations on the tickets just get deleted with the switch.
Jul 22, 2015, 7:13 pm
#4297
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 19
Change Award Ticket After Outbound Has Been Taken. Any Options?
Hi,
Greetings from Tokyo! We have currently used all our USAir miles to book the Asia trip of a lifetime.
We have taken the first part of our trip, EWR-HKG-NRT, but would like to change the return portion of our trip from Tokyo -
When we booked the only thing available was horrible routing - HND-ITM-KIX-LAX-DFW-LGA. Flights have since opened up on CX, NRT-HKG-JFK since we have started traveling.
Is there anything we can do to make that routing happen instead? We will pay money, redeposit, whatever it takes. Any advice of who I should talk to or anything at all that I can do?
I called them on the phone and they were insistent there is nothing that can be done.
Help!
Greetings from Tokyo! We have currently used all our USAir miles to book the Asia trip of a lifetime.
We have taken the first part of our trip, EWR-HKG-NRT, but would like to change the return portion of our trip from Tokyo -
When we booked the only thing available was horrible routing - HND-ITM-KIX-LAX-DFW-LGA. Flights have since opened up on CX, NRT-HKG-JFK since we have started traveling.
Is there anything we can do to make that routing happen instead? We will pay money, redeposit, whatever it takes. Any advice of who I should talk to or anything at all that I can do?
I called them on the phone and they were insistent there is nothing that can be done.
Help!
Jul 22, 2015, 10:08 pm
#4298
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,551
If any of the flight times have changed, you have a shot. Sometimes even if they tighten the connection time and it's still within normal tolerance, they'll let you change. You might need a sympathetic agent though, but it might be easier if there's already availability.
You can also take a shot at the airport. You don't happen to have small children with you, do you?
If it was a round-trip award, there's not much you can do once you've begun travel in terms of cancel/redeposit, and I think US awards were still one-way if you booked it prior to the OneWorld changeover.
You can also take a shot at the airport. You don't happen to have small children with you, do you?
If it was a round-trip award, there's not much you can do once you've begun travel in terms of cancel/redeposit, and I think US awards were still one-way if you booked it prior to the OneWorld changeover.
Jul 22, 2015, 10:51 pm
#4299
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
No changes permitted at all once travel has commenced - Using cash, can always just buy a ticket , but changing the award itself is not going to be allowed in normal situations
Jul 23, 2015, 3:57 am
#4300
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 19
The flight times have changed for a few of the flights, but only by couple of minutes. Would I still have a chance?
If i were to go through the airport would I go to the CX desk? The other flights were booked on JL. No small children, just my wife and I!
We did book prior to the changeover so I guess this is a bit problematic.
What if I wanted to upgrade my ticket class, could I do that? Thinking of everything I can.
Thanks
If i were to go through the airport would I go to the CX desk? The other flights were booked on JL. No small children, just my wife and I!
We did book prior to the changeover so I guess this is a bit problematic.
What if I wanted to upgrade my ticket class, could I do that? Thinking of everything I can.
Thanks
Jul 23, 2015, 4:08 am
#4301
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
The flight times have changed for a few of the flights, but only by couple of minutes. Would I still have a chance?
If i were to go through the airport would I go to the CX desk? The other flights were booked on JL. No small children, just my wife and I!
We did book prior to the changeover so I guess this is a bit problematic.
What if I wanted to upgrade my ticket class, could I do that? Thinking of everything I can.
Thanks
If i were to go through the airport would I go to the CX desk? The other flights were booked on JL. No small children, just my wife and I!
We did book prior to the changeover so I guess this is a bit problematic.
What if I wanted to upgrade my ticket class, could I do that? Thinking of everything I can.
Thanks
With a few minutes change in time, unless it has created an illegal connection, then I think you will be out of luck especially with the large change you want to make
You cannot upgrade ticket class after travel has commenced
Pretty much - once travel commences - what you have on your ticket is what you have to do. Not even date/time changes are permitted
Jul 23, 2015, 12:44 pm
#4302
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
It was one of USDM rules, that no changes were allowed after travel has begun. And it will still be enforced, until the last USDM will be flown. There have been no reports about any successful (voluntary) change after departure as they hardly enforce this rule! So, you won't have any chance.
Jul 25, 2015, 5:58 am
#4303
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 508
I changed my USDM flight just a few days ago.
My ticket was YVR-JNB return with a long stopover in Europe. I am currently on the stopover with the continuation starting on Feb 7th 2016. anyway, I was booked on QR from JNB-DOH-LHR and then AA from LHR-JFK and finally CX from JFK-YVR. My AA flight was pushed back 2 hours meaning a 6 hour layover in Heathrow. I called AA desk and asked to change and was asked if I had flights in mind. Thought I would chance it and quoted some Etihad flights (obviously never a USDM partner) and to my surprise was confirmed and ticketed with a couple of hours. Not sure if I got lucky but cant complain as have much nicer times now.
I say give it a try....
My ticket was YVR-JNB return with a long stopover in Europe. I am currently on the stopover with the continuation starting on Feb 7th 2016. anyway, I was booked on QR from JNB-DOH-LHR and then AA from LHR-JFK and finally CX from JFK-YVR. My AA flight was pushed back 2 hours meaning a 6 hour layover in Heathrow. I called AA desk and asked to change and was asked if I had flights in mind. Thought I would chance it and quoted some Etihad flights (obviously never a USDM partner) and to my surprise was confirmed and ticketed with a couple of hours. Not sure if I got lucky but cant complain as have much nicer times now.
I say give it a try....
Jul 25, 2015, 11:52 am
#4304
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
I changed my USDM flight just a few days ago.
My ticket was YVR-JNB return with a long stopover in Europe. I am currently on the stopover with the continuation starting on Feb 7th 2016. anyway, I was booked on QR from JNB-DOH-LHR and then AA from LHR-JFK and finally CX from JFK-YVR. My AA flight was pushed back 2 hours meaning a 6 hour layover in Heathrow. I called AA desk and asked to change and was asked if I had flights in mind. Thought I would chance it and quoted some Etihad flights (obviously never a USDM partner) and to my surprise was confirmed and ticketed with a couple of hours. Not sure if I got lucky but cant complain as have much nicer times now.
I say give it a try....
My ticket was YVR-JNB return with a long stopover in Europe. I am currently on the stopover with the continuation starting on Feb 7th 2016. anyway, I was booked on QR from JNB-DOH-LHR and then AA from LHR-JFK and finally CX from JFK-YVR. My AA flight was pushed back 2 hours meaning a 6 hour layover in Heathrow. I called AA desk and asked to change and was asked if I had flights in mind. Thought I would chance it and quoted some Etihad flights (obviously never a USDM partner) and to my surprise was confirmed and ticketed with a couple of hours. Not sure if I got lucky but cant complain as have much nicer times now.
I say give it a try....
The rest - free rebooking after a schedule change - is very common and nothing special.
Jul 26, 2015, 2:27 pm
#4305
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
We have taken the first part of our trip, EWR-HKG-NRT, but would like to change the return portion of our trip from Tokyo -
When we booked the only thing available was horrible routing - HND-ITM-KIX-LAX-DFW-LGA. Flights have since opened up on CX, NRT-HKG-JFK since we have started traveling.
Is there anything we can do to make that routing happen instead? We will pay money, redeposit, whatever it takes. Any advice of who I should talk to or anything at all that I can do?
I called them on the phone and they were insistent there is nothing that can be done.
When we booked the only thing available was horrible routing - HND-ITM-KIX-LAX-DFW-LGA. Flights have since opened up on CX, NRT-HKG-JFK since we have started traveling.
Is there anything we can do to make that routing happen instead? We will pay money, redeposit, whatever it takes. Any advice of who I should talk to or anything at all that I can do?
I called them on the phone and they were insistent there is nothing that can be done.
In my experience, if you now have an AA ticket (ticket number starts with 001), then you may succeed in getting an AA agent to make the change for you. If you still have only a US ticket, then AA agents will insist a US agent handle it.
If there were recent time changes, even by a few minutes, then AA might have reissued the ticket. Best to check.