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 29, 2015, 12:52 pm
#4321
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I originally booked SYD-DFW-PHX-SAN, and wanted to switch DFW-PHX-SAN to something better. I had gotten US to switch DFW-PHX-SAN to DFW-LAX on a 767 in F, intending to add LAX-SAN when that opened up, forgetting that AA considers adding a segment as requiring a reinstate/reclaim (regardless if the itin had originally been ticketed to the same end point). So, when LAX-SAN opened up, AA couldn't do it but after multiple transfers a US agent did it easily.
I have never heard of that site, but I am usually able to see my tickets on aa.com by going to www.refunds.aa.com and entering the ticket number and my name. That shows the VCRs of the ticket and their status.
I made a change to a dividend miles booking a week ago for a trip departing in December, I was issued a 001 ticket number and the booking shows as ticketed on the AA website.
BUT I am unable to see the 001 ticket on Saudia.com , could you please check your ticket number on there to see if yours shows up ?
BUT I am unable to see the 001 ticket on Saudia.com , could you please check your ticket number on there to see if yours shows up ?
Jul 29, 2015, 1:55 pm
#4322
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
I have never heard of that site, but I am usually able to see my tickets on aa.com by going to www.refunds.aa.com and entering the ticket number and my name. That shows the VCRs of the ticket and their status.
Finally I can rest easy, as this does show the missing BA segments as booked and "OK" of my recently US->AA'ed ticket, that the e-mail receipt sent at time of reticketing was missing.
Aug 1, 2015, 8:29 am
#4323
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Very glad to hear it. It still might be a good idea to ring BA and ask them to verify that they see the ticket number in their version of your reservation. Then you can truly rest easy.
Aug 3, 2015, 1:55 pm
#4324
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,166
When I made the original booking with US Airways, I wanted to add a stopover but there was no availability on the dates I needed it, so I completed a booking without a stopover.
Today, I was randomly searching for availability and found a seat had opened up on the date that would give me the stopover I wanted.
So I called US/AA to make a change and add the stopover, but I was told my ticket had flipped to an AA ticket (001 stock), and because of this, I can no longer add a stopover.
Would I have any chance if I HUCA a few times, or is this some sort of a system-wide restriction the agents just have no control over?
Today, I was randomly searching for availability and found a seat had opened up on the date that would give me the stopover I wanted.
So I called US/AA to make a change and add the stopover, but I was told my ticket had flipped to an AA ticket (001 stock), and because of this, I can no longer add a stopover.
Would I have any chance if I HUCA a few times, or is this some sort of a system-wide restriction the agents just have no control over?
Aug 3, 2015, 2:30 pm
#4325
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
When I made the original booking with US Airways, I wanted to add a stopover but there was no availability on the dates I needed it, so I completed a booking without a stopover.
Today, I was randomly searching for availability and found a seat had opened up on the date that would give me the stopover I wanted.
So I called US/AA to make a change and add the stopover, but I was told my ticket had flipped to an AA ticket (001 stock), and because of this, I can no longer add a stopover.
Would I have any chance if I HUCA a few times, or is this some sort of a system-wide restriction the agents just have no control over?
Today, I was randomly searching for availability and found a seat had opened up on the date that would give me the stopover I wanted.
So I called US/AA to make a change and add the stopover, but I was told my ticket had flipped to an AA ticket (001 stock), and because of this, I can no longer add a stopover.
Would I have any chance if I HUCA a few times, or is this some sort of a system-wide restriction the agents just have no control over?
Aug 3, 2015, 3:07 pm
#4326
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
When I made the original booking with US Airways, I wanted to add a stopover but there was no availability on the dates I needed it, so I completed a booking without a stopover.
Today, I was randomly searching for availability and found a seat had opened up on the date that would give me the stopover I wanted.
So I called US/AA to make a change and add the stopover, but I was told my ticket had flipped to an AA ticket (001 stock), and because of this, I can no longer add a stopover.
Would I have any chance if I HUCA a few times, or is this some sort of a system-wide restriction the agents just have no control over?
Today, I was randomly searching for availability and found a seat had opened up on the date that would give me the stopover I wanted.
So I called US/AA to make a change and add the stopover, but I was told my ticket had flipped to an AA ticket (001 stock), and because of this, I can no longer add a stopover.
Would I have any chance if I HUCA a few times, or is this some sort of a system-wide restriction the agents just have no control over?
Aug 3, 2015, 6:07 pm
#4327
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,166
She even tried to tie everything up together with the changes I wanted, but the system just wouldn't allow it.
I guess this is it.
Aug 7, 2015, 9:10 am
#4328
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
Thanks, I called them again and asked for a US agent, but even the US agent said any changes made to the ticket now will have to follow AA's award rules, so I can't make this change without paying a lot more miles.
She even tried to tie everything up together with the changes I wanted, but the system just wouldn't allow it.
I guess this is it.
She even tried to tie everything up together with the changes I wanted, but the system just wouldn't allow it.
I guess this is it.
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.
I'm guessing that everyone who booked tickets in March 2015 for far out dates up to T-330 (past the October 2015 US->AA reservation system cutover) now has an AA ticket... wonder if there will be problems if their ticket has a stopover/TPAC+TATL "mini-RTW" routing and there's a schedule change that requires revalidation...
Aug 7, 2015, 10:32 am
#4329
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
Just that making any changes to routing or anything else - anything that is not even exhange - is quite likely to cause problems, IMO.
Aug 7, 2015, 10:37 am
#4330
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
I'm guessing that everyone who booked tickets in March 2015 for far out dates up to T-330 (past the October 2015 US->AA reservation system cutover) now has an AA ticket... wonder if there will be problems if their ticket has a stopover/TPAC+TATL "mini-RTW" routing and there's a schedule change that requires revalidation...
f a new ticket was issued , that would be a reissue not a revalidation
Aug 7, 2015, 10:59 am
#4331
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
Aug 7, 2015, 2:34 pm
#4332
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
'Simple' revalidations of such ticktes (date changes) have been reported to be free of charge according the current AAdvantage rules. Bigger changes (i.ex. new routing with included stopover) have been denied, only possible to canx tickets and reissue tickets according AAdvantage rules.
Aug 7, 2015, 5:53 pm
#4333
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,725
If my itinerary was previously ticketed and there is now an involuntary schedule change, do I need to get the tickets revalidated? It looks like my itinerary previously ticketed for less than the number of miles required, so I'd rather not revalidate unless absolutely necessary. Could I invoke DoT protection?
Aug 7, 2015, 6:07 pm
#4334
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
If my itinerary was previously ticketed and there is now an involuntary schedule change, do I need to get the tickets revalidated? It looks like my itinerary previously ticketed for less than the number of miles required, so I'd rather not revalidate unless absolutely necessary. Could I invoke DoT protection?
This type of revalidation shouldn't affect the ticket, or the number of miles used to purchase the ticket.
Aug 7, 2015, 6:09 pm
#4335
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
If my itinerary was previously ticketed and there is now an involuntary schedule change, do I need to get the tickets revalidated? It looks like my itinerary previously ticketed for less than the number of miles required, so I'd rather not revalidate unless absolutely necessary. Could I invoke DoT protection?