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]
May 8, 2014, 9:59 pm
#841
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Whatever is the highest cabin which you use for any sector, that cabin's price will be applicable to the entire round trip , so you would be charged the 1st class redemption rate
May 8, 2014, 10:48 pm
#842
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
For an all US/AA itinerary booked using US Dividend Miles, USA-MEX, the total miles would be the mileage required for each outbound + return.
Just price one online on the US website and you'll see. Be aware that the mileage required varies depending upon the US low/medium/high mileage levels for a given flight on a given day.
May 9, 2014, 3:45 am
#843
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 90
Ok thanks for your input.
Which is the best site to check MH availability in F? BA.com seems not to show anything.
Are 2 seats on either LHR/CDG - KUL realistic?
thx!
May 9, 2014, 5:03 am
#844
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7
BA.com shows just fine. It's just the availability is sporadic.
Example:
Dec 29th 2014: CDG-KUL, 4 seats available in F on MH.
Example:
Dec 29th 2014: CDG-KUL, 4 seats available in F on MH.
May 9, 2014, 9:36 am
#845
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Delta, GM; HHonors, Gold
Posts: 258
So I booked a trip this a.m. that included two tickets, outbound on AA, business, JFK-BCN and inbound BA, 1st, LHR-JFK. I DID get charged the surcharges but what is confusing me is that it is SIGNIFICANTLY higher than what is quoted on either the AA website or the BA website - BA quoted $616, AA is $612 and USAir charged $812. Should I try to challenge this and how would I ever go about doing it? It IS ticketed. Thanks!
May 9, 2014, 9:46 am
#846
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
So I booked a trip this a.m. that included two tickets, outbound on AA, business, JFK-BCN and inbound BA, 1st, LHR-JFK. I DID get charged the surcharges but what is confusing me is that it is SIGNIFICANTLY higher than what is quoted on either the AA website or the BA website - BA quoted $616, AA is $612 and USAir charged $812. Should I try to challenge this and how would I ever go about doing it? It IS ticketed. Thanks!
AA YR surcharge (YR) $428.00 -< this should not be charged by USDM
US International Departure Tax (US) $17.50
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $4.50
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB) $232.80
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $67.00
BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $428.00
US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.50
May 9, 2014, 10:47 am
#847
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Delta, GM; HHonors, Gold
Posts: 258
BA YQ is $428 on this route. See breakdown of correct taxes from ITA:
AA YR surcharge (YR) $428.00 -< this should not be charged by USDM
US International Departure Tax (US) $17.50
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $4.50
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB) $232.80
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $67.00
BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $428.00
US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.50
AA YR surcharge (YR) $428.00 -< this should not be charged by USDM
US International Departure Tax (US) $17.50
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $4.50
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB) $232.80
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $67.00
BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $428.00
US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.50
May 9, 2014, 12:38 pm
#848
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: 10^7 mm from Ȱ
Programs: Hyatt D/HHonors D/ SPG P/ Marriott P/ IHG P/ UA 1K/ AA EXP/ DL D
Posts: 1,976
May 9, 2014, 1:46 pm
#849
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
So I booked a trip this a.m. that included two tickets, outbound on AA, business, JFK-BCN and inbound BA, 1st, LHR-JFK. I DID get charged the surcharges but what is confusing me is that it is SIGNIFICANTLY higher than what is quoted on either the AA website or the BA website - BA quoted $616, AA is $612 and USAir charged $812. Should I try to challenge this and how would I ever go about doing it? It IS ticketed. Thanks!
With there being a surcharge, then the ticket is no longer classed as being free by the US govt and so as well as the extra surcharge of $428 to pay, there are also some additional taxes
so will be $367 plus $428 surcharge plus $50 award fee , so a total of 845.20
The extra cost of using BA on the inbound ends up being $467.50 rather than just the extra $428
Last edited by Dave Noble; May 9, 2014 at 1:52 pm
May 9, 2014, 8:56 pm
#850
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 24
95% sure I got hit with the full YQ fuel surcharge
My new routing is SFO-LHR in BA F, <stopover>, LHR-MXP in BA J, MXP-HKG in CX F, <destination>, HKG-SFO in CX F.
I called last night to price out the itinerary. The connection was poor but what I *heard* was that this was going to cost 55k miles and $864.79 in taxes which makes about zero sense. Very sadly the connection was dropped and I went to sleep so we'll never know.
I called this afternoon and was told the itinerary was going to be 120k but because I have the US Airways Mastercard I got a 5k discount (I thought that was only for US Airways flights?). And the taxes came to $412.79 + $50 processing fee.
Now, ITA matrix is telling me that fuel surcharge is $452 for the SFO-LHR leg while the LHR-MXP leg is $52. So I'm not quite sure where the $412.79 comes from but it *appears* that I was indeed hit with the YQ.
In any case 115k DMs + $462.79 for flights around the holidays. I'll take it.
May 9, 2014, 9:21 pm
#851
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: 10^7 mm from Ȱ
Programs: Hyatt D/HHonors D/ SPG P/ Marriott P/ IHG P/ UA 1K/ AA EXP/ DL D
Posts: 1,976
I changed my routing on this slightly but was still expecting to get hit with the YQ surcharge.
My new routing is SFO-LHR in BA F, <stopover>, LHR-MXP in BA J, MXP-HKG in CX F, <destination>, HKG-SFO in CX F.
I called last night to price out the itinerary. The connection was poor but what I *heard* was that this was going to cost 55k miles and $864.79 in taxes which makes about zero sense. Very sadly the connection was dropped and I went to sleep so we'll never know.
I called this afternoon and was told the itinerary was going to be 120k but because I have the US Airways Mastercard I got a 5k discount (I thought that was only for US Airways flights?). And the taxes came to $412.79 + $50 processing fee.
Now, ITA matrix is telling me that fuel surcharge is $452 for the SFO-LHR leg while the LHR-MXP leg is $52. So I'm not quite sure where the $412.79 comes from but it *appears* that I was indeed hit with the YQ.
In any case 115k DMs + $462.79 for flights around the holidays. I'll take it.
My new routing is SFO-LHR in BA F, <stopover>, LHR-MXP in BA J, MXP-HKG in CX F, <destination>, HKG-SFO in CX F.
I called last night to price out the itinerary. The connection was poor but what I *heard* was that this was going to cost 55k miles and $864.79 in taxes which makes about zero sense. Very sadly the connection was dropped and I went to sleep so we'll never know.
I called this afternoon and was told the itinerary was going to be 120k but because I have the US Airways Mastercard I got a 5k discount (I thought that was only for US Airways flights?). And the taxes came to $412.79 + $50 processing fee.
Now, ITA matrix is telling me that fuel surcharge is $452 for the SFO-LHR leg while the LHR-MXP leg is $52. So I'm not quite sure where the $412.79 comes from but it *appears* that I was indeed hit with the YQ.
In any case 115k DMs + $462.79 for flights around the holidays. I'll take it.
At any rate, 115K miles plus $400+ tax and fees together is a steal, but again based on your description, you didn't ticket this itinerary, in which case you should do so immediately.
Now if you call back next time, you may not get such a great deal any more.
May 9, 2014, 9:52 pm
#852
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 216
I changed my routing on this slightly but was still expecting to get hit with the YQ surcharge.
My new routing is SFO-LHR in BA F, <stopover>, LHR-MXP in BA J, MXP-HKG in CX F, <destination>, HKG-SFO in CX F.
I called last night to price out the itinerary. The connection was poor but what I *heard* was that this was going to cost 55k miles and $864.79 in taxes which makes about zero sense. Very sadly the connection was dropped and I went to sleep so we'll never know.
I called this afternoon and was told the itinerary was going to be 120k but because I have the US Airways Mastercard I got a 5k discount (I thought that was only for US Airways flights?). And the taxes came to $412.79 + $50 processing fee.
Now, ITA matrix is telling me that fuel surcharge is $452 for the SFO-LHR leg while the LHR-MXP leg is $52. So I'm not quite sure where the $412.79 comes from but it *appears* that I was indeed hit with the YQ.
In any case 115k DMs + $462.79 for flights around the holidays. I'll take it.
My new routing is SFO-LHR in BA F, <stopover>, LHR-MXP in BA J, MXP-HKG in CX F, <destination>, HKG-SFO in CX F.
I called last night to price out the itinerary. The connection was poor but what I *heard* was that this was going to cost 55k miles and $864.79 in taxes which makes about zero sense. Very sadly the connection was dropped and I went to sleep so we'll never know.
I called this afternoon and was told the itinerary was going to be 120k but because I have the US Airways Mastercard I got a 5k discount (I thought that was only for US Airways flights?). And the taxes came to $412.79 + $50 processing fee.
Now, ITA matrix is telling me that fuel surcharge is $452 for the SFO-LHR leg while the LHR-MXP leg is $52. So I'm not quite sure where the $412.79 comes from but it *appears* that I was indeed hit with the YQ.
In any case 115k DMs + $462.79 for flights around the holidays. I'll take it.
May 9, 2014, 10:02 pm
#853
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 237
You definitely didn't get hit with the YQ surcharge. Since you're stopping over at LHR, you got hit with the United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty tax. If I were you I would book it now...Steal deal IMO.
I changed my routing on this slightly but was still expecting to get hit with the YQ surcharge.
My new routing is SFO-LHR in BA F, <stopover>, LHR-MXP in BA J, MXP-HKG in CX F, <destination>, HKG-SFO in CX F.
I called last night to price out the itinerary. The connection was poor but what I *heard* was that this was going to cost 55k miles and $864.79 in taxes which makes about zero sense. Very sadly the connection was dropped and I went to sleep so we'll never know.
I called this afternoon and was told the itinerary was going to be 120k but because I have the US Airways Mastercard I got a 5k discount (I thought that was only for US Airways flights?). And the taxes came to $412.79 + $50 processing fee.
Now, ITA matrix is telling me that fuel surcharge is $452 for the SFO-LHR leg while the LHR-MXP leg is $52. So I'm not quite sure where the $412.79 comes from but it *appears* that I was indeed hit with the YQ.
In any case 115k DMs + $462.79 for flights around the holidays. I'll take it.
My new routing is SFO-LHR in BA F, <stopover>, LHR-MXP in BA J, MXP-HKG in CX F, <destination>, HKG-SFO in CX F.
I called last night to price out the itinerary. The connection was poor but what I *heard* was that this was going to cost 55k miles and $864.79 in taxes which makes about zero sense. Very sadly the connection was dropped and I went to sleep so we'll never know.
I called this afternoon and was told the itinerary was going to be 120k but because I have the US Airways Mastercard I got a 5k discount (I thought that was only for US Airways flights?). And the taxes came to $412.79 + $50 processing fee.
Now, ITA matrix is telling me that fuel surcharge is $452 for the SFO-LHR leg while the LHR-MXP leg is $52. So I'm not quite sure where the $412.79 comes from but it *appears* that I was indeed hit with the YQ.
In any case 115k DMs + $462.79 for flights around the holidays. I'll take it.
May 10, 2014, 11:27 am
#854
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 90
TAM 773ERs First Class to/from EU - anyone any luck?
Dear experts,
I understand TAM will discontinue it's First Class on 773ERs from NOV01 on
Until then it should be possible to book using DM
Has anyone had had any luck on the European routes (LHR, FRA, CDG) ?
Where to look for availability - ba.com? I haven't seen anything on there...
THX!
I understand TAM will discontinue it's First Class on 773ERs from NOV01 on
Until then it should be possible to book using DM
Has anyone had had any luck on the European routes (LHR, FRA, CDG) ?
Where to look for availability - ba.com? I haven't seen anything on there...
THX!
May 10, 2014, 2:20 pm
#855
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 24
Will you stop > 24 hours at MXP? Based on your description, I guess not. So you were NOT hit by YQ, but instead, the seemingly high tax is from APD.
At any rate, 115K miles plus $400+ tax and fees together is a steal, but again based on your description, you didn't ticket this itinerary, in which case you should do so immediately.
Now if you call back next time, you may not get such a great deal any more.
At any rate, 115K miles plus $400+ tax and fees together is a steal, but again based on your description, you didn't ticket this itinerary, in which case you should do so immediately.
Now if you call back next time, you may not get such a great deal any more.
