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 19, 2014, 5:36 am
#976
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,819
$730 in taxes.....say what?????
I put a hold on a itinerary to AKL last night that involves flying on QF....
DCA-LAX-SYD-AKL and back. I found it because AA had low inventory on the routes and wanted to use some of my 999,999,999 Dividend miles.
AA came out at 75,000 miles and $67.00 in taxes (rounded) per seat. US came out at 80,000 and $730 in taxes.
How the heck are the taxes nearly $700 more when booking on US -for the identical routing.
DCA-LAX-SYD-AKL and back. I found it because AA had low inventory on the routes and wanted to use some of my 999,999,999 Dividend miles.
AA came out at 75,000 miles and $67.00 in taxes (rounded) per seat. US came out at 80,000 and $730 in taxes.
How the heck are the taxes nearly $700 more when booking on US -for the identical routing.
May 19, 2014, 5:52 am
#977
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
I put a hold on a itinerary to AKL last night that involves flying on QF....
DCA-LAX-SYD-AKL and back. I found it because AA had low inventory on the routes and wanted to use some of my 999,999,999 Dividend miles.
AA came out at 75,000 miles and $67.00 in taxes (rounded) per seat. US came out at 80,000 and $730 in taxes.
How the heck are the taxes nearly $700 more when booking on US -for the identical routing.
DCA-LAX-SYD-AKL and back. I found it because AA had low inventory on the routes and wanted to use some of my 999,999,999 Dividend miles.
AA came out at 75,000 miles and $67.00 in taxes (rounded) per seat. US came out at 80,000 and $730 in taxes.
How the heck are the taxes nearly $700 more when booking on US -for the identical routing.
May 19, 2014, 6:13 am
#978
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,625
Qantas's carrier surcharge for LAX-SYD-AKL r/t is $780 in business class , so a total taxes of $730 doesn't seem to be explained by the surcharges, but would almost certainly be the cause
the genuine taxes could be sub $100 depending on whether you are connecting through Australia same day or staying overnight. If staying overnight then there are additional AU taxes to pay
I would suggest calling up US and asking them to reprice not including surcharges since it should only be BA and IB that have surcharges
the genuine taxes could be sub $100 depending on whether you are connecting through Australia same day or staying overnight. If staying overnight then there are additional AU taxes to pay
I would suggest calling up US and asking them to reprice not including surcharges since it should only be BA and IB that have surcharges
Last edited by Dave Noble; May 19, 2014 at 6:42 am
May 19, 2014, 6:16 am
#979
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
May 19, 2014, 8:18 am
#981
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: A hotel near a major airport
Programs: SPG Platinum . Hyatt Diamond . Delta Diamond . All kinds of car rental statuses
Posts: 464
HND : NRT open jaw ?
I'm trying to piece together an itinerary but I keep coming up against availability issues.
if I fly into HND and back out of NRT is that an open jaw?
if I fly into HND and back out of NRT is that an open jaw?
May 19, 2014, 8:39 am
#982
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
No. Two airports in the same city in most cases are considered "co-terminal" -- in other words, the same city. What I always do when booking with an agent is tell them I'd like to fly into "Tokyo; Haneda Airport," then out of "Tokyo; Narita airport." Emphasis on Tokyo.
May 19, 2014, 8:53 am
#983
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Sydney
Programs: Star Alliance, Velocity Rewards, Dividend Miles, Priority Club RA
Posts: 15
Does US really need DM number to search?
Just off phone to DM and agent said they wouldn't search for any flights without my DM number. Happened twice today. Never been asked before. Is this a new rule or did I get unlucky twice today?
Also, agent said can't book award travel with CX or JAL only BA, IB or AA as USAirways does not have agreements with CX and JAL yet (they are coming...). HAs anyone been told this before? I did HUACA but got nowhere again.
Trying to get SYD/HKG/LAX or ORD then ORD or LAX/HKG/SYD Jan 14 - Feb 4 or thereabouts. Can see availability in business on both JAL and CX but agents say they can't do...hmmppfhhh! Have tried various routings but all relied on JAL or CX for some parts as AA limited. Any suggestions?
Also, agent said can't book award travel with CX or JAL only BA, IB or AA as USAirways does not have agreements with CX and JAL yet (they are coming...). HAs anyone been told this before? I did HUACA but got nowhere again.
Trying to get SYD/HKG/LAX or ORD then ORD or LAX/HKG/SYD Jan 14 - Feb 4 or thereabouts. Can see availability in business on both JAL and CX but agents say they can't do...hmmppfhhh! Have tried various routings but all relied on JAL or CX for some parts as AA limited. Any suggestions?
May 19, 2014, 9:43 am
#984
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,468
Just off phone to DM and agent said they wouldn't search for any flights without my DM number. Happened twice today. Never been asked before. Is this a new rule or did I get unlucky twice today?
Also, agent said can't book award travel with CX or JAL only BA, IB or AA as USAirways does not have agreements with CX and JAL yet (they are coming...). HAs anyone been told this before? I did HUACA but got nowhere again.
Trying to get SYD/HKG/LAX or ORD then ORD or LAX/HKG/SYD Jan 14 - Feb 4 or thereabouts. Can see availability in business on both JAL and CX but agents say they can't do...hmmppfhhh! Have tried various routings but all relied on JAL or CX for some parts as AA limited. Any suggestions?
Also, agent said can't book award travel with CX or JAL only BA, IB or AA as USAirways does not have agreements with CX and JAL yet (they are coming...). HAs anyone been told this before? I did HUACA but got nowhere again.
Trying to get SYD/HKG/LAX or ORD then ORD or LAX/HKG/SYD Jan 14 - Feb 4 or thereabouts. Can see availability in business on both JAL and CX but agents say they can't do...hmmppfhhh! Have tried various routings but all relied on JAL or CX for some parts as AA limited. Any suggestions?
May 19, 2014, 10:27 am
#985
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: A hotel near a major airport
Programs: SPG Platinum . Hyatt Diamond . Delta Diamond . All kinds of car rental statuses
Posts: 464
No. Two airports in the same city in most cases are considered "co-terminal" -- in other words, the same city. What I always do when booking with an agent is tell them I'd like to fly into "Tokyo; Haneda Airport," then out of "Tokyo; Narita airport." Emphasis on Tokyo.
May 19, 2014, 10:58 am
#986
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
May 19, 2014, 7:34 pm
#987
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
Assuming this is the outbound journey of the ticket
CX is the 1st carrier who crosses from TC3 to TC2 so CX's baggage policies will apply ( see http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_A...r-journey.html ) so your luggage allowance will be that of Cathay Pacific
If you have already flown the outbound and this is the inbound journey, then the luggage allowance that applied to the outbound will apply to the inbound
CX is the 1st carrier who crosses from TC3 to TC2 so CX's baggage policies will apply ( see http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_A...r-journey.html ) so your luggage allowance will be that of Cathay Pacific
If you have already flown the outbound and this is the inbound journey, then the luggage allowance that applied to the outbound will apply to the inbound
May 19, 2014, 7:39 pm
#988
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,625
Dave
May 20, 2014, 12:04 am
#989
Join Date: May 2012
Location: NY
Programs: AA Plat Pro, KrisFlyer Elite Gold
Posts: 578
has anyone else gotten IB awards to "stick" yet? They keep randomly cancelling mine (I assume IT issue).
May 20, 2014, 2:19 am
#990
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 237
Thank you for the information.
The whole route is DFW-ORD-HKG-ICN(Destination)-HKG(12hr layover)-LHR-BOS-CLT-DFW.
I'm expecting some checked bags from the inbound...BA policy works best for me since they allow 4 32KG bags including the OWE extra.
And since I'm laying over at HKG and not overnighting, I wouldn't need to check my bags again right? I can be free to check out Hong Kong for a day?
The whole route is DFW-ORD-HKG-ICN(Destination)-HKG(12hr layover)-LHR-BOS-CLT-DFW.
I'm expecting some checked bags from the inbound...BA policy works best for me since they allow 4 32KG bags including the OWE extra.
And since I'm laying over at HKG and not overnighting, I wouldn't need to check my bags again right? I can be free to check out Hong Kong for a day?