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 25, 2014, 6:08 am
#1036
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
It's easier if you call BA. They can let you know the US and the AA PNR. You can also call US and then AA, they can retreive your PNR with flight-#, date and name.
May 25, 2014, 8:45 am
#1037
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Buf
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott PP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 46
Oneworld award travel
For those of you who have used your dividend miles to book award travel since the merger. How do you do this online?
I try to use the award travel page on US' site, but cannot seem to locate any options besides US. Are we free to use our dividend miles on Oneworld airlines yet?
If not, is it common for summer travel on US to Europe in F to run 280k or so per person?
I try to use the award travel page on US' site, but cannot seem to locate any options besides US. Are we free to use our dividend miles on Oneworld airlines yet?
If not, is it common for summer travel on US to Europe in F to run 280k or so per person?
May 25, 2014, 9:08 am
#1038
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Online you can only book US and AA award tickets. OW award tickets can only be booking by phone...
Check this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...lp-thread.html
You're quite late for award travel this summer, that might be the reason you only find high level US awards online...
Check this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...lp-thread.html
You're quite late for award travel this summer, that might be the reason you only find high level US awards online...
May 25, 2014, 9:22 am
#1039
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Buf
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott PP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 46
Thank you for that. how early would one typically book to maximize miles? And can you search for award flights online for the other OW airlines? Finally, do they convert equally- in other words will my 300k US miles get me 300k avios on BA?
May 25, 2014, 9:32 am
#1040
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
They do not convert at all. When you redeem DM for award travel on a oneworld carrier, you pay the rates posted on US' oneworld redemption chart, which you can find at usairways.com. And US is now assessing high cash surcharges for long-haul travel on BA flights.
You can search for award-seat availability on AB, AY, and BA at aa.com -- no log-in required. For IB availability, you must use some other site, or call US.
Originally Posted by Daisymonster
Thank you for that. how early would one typically book to maximize miles? And can you search for award flights online for the other OW airlines? Finally, do they convert equally- in other words will my 300k US miles get me 300k avios on BA?
You can search for award-seat availability on AB, AY, and BA at aa.com -- no log-in required. For IB availability, you must use some other site, or call US.
May 25, 2014, 10:00 am
#1041
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
For those of you who have used your dividend miles to book award travel since the merger. How do you do this online?
I try to use the award travel page on US' site, but cannot seem to locate any options besides US. Are we free to use our dividend miles on Oneworld airlines yet?
If not, is it common for summer travel on US to Europe in F to run 280k or so per person?
I try to use the award travel page on US' site, but cannot seem to locate any options besides US. Are we free to use our dividend miles on Oneworld airlines yet?
If not, is it common for summer travel on US to Europe in F to run 280k or so per person?
Thanks for your understanding.
/Moderator
May 25, 2014, 3:22 pm
#1042
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2
Hi guys, i need help booking a first class return flight from FRA to HKG leaving on around September 4 and returning on around September 22. After finding a flight on the Asia Miles and the BA Executive Club Site I called the US Airways Hotline. But they told me that they cannot see those availabalities.... Actually they cannot see any available first class flight going from HKG to FRA or DUS. How can I search for available flights by myself?
May 25, 2014, 4:17 pm
#1043
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
If USDM does not see the seats, you can do nothing... Calling a few times, using different agents, might help... If not, check altervative connections.
May 25, 2014, 4:51 pm
#1044
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
Hi guys, i need help booking a first class return flight from FRA to HKG leaving on around September 4 and returning on around September 22. After finding a flight on the Asia Miles and the BA Executive Club Site I called the US Airways Hotline. But they told me that they cannot see those availabalities.... Actually they cannot see any available first class flight going from HKG to FRA or DUS. How can I search for available flights by myself?
May 25, 2014, 6:26 pm
#1045
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 210
How can I find out the MPM for SFO-JNB and SFO-CPT? From recent posts in this thread it appears that the MPM limit is being enforced more frequently and wanted to check that while putting together an award... is that the same as doing a direct distance on GCMapper?
Thanks!
Thanks!
May 25, 2014, 6:52 pm
#1046
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
How can I find out the MPM for SFO-JNB and SFO-CPT? From recent posts in this thread it appears that the MPM limit is being enforced more frequently and wanted to check that while putting together an award... is that the same as doing a direct distance on GCMapper?
Thanks!
Thanks!
E.g.
[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.7 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: SFO-CPT/US]
Code:
GI M 5M 10M 15M 20M 25M
MPM AT 12910 13555 14201 14846 15492 16137
MPM PA 16760 17598 18436 19274 20112 20950
Code:
GI M 5M 10M 15M 20M 25M
MPM AT 12651 13283 13916 14548 15181 15813
MPM PA 15814 16604 17395 18186 18976 19767
May 25, 2014, 11:00 pm
#1047
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,623
Data point: I just saw an available CX F award seat on ba.com, called US Airways, agent said she couldn't see it, that BA inventory isn't the same as US inventory, etc.
Hung up, called back two minutes later, next agent could see it no problem.
Hung up, called back two minutes later, next agent could see it no problem.
May 26, 2014, 1:43 am
#1048
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2
Okay thank you. I just found a connection with a transfer flight in Dohar. Will I need to redeem more miles or pay more taxes if I want to have a stopover there?
May 26, 2014, 10:36 am
#1049
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 210
No, it isn't able to be calculated from the distance. You'll need access to a tool like ExpertFlyer or KVS.
E.g.
[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.7 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: SFO-CPT/US]
[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.7 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: SFO-JNB/US]
In my planning I'd probably try and stick below the lower (Atlantic routing) 25M number. If they use the higher (Pacific) one, well that's a bonus.
E.g.
[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.7 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: SFO-CPT/US]
Code:
GI M 5M 10M 15M 20M 25M
MPM AT 12910 13555 14201 14846 15492 16137
MPM PA 16760 17598 18436 19274 20112 20950
Code:
GI M 5M 10M 15M 20M 25M
MPM AT 12651 13283 13916 14548 15181 15813
MPM PA 15814 16604 17395 18186 18976 19767
May 26, 2014, 12:42 pm
#1050
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 411
You would not have to pay more miles.Taxes also might not increase significantly. Although they increase if you stop in UK(due to departure tax in UK), taxes due to stop in Doha should not increase significantly.