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 29, 2014, 7:15 pm
#1081
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: No longer loyal "over-entitled" 1K
Posts: 3,822
Or has the rule changed from Star period and you can stop over at the non-hub city now?
May 29, 2014, 11:18 pm
#1082
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 3
Thank you for your explanation! However, I still do not quite understand the MPM rule. I used to route myself from ZRH to BKK via ICN or NRT a couple of times before without facing difficulties with MPM. Tougher enforcement of their own rules? I assume the following route wouldn't cause any problems re MPM:
ZRH-LHR-HKG (Stopover)
HKG-BKK (Destination)
BKK-DOH-TXL-ZRH
Still, my question remains: Departing from ZRH, stopping over in HKG and destination BKK - what is the M(aximum)PM?
ZRH-LHR-HKG (Stopover)
HKG-BKK (Destination)
BKK-DOH-TXL-ZRH
Still, my question remains: Departing from ZRH, stopping over in HKG and destination BKK - what is the M(aximum)PM?
May 30, 2014, 12:10 am
#1083
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ZRH
Posts: 47
That was actually my initial plan since I haven't had the pleasure of jetting on the 787 so far. However, I couldn't find any availability in early July back to ZRH (school holidays is my guess). Also most other destinations that further connect to ZRH are not available (VIE, LHR, MAD) - except for the crappy A330 to TXL. At least it's a dayflight that doesn't require any flat bed. Lounging, tasty food and some good movies will just do.
May 30, 2014, 7:13 am
#1084
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 21
Thanks so much for the info-
I called back last night and told the agent I thought they had added the Mexican value tax which should only be on revenue, not reward tickets, as you suggested and the taxes and fees went from $782 --> $111 + 120,000 miles for each ticket. Pretty amazing for round trip CX First class tickets. Routing through Mexico has saved us 40,000 miles per ticket and added another night location to our honeymoon.
I called back last night and told the agent I thought they had added the Mexican value tax which should only be on revenue, not reward tickets, as you suggested and the taxes and fees went from $782 --> $111 + 120,000 miles for each ticket. Pretty amazing for round trip CX First class tickets. Routing through Mexico has saved us 40,000 miles per ticket and added another night location to our honeymoon.
May 30, 2014, 11:43 am
#1085
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,270
Thanks so much for the info-
I called back last night and told the agent I thought they had added the Mexican value tax which should only be on revenue, not reward tickets, as you suggested and the taxes and fees went from $782 --> $111 + 120,000 miles for each ticket. Pretty amazing for round trip CX First class tickets. Routing through Mexico has saved us 40,000 miles per ticket and added another night location to our honeymoon.
I called back last night and told the agent I thought they had added the Mexican value tax which should only be on revenue, not reward tickets, as you suggested and the taxes and fees went from $782 --> $111 + 120,000 miles for each ticket. Pretty amazing for round trip CX First class tickets. Routing through Mexico has saved us 40,000 miles per ticket and added another night location to our honeymoon.
May 30, 2014, 1:51 pm
#1087
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
The BKK-CMB and BKK-SIN services are only stopping points on HKG-CMB and HKG-SIN services. That a flight stops and that the airline had traffic rights on the BKK-SIN/CMB does not create a hub
May 30, 2014, 3:24 pm
#1088
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: ATL
Posts: 186
Update to AY surcharges
I will add my data point to the new additions of fuel surcharges:
I have on hold a Europe-US itinerary that includes the segment HEL-YYZ on Finnair in business class. The taxes came to about $617, and this included $480.35 in YR surcharges! This matches approximately to the YR you can pull up on ITA in the fare rules for the same revenue flight (Euro 290).
So far, my HUCA count is at 3.
The last agent who talked to the ticketing desk, relayed specifically that as of March 8, US is including fuel surcharges on AY, in addition to IB and BA.
She also mentioned that the ticketing desk employee said AA was likely to follow in the near future with surcharges of their own. Now, I am less inclined to believe this statement about AA, but she was very specific in stating that AY is included in the list of airlines attracting YQ/YR surcharges.
If true, this really is disappointing, and leaves US miles even less useful for US-Europe travel.
Anyone else with recent AY experience?
I have on hold a Europe-US itinerary that includes the segment HEL-YYZ on Finnair in business class. The taxes came to about $617, and this included $480.35 in YR surcharges! This matches approximately to the YR you can pull up on ITA in the fare rules for the same revenue flight (Euro 290).
So far, my HUCA count is at 3.
The last agent who talked to the ticketing desk, relayed specifically that as of March 8, US is including fuel surcharges on AY, in addition to IB and BA.
She also mentioned that the ticketing desk employee said AA was likely to follow in the near future with surcharges of their own. Now, I am less inclined to believe this statement about AA, but she was very specific in stating that AY is included in the list of airlines attracting YQ/YR surcharges.
If true, this really is disappointing, and leaves US miles even less useful for US-Europe travel.
Anyone else with recent AY experience?
May 30, 2014, 3:27 pm
#1089
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA ExPlat, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 715
I'm tyring to book my frist oneworld award flight. Ideally, I want to go to SYD and have a stopover either in TXL (Berlin), ATH, or somewhere in Asia. Also, I can pretty much depart from any place in Central/Midwest/East US.
I'm pretty flexible, so I think I should be able to find something... I just don't know if what I find will be allowed.
So far, I'm thinking about these two itineraries, however, my exit and entrance to the US are flexible:
Would either of those itineraries by priced as a single award? Are there other itineraries that make a better use of the miles? AS you can guess, I'm trying to maximize my DMs before they devalue, so If you have other ideas, let me know!
I'm pretty flexible, so I think I should be able to find something... I just don't know if what I find will be allowed.
So far, I'm thinking about these two itineraries, however, my exit and entrance to the US are flexible:
- DFW-NRT-SYD-DFW
- JFK-TXL-FRA-SYD-JFK
Would either of those itineraries by priced as a single award? Are there other itineraries that make a better use of the miles? AS you can guess, I'm trying to maximize my DMs before they devalue, so If you have other ideas, let me know!
May 31, 2014, 4:06 am
#1090
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
Just booked AKL-HKG-LHR / CDG-KUL-AKL in a combination of J & F, taxes around ~$186 or so and for flights just before Christmas returning mid-January ^
Last edited by flashware; May 31, 2014 at 4:37 am
May 31, 2014, 11:59 am
#1091
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 375
Prior to commencing travel, is it possible to change one segment but maintain the other segments? Or is it like AA where everything has to be rebooked?
May 31, 2014, 1:37 pm
#1092
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Yes; no.
You just need to find an agent that knows how to do it... HUACA.
You just need to find an agent that knows how to do it... HUACA.
May 31, 2014, 5:17 pm
#1093
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: ATL
Posts: 186
...
I'm pretty flexible, so I think I should be able to find something... I just don't know if what I find will be allowed.
So far, I'm thinking about these two itineraries, however, my exit and entrance to the US are flexible:
Would either of those itineraries by priced as a single award? Are there other itineraries that make a better use of the miles? AS you can guess, I'm trying to maximize my DMs before they devalue, so If you have other ideas, let me know!
I'm pretty flexible, so I think I should be able to find something... I just don't know if what I find will be allowed.
So far, I'm thinking about these two itineraries, however, my exit and entrance to the US are flexible:
- DFW-NRT-SYD-DFW
- JFK-TXL-FRA-SYD-JFK
Would either of those itineraries by priced as a single award? Are there other itineraries that make a better use of the miles? AS you can guess, I'm trying to maximize my DMs before they devalue, so If you have other ideas, let me know!
The second is the type of routing that you may have been able to get away with when US was in *A if you got a favorable agent, however it seems this type of round-the-world/over-MPM routing would not make it past the rates desk now.
Also, consider QR to PER/MEL via DOH. They have a number of East Coast gateways plus DFW and IAH, but I don't have much of an idea of how their availability is I'm sorry.
Otherwise CX via HKG.