Please report your successful redemptions using Diamond Club miles (2006/07)
Mar 3, 2006, 8:11 am
#31
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,273
LHR-FRA-AUH-DXB-FRA-LHR July 05...LH, C booked 10 days out
LHR-FRA-BOM-FRA-LHR Dec05...LH, F - booked 6 months out (subs canx, with full refund)
LHR-FRA-SIN-KUL-SIN-LHR Dec 05...LH, C and SQ, C - booked 4 months out
LHR-YVR-LHR Dec 06...AC, C - booked 11 months out
All Cash Plus Miles and all needed some (but not excessive) flexibility ^
LHR-FRA-BOM-FRA-LHR Dec05...LH, F - booked 6 months out (subs canx, with full refund)
LHR-FRA-SIN-KUL-SIN-LHR Dec 05...LH, C and SQ, C - booked 4 months out
LHR-YVR-LHR Dec 06...AC, C - booked 11 months out
All Cash Plus Miles and all needed some (but not excessive) flexibility ^
Mar 4, 2006, 4:59 am
#32
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Birmingham, UK
Programs: PMUA: lowly 2P. PMCO: at least the merger if a home for some orphan miles!
Posts: 75
BHX-FRA with LH in Y
August 2005
Booked 2 months out with miles
Booked 1 month out with miles+cash for a friend
Offered choice of all flights (3 or 4 daily) in each direction both times
August 2005
Booked 2 months out with miles
Booked 1 month out with miles+cash for a friend
Offered choice of all flights (3 or 4 daily) in each direction both times
Mar 4, 2006, 6:23 am
#33
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: All the wrong places..
Programs: SQ TPP, BA Gold, Hyatt Life Glob, SPG/Marriott Life Plat,
Posts: 3,371
All of these are Cash+Miles bookings:
2 x MAN-SIN-DPS in J on SQ. Booked 7 months out.
2 x MAN-SIN-BKK in J on SQ. Booked 6 months out.
1 x MAN-SIN-SYD in J on SQ. Booked 4 months out.
2 x MAN-FRA-DXB in J on LH. Booked 6 months out and cancelled.
*1 x SIN-FRA-MAN in F on SQ. Booked 4 weeks out.
*1 x MAN-FRA-SIN-BKK in F on SQ. Booked 3 weeks out.
*1 x LHR-SIN in F on SQ. Booked 3 days out !!!.
*1 x MAN-FRA-SIN-BKK in F on SQ. Booked 3 weeks out and cancelled.
*2 x LHR-BKK-HKT in F on TG. Booked in Jan for December this year.
*2 x HKT-BKK-SIN-MAN in J on TG/SK/SQ. Booked this week for January.
*One way flights.
2 x MAN-SIN-DPS in J on SQ. Booked 7 months out.
2 x MAN-SIN-BKK in J on SQ. Booked 6 months out.
1 x MAN-SIN-SYD in J on SQ. Booked 4 months out.
2 x MAN-FRA-DXB in J on LH. Booked 6 months out and cancelled.
*1 x SIN-FRA-MAN in F on SQ. Booked 4 weeks out.
*1 x MAN-FRA-SIN-BKK in F on SQ. Booked 3 weeks out.
*1 x LHR-SIN in F on SQ. Booked 3 days out !!!.
*1 x MAN-FRA-SIN-BKK in F on SQ. Booked 3 weeks out and cancelled.
*2 x LHR-BKK-HKT in F on TG. Booked in Jan for December this year.
*2 x HKT-BKK-SIN-MAN in J on TG/SK/SQ. Booked this week for January.
*One way flights.
Last edited by MAN Flyer; Mar 4, 2006 at 10:09 am Reason: to clarify one way flights
Mar 4, 2006, 1:10 pm
#34
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: EU
Posts: 454
Booked today with the Indian call centre, the guy "Karan" was great.
After 15 mins of searching for First seats, he rang me back 3 times within the next 2 hours with different itineries. The strange routing is 80% my request.
Miles and Cash for June 06
MAN/ORD (BD-(C)) ORD/LAX (UA-(F)) LAX/EWR (US-(F)) JFK/FRA (LH-(F)) FRA/LHR (LH-C)). ^
After 15 mins of searching for First seats, he rang me back 3 times within the next 2 hours with different itineries. The strange routing is 80% my request.
Miles and Cash for June 06
MAN/ORD (BD-(C)) ORD/LAX (UA-(F)) LAX/EWR (US-(F)) JFK/FRA (LH-(F)) FRA/LHR (LH-C)). ^
Mar 13, 2006, 3:17 am
#35
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: All the wrong places..
Programs: SQ TPP, BA Gold, Hyatt Life Glob, SPG/Marriott Life Plat,
Posts: 3,371
A couple of one-way's booked:
MAN-LHR-BKK-SIN in BD Y-TG F-SQ F respectively. Booked yesterday for Friday.
HAN-BKK-LHR-MAN in TG J-TG J-BD Y respectively. Booked last week for the end of the month.
MAN-LHR-BKK-SIN in BD Y-TG F-SQ F respectively. Booked yesterday for Friday.
HAN-BKK-LHR-MAN in TG J-TG J-BD Y respectively. Booked last week for the end of the month.
Mar 13, 2006, 4:11 am
#36
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Anwhere ex-MAN
Programs: A3 *G, BA Silver
Posts: 2,706
I'm seeing a pattern.....
It looks to me as if redemptions made last year were certainly easier. People trying to redeem now for flights some months out are finding it harder to find seats, esp. on bmi in J!. This is despite *A seats showing for when they are needed.
Redemptions made close to departure, post changes, seem to be OK. More carriers opening up seats they don't think will sell?
The strategy seems to be to book 350 days or 14 days out! Otherwise it's pot luck and pot-agent, as to whether or not you get your seats.
Redemptions made close to departure, post changes, seem to be OK. More carriers opening up seats they don't think will sell?
The strategy seems to be to book 350 days or 14 days out! Otherwise it's pot luck and pot-agent, as to whether or not you get your seats.
Mar 14, 2006, 10:39 am
#37
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 736
Route: LHR-SIN SIN-CHC / CHC-SIN-LHR
Booking date: March 06
Flying date: Nov 06
Pax: 2
Airline: SQ
Class: Business (Raffles)
Payment: Miles and cash
No problem at all with these flights - I scoped out the available dates using the ANA online tool and the availability that bmi had matched this. Only glitch was that they could not tell me the taxes at first for some reason, but when I called back they had this information.
Judging by the names and accents I got through to the offshored Indian call centre on the Silver line, and they were much faster and more efficient than I was worried they may be based on other posts here.
That's pretty much all of my DC miles burned now....
Booking date: March 06
Flying date: Nov 06
Pax: 2
Airline: SQ
Class: Business (Raffles)
Payment: Miles and cash
No problem at all with these flights - I scoped out the available dates using the ANA online tool and the availability that bmi had matched this. Only glitch was that they could not tell me the taxes at first for some reason, but when I called back they had this information.
Judging by the names and accents I got through to the offshored Indian call centre on the Silver line, and they were much faster and more efficient than I was worried they may be based on other posts here.
That's pretty much all of my DC miles burned now....
Mar 14, 2006, 11:29 am
#38
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Dublin, Ireland / Doha, Qatar
Programs: BA, QR status varies from rags to riches - now gold, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 544
Originally Posted by Cargo Cult
ANA online tool ....
Thanks
Grantosol
Last edited by Grantosol; Mar 14, 2006 at 11:30 am Reason: Can't spel - was in the same class in school as U2's Adam Clayton, and he was even dimmer... Oh well.
Mar 14, 2006, 11:38 am
#39
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 1,360
Originally Posted by Grantosol
Anyone have the URL for this? Do you have to be signed up to ANA's FFP or can any old pleb use it, even BDG's?
Thanks
Grantosol
Thanks
Grantosol
Mar 15, 2006, 2:02 pm
#40
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: TK *Gold / BA Gold / EZY Plus!
Posts: 323
Hey all. My experiences with booking award travel have been relatively painless. Each time I would check availability and have a few alternative routes just in case. Anyways my trips in the last year.
June 05 - Booked 1 month before travel
MAN-LHR BD C
LHR-IAD-SAN-IAD-LHR UA F
LHR-MAN BD C
Sep 05 - Booked 2 weeks before travel
MAN-LHR BD
LHR-IAD-STT-IAD-ORD UA F
ORD-MAN BD C
Oct 05 - booked less than a week before travel
MAN-FRA-MAD-XRY Mix of LH and Spanair in C
XRY-MAD-WAW-MAN Mix of Spanair and LOT in C
Jan 06 - booked 2 weeks before travel
MAN-FRA-MAD-XRY Mix of LH and Spanair in C
Also booked a few MAN-LHR returns 3 days before travel throughout the year.
Currently looking at LAS in april
MAN-LHR BD
LHR-LAX Air NZ
LAX-LAS UA
and back again, seem to be plenty of availability
Jamo
June 05 - Booked 1 month before travel
MAN-LHR BD C
LHR-IAD-SAN-IAD-LHR UA F
LHR-MAN BD C
Sep 05 - Booked 2 weeks before travel
MAN-LHR BD
LHR-IAD-STT-IAD-ORD UA F
ORD-MAN BD C
Oct 05 - booked less than a week before travel
MAN-FRA-MAD-XRY Mix of LH and Spanair in C
XRY-MAD-WAW-MAN Mix of Spanair and LOT in C
Jan 06 - booked 2 weeks before travel
MAN-FRA-MAD-XRY Mix of LH and Spanair in C
Also booked a few MAN-LHR returns 3 days before travel throughout the year.
Currently looking at LAS in april
MAN-LHR BD
LHR-LAX Air NZ
LAX-LAS UA
and back again, seem to be plenty of availability
Jamo
Mar 15, 2006, 2:52 pm
#41
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: All the wrong places..
Programs: SQ TPP, BA Gold, Hyatt Life Glob, SPG/Marriott Life Plat,
Posts: 3,371
Originally Posted by jamojdm
Also booked a few MAN-LHR returns 3 days before travel throughout the year.
Mar 15, 2006, 3:33 pm
#42
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Plat, ICH Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 4,382
Originally Posted by MAN Flyer
Interesting to see you would spend miles on such a short trip, especially bearing in mind the cost of buying a ticket on the route.
Mar 16, 2006, 3:32 am
#43
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Edinburgh UK
Posts: 245
EDI - LHR - SIN on SQ 'C'
SIN- MAN - EDI on SQ 'C'
The guy in the DC call centre wasn't much help, I had to rely on the *A electronic timetable to tell *him* what routes were available.
SIN- MAN - EDI on SQ 'C'
The guy in the DC call centre wasn't much help, I had to rely on the *A electronic timetable to tell *him* what routes were available.
Mar 16, 2006, 5:10 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: TK *Gold / BA Gold / EZY Plus!
Posts: 323
Originally Posted by MAN Flyer
Interesting to see you would spend miles on such a short trip, especially bearing in mind the cost of buying a ticket on the route.
I'd rather use 12k of my miles than pay £125 each way! Obviously if i could plan my travel months in advance I'd get a tiny fare for my personal travel, but when I only decide to head down to london a few days before for personal reasons all BMI have left is "premium" economy. Still not sure what makes it premium but thats another story :P
Jamo
Mar 16, 2006, 12:13 pm
#45
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: All the wrong places..
Programs: SQ TPP, BA Gold, Hyatt Life Glob, SPG/Marriott Life Plat,
Posts: 3,371
That's a fair point I suppose, everyone has their own requirements. I personally would pay for that flight (through gritted teeth of course for a 30 minute hop with no food or drink thrown in) but I use my miles almost exclusively on long haul redemptions.
Alternatively for shorter trips you only need 15000 for a return Cash+Miles flight DPS-SIN-CMB with SQ in Raffles Class.
Alternatively for shorter trips you only need 15000 for a return Cash+Miles flight DPS-SIN-CMB with SQ in Raffles Class.