Redemption Help: DC redemption : need help checking availability for....

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Sep 2, 2009 | 2:26 am

#496

Chase

Join Date: Dec 2004

Location: Manchester

Programs: BD*G

Posts: 56

Thanks for that denCSA. Do you think I'd have better availability returning from LAX, LAS or San Diego?

Cheers

Sep 2, 2009 | 11:59 am

#497

denCSA

Join Date: Mar 2006

Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, F9 Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold

Posts: 1,323

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chase

Thanks for that denCSA. Do you think I'd have better availability returning from LAX, LAS or San Diego?

Cheers

Well, had another quick look and you could do the following in F/J/Y:

Code:

** BMI - AD ** IAD DULLES INTL.USDC                           36 TH 08OCT 0000 
 1   UA 914  O0 I0 X0             /SFO 3 IAD    0731    1532  E0.777 N     5:01
 2   UA 974  O0 I0 X0             /SFO 3 IAD    0904    1719  E0.320 N     5:15
 3   UA 120  O0 X0                /SFO 3 IAD    1013    1823  E0.319 N     5:10
 4   UA 100  O3 X0                /SFO 3 IAD    1145    2002  E0.752 N     5:17
 5   UA 873  O0 X0                /SFO 3 IAD    1240    2055  E0.752 N     5:15
 6   UA 220  O0 X0                /SFO 3 IAD    1607    0016+1E0.320 U     5:09
 7   UA 198  O0 X0                /SFO 3 IAD    2225    0632+1E0.320 7     5:07
 8   UA 736  O0 X0                /SFO 3 IAD    2320    0727+1E0.319 N     5:07

** BMI - AD ** LHR HEATHROW.GB                                36 TH 08OCT 0000 
 1   UA 922  O0 I0 X9             /IAD   LHR 1  0933    2155  E0.763       7:22
 2   UA 918  O0 I0 X4             /IAD   LHR 1  1740    0555+1E0.777       7:15
 3   UA 924  O0 I2 X0             /IAD   LHR 1  2146    1005+1E0.777       7:19

** BMI - AD ** MAN MANCHESTER.GB                              37 FR 09OCT 0000 
 1   BD 582  X5                   /LHR 1 MAN 3  0700    0805  E0/320       1:05
 2   BD 584  X9                   /LHR 1 MAN 3  0840    0945  E0/319       1:05
 3   BD 588  X9                   /LHR 1 MAN 3  1115    1225  E0/319       1:10
 4   BD 598  X9                   /LHR 1 MAN 3  1515    1625  E0/321       1:10
 5   BD 590  X9                   /LHR 1 MAN 3  1700    1805  E0/319       1:05
 6   BD 592  X9                   /LHR 1 MAN 3  1930    2035  E0/320       1:05

Nothing in J for the LHR-MAN sector on the return but such a short flight not a big deal.

Sep 2, 2009 | 12:03 pm

#498

RAPC

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: Manchester, England

Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)

Posts: 8,097

Quote:

Originally Posted by denCSA

Nothing in J for the LHR-MAN sector on the return but such a short flight not a big deal.

You'd be looking a long time for a J seat as LHR-MAN is an all Y flight

As you say, it is only a short flight so not a problem.

Sep 2, 2009 | 3:10 pm

#499

ProggerPete

Join Date: Jul 2007

Programs: AA Plat, BMI

Posts: 138

Hi all.
I'm hoping to book a flight from somewhere in south america (preferably santiago) to australia (brisbane would be best).

Is this possible? Do I need to route through america for it?

This will be my first redemption so I'll appreciate any advice you can give.

Sep 2, 2009 | 3:29 pm

#500

denCSA

Join Date: Mar 2006

Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, F9 Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold

Posts: 1,323

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProggerPete

I believe that QF, LA, and AR are the only carriers that fly non-stop to AU/NZ from S America, so yes you'll have to route up to the US to get down there unfortunately.

Sep 2, 2009 | 3:38 pm

#501

ProggerPete

Join Date: Jul 2007

Programs: AA Plat, BMI

Posts: 138

Could you suggest a hub that I should go via? Up to LA maybe or do I not need to get that far north?

Sep 2, 2009 | 3:45 pm

#502

FlyingOnceMore

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: BHD/DUB

Programs: BA Gold, TK*G, EI Elite

Posts: 7,622

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProggerPete

Could you suggest a hub that I should go via? Up to LA maybe or do I not need to get that far north?

I suggest you download the Star Alliance timetable and play with that.

Sep 2, 2009 | 3:46 pm

#503

RAPC

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: Manchester, England

Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)

Posts: 8,097

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProggerPete

Could you suggest a hub that I should go via? Up to LA maybe or do I not need to get that far north?

Depends on where you depart from in South America. *A is pretty weak there, so you will end up doing a long route whatever happens.

From SCL for example there are only flights to YYZ on AC
From LIM there are only flights to YYZ on AC
From EZE there are flights to IAD on UA
From GIG & GRU there are flights to ORD and IAD on UA

Availability on the AC flights in particular can be tough to find.

There is also a flight from GRU to JNB on SA, but this won't save any time as you then have to route via Asia to then get to Australia.

However you look at it, you've got quite a journey which in turn gives you a chance for a decent stopover opportunity or two. Have a look at the *A timetable as FOM suggests and see what suits.

Sep 2, 2009 | 4:42 pm

#504

ProggerPete

Join Date: Jul 2007

Programs: AA Plat, BMI

Posts: 138

Thanks for the advice. Really appreciate it. I'll study up some more and see how I go.

Just to check though. Will I need just the one redemption for the whole route? I'm thinking the strategy is work out the flights that will get me home. Check on ANA for availability, then call bmi and book it in.

Sep 2, 2009 | 4:59 pm

#505

BHDBOY

Join Date: Oct 2008

Location: Northern Ireland (in spirit), but much more likely GB or Europe.

Programs: EI Aer Club, IB Club, BA Club, AAdvantage

Posts: 771

SCL is tricky given that AC only serves YYZ from there. However, AC 92/93 serves both EZE and SCL (seasonally anyway) so using AC to hop across the andes to EZE would be possible.

No matter what you do, going via the USA will double (or maybe worse) the length of your journey, probably resulting in being charged for Z4-Z3 and Z3-Z9, which is a 50% increase in miles required over a Z4-Z9

The only valid route I can imagine would be acceptable would be with South African, travelling EZE-JNB-PER on SAA, you'd have to make your own way from Perth to Brisbane. SAA do actually codeshare on Qantas JNB-SYD which would be better for getting to Brisbane, but this obviously won't be available for redemption.
Distance wise (by great circle mapper) this comes in at just over 10000 miles whereas a direct EZE-PER would be 7800 therefore I'd think this reasonable for a Z4-Z9 direct, plus it appears in the *A timetable which also backs up your case.

Sep 2, 2009 | 6:01 pm

#506

RAPC

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: Manchester, England

Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)

Posts: 8,097

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHDBOY

No matter what you do, going via the USA will double (or maybe worse) the length of your journey, probably resulting in being charged for Z4-Z3 and Z3-Z9, which is a 50% increase in miles required over a Z4-Z9

Z4-Z9 should be acceptable via the USA. If you have a dig in the redemptions thread, there is at least one example of it in there from memory. The difficulty with the SA flights is availability. Getting more than one seat and with both the SA flights connecting within a few days of each other will take a bit of luck for much of the year.

Sep 6, 2009 | 3:37 am

#507

Chase

Join Date: Dec 2004

Location: Manchester

Programs: BD*G

Posts: 56

OK, well, I've managed to get myself and the missus all the to Tokyo, and LA, but now need to try and get us back to MAN

Would somebody be able to check availability for the following in Business please:

2nd Oct LAX-MAN but stopping in New York for 2 nights. Alternatively if that's not available, 4th Oct LAX->MAN, and if that's not available, anywhere on the west coast of the US to MAN on the 4th.

Many thanks
Mike

Sep 6, 2009 | 8:53 am

#508

BHDBOY

Join Date: Oct 2008

Location: Northern Ireland (in spirit), but much more likely GB or Europe.

Programs: EI Aer Club, IB Club, BA Club, AAdvantage

Posts: 771

On 2nd Oct you can take the following from LAX-JFK

0608 UA84 Business or First
1139 UA26 Business only
1336 UA890 Business or First
1604 UA28 Business or First
2230 UA82 Business only

(Don't forget you can have First on this leg "for free" as it is shorter than the transatlantic leg)

4th Oct NYC-MAN

2010 LH413 EWR-MUC, Arrives 1010 on 5th. Connect to 1520 LH4864 MUC-MAN. (Long connection as you will miss the 0915 MUC-MAN)

I don't have a current Expertflyer subscription so there may be LX seats available that I can't see.

Sep 6, 2009 | 9:06 am

#509

denCSA

Join Date: Mar 2006

Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, F9 Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold

Posts: 1,323

Or you can fly from JFK on 4OCT:

Code:

** BMI - AD ** MAN MANCHESTER.GB                              28 SU 04OCT 0000 
 5   LH 411  I3                   /JFK 1 MUC 2  1735    0805+1E0/333           
  CL*LH4860  I3                   /MUC 2 MAN 1  0915+1  1035+1E0/AR8      12:00
 5   SQ 025  I2                   /JFK 4 FRA 1  2115    1115+1E0.744           
     LH4856  I7                   /FRA 1 MAN 1  1650+1  1730+1E0/319      15:15
 6  *LX 019  I9                   /EWR B ZRH    2120    1130+1E0/73H           
     LX 394  I9                   /ZRH   MAN 1  1210+1  1305+1E0/319      10:45

Considering SQ is available as well, that's a no brainer IMHO

Sep 6, 2009 | 11:22 am

#510

Chase

Join Date: Dec 2004

Location: Manchester

Programs: BD*G

Posts: 56

Cheers, looks like a few options there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHDBOY

(Don't forget you can have First on this leg "for free" as it is shorter than the transatlantic leg)

First on the first leg for free? How does that work, do I have to request it?

Thanks
Mike