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

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Nov 17, 2009 | 7:14 am

#676

pensguin68

Join Date: Jan 2009

Programs: BA Silver

Posts: 66

I'm just trying to figure out if it is worth doing something with my BMI miles. Only have 8,000 and from what I can tell, while it is possible to fly using so few miles, the taxes and fees don't make it worthwhile. Is it ever possible to book a flight with miles on BMI without being hit hard by taxes and fees?

Nov 17, 2009 | 9:54 am

#677

baggageinhall

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: London

Programs: BA Gold. LH SEN. IHG Diamond. Junior Jet Club.

Posts: 2,391

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChinsTTS

Not many posts on here so please go easy. Didnt know if I should create a seperate post.

Think I have managed to work the ANA tool ok and the issues could be down to the fact that I want to travel with the family (4 of us). Have a few questions

We are looking to go to the West Coast of the USA in August next year for a couple of weeks (Open on dates as we speak). Leaving from London. Ideally I wanted us to fly in Business, but all I can find is Economy or First. Why can I find 4 First Class seats and no Business seats to LAX? Do I have to route via Frankfurt to make it happen? What is a rough guide to the tax and how could I look that info up?

The dream would of been to go to Australia next December, but getting four of us sorted seems to be impossible when I look for reward flights (tried the exercise in Feb before this year?

Cheers

Jonathan

1. Flights to LA - Swiss has 4 seats in Business class ZRH-LAX on 10,11,12,13,14 August

2. From LA - Swiss has 4 seats in Business LAX-ZRH on 23,24,25,26,28, 29 August.

Tax - £353 per person (you can either use the ITA website or price up a regular flight on the particular airline's website. It will show the fare and tax elements separately).

I looked at random dates to give you an idea as to availability. Feel free to PM your exact dates and I will look again.

Australia - When using the ANA tool, click 'select transit city' and type in ICN. The ANA tool will then look for seats on Asiana via Seoul. I managed to get 3 seats in Business for September 2010 and there are still 3 more available. The return journey involves a night in Seoul or you could try and find seats on UA via SFO or LAX though I appreciate that this is more difficult during the holiday season.

Last edited by baggageinhall; Nov 17, 2009 at 10:01 am Reason: Added tax amount

Nov 17, 2009 | 10:05 am

#678

Oxon Flyer

Moderator: The British Airways Club, Marriott Bonvoy

Join Date: May 2006

Location: Englandshire

Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...

Posts: 17,385

Quote:

Originally Posted by baggageinhall

Australia - When using the ANA tool, click 'select transit city' and type in ICN. The ANA tool will then look for seats on Asiana via Seoul.

Just a further hint on this : Asiana only flies between LHR/ICN and ICN/SYD on selected days of the week, and if you specifiy either an outward or return day on which its doesn't fly, then ANA just says no, which can get a bit frustrating. So either look for the sectors separately, or else go in armed with a knowledge of which days this route flies.

Nov 17, 2009 | 11:29 am

#679

baggageinhall

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: London

Programs: BA Gold. LH SEN. IHG Diamond. Junior Jet Club.

Posts: 2,391

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxon Flyer

Quite. I forgot to add just how frustrating this is! To save you from having to use the frankly abysmal Asiana website:

LHR-ICN-SYD : Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday / Sunday
(Overnight to ICN and then another overnight to SYD - 3/4 connection)

SYD-ICN-LHR : Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday / Sunday
(Arrive at ICN at 18:45, the flight to LHR is the following day at 13:30 so a 19 hour overnight layover - on a paid ticket, Asiana offer a hotel for the night. No idea if they do the same on an award ticket, no doubt someone on here will know)

Nov 17, 2009 | 1:11 pm

#680

jbfield

Join Date: Jan 2005

Location: SIN 5 days out of 7

Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb

Posts: 5,505

Quote:

Originally Posted by baggageinhall

This is what you need:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asian...tions-icn.html
this post in particular -> http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12133382-post25.html

Nov 17, 2009 | 10:48 pm

#681

eagle21

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 51

Oz to Europe in C - help!

Looking for J seats OW from, BNE,SYD,OOL,AKL to anywhere in Europe departing anytime from 02/01/10 and arriving by end of 08/01/10 latest. I am having lots of trouble finding availability, any ideas.

Thanks

Nov 18, 2009 | 12:23 am

#682

flytofly

Join Date: Jan 2007

Location: FRA,HAM

Programs: M&M

Posts: 944

Hi, this is the only connection that I can find at the moment.
Surely, this is not the best routing. Just for your info.

3 Jan Syd (16:30) BKK(22:00) TG 458
(Overnight stay in BKK)
4 Jan BKK(17:30) DXB(21:40) TG 6517

5 Jan DXB(0450) CAI(0655) MS 911

5 Jan CAI(11:25) MXP(14:30) MS 703

This way you can arrive at Malpensa(Milano).

Hope it helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle21

Nov 18, 2009 | 3:07 am

#683

ChinsTTS

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: Bucks, UK

Programs: BD*G, BA Silver, Hilton G

Posts: 5

Thanks for all the help.

Still dont understand why I cant fly United direct. They dont seem to offer the business class seat on their direct flight to LAX, but I can have four of their First class? Surely the wrong way round.

Last edited by ChinsTTS; Nov 18, 2009 at 4:39 am

Nov 18, 2009 | 11:04 am

#684

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 eagle21

There's availability on 1FEB10 on TG from SYD to LHR:

Code:

** BMI - AD ** LHR HEATHROW.GB                                74 MO 01FEB 0000 
 4   TG 456  I2                   /SYD 1 BKK    1000    1520  E0/777           
     TG 910  I2                   /BKK   LHR 3  0015+1  0620+1E0/744      31:20
 1   TG 458  I2                   /SYD 1 BKK    1630    2200  E0/346           
     TG 910  I2                   /BKK   LHR 3  0015+1  0620+1E0/744      24:50
 6   TG 452  I2                   /SYD 1 BKK    2145    0315+1E0/346           
     TG 916  I2                   /BKK   LHR 3  1330+1  1935+1E0/744      32:50

Or you can mix CA and LH to FRA:

Code:

2   CA 174  I2                    SYD 1 PEK 3  2100    0550+1E0.330           
    LH 721  I9                   /PEK 3 FRA 1  1130+1  1445+1E0/744      27:45
3   CA 174  I2                    SYD 1 PEK 3  2100    0550+1E0.330           
    CA 931  IL                    PEK 3 FRA 1  1405+1  1720+1E0.74E      30:20
4   TG 452  I2                   /SYD 1 BKK    2145    0315+1E0/346           
    TG 922  I2                   /BKK   FRA 1  1315+1  1905+1E0/744      31:20

And for the return I used 31JUL10 and there's availability out of LHR on SQ no less:

Code:

 4   LH4743  I6                   /LHR 1 FRA 1  0630    0905  E0/321           
     SQ 025  I1                   /FRA 1 SIN    1235    0635+1E0.744           
     SQ 219  I2                   /SIN 3 SYD 1  0925+1  1855+1E0.773      27:25
 5   LH4743  I6                   /LHR 1 FRA 1  0630    0905  E0/321           
     TG 921  I2                   /FRA 1 BKK    1500    0640+1E0/744           
     TG 451  I2                   /BKK   SYD 1  0800+1  2000+1E0/346      28:30

Or out of FRA:

Code:

 2   SQ 025  I1                   /FRA 1 SIN    1235    0635+1E0.744           
     SQ 219  I2                   /SIN 3 SYD 1  0925+1  1855+1E0.773      22:20
** BMI - AD ** SYD SYDNEY.AUNS                               255 SA 31JUL 0000 
 1   TG 921  I2                   /FRA 1 BKK    1500    0640+1E0/744           
     TG 451  I2                   /BKK   SYD 1  0800+1  2000+1E0/346      21:00
 2   LH 720  IL                   /FRA 1 PEK 3  1720    0830+1E0/744           
     CA 175  I4                    PEK 3 SYD 1  1535+1  0900+2E1.330      31:40
 3UA:CO6055  J9 C9 D9 Z0          /FRA 1 SFO I  1725    1953  E0/777           
     UA 863  I0                   /SFO I SYD 1  2243    0625+2E0.744      29:00
 4   UA 927  I0                   /FRA 1 SFO I  1725    1953  E0.777           
     UA 863  I0                   /SFO I SYD 1  2243    0625+2E0.744      29:00
 5   LH 728  I8                   /FRA 1 PVG 2  1730    0955+1E0/744           
     CA 175  I4                    PVG 2 SYD 1  1915+1  0900+2E0.330      31:30

Nov 19, 2009 | 4:11 am

#685

bombo

Join Date: Feb 2004

Location: UK

Posts: 70

Quote:

Originally Posted by denCSA

There's availability on 1FEB10 on TG from SYD to LHR:

Code:

** BMI - AD ** LHR HEATHROW.GB                                74 MO 01FEB 0000 
 4   TG 456  I2                   /SYD 1 BKK    1000    1520  E0/777           
     TG 910  I2                   /BKK   LHR 3  0015+1  0620+1E0/744      31:20
 1   TG 458  I2                   /SYD 1 BKK    1630    2200  E0/346           
     TG 910  I2                   /BKK   LHR 3  0015+1  0620+1E0/744      24:50
 6   TG 452  I2                   /SYD 1 BKK    2145    0315+1E0/346           
     TG 916  I2                   /BKK   LHR 3  1330+1  1935+1E0/744      32:50

[/CODE]

I think we need a world standard for dates don't you?

Nov 19, 2009 | 4:33 am

#686

baggageinhall

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: London

Programs: BA Gold. LH SEN. IHG Diamond. Junior Jet Club.

Posts: 2,391

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChinsTTS

Not really. Others have just beaten you to the seats in Business Class. Like you, they didn't have sufficient miles to fly First.

Nov 23, 2009 | 6:23 am

#687

Alt

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: UK

Programs: BD (RIP); BA

Posts: 135

Help with Redemption

I hope you kind people can also help me

Planning a possible (first ever

)redemption LHR-SAT leaving 23 or 24 Dec and returning 04 or 05 Jan.

I have used the ANA tool and have found it only gives me one option of 23/12 CO035/CO1079 - 05/01 CO678/CO004 in C. Now this is an ok itinerary but is it really the only option?

More importantly, if I use the CO redemption site to check this itinerary, the tax/charges payable is $212.20 but according to ICC it will cost me GBP282? Is this difference of over twice the CO charge really correct

Cheers

Nov 23, 2009 | 8:32 am

#688

FlyingOnceMore

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: BHD/DUB

Programs: BA Gold, TK*G, EI Elite

Posts: 7,622

Welcome to FT!

If you can find suitable flights around Xmas/NewYear this late, take them ASAP. £282 is correct (See below)

Quote:

Tax: USDA APHIS Fee $5.00
Tax: US Immigration Fee $7.00
Tax: US Customs Fee $5.50
Tax: United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty £90.00
Tax: United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge £21.20
Tax: US International Arrival Tax $16.10
Tax: US International Departure Tax $16.10
Tax: CO YQ surcharge £137.00
Tax: US September 11th Security Fee $7.50
Tax: US Passenger Facility Charge $3.00

Last edited by FlyingOnceMore; Nov 23, 2009 at 8:39 am

Nov 23, 2009 | 4:02 pm

#689

flo_147

Join Date: Nov 2007

Programs: LH*G, FB*G, IC *free minibar*, SLH, RC 5C-Club, LHW, and a lot of others

Posts: 536

Lx f zrh-jfk

Hello,

I am looking for two F class seats from ZRH-JFK or JFK-ZRH the week before x-mas (about 4-5 nights). Would be really kind if someone can look for availability