Help with planning my trip
Aug 4, 2016 | 8:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 43
Help with planning my trip
Hi,
Here is my planned itinerary which is slightly flexible (by a few days here or there)
IAD to DEL on Dec 11th
DEL to BKK or CNX on Dec 24th
BKK to IAD on Jan 3rd
Please advise how can I make the most use of my miles.
I have about 150K SPG
300K+ United
150K AA
Thanks!
Here is my planned itinerary which is slightly flexible (by a few days here or there)
IAD to DEL on Dec 11th
DEL to BKK or CNX on Dec 24th
BKK to IAD on Jan 3rd
Please advise how can I make the most use of my miles.
I have about 150K SPG
300K+ United
150K AA
Thanks!
Aug 5, 2016 | 3:31 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,439
Since you have AA and UA miles, a starting point would be to use those websites to find availability and build an itinerary. AA will have some partners where you need to call in for help (for example Ethiad). You might first try individual segments on either website since it may be that one alliance is more useful for one journey than another. IAD/BKK seems an obvious *A candidate, for example.
Aug 5, 2016 | 8:21 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NY
Posts: 766
AA website would not be very helpful because your 2 best choices - QR and CX - don't show up on its searches.
You should be looking for availability on BA.com.
One option frequently overlooked is Korean Air. Very generous availability, and incredible hold times (I just booked JFK-ICN-CNX that I kept on hold for 6 months!)
They are SPG transfer partner (and Chase).
You should be looking for availability on BA.com.
One option frequently overlooked is Korean Air. Very generous availability, and incredible hold times (I just booked JFK-ICN-CNX that I kept on hold for 6 months!)
They are SPG transfer partner (and Chase).
Aug 5, 2016 | 9:38 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, AS, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,075
I would focus on using AA miles for IAD-DEL if possible (as above, search ba.com for QR and CX availability, and use Etihad's website to search EY availability). For the rest, look to United - TG flies DEL-BKK non-stop, and United has lots of partners that could fly you BKK-IAD. Another good option for BKK-IAD is via HKG and another US connection on CX/AA with AA miles. What cabin are you looking for?
Aug 5, 2016 | 9:41 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AA
Posts: 52
Aug 5, 2016 | 9:51 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, AS, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,075
Note that Qantas will show Emirates availability which is not bookable with AA miles. I'm not a fan of using Qantas' website for premium cabin searching because it shows tons of mixed cabin options (where a small piece is in J/F and the longhaul is in economy).
Aug 8, 2016 | 11:23 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,529
This itinerary seems perfect for a *A itinerary using UA with an allowed stopover.
IAD-XXX-DEL can be LH/UA, even ET. DEL-BKK on TG or AI. BKK-IAD - mix of options on UA/NH/TG/etc.
If DEL-BKK gives you fits on miles, just buy the one-way, and use UA miles for the rest.
IAD-XXX-DEL can be LH/UA, even ET. DEL-BKK on TG or AI. BKK-IAD - mix of options on UA/NH/TG/etc.
If DEL-BKK gives you fits on miles, just buy the one-way, and use UA miles for the rest.
Last edited by aacharya; Aug 8, 2016 at 11:36 am