I called US Airways yesterday to check on availability of *A award travel from IAD to Klagenfurt, Austria (KLU). US is where I have all of my miles. I was told that while they can sell me a ticket to KLU, it is not an award travel destination. While OS flies there, it's actually called Lauda Airlines, and they're not eligible for award travel. The agent even confirmed this with a supervisor. Does this sound right?

As far as I know this is not right.
Lauda is part of the Austrian Airlines Group, which is Miles and More.
I know that you can get points (even Executive Bonus) on NG and I have upgraded with points to Australia on Lauda.

Long haul the seats may not be the best but the catering is.
Try and check with Austrian.

Obviously it's all a bit new for those folks at US. Pity really.

Lauda is a part of Austrian. Indeed it has been rebranded to just BE Austrian (ie: Lauda, which used to have the code NG, no longer officially exists though some a/c are still in Lauda paint).

What's more my Star timetable shows flights to/from KLU as being operated by Tyrolean (which has been rebranded to Austrian Arrows).

Either way they are OS flights and definately eligible for * awards and tickets.

Try a different agent at US. One with a clue cap on might help

I'd try again - if it's got an OS flight number operated by Austrian or it's subsidiaries Lauda or Arrows, then you should be allowed the reward.

KLU is inded a * destination. My guess is that OS and * are so new members to US so they havent learnt everything yet.

FYI, I called again tonight and got the same story. Except I've learned it's Tyrolean Airlines, not Lauda. Still, though, though it has an OS flight number.

I've sent an email to US Airways and will likely call them tomorrow (not the reservation line). If anyone who has their miles with another airline happens to have a free moment and can call, would you mind just asking them if KLU is a valid destination on your *A carrier? I'd be curious to see if it's valid for some but not others. i.e. Some pigs are more equal than others!

Thanks.

Sounds like US isn't only bankrupt in a financial sense

Ask for a Sup and if they give you the same cock & bull then tell THEM to call OS and verify it for themselves. Sheesh!.

Another way is to get them to look at the profile for a * RTW ticket, check the invalid fliight numbers for OS, compared to the flights you are interested in, and voila, the penny may just drop....

Good luck!

KLU is a fun airport. Everything is run by one family, with the head of such not only working the Thrifty car rental counter, but also making the airport announcements as well.

Anyhow, as posters said above, Tyrolean is now no longer either and is just Austrian Arrows. Most aircraft have an OS registration now so it just appears the US folk need more training.

Worst case: Fly to VIE and drive. The drive via the A2 is not more than 3 hours.

Or, even worse case, fly into LHR and then take RyanAir from Stansted nonstop to KLU. You can often get fares for about 7 GBP each way.

Definitely a *A destination.

Actually, some Tyrolean routes do not offer any award seats.

FYI, as it all turned out with many conversations and emails with assorted powers that be at US.....I cannot get an award seat to KLU. They'll sell me a seat, but not give me one.

So I booked to Graz. Got it the long way to try out Singapore. IAD-JFK on UA, JFK-FRA on SQ (row 11 upstairs), FRA-GRZ on LH. Returning I got row 1 on the US 330 from FRA-CLT, which I had not been able to get since I lost Chairmans Preferred status earlier this year.

What really sucks is that I'm giving it all up and redepositing the miles to fly IAD-EZE on a UA 767 in first class (because award seats for business class are all gone) so I can spend a luxurious 10 days in Buenos Aires for about 1/3 the price I'd be paying for my trip to Trieste, NE Italy and Slovenia.

I really hate this frequent flyer thing sometimes. I'm going to have a great time in South America....and all I can think about is that I'm going to miss out on a chance to be upstairs on a 747 and try out the Space Beds for 8 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!