Award travel to Fiji or Tahiti using MileagePlus Miles?
#151
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA MM PP, MR LT Plat, Globalist
Posts: 991
Retrieve luggage when connecting in AKL?
Looking to book my parents a side-trip, PVG-SYD-AKL-Oceania. I understand you can no longer stopover in AKL.
Will they be able to retrieve their checked luggage in AKL or will bags be straight checked thru to destination? I'm hoping you can retrieve bags in every scenario, not just in case of a long layover or when traveling from certain countries.
Will they be able to retrieve their checked luggage in AKL or will bags be straight checked thru to destination? I'm hoping you can retrieve bags in every scenario, not just in case of a long layover or when traveling from certain countries.
#152
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,582
That will depend on the carriers involved. Since none of which are United, you will have to query those carriers.
#153
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 4
Hi guys,
I am going to book a flight award (Miles&More) for the very first time.
I will come to WLG in the end of Feb 2019. I've been looking for flight awards from WLG to NAN for a few weeks. I didn`t find a one.
However, I noticed a few awards earlier than Jan 2019.
My questions:
When is the best time to buy a flight award from NZ to NAN/South Pacific islands? How many months before a trip?
Should I wait for new awards? Is it possible that they will be published soon?
I am going to book a flight award (Miles&More) for the very first time.
I will come to WLG in the end of Feb 2019. I've been looking for flight awards from WLG to NAN for a few weeks. I didn`t find a one.
However, I noticed a few awards earlier than Jan 2019.
My questions:
When is the best time to buy a flight award from NZ to NAN/South Pacific islands? How many months before a trip?
Should I wait for new awards? Is it possible that they will be published soon?
Last edited by dookolakuli; May 15, 2018 at 1:48 pm Reason: mistake
#154
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,582
When you can find it. Availability will be iffy and the price (in miles) does not change. The only risk in the earlier purchase is if times/plans are unsure and a change is probable.
#156
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: EWR
Programs: Latam Pass Black; UA 1K, 1MM; Marriott LT
Posts: 298
PPT / Polynesia Trip
So, Ive been almost dreading trying to work this out, and have previously dabbled, but now I need to figure this out and Im going in circles.
Mrs Limey and myself would love, as a once in a lifetime trip, go to French Polynesia and goof around there / Fiji, in over water bungalows. But first, we need to get there.
So, ideally I would like us to be there for a week or 10 days between April 8 and April 20, 2019 which would mean we could spend Mrs Limeys birthday there.
Origin would be MUC.
Firstly, if you just dump MUC PPT for example into the flight search, it comes back with nothing, so thats annoying.
I have been looking at going east as well as west.
If we go west, we could do MUC to either SFO or LAX. If SFO then there is the direct to PPT on UA, but this is only showing available in economy.
If we go east, we could go direct MUC to SIN then a couple of stops to get to PPT.
This seems to have more availability in business, but there are some long stopovers on the way from SIN. That in itself is fine. But if its a stopover, lets stopover properly for as long as possible, preferably overnight in a hotel, and have chance to see the stopover venue.
So, the bottom line.. would like to travel in business, failing that, 3 econ seats between the two of us so we have some space.
Ok to stopover, especially if time to visit the destination, but would love say, MUC to US to PPT or similar with minimum stops and time spent in airports.
Resources likely about 500k UA miles, 1.2 mil amex points, 120k or so Virgin Atlantic. Both of us GS.
Would really appreciate and love thoughts on strategy to make this work..
Then, if you also have any suggestions on the accommodation, that would also be welcome. The Marriott overwater bungalows seem crazy with the points and cash required.
P.S. Please dont tell Mrs Limey, Im hoping I can keep it as a surprise.
Mrs Limey and myself would love, as a once in a lifetime trip, go to French Polynesia and goof around there / Fiji, in over water bungalows. But first, we need to get there.
So, ideally I would like us to be there for a week or 10 days between April 8 and April 20, 2019 which would mean we could spend Mrs Limeys birthday there.
Origin would be MUC.
Firstly, if you just dump MUC PPT for example into the flight search, it comes back with nothing, so thats annoying.
I have been looking at going east as well as west.
If we go west, we could do MUC to either SFO or LAX. If SFO then there is the direct to PPT on UA, but this is only showing available in economy.
If we go east, we could go direct MUC to SIN then a couple of stops to get to PPT.
This seems to have more availability in business, but there are some long stopovers on the way from SIN. That in itself is fine. But if its a stopover, lets stopover properly for as long as possible, preferably overnight in a hotel, and have chance to see the stopover venue.
So, the bottom line.. would like to travel in business, failing that, 3 econ seats between the two of us so we have some space.
Ok to stopover, especially if time to visit the destination, but would love say, MUC to US to PPT or similar with minimum stops and time spent in airports.
Resources likely about 500k UA miles, 1.2 mil amex points, 120k or so Virgin Atlantic. Both of us GS.
Would really appreciate and love thoughts on strategy to make this work..
Then, if you also have any suggestions on the accommodation, that would also be welcome. The Marriott overwater bungalows seem crazy with the points and cash required.
P.S. Please dont tell Mrs Limey, Im hoping I can keep it as a surprise.
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,923
Easter Friday is 19 April 2019. So a holiday time for many people, particularly in Aust/New Zealand, where schools will be on vacation for 1 or 2 weeks. Will make flights & hotels harder to get.
Great Circle Mapper MUC-LAX-PPT
Great Circle Mapper MUC-SIN-PPT
Airlines & routes in wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fa%27a...tional_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadi_I...tional_Airport
Going via Asia may get better results
Some threads on similar topics. There other threads
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...30-2018-a.html
Consider these Award booking services - a list and some reviews
Great Circle Mapper MUC-LAX-PPT
Great Circle Mapper MUC-SIN-PPT
Airlines & routes in wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fa%27a...tional_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadi_I...tional_Airport
Going via Asia may get better results
Some threads on similar topics. There other threads
- AA forum Trouble trying to book NY to south pacific
- UA forum NYC / Tahiti / New Zealand - Feb 2019
- LH forum Flight Award to PPT
- UA forum Award availability Oceania
- UA forum Award travel to Fiji or Tahiti using MileagePlus Miles?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...30-2018-a.html
Consider these Award booking services - a list and some reviews
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jul 19, 2018 at 2:11 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
Great Circle Mapper
MUC-SFO-PPT is a mere 2 miles longer than the great circle route. Going through SIN adds 35% (about 3500 extra miles). Whether that's good or bad is, of course, a matter of perspective.
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,325
As a GS, you also have the option of flying one paid and one XN+GPU or IN ticket on UA metal. Obviously not the "all points" solution, but this half-off way to travel is one of the biggest reasons I wish I were GS.
#163
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: United MileagePlus
Posts: 2
Award Flight TYO-PPT
Has anyone here booked an award flight from TYO to PPT on United's website recently?
I've been trying to book this award flight for months, and although United's website is showing availability, I keep getting an error message when trying to pay.
Thanks
I've been trying to book this award flight for months, and although United's website is showing availability, I keep getting an error message when trying to pay.
Thanks
#164
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,783
The problem could be Singapore Airlines being temporarily(?) unavailable.