Need DPS to EWR award for 6, only 4 presently available
Feb 28, 2018, 5:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Toms River NJ USA
Posts: 233
Need DPS to EWR award for 6, only 4 presently available
I was lucky enough to get awards to Bali for the 6 of us(7/29 on CX) and trying to get us home on 8/27 or 8/28-economy award with United.I can only find availability for 4.Is it possible to purchase the 4 seats and then try again for 2?Anyone ever had success doing that?I know I can split us up on the 2 days,but I'm the only experienced traveler and the others are a bit nervous about travelling without me...any input appreciated,tia...
Barbara
Barbara
Feb 28, 2018, 6:07 pm
#2
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Feb 28, 2018, 6:08 pm
#3
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If you only see xn or x at 4, you will not see more after booking. Maybe find the four the better routing, book yourself the other route, and keep checking to move over. If UA metal, they may even let you waitlist.
Feb 28, 2018, 6:19 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
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Posts: 9,005
I see 6 tickets available on 8/28 (at a standard rate, not saver) for DPS-SIN-PEK-EWR (SQ, CA, and UA metal respectively). Long layover times, but it is what it is...
Feb 28, 2018, 6:21 pm
#5
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
OP: I would search for awards from SIN, CGK, HKG, BKK, or MNL, and then consider purchasing a positioning flight to there. If you're willing to consider LCCs (e.g. AirAsia), you can likely find a pretty reasonable fare. You may want to give yourself a long layover at the connecting point, though -- and don't forget to budget for any luggage you need to bring.
Otherwise, just keep watching inventory from DPS and hop on anything that looks reasonable -- it can disappear quickly, especially when you need 6. You might consider an ExpertFlyer subscription, as you can set alerts for award space on your preferred flights.
Good luck!
Feb 28, 2018, 6:51 pm
#7
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I like jsloan's idea.
Head the warning though: SQ availability through UA is spotty at best and SQ will be your best option out of DPS. I recently had an award ticket to DPS booked through UA (xxx-LAX-SIN-DPS). I made a change to the ticket and the agent botched the entire thing and never moved SIN-DPS to the correct date (thus I would have arrived in SIN after my SIN-DPS actually left). Both ExpertFlyer and SQ agreed there was "X" space open on the SIN-DPS flight I wanted to get on but United said no. I tried and tried and tried and never got them to book the space. Then I saw all SQ SIN-DPS flights disappear from United for an entire month. I wound up cancelling that entire itinerary and went to SYD instead via the IAH-SYD route.
-RM
Head the warning though: SQ availability through UA is spotty at best and SQ will be your best option out of DPS. I recently had an award ticket to DPS booked through UA (xxx-LAX-SIN-DPS). I made a change to the ticket and the agent botched the entire thing and never moved SIN-DPS to the correct date (thus I would have arrived in SIN after my SIN-DPS actually left). Both ExpertFlyer and SQ agreed there was "X" space open on the SIN-DPS flight I wanted to get on but United said no. I tried and tried and tried and never got them to book the space. Then I saw all SQ SIN-DPS flights disappear from United for an entire month. I wound up cancelling that entire itinerary and went to SYD instead via the IAH-SYD route.
-RM
Feb 28, 2018, 7:12 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
Looks like the amount is DPS-SIN constrained. SIN-EWR has availability for Aug 28 (6 people, using SIN-LAX, 40K miles). Perhaps just pay for DPS-SIN on AirAsia for a few people ($62 a person as of now) and book them on the SIN-EWR award, and the rest on the DPS-EWR on the same flight?
Looks like jsloan suggested this above.
Looks like jsloan suggested this above.
Mar 2, 2018, 4:00 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Toms River NJ USA
Posts: 233
Update-so I took a chance and booked the 4 seats yesterday;about 5 mins later 1 more opened up so I grabbed it!So now I'll just have to wait it out for myself,but at least the 5 are together.Appreciate your input...