Oct 14, 2013, 4:55 pm
Last edit by: NewbieRunner
Update 08APR2014: Star Alliance Awards must have been booked by March 30, 2014. They are no longer available through US. This thread is mostly useful for historic purposes, and discussing issues such as schedule changes/route changes that affect FTers existing *A awards booked before 3/31/2014.
Discussion on using US miles to book oneworld awards is available here.
If you are looking for discussion on US's new partner awards that use various partners not in oneworld (many of whom are former *A partners), see the devoted thread on using US miles to book NON-oneworld partners here.
------------------------
Update 07JAN14: American Airlines award tickets bookable online on usairways.com or through reservation.
Please see the devoted thread on using US miles to book AA here.
Discussion on using US miles to book oneworld awards is available here.
If you are looking for discussion on US's new partner awards that use various partners not in oneworld (many of whom are former *A partners), see the devoted thread on using US miles to book NON-oneworld partners here.
------------------------
Update 07JAN14: American Airlines award tickets bookable online on usairways.com or through reservation.
- Award travel must be wholly on American Airlines or a combination of American Airlines and US Airways.
- American Airlines awards cannot be combined with any of our current partner.
- American Airlines award travel chart (PDF)
Please see the devoted thread on using US miles to book AA here.
Star Alliance Award Bookings Using US Airways Miles - FAQ and Help Thread [MERGED]
Mar 21, 2013, 9:04 am
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BNE
Programs: QF,US,ANA
Posts: 323
Hi, I am in the UK at the moment and I am looking at booking a complicated award.
Is it worth trying to book through the UK call center ? or is it best to call the US call center as they seem to be quite flexible.
Thanks
Is it worth trying to book through the UK call center ? or is it best to call the US call center as they seem to be quite flexible.
Thanks
Mar 21, 2013, 9:16 am
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 425
It appears Seattle and Seoul are the key. Silly me thinking it was places like LA, SF and Tokyo.
Now if only Star could get me to USM...
Mar 21, 2013, 12:48 pm
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA PP, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 71
Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for all the helpful information and all the helpful people in this thread. Using this info I was able to find a very good east coast to asia routing in J. And if you have your ducks in a row when you call in, the folks at the silver desk are very helpful!
Mar 21, 2013, 3:09 pm
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: WAS
Posts: 113
United's site does a better job of finding more routing options than ANA's site, so I always like to start there.
Mar 21, 2013, 3:14 pm
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,764
The ANA tool is the best free option by far.
Mar 21, 2013, 3:19 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,409
Have you tried it without LCY?
Mar 21, 2013, 3:25 pm
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Rolla, MO USA
Programs: American, BA, NWA, United, US Air
Posts: 199
Phantom availability all right
For the past few days I was unable to find an award flight from PVG back to the US, any which way, in September. Awardnexus shows no availabilty for an entire week, US Air says there is nothing open. N'est pas possible.
I gave award seat information to CR, but all were rejected.
Do we just cave in and buy what we have on hold?
STL (no flight from SPI?)-ORD-FRA (in business)(layover)-FRA-PVD (business) (destination)-PVD-FRA (business)-FRA-ORD (economy)-STL
With several sections in business should we just be glad for that and go the long way back over the Atlantic.
By reading these entries, I get the impression that the CR can be convinced. What method needs to be employed?
I gave award seat information to CR, but all were rejected.
Do we just cave in and buy what we have on hold?
STL (no flight from SPI?)-ORD-FRA (in business)(layover)-FRA-PVD (business) (destination)-PVD-FRA (business)-FRA-ORD (economy)-STL
With several sections in business should we just be glad for that and go the long way back over the Atlantic.
By reading these entries, I get the impression that the CR can be convinced. What method needs to be employed?
Mar 21, 2013, 3:28 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,409
For the past few days I was unable to find an award flight from PVG back to the US, any which way, in September. Awardnexus shows no availabilty for an entire week, US Air says there is nothing open. N'est pas possible.
I gave award seat information to CR, but all were rejected.
Do we just cave in and buy what we have on hold?
STL (no flight from SPI?)-ORD-FRA (in business)(layover)-FRA-PVD (business) (destination)-PVD-FRA (business)-FRA-ORD (economy)-STL
With several sections in business should we just be glad for that and go the long way back over the Atlantic.
By reading these entries, I get the impression that the CR can be convinced. What method needs to be employed?
I gave award seat information to CR, but all were rejected.
Do we just cave in and buy what we have on hold?
STL (no flight from SPI?)-ORD-FRA (in business)(layover)-FRA-PVD (business) (destination)-PVD-FRA (business)-FRA-ORD (economy)-STL
With several sections in business should we just be glad for that and go the long way back over the Atlantic.
By reading these entries, I get the impression that the CR can be convinced. What method needs to be employed?
Mar 21, 2013, 3:32 pm
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,764
Mar 21, 2013, 3:43 pm
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SEA
Posts: 398
For the past few days I was unable to find an award flight from PVG back to the US, any which way, in September. Awardnexus shows no availabilty for an entire week, US Air says there is nothing open. N'est pas possible.
I gave award seat information to CR, but all were rejected.
Do we just cave in and buy what we have on hold?
STL (no flight from SPI?)-ORD-FRA (in business)(layover)-FRA-PVD (business) (destination)-PVD-FRA (business)-FRA-ORD (economy)-STL
With several sections in business should we just be glad for that and go the long way back over the Atlantic.
By reading these entries, I get the impression that the CR can be convinced. What method needs to be employed?
I gave award seat information to CR, but all were rejected.
Do we just cave in and buy what we have on hold?
STL (no flight from SPI?)-ORD-FRA (in business)(layover)-FRA-PVD (business) (destination)-PVD-FRA (business)-FRA-ORD (economy)-STL
With several sections in business should we just be glad for that and go the long way back over the Atlantic.
By reading these entries, I get the impression that the CR can be convinced. What method needs to be employed?
Mar 21, 2013, 6:05 pm
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Rolla, MO USA
Programs: American, BA, NWA, United, US Air
Posts: 199
Thanks
Thanks for your helpful advice.
I am afraid that we shall have to go with the itinerary as outlined.
We fly ORD-FRA in LH business, as per US Air CR. US Air just cannot find flight PVG-ORD, or anywhere to Westcoast, and then on to ORD, resp. DEN-STL in mid-September. Awardnexus does not show anything in that time period.
As far as I know, the FRA-ORD is non-stop in LH. Shall try again to-morrow and then we have to buy, before losing that particular itinerary at 100K miles.
And so it goes.
However, without the info from this website, I would not have gotten so far.
I am afraid that we shall have to go with the itinerary as outlined.
We fly ORD-FRA in LH business, as per US Air CR. US Air just cannot find flight PVG-ORD, or anywhere to Westcoast, and then on to ORD, resp. DEN-STL in mid-September. Awardnexus does not show anything in that time period.
As far as I know, the FRA-ORD is non-stop in LH. Shall try again to-morrow and then we have to buy, before losing that particular itinerary at 100K miles.
And so it goes.
However, without the info from this website, I would not have gotten so far.
Mar 21, 2013, 8:18 pm
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 425
Mar 21, 2013, 8:50 pm
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
I normally book relatively simple round trip awards but may be about to try to book something much more complicated for a relative, so I thought I'd consult the collective knowledge here first.
Routing would be PHL-CDG (stopover)-PEK-PHL. The return PEK-PHL can be via any valid routing. This brings up a few concerns:
1) Since this would really be PHL-PEK with a CDG stopover, do I have a MPM problem routing through Europe? Per KVS, the "25M" MPM for PHL-PEK is 10358 for a Pacific routing, and 14138 for an Atlantic routing. PHL-CDG-PEK-CDG-PHL is 17660; PHL-CDG-PEK-ORD-PHL is 16087 per http://www.gcmap.com/, which is why I think I may have a problem.
2) Would I need to pay the miles for a round the world ticket if both the Atlantic and Pacific are crossed?
3) Is there any limit on the length of the CDG stopover? I don't recall seeing one.
4) If the above is bookable, what mileage level would I be looking at in Y or C? Given the distance I assume I'm looking at greater than the North Asia routing.
If this doesn't work out, I'll probably buy a revenue ticket on PHL-CDG and use miles on CDG-PEK, though obviously I'd rather not spend money when I've got tons of miles.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Routing would be PHL-CDG (stopover)-PEK-PHL. The return PEK-PHL can be via any valid routing. This brings up a few concerns:
1) Since this would really be PHL-PEK with a CDG stopover, do I have a MPM problem routing through Europe? Per KVS, the "25M" MPM for PHL-PEK is 10358 for a Pacific routing, and 14138 for an Atlantic routing. PHL-CDG-PEK-CDG-PHL is 17660; PHL-CDG-PEK-ORD-PHL is 16087 per http://www.gcmap.com/, which is why I think I may have a problem.
2) Would I need to pay the miles for a round the world ticket if both the Atlantic and Pacific are crossed?
3) Is there any limit on the length of the CDG stopover? I don't recall seeing one.
4) If the above is bookable, what mileage level would I be looking at in Y or C? Given the distance I assume I'm looking at greater than the North Asia routing.
If this doesn't work out, I'll probably buy a revenue ticket on PHL-CDG and use miles on CDG-PEK, though obviously I'd rather not spend money when I've got tons of miles.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Mar 21, 2013, 9:27 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
Routing would be PHL-CDG (stopover)-PEK-PHL. The return PEK-PHL can be via any valid routing. This brings up a few concerns:
1) Since this would really be PHL-PEK with a CDG stopover, do I have a MPM problem routing through Europe? Per KVS, the "25M" MPM for PHL-PEK is 10358 for a Pacific routing, and 14138 for an Atlantic routing. PHL-CDG-PEK-CDG-PHL is 17660; PHL-CDG-PEK-ORD-PHL is 16087 per http://www.gcmap.com/, which is why I think I may have a problem.
1) Since this would really be PHL-PEK with a CDG stopover, do I have a MPM problem routing through Europe? Per KVS, the "25M" MPM for PHL-PEK is 10358 for a Pacific routing, and 14138 for an Atlantic routing. PHL-CDG-PEK-CDG-PHL is 17660; PHL-CDG-PEK-ORD-PHL is 16087 per http://www.gcmap.com/, which is why I think I may have a problem.
:http://Help.KVSTool.com/#MPM
[KVS Availability Tool 7.1.7 - Reference: Maximum Permitted Mileage [MPM]: PHL-CDG-PEK]
Code:
CTY DC TPM CUM MPM DC SUR HGL LWL 25M XTRA
PHL 1
PAR 2 AT 3723 3723 4467 AT 0M 744 0 5583 0
BJS 3 EH 5086 8809 11311 AT 0M 2502 0 14138 0
Mar 21, 2013, 11:07 pm
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290