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.
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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.
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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]
Jul 17, 2013, 11:47 pm
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: HHonors Gold
Posts: 130
No miles are earnt for any kind of award ticket issued by US. There are very few FFPs that offer this as an option (think QF is one) and the mechanics of such FFPs are somewhat different to that of USDM.
Jul 18, 2013, 1:26 am
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
I believe AA has something similar by paying double the amount of miles too.
Jul 18, 2013, 2:15 am
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Jul 18, 2013, 3:49 am
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 600
USDM told me the third party authorization was only for a third party to make bookings on behalf of the member... that is... you (as husband) could book a ticket for your wife, for her travel, if you were authorized on her account.
you could not, for example, book travel on her account for yourself or another person (or so I was told)
that seems to make sense for a simple 'check the box' authorization without any follow up paper work. (otherwise if you hacked an account you could run amok)
however... for the case of families... there really shouldn't be any need for any authorizations. you simply ring USDM and create four PNRs, one for each account miles will be coming from. you can book on behalf if your children and your wife. each if the tickets will be in their name. the USDM agent may ask to speak to your wife at the very end just to confirm the use of the miles (one second on the phone to confirm identity, that's it).
as for the children, that's never been an issue for my friends that are in the same boat as you... they just ring and book and the miles come out.
you could not, for example, book travel on her account for yourself or another person (or so I was told)
that seems to make sense for a simple 'check the box' authorization without any follow up paper work. (otherwise if you hacked an account you could run amok)
however... for the case of families... there really shouldn't be any need for any authorizations. you simply ring USDM and create four PNRs, one for each account miles will be coming from. you can book on behalf if your children and your wife. each if the tickets will be in their name. the USDM agent may ask to speak to your wife at the very end just to confirm the use of the miles (one second on the phone to confirm identity, that's it).
as for the children, that's never been an issue for my friends that are in the same boat as you... they just ring and book and the miles come out.
Jul 18, 2013, 9:02 am
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 21
Basic questions from a newbie- using miles on Star Alliance
Hello All,
I'm new to accruing and using Dividend Miles and have a couple of questions. I currently have about 70,000 miles. US Airways doesn't fly to where I want to go with my award travel (US to South Africa via Europe) but there are several options with Star Alliance partners (eg NYC to FRA or LHR then to JNB and CPT).
US Airways has a partner award chart in pdf format on its website. It shows that US to Africa r/t needs 70,000 miles.
While planning an itinerary and before calling US Airways reservations, can I assume that, as long as I find award avaiability (eg by using United's search tools and finding availability in "Saver Award Economy") on Star Alliance carriers, I will be able to get those flights for my 70.000 miles? Or are there other restrictions and limitations that I haven't considered? I'm aware of blackouts dates for award travel but these don't apply in my case.
I'm grateful for any answers.
I'm new to accruing and using Dividend Miles and have a couple of questions. I currently have about 70,000 miles. US Airways doesn't fly to where I want to go with my award travel (US to South Africa via Europe) but there are several options with Star Alliance partners (eg NYC to FRA or LHR then to JNB and CPT).
US Airways has a partner award chart in pdf format on its website. It shows that US to Africa r/t needs 70,000 miles.
While planning an itinerary and before calling US Airways reservations, can I assume that, as long as I find award avaiability (eg by using United's search tools and finding availability in "Saver Award Economy") on Star Alliance carriers, I will be able to get those flights for my 70.000 miles? Or are there other restrictions and limitations that I haven't considered? I'm aware of blackouts dates for award travel but these don't apply in my case.
I'm grateful for any answers.
Jul 18, 2013, 9:32 am
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: AVL
Programs: AA EXP ; Cunard Plat
Posts: 4,211
...While planning an itinerary and before calling US Airways reservations, can I assume that, as long as I find award avaiability (eg by using United's search tools and finding availability in "Saver Award Economy") on Star Alliance carriers, I will be able to get those flights for my 70.000 miles? ...
Your assumption is correct - if you can find award availability, US will book it for the stated 70k miles (with tax/fees of course, but no fuel surcharge like some other airlines do).
South Africa is a popular destination, and the challenge is finding award availability on the dates you want ...
Jul 18, 2013, 9:51 am
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 21
One small matter..
Many thanks for the reply. I will attempt to read the previous 1000 pages on this thread in order to get answers to routing questions.
I do have one question outstanding: Are there any consequences if I don't take the final flight of my award itinerary. Specifically, I would like to trave from the US to South Africa,via Europe and, on the return leg, stay in Europe (ie I simply wouldn't take a LHR to NYC final flight). Will US consider that I'm doing something wrong? What can they do?
I do have one question outstanding: Are there any consequences if I don't take the final flight of my award itinerary. Specifically, I would like to trave from the US to South Africa,via Europe and, on the return leg, stay in Europe (ie I simply wouldn't take a LHR to NYC final flight). Will US consider that I'm doing something wrong? What can they do?
Last edited by englishvalencia; Jul 18, 2013 at 10:20 am Reason: update.
Jul 18, 2013, 10:32 am
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: AR
Programs: AA, BA, Alaska Air
Posts: 120
PNR Changed
Original PNR on hold had business seats, when I called today to ticket it I was informed that it has Coach seats.... 
Will have to start from scratch again since I was told no availability exists.
Will have to start from scratch again since I was told no availability exists.
Jul 18, 2013, 10:33 am
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 38
Flight to BUD 5/30 on US miles?
I have US miles and called US to book 2 tickets PHX – BUD 5/30, Economy, 30K each way. My return is 6/17 so I needed to wait today to book the tickets. US is not showing any LH inventory after 5/27, do they release tickets on a different schedule then US?
The flight I was looking to book is PHX – BUD 5/30, KRK – FRA 6/14 (LH #1369 @1835 hours), FRA – PHX 6/17. I have flexibility outbound to travel 5/29, and I can omit the KRK – FRA leg and pay out of pocket. We are traveling with 2 other couples so our dates are hard to change. I used the ANA website to find a number of LH flights from the states to BUD on 5/30 (MCO, PHL, JFK, ATL, BOS, and YYZ) but I will need to try to talk US into opening 2 seats from PHX to one of these cities.
My questions to everyone;
When would LH release inventory to US for the 5/30 flights?
Has anyone had any luck in convincing US to open up economy seats?
Does anyone see any other options on *A for our trip?
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you
The flight I was looking to book is PHX – BUD 5/30, KRK – FRA 6/14 (LH #1369 @1835 hours), FRA – PHX 6/17. I have flexibility outbound to travel 5/29, and I can omit the KRK – FRA leg and pay out of pocket. We are traveling with 2 other couples so our dates are hard to change. I used the ANA website to find a number of LH flights from the states to BUD on 5/30 (MCO, PHL, JFK, ATL, BOS, and YYZ) but I will need to try to talk US into opening 2 seats from PHX to one of these cities.
My questions to everyone;
When would LH release inventory to US for the 5/30 flights?
Has anyone had any luck in convincing US to open up economy seats?
Does anyone see any other options on *A for our trip?
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you
Jul 18, 2013, 11:18 am
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SEA
Posts: 2,556
Strategy to book on partner before DM disappears
Would like to book an ANA roundtrip in January (for December 2014), using Dividend Miles. Am worried that Dividend Miles might have already been dissolved by then as part of the AA merger.
If there is an announcement that Dividend Miles can be redeemed only through a certain date, let's say as an example November 1st, I am wondering if I could/should simply book the ANA roundtrip for whatever dates I can get (at that point it would be too early to book for the actual December 2014 dates that I want) and then at a later point make a change of dates (and pay the change fee, which I believe would be $150).
Hopefully Dividend Miles will still exist through at least January, but I want to have a backup plan just in case.
So, I might have to book for let's say dates in October, then in January I would attempt to change the dates to my actually-wanted dates in December. In that scenario I guess I would be calling AA to make the change (even though ANA is in Star Alliance and AA is in Oneworld).
Does this sound like a good strategy? Any advice or thoughts on this?
If there is an announcement that Dividend Miles can be redeemed only through a certain date, let's say as an example November 1st, I am wondering if I could/should simply book the ANA roundtrip for whatever dates I can get (at that point it would be too early to book for the actual December 2014 dates that I want) and then at a later point make a change of dates (and pay the change fee, which I believe would be $150).
Hopefully Dividend Miles will still exist through at least January, but I want to have a backup plan just in case.
So, I might have to book for let's say dates in October, then in January I would attempt to change the dates to my actually-wanted dates in December. In that scenario I guess I would be calling AA to make the change (even though ANA is in Star Alliance and AA is in Oneworld).
Does this sound like a good strategy? Any advice or thoughts on this?
Jul 18, 2013, 11:33 am
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
If you try to change after US joins OW, my guess is that you will be restricted to only the OW airlines. Sucks, I know...
Jul 18, 2013, 3:16 pm
Join Date: May 2006
Location: YYZ
Posts: 731
Jul 18, 2013, 3:59 pm
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SEA
Posts: 2,556
No one yet knows for sure...but I am curious as to what others would speculate about this. Most likely Dividend Miles will still exist as a separate program (within the Star Alliance) through January 2014...or unlikely?
Jul 18, 2013, 4:02 pm
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Northwest NJ
Programs: Starwood Platinum,Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 2,313
Is US blocking UA award seats?
Saw First Class seats available on UA next Spring, EWR to FRA. Called USAir to redeem Dividend Miles for those seats (I'M PLATINUM Elite) and was told United has not released those seats yet to US.
Had issues a few years ago with Lufthansa First. Seats available on UA and US said they did not see them. Asked them to hand ticket them and said it couldn't be done. Escalated to a Supervisor and told them that I chose to be loyal to US but that if I had been loyal to UA, I could have the tickets with a click, rather than having to argue and beg. They relented and I got ticketed.
So my question is - is it true that UA might have seats on their website for their own customers but not released to partners, or are they blowing smoke. I would like to know if it is worth escalating again.
Many thanks for feedback.
Had issues a few years ago with Lufthansa First. Seats available on UA and US said they did not see them. Asked them to hand ticket them and said it couldn't be done. Escalated to a Supervisor and told them that I chose to be loyal to US but that if I had been loyal to UA, I could have the tickets with a click, rather than having to argue and beg. They relented and I got ticketed.
So my question is - is it true that UA might have seats on their website for their own customers but not released to partners, or are they blowing smoke. I would like to know if it is worth escalating again.
Many thanks for feedback.
Jul 18, 2013, 4:23 pm
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
It'll take some 2 years to merge US and AA after final approval, until then they will be operating as two separate carriers with two separate FF programs. So unless US (as US) comes over to OW, DM in *A is likely to exist until 2016, or at the very least until late 2015. The only way how it could be not so is if US (still as US) goes over to OW, before the merger being completed (the whole process and getting one carrier certificate and all I believe takes a good 2 years), which is possible, but unlikely.