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]
Nov 11, 2013, 7:11 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
- 'in a few words what do you want'
- 'ok, let's get started' (immediately say 'agent' when this is said) and
- 'is this for travel in the USA'
the hold is technically 72 hours, but is actually until midnight on the third day from the time the booking is made.
So could be as little as 49 hours (so i have been told).
Nov 11, 2013, 7:45 pm
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 821
Thanks! try 05/13 ICN-YVR AC064, ANA only show 2 business seats, but United and Aeroplan all show 3+ busi seats, I ask the US agent, she also can just see 2
'award travel' -> 'agent' -> 'no' in response to:
- 'in a few words what do you want'
- 'ok, let's get started' (immediately say 'agent' when this is said) and
- 'is this for travel in the USA'
the hold is technically 72 hours, but is actually until midnight on the third day from the time the booking is made.
So could be as little as 49 hours (so i have been told).
- 'in a few words what do you want'
- 'ok, let's get started' (immediately say 'agent' when this is said) and
- 'is this for travel in the USA'
the hold is technically 72 hours, but is actually until midnight on the third day from the time the booking is made.
So could be as little as 49 hours (so i have been told).
Nov 11, 2013, 8:42 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Nov 11, 2013, 11:01 pm
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 709
My wife and I are flying PRG-FRA-IAD-CLT later this month as the return leg of an award ticket booked with US miles. However, my wife just found out that she has to be in Manchester the day after we're scheduled to fly home.
If we start our day together from PRG-FRA, but then she bails on the rest of the itinerary (i.e. buys a separate ticket to get to MAN), will that impact my ability to go FRA-IAD-CLT on the existing itinerary? Wasn't sure if her failing to show for FRA-IAD or IAD-CLT would impact me, since I'm technically on the same PNR. Any ideas?
If we start our day together from PRG-FRA, but then she bails on the rest of the itinerary (i.e. buys a separate ticket to get to MAN), will that impact my ability to go FRA-IAD-CLT on the existing itinerary? Wasn't sure if her failing to show for FRA-IAD or IAD-CLT would impact me, since I'm technically on the same PNR. Any ideas?
Nov 12, 2013, 9:12 am
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: WAS (IAD, DCA, BWI)
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, WN CP
Posts: 245
My apologies in advance, in case this is in the wrong forum, But I would really aprpeciate some help. Any help or pointers in the right direction would be appreciated.
We are a family of four in the WAS area (IAD/DCA/BWI). Each of us has at least 200K DM miles in US. We have a week booked in KOA from June 21 - 28, 2014. I wanted to treat the family to travel in F for this trip.
There is no availability at the saver level on the US website. What little is available is about 90K each way (180K round trip).
We are flexible with dates around this week to facilitate travel in F. I do see saver J availability from IAD-NRT-HNL and IAD-ICN-HNL the week before and after. But again I do not see saver availability from KOA/HNL-WAS. But I do see availability from ICN-WAS and NRT-WAS. My searches were on United.com.
Is something like the following routing legal? IAD-ICN-HNL-NRT-IAD
Any help would be appreciated.
We are a family of four in the WAS area (IAD/DCA/BWI). Each of us has at least 200K DM miles in US. We have a week booked in KOA from June 21 - 28, 2014. I wanted to treat the family to travel in F for this trip.
There is no availability at the saver level on the US website. What little is available is about 90K each way (180K round trip).
We are flexible with dates around this week to facilitate travel in F. I do see saver J availability from IAD-NRT-HNL and IAD-ICN-HNL the week before and after. But again I do not see saver availability from KOA/HNL-WAS. But I do see availability from ICN-WAS and NRT-WAS. My searches were on United.com.
Is something like the following routing legal? IAD-ICN-HNL-NRT-IAD
Any help would be appreciated.
Last edited by yrs; Nov 12, 2013 at 9:17 am
Nov 12, 2013, 10:27 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,395
My apologies in advance, in case this is in the wrong forum, But I would really aprpeciate some help. Any help or pointers in the right direction would be appreciated.
We are a family of four in the WAS area (IAD/DCA/BWI). Each of us has at least 200K DM miles in US. We have a week booked in KOA from June 21 - 28, 2014. I wanted to treat the family to travel in F for this trip.
There is no availability at the saver level on the US website. What little is available is about 90K each way (180K round trip).
We are flexible with dates around this week to facilitate travel in F. I do see saver J availability from IAD-NRT-HNL and IAD-ICN-HNL the week before and after. But again I do not see saver availability from KOA/HNL-WAS. But I do see availability from ICN-WAS and NRT-WAS. My searches were on United.com.
Is something like the following routing legal? IAD-ICN-HNL-NRT-IAD
Any help would be appreciated.
We are a family of four in the WAS area (IAD/DCA/BWI). Each of us has at least 200K DM miles in US. We have a week booked in KOA from June 21 - 28, 2014. I wanted to treat the family to travel in F for this trip.
There is no availability at the saver level on the US website. What little is available is about 90K each way (180K round trip).
We are flexible with dates around this week to facilitate travel in F. I do see saver J availability from IAD-NRT-HNL and IAD-ICN-HNL the week before and after. But again I do not see saver availability from KOA/HNL-WAS. But I do see availability from ICN-WAS and NRT-WAS. My searches were on United.com.
Is something like the following routing legal? IAD-ICN-HNL-NRT-IAD
Any help would be appreciated.
Probably not, but I guess you could try, because it is US we are talking about. Be
prepared for lots of HUACA. Oh, and you can't use a foreign carrier because of cabotage (it would be a huge fine for a foreign carrier to serve between two USA destinations), so it has to be entirely on UA- no NH or OZ. So probably not.
Nov 12, 2013, 11:01 am
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Are you really serious with your question? If so, my serious answer is that this routing is only valid if you transit Australia... 
Ever checked the detour on a map? here
Ever checked the detour on a map? here
Nov 12, 2013, 11:11 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,395
Are you really serious with your question? If so, my serious answer is that this routing is only valid if you transit Australia...
Ever checked the detour on a map? here
Ever checked the detour on a map? here
*cough*GUM-AustraliathroughNorthAsiainbusinessat30K*cough*ICN-DMEthroughFrankfurtinFfor40KmileswhenRussiawasinNo rthAsia*cough* We ARE talking about US here. That being said, I believe there is no US *A carrier flying ICN-HNL nonstop (UA flies GUM-HNL and NRT-HNL). So the OP's itinerary almost certainly breaks cabotage rules and is actually, literally illegal (as in violation of USA law regarding foreign airlines flying purely domestic itineraries- you can't get around that by going to a 3rd country first). I doubt it would get ticketed, and even if it was, you could end up getting the ticket pulled at the airport. That isn't the way to start a vacation, having to argue with an airline about your ticket, hmm?
I'd like to see if someone could get a IAD-NRT-GUM-HNL-NRT-IAD itinerary ticketed as a US award, though, on all UA metal...
Nov 12, 2013, 11:18 am
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: STL
Programs: US Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 509
I believe it can be made legal by stopping for over 24 hours in NRT or ICN. Then it becomes an international ticket with a stopover in Hawaii. However, this will make it a N Asia award, 90k for business or 120k for first.
Nov 12, 2013, 11:24 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
If we start our day together from PRG-FRA, but then she bails on the rest of the itinerary (i.e. buys a separate ticket to get to MAN), will that impact my ability to go FRA-IAD-CLT on the existing itinerary? Wasn't sure if her failing to show for FRA-IAD or IAD-CLT would impact me, since I'm technically on the same PNR. Any ideas?
As a courtesy, you may also wish to advise the airline to offload her in FRA.
Nov 12, 2013, 11:29 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.1/Diamond - Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-SP1]
Code:
ICN Seoul Incheon Intl KR [RKSI] YVR Vancouver Metro / Intl BC CA = YVR CXH [CYVR] TUE 13 May 2014 | 2 Seats Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- AC 64 ICN 18:10 YVR 12:20 763 0 FS/ CS+ YS+
Code:
ICN Seoul Incheon Intl KR [RKSI] YVR Vancouver Metro / Intl BC CA = YVR CXH [CYVR] TUE 13 May 2014 | 3 Seats Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------- AC 64 ICN 18:10 YVR 12:20 763 0 FS/ CS- YS+
Nov 12, 2013, 11:31 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,395
Yeah, that would do it... assuming there isn't a problem because of backtracking to HNL from North Asia back to North Asia to the USA...
Nov 12, 2013, 11:48 am
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: WAS (IAD, DCA, BWI)
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, WN CP
Posts: 245
My apologies in advance, in case this is in the wrong forum, But I would really aprpeciate some help. Any help or pointers in the right direction would be appreciated.
We are a family of four in the WAS area (IAD/DCA/BWI). Each of us has at least 200K DM miles in US. We have a week booked in KOA from June 21 - 28, 2014. I wanted to treat the family to travel in F for this trip.
There is no availability at the saver level on the US website. What little is available is about 90K each way (180K round trip).
We are flexible with dates around this week to facilitate travel in F. I do see saver J availability from IAD-NRT-HNL and IAD-ICN-HNL the week before and after. But again I do not see saver availability from KOA/HNL-WAS. But I do see availability from ICN-WAS and NRT-WAS. My searches were on United.com.
Is something like the following routing legal? IAD-ICN-HNL-NRT-IAD
Any help would be appreciated.
We are a family of four in the WAS area (IAD/DCA/BWI). Each of us has at least 200K DM miles in US. We have a week booked in KOA from June 21 - 28, 2014. I wanted to treat the family to travel in F for this trip.
There is no availability at the saver level on the US website. What little is available is about 90K each way (180K round trip).
We are flexible with dates around this week to facilitate travel in F. I do see saver J availability from IAD-NRT-HNL and IAD-ICN-HNL the week before and after. But again I do not see saver availability from KOA/HNL-WAS. But I do see availability from ICN-WAS and NRT-WAS. My searches were on United.com.
Is something like the following routing legal? IAD-ICN-HNL-NRT-IAD
Any help would be appreciated.
My apologies for not explaining more clearly. Since domestic saver in F is not available to HNL, I was considering a North Asia trip with a stopover in HNL in J or F. In such a case, would the following routing be considered legal?
IAD-ICN/NRT(destination)-HNL(stopover)-NRT-IAD or
IAD-ICN/NRT-HNL(stopover)-NRT(destination)-IAD.
Nov 12, 2013, 11:54 am
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: DC
Programs: AA EXP; UAMM
Posts: 1,902
There are definitely 2+ C Award Seats currently available on that flight.
For tips on dealing with Agents, who may claim otherwise, please see http://Help.KVSTool.com/#AgentSaysNo
[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.1/Diamond - Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-SP1]
For tips on dealing with Agents, who may claim otherwise, please see http://Help.KVSTool.com/#AgentSaysNo
[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.1/Diamond - Awards/StarAlliance/JP-ANA-SP1]
Code:
JNB Johannesburg Metro / OR Tambo Intl ZA = JNB HLA [FAJS]
LOS Lagos Murtala Muhammed NG [DNMM]
THU 06 Feb 2014 | 2 Seats
Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- -------------
SA 60 JNB 14:20 LOS 19:35 346 0 FS/ CS+ YS+
So I am seeing biz saver availability on 2/6/14 JNB-LOS SA60 and LOS-FRA LH595 but the agents can't seem to find both flights at once. I ended up with flights on 2/8 with coach seats on the JNB-LOS leg (daytime flight) and biz seat on the LOS-FRA leg.
Is it true that US can't see the biz award seats I see on the JNB-LOS leg or is this a question of calling again, maybe getting a supervisor?
I did notice that many of the US agents didn't know any of these cities and I had to guide them through the process to some extent. But since the US merger is moving ahead I really want to use up these US miles.
Suggestions?
Nov 12, 2013, 1:19 pm
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Originally Posted by DCdeacon21769083
My wife and I are flying PRG-FRA-IAD-CLT later this month as the return leg of an award ticket booked with US miles. However, my wife just found out that she has to be in Manchester the day after we're scheduled to fly home.
If we start our day together from PRG-FRA, but then she bails on the rest of the itinerary (i.e. buys a separate ticket to get to MAN), will that impact my ability to go FRA-IAD-CLT on the existing itinerary? Wasn't sure if her failing to show for FRA-IAD or IAD-CLT would impact me, since I'm technically on the same PNR. Any ideas?
If we start our day together from PRG-FRA, but then she bails on the rest of the itinerary (i.e. buys a separate ticket to get to MAN), will that impact my ability to go FRA-IAD-CLT on the existing itinerary? Wasn't sure if her failing to show for FRA-IAD or IAD-CLT would impact me, since I'm technically on the same PNR. Any ideas?