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]
Dec 24, 2013, 8:50 am
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Here today, gone tomorrow
Programs: Nothing shiny :-(
Posts: 2,493
hello,
does anyone have any insight why award availability in C on SQ going ADL - SIN or vice versa is zero in April and October?
it used to be wide open almost every day of the year and I booked it for several years no matter what the dates. now it seems you can only book 2 weeks in advance.
does anyone have any insight why award availability in C on SQ going ADL - SIN or vice versa is zero in April and October?
it used to be wide open almost every day of the year and I booked it for several years no matter what the dates. now it seems you can only book 2 weeks in advance.
Dec 24, 2013, 9:07 am
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP, Hhonors Gold, National Executive, Identity Gold, MLife Gold
Posts: 2,687
Can someone on this thread educate those of us that are TI-ignorant on how this works with award travel? Last time I investigated, I couldn't find clear language on what exactly would be covered if you needed to cancel a trip before leaving or make a change after departure (US doesn't allow the latter).
Dec 24, 2013, 9:43 am
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
Schedule changes on the other hand are something US normally would have to sort out. If this http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/bmi-d...ay-2012-a.html BMI thread is any indication, after 30. March US won't see any inventory and can only confirm schedule changes. Small changes (flight time moved a bit) probably will be corrected automatically, but bigger changes (flight no longer offered) could mean human intervention is needed. As US can't do anything you need to have luck that the former *A partner is willing to work with you and change the ticket, so US can confirm it. Otherwise you'd be forced to cancel the trip and get it refunded.
Dec 24, 2013, 2:04 pm
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Velocity Gold
Posts: 1,069
Quote:
Originally Posted by nz09
hello,
does anyone have any insight why award availability in C on SQ going ADL - SIN or vice versa is zero in April and October?
it used to be wide open almost every day of the year and I booked it for several years no matter what the dates. now it seems you can only book 2 weeks in advance.
is this temporary or final like on LH?
Usually you can't book J / F on SQ Long haul using USDM.
Originally Posted by nz09
hello,
does anyone have any insight why award availability in C on SQ going ADL - SIN or vice versa is zero in April and October?
it used to be wide open almost every day of the year and I booked it for several years no matter what the dates. now it seems you can only book 2 weeks in advance.
is this temporary or final like on LH?
Usually you can't book J / F on SQ Long haul using USDM.
Dec 24, 2013, 2:07 pm
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
I just booked a pacific trip from Boston to about four locations for next May with my USDM. I had options on Asiana, Eva, etc... but I actually purposefully chose United flights. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I sort of felt more comfortable being on US Airways "closest" partner rather than an Asian carrier for exactly these reasons. Of course, that has never been said and there is no reason to expect United to accommodate me any better than another A* partner in May 2014, but for some reason it just makes a little sense to me.... I think. 
FDW
Dec 24, 2013, 3:03 pm
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
This statement isn't quite correct. The restriction used to be on the A380, 777-300ER and A340 flights. The mid haul A330 flights between Australia and Singapore have always been bookable and intra Asia as well. This is a recent change by SQ which seems to have been reflected across all *A carriers programs.
Dec 24, 2013, 4:23 pm
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
I just booked a pacific trip from Boston to about four locations for next May with my USDM. I had options on Asiana, Eva, etc... but I actually purposefully chose United flights. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I sort of felt more comfortable being on US Airways "closest" partner rather than an Asian carrier for exactly these reasons. Of course, that has never been said and there is no reason to expect United to accommodate me any better than another A* partner in May 2014, but for some reason it just makes a little sense to me.... I think.
1) you chose a poorer product - UA;
2) US already announced that it will maintain certain relationship with EVA post its exit from *A. In the meantime, US and UA already parted ways in terms of codeshare. So in term of closeness, EVA will be closer to US than UA post *A exit;
3) UA tends to tinker its schedule quite a bit, while EVA/Asiana have their TPAC route schedules fixed a year in advance.
I would have chosen the other way if I were you.
Dec 24, 2013, 4:54 pm
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: SYD
Posts: 2,903
TI is a common purchase in many parts of the world, but doesn't seem to be common in the US. So "they" don't say that here.
Can someone on this thread educate those of us that are TI-ignorant on how this works with award travel? Last time I investigated, I couldn't find clear language on what exactly would be covered if you needed to cancel a trip before leaving or make a change after departure (US doesn't allow the latter).
Can someone on this thread educate those of us that are TI-ignorant on how this works with award travel? Last time I investigated, I couldn't find clear language on what exactly would be covered if you needed to cancel a trip before leaving or make a change after departure (US doesn't allow the latter).
I've also had to make a claim on a visit to NYC Christmas time. I was sitting on a plane at JFK a few years ago when they closed the airport due to a blizzard. UA weren't able to rebook me till a week later. Insurance covered my week accomodation and other expenses. If I had to get home earlier and had bought another ticket on a different airline they'd have paid for that too.
Most policies would pretty cover as standard medical expenses, luggage and personal effects, cancellation fees, travel delays, medical evac, delayed luggage, liability, rental vehicle excess (unlike the US our credit cards do not normally come with car rental insurance), plus a number of other things.
goodo
Dec 24, 2013, 5:38 pm
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP, Hhonors Gold, National Executive, Identity Gold, MLife Gold
Posts: 2,687
Per the insurance info I've read so far, that's incorrect. Most policies do not cover this. There are a few that mention it, but the amount covered is pretty minimal. Could be yet another locale-specific difference.
Dec 24, 2013, 5:45 pm
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: SYD
Posts: 2,903
goodo
Last edited by goodo; Dec 24, 2013 at 6:32 pm
Dec 24, 2013, 6:36 pm
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
I just booked a pacific trip from Boston to about four locations for next May with my USDM. I had options on Asiana, Eva, etc... but I actually purposefully chose United flights. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I sort of felt more comfortable being on US Airways "closest" partner rather than an Asian carrier for exactly these reasons. Of course, that has never been said and there is no reason to expect United to accommodate me any better than another A* partner in May 2014, but for some reason it just makes a little sense to me.... I think.
Please use this format so it's easier for us to compare:
JFK-ICN OZ F
ICN-PEK CA J
PEK-BKK TG F (2 weeks stop)
BKK-SYD TG F (4 days stop)
SYD-BKK TG F
BKK-ZRH TG F
ZRH-FRA LX J
FRA-YYZ AC J (3 days stop before going back to ny)
Dec 24, 2013, 6:47 pm
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Why should MPScan post his routing if he is happy with his booking on UA???
Dec 24, 2013, 7:19 pm
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat, AS Gold75k, WN CP, Starwood Gold
Posts: 106
Data point: I was just able to put a LH J award on hold that departed on a Saturday.
Dec 24, 2013, 8:59 pm
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP, Hhonors Gold, National Executive, Identity Gold, MLife Gold
Posts: 2,687
Dec 24, 2013, 9:15 pm
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
Because his reason for choosing UA has no basis in fact. Plus, he'll very likely get much better service (and be much happier) with Asian airlines. But since there are a few exceptions (depending on route/carrier), it would be helpful to see both options to determine what would be best.