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 28, 2013, 11:20 pm
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 16
UA.com can provide some routings which are on the adventurous side, but such a back-track to China when a simple GUM-NRT or GUM-HNL would get you there is possibly a reason why it doesn't show.
you can search availability sector by sector via PEK and then put together your own itinerary and present those flights to USDM.
you can search availability sector by sector via PEK and then put together your own itinerary and present those flights to USDM.
Dec 28, 2013, 11:59 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
SWP-Asia is 90K in biz and 120K in F, so asia is a lower zone than USA. So if USDM allows your to stop in Aisa then it won't make a difference to the higher USA price.
Dec 29, 2013, 2:49 pm
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CLT
Posts: 495
I booked award tickets for 2 for the end of January CLT-MUC-LHR-BKK. CLT-MUC-LHR in J, LHR-BKK in F.
The CLT-MUC flight on LH, and CLT-LHR flight on US, leave within 30 minutes of each other.
If there are 2 empty J seats on CLT-LHR the day of departure, is there any chance they would put us on that flight rather than make us connect through MUC?
I plan to ask at each opportunity, check-in, lounge and gate, but wondered what my odds might be. Logically, it seems it would be advantageous to US if there were empty seats to accommodate us.
Thanks!
The CLT-MUC flight on LH, and CLT-LHR flight on US, leave within 30 minutes of each other.
If there are 2 empty J seats on CLT-LHR the day of departure, is there any chance they would put us on that flight rather than make us connect through MUC?
I plan to ask at each opportunity, check-in, lounge and gate, but wondered what my odds might be. Logically, it seems it would be advantageous to US if there were empty seats to accommodate us.
Thanks!
Last edited by jchock1; Dec 29, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Dec 29, 2013, 3:49 pm
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PHX these days
Programs: US Chairman, M&M FTL
Posts: 222
I am not so sure that it will work unless if there is an oversold situation or IRROPS... and it is almost sure not to happen if you check in luggage. If they allow it, I suspect that you will need to pay for change... And on an award, you do not just need two J seats open; you need 2 seats open for awards. And you are talking about LH -> US change... which is even harder.
You chose to connect in MUC - why should they move you to another flight?
However - if there are open seats for awards, I would call way ahead and try to convince them to move me (and pay for the change if that is what is needed). But at the airport? I really do not think so.
You chose to connect in MUC - why should they move you to another flight?
However - if there are open seats for awards, I would call way ahead and try to convince them to move me (and pay for the change if that is what is needed). But at the airport? I really do not think so.
Dec 29, 2013, 4:06 pm
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,662
Your best chance is if there is a schedule change ... even a minor one will help you do it. Otherwise, I doubt that you can do it for free.
Dec 29, 2013, 5:15 pm
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CLT
Posts: 495
There weren't award seats open for CLT-LHR on US when I booked, thus the extra connection through MUC on LH, and I check daily to see if any open up CLT-LHR.
I may try calling ahead of time to see if they might be able to open up a couple of award seats if there are still seats available a week or so before departure and it's not looking like they'll be able to sell them.
I've already changed the return part of my trip due to a 2-minute schedule change, so I've used up my freebie change.
I assume US has to pay LH for my flights, and it seems if they have empty seats going out on their own flight, it'd be in their best financial interests to put me on their metal.
Not a huge deal either way, as the total travel time is about the same, but would be nice to avoid an extra connection. And, we don't check bags, so that would not be an issue.
I may try calling ahead of time to see if they might be able to open up a couple of award seats if there are still seats available a week or so before departure and it's not looking like they'll be able to sell them.
I've already changed the return part of my trip due to a 2-minute schedule change, so I've used up my freebie change.
I assume US has to pay LH for my flights, and it seems if they have empty seats going out on their own flight, it'd be in their best financial interests to put me on their metal.
Not a huge deal either way, as the total travel time is about the same, but would be nice to avoid an extra connection. And, we don't check bags, so that would not be an issue.
Last edited by jchock1; Dec 29, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Dec 29, 2013, 7:37 pm
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Charlotte
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite, AA Platinum Pro, Hertz Presidents
Posts: 1,214
There weren't award seats open for CLT-LHR on US when I booked, thus the extra connection through MUC on LH, and I check daily to see if any open up CLT-LHR.
I may try calling ahead of time to see if they might be able to open up a couple of award seats if there are still seats available a week or so before departure and it's not looking like they'll be able to sell them.
I've already changed the return part of my trip due to a 2-minute schedule change, so I've used up my freebie change.
I assume US has to pay LH for my flights, and it seems if they have empty seats going out on their own flight, it'd be in their best financial interests to put me on their metal.
Not a huge deal either way, as the total travel time is about the same, but would be nice to avoid an extra connection. And, we don't check bags, so that would not be an issue.
I may try calling ahead of time to see if they might be able to open up a couple of award seats if there are still seats available a week or so before departure and it's not looking like they'll be able to sell them.
I've already changed the return part of my trip due to a 2-minute schedule change, so I've used up my freebie change.
I assume US has to pay LH for my flights, and it seems if they have empty seats going out on their own flight, it'd be in their best financial interests to put me on their metal.
Not a huge deal either way, as the total travel time is about the same, but would be nice to avoid an extra connection. And, we don't check bags, so that would not be an issue.
The only free changes would be within 24hrs, or unlimited if you are CP for awards.
I really don't think a phone call will have any effect on them opening up award seats. Try have advanced algorithms to determine the fare matrix and I presume them to be fairly rigid.
Dec 30, 2013, 6:08 am
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: BWI
Programs: Everyone!
Posts: 1,024
I had a schedule change (new flight number) that I haven't "accepted" yet. When I booked my business class itinerary, one leg (PIT-ORD on UA) had to downgrade to a coach seat as their was only one F available....it looks like there are now F awards available....has anyone been able to get their seat class honored in the event of a schedule change? I know they won't normally do it without a schedule change fee.
Dec 30, 2013, 6:28 am
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: BWI
Programs: Everyone!
Posts: 1,024
Just curious if this is the norm, I know getting Business Class to Sydney using miles is tough but I have been calling the Chairmans Desk every few days for several months now and have not been able to get anything! Would like to go from BDL but could do JFK, LGA, PHL and have any layover leave Feb 17-19 any day return July 1-3 any day. Just seems impossible am I doing something wrong! Also feel like the agents are so bothered checking but I cant check myself. Just curious if any one had any idea's? Thanks!
Dec 30, 2013, 8:37 am
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
LAX (CA in F on 77W^) PEK (stopover) (CA in C
) SYD (TG in C) BKK (CA in C on 772
) PEK (CA in F on 77W^) LAX for 120k miles and $168.00
A bit concerned about CA, but 77W F trip reports are extremely positive (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...0er-seats.html). The question is how to survive PEK-SYD in C on A330 (ok, ok - I know - still better than in Coach).
PS. All my limited experiences with CA were (so far) positive...
) SYD (TG in C) BKK (CA in C on 772) PEK (CA in F on 77W^) LAX for 120k miles and $168.00A bit concerned about CA, but 77W F trip reports are extremely positive (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...0er-seats.html). The question is how to survive PEK-SYD in C on A330
(ok, ok - I know - still better than in Coach).PS. All my limited experiences with CA were (so far) positive...
Dec 30, 2013, 12:57 pm
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AMEX Centurion/Platinum, SPG Platinum, ICH Platinum, UA 1K, Delta Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 441
US to North Asia reward redemption
I am a Boston-based UA *G flyer and wanted to use some of my US miles before they merge with AA (specifically, the 90k to North Asia route).
I think US rules is one stop-over or one open-jaw per direction, and my main intention would be to visit Manila, PI. Could I do the following itinerary and have it count as 90k instead of 110k?
BOS - SJC (stop) - PEK
PEK - MNL (stop) - BOS
I think US rules is one stop-over or one open-jaw per direction, and my main intention would be to visit Manila, PI. Could I do the following itinerary and have it count as 90k instead of 110k?
BOS - SJC (stop) - PEK
PEK - MNL (stop) - BOS
Dec 30, 2013, 1:54 pm
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: BWI
Programs: Everyone!
Posts: 1,024
I think it is per R/T, not per one-way.
Dec 30, 2013, 1:59 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
)
Dec 30, 2013, 1:59 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
I am a Boston-based UA *G flyer and wanted to use some of my US miles before they merge with AA (specifically, the 90k to North Asia route).
I think US rules is one stop-over or one open-jaw per direction, and my main intention would be to visit Manila, PI. Could I do the following itinerary and have it count as 90k instead of 110k?
BOS - SJC (stop) - PEK
PEK - MNL (stop) - BOS
I think US rules is one stop-over or one open-jaw per direction, and my main intention would be to visit Manila, PI. Could I do the following itinerary and have it count as 90k instead of 110k?
BOS - SJC (stop) - PEK
PEK - MNL (stop) - BOS
Dec 30, 2013, 2:10 pm
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
And you can not choose destination and stopover city. The destination is always the furtherst point of your routing, that would be MNL and not PEK. MNL is situated in south asia, so the ticket would cost 120k isof 90k.