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]
May 31, 2010, 2:48 pm
#2206
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
I booked an award a few months back LHR-FRA-PEK-BKK-LHR in First.
However, at the time of booking, the LHR-FRA leg only had Y available, so I was booked into that.
However though, I've seen on ANA that C for this leg is now available.
If I phone US to change it to C, will I get charged $150 change fee for this or not.
I'm pretty certain that it won't cost any more miles but if I'm forced to pay the $150, maybe it isn't worth doing is it?
However, at the time of booking, the LHR-FRA leg only had Y available, so I was booked into that.
However though, I've seen on ANA that C for this leg is now available.
If I phone US to change it to C, will I get charged $150 change fee for this or not.
I'm pretty certain that it won't cost any more miles but if I'm forced to pay the $150, maybe it isn't worth doing is it?
Even if they do want to charge (and if you can't be bothered arguing with them)... for $150 it is well worth moving to the C cabin. I flew LH transatlantic last week and economy was packed - it didn't look very comfortable... legs, shoulders, arms all out in the aisle, pax sitting crammed upright...
Every time the agent has responded with 'yes please' and off we have gone.
I always start by saying I am flying the full route - so, for example, I say I am flying from Zurich to Shanghai. Immediately I follow up with 'your colleague found the following via Frankfurt (or wherever you want)'
May 31, 2010, 2:49 pm
#2207
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 255
Keep calling. I just did that a few days ago (changing one flight in an F award from C to F). It shouldn't cost anything since you already paid for F. After not succeeding on the German hotline, one call at the US hotline solved the issue.
I booked an award a few months back LHR-FRA-PEK-BKK-LHR in First.
However, at the time of booking, the LHR-FRA leg only had Y available, so I was booked into that.
However though, I've seen on ANA that C for this leg is now available.
If I phone US to change it to C, will I get charged $150 change fee for this or not.
I'm pretty certain that it won't cost any more miles but if I'm forced to pay the $150, maybe it isn't worth doing is it?
However, at the time of booking, the LHR-FRA leg only had Y available, so I was booked into that.
However though, I've seen on ANA that C for this leg is now available.
If I phone US to change it to C, will I get charged $150 change fee for this or not.
I'm pretty certain that it won't cost any more miles but if I'm forced to pay the $150, maybe it isn't worth doing is it?
May 31, 2010, 3:26 pm
#2208
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Purgatory
Programs: Too many to list. Status is a half dozen.
Posts: 9,235
Can we update the first post about the change fee / change of cabin issue that comes up regularly?
From personal experience and that posted by others, a good agent will not charge the change fee for this. The agent will freely move you up to the higher cabin on a segment that previously didn't have availability, provided you originally redeemed the required miles for that cabin when the itinerary was ticketed.
Though personally, for the most recent question about this I wouldn't care unless I was dying for that shorthaul European C meal and blocked middle seat. LH LHR-FRA in C versus Y isn't exactly a dramatic upgrade and the segment is fairly short.
From personal experience and that posted by others, a good agent will not charge the change fee for this. The agent will freely move you up to the higher cabin on a segment that previously didn't have availability, provided you originally redeemed the required miles for that cabin when the itinerary was ticketed.
Though personally, for the most recent question about this I wouldn't care unless I was dying for that shorthaul European C meal and blocked middle seat. LH LHR-FRA in C versus Y isn't exactly a dramatic upgrade and the segment is fairly short.
May 31, 2010, 6:04 pm
#2209
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Programs: Hilton Diamond, QFF WP, Velocity Gold
Posts: 647
Just an update to my booking, I got my booking changed from:
Outbound
PER-BKK C
BKK-HKG F
HKG-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C STOP
ZRH-JFK F
Inbound
JFK-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C
ZRH-BKK F
BKK-PER C
changing the inbound to:
LGA-DCA F STOP
IAD-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C
ZRH-BKK F
BKK-PER C
The agent didn't ask any questions, put them in, told me it would be $150 each, and it took 10 minutes. It was a big relief!
Like a member posted earlier, I think its a lot easier when you are adding flights, because it doesn't seem like they check the whole thing!
Outbound
PER-BKK C
BKK-HKG F
HKG-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C STOP
ZRH-JFK F
Inbound
JFK-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C
ZRH-BKK F
BKK-PER C
changing the inbound to:
LGA-DCA F STOP
IAD-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C
ZRH-BKK F
BKK-PER C
The agent didn't ask any questions, put them in, told me it would be $150 each, and it took 10 minutes. It was a big relief!
Like a member posted earlier, I think its a lot easier when you are adding flights, because it doesn't seem like they check the whole thing!
May 31, 2010, 6:32 pm
#2210
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Programs: Amex FHR elite travel agent, Ritz Stars, Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons Preferred Partner and others
Posts: 1,521
Can we update the first post about the change fee / change of cabin issue that comes up regularly?
From personal experience and that posted by others, a good agent will not charge the change fee for this. The agent will freely move you up to the higher cabin on a segment that previously didn't have availability, provided you originally redeemed the required miles for that cabin when the itinerary was ticketed.
From personal experience and that posted by others, a good agent will not charge the change fee for this. The agent will freely move you up to the higher cabin on a segment that previously didn't have availability, provided you originally redeemed the required miles for that cabin when the itinerary was ticketed.
May 31, 2010, 6:48 pm
#2211
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BNE
Programs: QF,US,ANA
Posts: 323
Just an update to my booking, I got my booking changed from:
Outbound
PER-BKK C
BKK-HKG F
HKG-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C STOP
ZRH-JFK F
Inbound
JFK-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C
ZRH-BKK F
BKK-PER C
changing the inbound to:
LGA-DCA F STOP
IAD-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C
ZRH-BKK F
BKK-PER C
The agent didn't ask any questions, put them in, told me it would be $150 each, and it took 10 minutes. It was a big relief!
Like a member posted earlier, I think its a lot easier when you are adding flights, because it doesn't seem like they check the whole thing!
Outbound
PER-BKK C
BKK-HKG F
HKG-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C STOP
ZRH-JFK F
Inbound
JFK-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C
ZRH-BKK F
BKK-PER C
changing the inbound to:
LGA-DCA F STOP
IAD-FRA F
FRA-ZRH C
ZRH-BKK F
BKK-PER C
The agent didn't ask any questions, put them in, told me it would be $150 each, and it took 10 minutes. It was a big relief!
Like a member posted earlier, I think its a lot easier when you are adding flights, because it doesn't seem like they check the whole thing!
Can you tell me how many miles the trip cost ? I am in Queensland and would like to book a similar trip to DFW.
Thanks
May 31, 2010, 8:50 pm
#2212
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Programs: Amex FHR elite travel agent, Ritz Stars, Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons Preferred Partner and others
Posts: 1,521
Jun 1, 2010, 1:46 am
#2213
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: EY Platinum, MH Gold
Posts: 106
Hi,
Can someone confirm the number of miles needed to go from Singapore to Australia on a DM *A redemption - looking at the award chart from South Asia to South Pacific it is 120k - which seems excessive??
Can anyone confirm?
J
Can someone confirm the number of miles needed to go from Singapore to Australia on a DM *A redemption - looking at the award chart from South Asia to South Pacific it is 120k - which seems excessive??
Can anyone confirm?
J
Jun 1, 2010, 8:24 am
#2214
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 736
Just placed on hold
CLT-EWR-PEK
PEK-YYZ-CLT
Air Canada and Continental business class.
US agent told me "it is First class"
I argued business first and executive first are C class, not F
she argued, so I placed on hold will call back.
The woman actually had the nerve to say "I noted its F cabins only on the reservation 120k"
how do I demand the 90K actual rate?
CLT-EWR-PEK
PEK-YYZ-CLT
Air Canada and Continental business class.
US agent told me "it is First class"
I argued business first and executive first are C class, not F
she argued, so I placed on hold will call back.
The woman actually had the nerve to say "I noted its F cabins only on the reservation 120k"
how do I demand the 90K actual rate?
Jun 1, 2010, 8:41 am
#2215
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 736
Also,
am looking to book a Shangai airlines flight FM
with dividend miles
no agent seems to know how to do this
any advise?
am looking to book a Shangai airlines flight FM
with dividend miles
no agent seems to know how to do this
any advise?
Jun 1, 2010, 9:50 am
#2216
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Programs: Amex FHR elite travel agent, Ritz Stars, Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons Preferred Partner and others
Posts: 1,521
Has anyone had any very recent success getting Swiss F seats? I've tried 4-5 flights that have availability on expertflyer and they can't see any of them. I used to have some success (it was hit or miss) but now it seems like it's zero available.
Jun 1, 2010, 10:10 am
#2217
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
Expertflyer shows LX availabilty to Miles & More members, not to *A partners. Have you checked on ANA as well?
Jun 1, 2010, 10:12 am
#2218
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Programs: Amex FHR elite travel agent, Ritz Stars, Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons Preferred Partner and others
Posts: 1,521
Jun 1, 2010, 10:14 am
#2219
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Programs: Amex FHR elite travel agent, Ritz Stars, Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons Preferred Partner and others
Posts: 1,521
Just placed on hold
CLT-EWR-PEK
PEK-YYZ-CLT
Air Canada and Continental business class.
US agent told me "it is First class"
I argued business first and executive first are C class, not F
she argued, so I placed on hold will call back.
The woman actually had the nerve to say "I noted its F cabins only on the reservation 120k"
how do I demand the 90K actual rate?
CLT-EWR-PEK
PEK-YYZ-CLT
Air Canada and Continental business class.
US agent told me "it is First class"
I argued business first and executive first are C class, not F
she argued, so I placed on hold will call back.
The woman actually had the nerve to say "I noted its F cabins only on the reservation 120k"
how do I demand the 90K actual rate?
Jun 1, 2010, 11:42 am
#2220
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Washington, DC (DCA)
Programs: UA, AA, AS, SPG.
Posts: 3,463
Just placed on hold
CLT-EWR-PEK
PEK-YYZ-CLT
Air Canada and Continental business class.
US agent told me "it is First class"
I argued business first and executive first are C class, not F
she argued, so I placed on hold will call back.
The woman actually had the nerve to say "I noted its F cabins only on the reservation 120k"
how do I demand the 90K actual rate?
CLT-EWR-PEK
PEK-YYZ-CLT
Air Canada and Continental business class.
US agent told me "it is First class"
I argued business first and executive first are C class, not F
she argued, so I placed on hold will call back.
The woman actually had the nerve to say "I noted its F cabins only on the reservation 120k"
how do I demand the 90K actual rate?