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]
Jun 5, 2010, 9:55 pm
#2311
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Do you mean where I said "Day layover"? I was using the term for lack of a better one to mean I arrive in an airport in the early morning like 0600 or 0700 and fly out the same evening, usually after 1800 so it means I have roughly a day to run around and see some of the highlights of the city. These are always less than 24 hours so don't count as a stopover. There are no stopovers in the itinerary I want, just the open jaw between MEX and LAX. We will need a one-way ticket from MCO-LAX but will use AA miles for that one or maybe a super cheap paid US ticket.
Give them a call and see if you can book your planned itinerary - but just a word of warning that even though you may have a layover of less than 24 hours that doesn't mean it won't be calculated as a stopover anyway - especially if you aren't doing an itinerary involving the most direct route.
If you go to the staralliance website and enter in BNE-LAX you will see it ONLY offers AirNZ via AKL. Even if I break it down to BNE-BKK, then search BKK-LAX, it doesn't route via ICN.
This MAY prevent the computer from autopricing, and it MAY be considereda stopover even if less than 24 hours.
I had the same problem wanting to fly Zurich-Bkk-Shanghai. I couldn't go via BKK with an overnight (but only 18 hour) connection because ZRH-BKK-PVG didn't show on the star booking site as a valid route. It DID on the return (go figure) but not on the outbound. So because it wasn't a valid routing they said I could only do it IF I counted BKK as a stopover (even though ti was 18 hours).
So give it a shot - and certainly the only certainty is uncertinty when it comes to allowable routings via the US call centre.
Just if they come back with a 'can't do' you might have to get rid of the open jaw. Or find a connection which is recognised via the star booking engine. YMMV
Jun 5, 2010, 10:03 pm
#2312
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,032
Yup - I did get confused between the two!
Give them a call and see if you can book your planned itinerary - but just a word of warning that even though you may have a layover of less than 24 hours that doesn't mean it won't be calculated as a stopover anyway - especially if you aren't doing an itinerary involving the most direct route.
If you go to the staralliance website and enter in BNE-LAX you will see it ONLY offers AirNZ via AKL. Even if I break it down to BNE-BKK, then search BKK-LAX, it doesn't route via ICN.
This MAY prevent the computer from autopricing, and it MAY be considereda stopover even if less than 24 hours.
I had the same problem wanting to fly Zurich-Bkk-Shanghai. I couldn't go via BKK with an overnight (but only 18 hour) connection because ZRH-BKK-PVG didn't show on the star booking site as a valid route. It DID on the return (go figure) but not on the outbound. So because it wasn't a valid routing they said I could only do it IF I counted BKK as a stopover (even though ti was 18 hours).
So give it a shot - and certainly the only certainty is uncertinty when it comes to allowable routings via the US call centre.
Just if they come back with a 'can't do' you might have to get rid of the open jaw. Or find a connection which is recognised via the star booking engine. YMMV
Give them a call and see if you can book your planned itinerary - but just a word of warning that even though you may have a layover of less than 24 hours that doesn't mean it won't be calculated as a stopover anyway - especially if you aren't doing an itinerary involving the most direct route.
If you go to the staralliance website and enter in BNE-LAX you will see it ONLY offers AirNZ via AKL. Even if I break it down to BNE-BKK, then search BKK-LAX, it doesn't route via ICN.
This MAY prevent the computer from autopricing, and it MAY be considereda stopover even if less than 24 hours.
I had the same problem wanting to fly Zurich-Bkk-Shanghai. I couldn't go via BKK with an overnight (but only 18 hour) connection because ZRH-BKK-PVG didn't show on the star booking site as a valid route. It DID on the return (go figure) but not on the outbound. So because it wasn't a valid routing they said I could only do it IF I counted BKK as a stopover (even though ti was 18 hours).
So give it a shot - and certainly the only certainty is uncertinty when it comes to allowable routings via the US call centre.
Just if they come back with a 'can't do' you might have to get rid of the open jaw. Or find a connection which is recognised via the star booking engine. YMMV
Jun 5, 2010, 11:21 pm
#2313
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,918
I just ticketed HKG-oMUC-ORD-oPDX-LAX-oICN-HKG in LH/OZ F (and UA F domestic) for 120k miles and $108 in taxes. Had the most wonderful agent and the entire transaction took 13 minutes 28 seconds (according to my phone). ^
Jun 6, 2010, 2:06 am
#2314
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: HH Diamond, SPG Plat; no plans for chasing any more airline status.
Posts: 880
I had a very similar experience, though I booked in Biz (not F). Like has been mentioned 1,358,509,438 times in this forum, ymmv. It's all about getting the right person on the phone.
AND... When you do get the right one on the phone, don't even THINK about saying, "OK. I'll call back to ticket later. You sure this is going to be here?" Their response, "of course, it's all blocked off." Only to find out when you call back that of course your masterpiece itinerary was invalid and the new less ameanable rep. will be the first to not only tell you so, but to cancel the res. and NOT ticket it.
Anyways, some personal experience. I will be flying out on 7/18 on the following itin. (as I think I mentioned before):
PHL-LAX-BKK-ZHR-LIS-FCO-PHL. Though it was ticketed, I have been wondering to myself, is this technically a "kosher" itinerary?
Just food for thought...
AND... When you do get the right one on the phone, don't even THINK about saying, "OK. I'll call back to ticket later. You sure this is going to be here?" Their response, "of course, it's all blocked off." Only to find out when you call back that of course your masterpiece itinerary was invalid and the new less ameanable rep. will be the first to not only tell you so, but to cancel the res. and NOT ticket it.
Anyways, some personal experience. I will be flying out on 7/18 on the following itin. (as I think I mentioned before):
PHL-LAX-BKK-ZHR-LIS-FCO-PHL. Though it was ticketed, I have been wondering to myself, is this technically a "kosher" itinerary?
Just food for thought...
Jun 6, 2010, 2:23 am
#2315
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: HH Diamond, SPG Plat; no plans for chasing any more airline status.
Posts: 880
Redeposit refud...
I recently changed a ticket from lowly econ to biz on a TG fligh for july. The agent charged my 500 (for two tickets) for redepositing the miles, to then rebook in biz.
Is there a way to call up and ask for a 200 dollar refund!?
Is there a way to call up and ask for a 200 dollar refund!?
Jun 6, 2010, 2:28 am
#2316
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Washington, DC (DCA)
Programs: UA, AA, AS, SPG.
Posts: 3,463
If you had issued a Business Class ticket from the start but were seating in Coach then if Business Class seats opened up at a later date you could call and move up to one of those seats without re-issuing the ticket.
Jun 6, 2010, 2:40 am
#2317
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ord -n- mdw
Programs: big pimpin'
Posts: 974
Wirelessly posted (sam-r560 UP.Browser/6.2.3.8 (GUI) MMP/2.0)
Having a problem booking a Turkish Air flight from IST-EBB. search on ANA shows availability but multiple US Air agents don't see the flight at all, anyday in any class--as if it doesn't exist. What should i do?
Having a problem booking a Turkish Air flight from IST-EBB. search on ANA shows availability but multiple US Air agents don't see the flight at all, anyday in any class--as if it doesn't exist. What should i do?
Jun 6, 2010, 8:06 am
#2318
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
In that case they really did have to reissue the ticket as you ticketed an economy ticket .
If you had issued a Business Class ticket from the start but were seating in Coach then if Business Class seats opened up at a later date you could call and move up to one of those seats without re-issuing the ticket.
If you had issued a Business Class ticket from the start but were seating in Coach then if Business Class seats opened up at a later date you could call and move up to one of those seats without re-issuing the ticket.
Jun 6, 2010, 9:10 am
#2319
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Washington, DC (DCA)
Programs: UA, AA, AS, SPG.
Posts: 3,463
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9650/5.0.0.699 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)
I think he's saying that he was overcharged since the redeposit fee is only $150 and not $250. It depends when he made this change, but it sounds to me like they overcharged him. Try to call customer service and explain the situation.
Whoops!! That's what I get for reading FT at 3:30am. 
Originally Posted by chewy3
In that case they really did have to reissue the ticket as you ticketed an economy ticket .
If you had issued a Business Class ticket from the start but were seating in Coach then if Business Class seats opened up at a later date you could call and move up to one of those seats without re-issuing the ticket.
If you had issued a Business Class ticket from the start but were seating in Coach then if Business Class seats opened up at a later date you could call and move up to one of those seats without re-issuing the ticket.
Jun 6, 2010, 9:19 am
#2320
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 850
Wirelessly posted (Verizon BlackBerry 9630: BlackBerry9630/5.0.0.591 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)
Yes. Less than 30 days ago (I don't remember the exact date) I booked:
JFK-FRA-CDG-BKK-PEK
Dest
HKG-NRT
Stop
NRT-ORD-EWR
Originally Posted by gleff
Any recent experiences crossing one ocean each direction US-Asia?
As we know, an Atlantic or Pacific routing is permitted.
What I'm wondering is can I reserve an Atlantic crossing on the outbound, Pacific crossing on the return?
As we know, an Atlantic or Pacific routing is permitted.
What I'm wondering is can I reserve an Atlantic crossing on the outbound, Pacific crossing on the return?
JFK-FRA-CDG-BKK-PEK
Dest
HKG-NRT
Stop
NRT-ORD-EWR
Jun 6, 2010, 10:09 am
#2321
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LNK
Programs: US,PC
Posts: 743
Fees changed from 250 to 150 effective May 1
Jun 7, 2010, 9:50 am
#2322
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 850
This idea is both irresponsible (first names are quite common) and against the guidelines of FT prohibiting posting names of airline personnel, other than publicly known figures.
Jun 7, 2010, 10:21 am
#2324
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
Jun 7, 2010, 6:37 pm
#2325
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 172
A couple of quick questions
1. I booked my first DM award on Friday (TG F) but have not had any confirmation email yet. How long does it usually take?
2. Check my trip only shows 5 of 6 legs booked, the first is missing. Rang US air yesterday who assured me first leg was confirmed. When should I start to panic? Should I ring US again or ring Thai?
Thanks
1. I booked my first DM award on Friday (TG F) but have not had any confirmation email yet. How long does it usually take?
2. Check my trip only shows 5 of 6 legs booked, the first is missing. Rang US air yesterday who assured me first leg was confirmed. When should I start to panic? Should I ring US again or ring Thai?
Thanks