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]
Mar 30, 2012, 4:46 pm
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Ambassador, B6 Mosaic, SBUX Gold, Best Buy Elite
Posts: 1,838
My point is that I would just assume fly on US metal instead of using a partner. I ended up using LH/UA for my last flight since US wanted 200k miles for their own metal.
Mar 30, 2012, 9:39 pm
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,551
Would this be a valid routing for a 40k per person award in economy?:
CLTua - IADua - SFO (18 hour layover in SFO)
SFOua - OGG (Destination)
OGGha - LIH (Stopover)
LIHha - HNLua - EWRua - CLT
CLTua - IADua - SFO (18 hour layover in SFO)
SFOua - OGG (Destination)
OGGha - LIH (Stopover)
LIHha - HNLua - EWRua - CLT
Mar 30, 2012, 11:15 pm
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
LIH is not a *A hub.
I would call US anyway - maybe you would be lucky?
Mar 31, 2012, 8:13 am
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,551
So i have this mostly on hold with US Airways.
However, the 2 Hawaiian inter-island flights are an issue. They both show up on Hawaaiian’s website as available for “super saver coach” which should be bookable for a US economy award. However, when I try to book with US on the phone, they say “T” class is available for purchase, but not for miles. I even had the do a long-sell and it would not come back confirmed. Has anyone seen this glitch for an inter-island Hawaaiin US Airways flight?
Specifically I am talking about HA320 on 6/14 and HA190 on 6/9.
Last edited by beofotch; Mar 31, 2012 at 8:44 am
Mar 31, 2012, 1:59 pm
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,296
Conversion question for DM newbie
I currently have zero miles with US Air and have never flown on a US Air flight in my life. I'm a 2MM with American and have concentrated all of my earning, credit cards, etc. with Oneworld. In hindsight I wasn't maximizing my opportunities. I was just approved for three CCs that will net me 150k United miles in the next couple of months.
I also have about 160k Starwood points.
We have a trip planned to SE Asia in August, already booked on Cathay in F from DFW-BKK via SFO and HKG. Our desired destination is Denpasar but the HKG connection wasn't available, so we settled on BKK. If something opened up to DPS last minute we'd just pay the change fee and switch.
This was booked before I applied for the cards that will get us the United miles, now I'm considering splitting the trip into two one way awards. I would only be interested if we could route DPS-BKK (stopover for three days)-FRA-DFW. That would allow us ample time to sample both the Thai First lounge in BKK and the First lounge in Frankfurt.
That brings me to my question about the Starwood transfer. I can transfer over 40k into my DM miles account and 40k into my wifes DM account right now and net 75k. I can buy the remaining 5k before April 15th to give me 80k.
I'm looking for opinions on the chances of booking the DPS-BKK-FRA-DFW ticket sometime between now and August using Dividend Miles. How likely is that given that it will be on a combo of Lufthansa and Thai in First?
I also have about 160k Starwood points.
We have a trip planned to SE Asia in August, already booked on Cathay in F from DFW-BKK via SFO and HKG. Our desired destination is Denpasar but the HKG connection wasn't available, so we settled on BKK. If something opened up to DPS last minute we'd just pay the change fee and switch.
This was booked before I applied for the cards that will get us the United miles, now I'm considering splitting the trip into two one way awards. I would only be interested if we could route DPS-BKK (stopover for three days)-FRA-DFW. That would allow us ample time to sample both the Thai First lounge in BKK and the First lounge in Frankfurt.
That brings me to my question about the Starwood transfer. I can transfer over 40k into my DM miles account and 40k into my wifes DM account right now and net 75k. I can buy the remaining 5k before April 15th to give me 80k.
I'm looking for opinions on the chances of booking the DPS-BKK-FRA-DFW ticket sometime between now and August using Dividend Miles. How likely is that given that it will be on a combo of Lufthansa and Thai in First?
Mar 31, 2012, 5:02 pm
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: Alaska MVPG 100K, IHG Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,704
US Airways allows you to book one-way trip but at the price of a round-trip. So you will have to use 160K US miles for each person to make this happen.
UA does not allow a stopover with one-way redemption.
Mar 31, 2012, 5:43 pm
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,470
Mar 31, 2012, 5:48 pm
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,470
It is a red eye flight so most would want to sleep if they have to do any work the next day. 7 hours once you get up in the air and all the rest probably only gives 6 hours at best sleeping time, thus if you put two J class meals in there at an hour each then you are lucky to get 4 hours! You will never go hungry, just ask and they will pretty much bring you what you want.
Mar 31, 2012, 6:34 pm
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
I currently have zero miles with US Air and have never flown on a US Air flight in my life. I'm a 2MM with American and have concentrated all of my earning, credit cards, etc. with Oneworld. In hindsight I wasn't maximizing my opportunities. I was just approved for three CCs that will net me 150k United miles in the next couple of months.
I also have about 160k Starwood points.
I also have about 160k Starwood points.
Mar 31, 2012, 7:01 pm
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,296
I read the thread about stopovers, but didn't see the comment about United not allowing them on a one way. So it looks like 18 hours is all i've got.
Thanks for clarifying both buschoi, I needed a kick in the head.
Last edited by jmail1; Mar 31, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Mar 31, 2012, 7:06 pm
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,296
Well, next time, better read the first thread of this forum first... We really don't care, how many points and miles you've got in program A, B and C... But it should'nt be too difficult to get the essential rules of a mileage program, now that everybody has an internet access...
The comment about my Starwood points was related to the value of converting them to US Air for this specific purpose rather than keeping them in Starwood for a more valuable redemption later.
It also "should'nt" be too hard to extend a bit of latitude to someone. If you don't like the post ignore it.
Mar 31, 2012, 10:08 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
So i have this mostly on hold with US Airways.
However, the 2 Hawaiian inter-island flights are an issue. They both show up on Hawaaiian’s website as available for “super saver coach” which should be bookable for a US economy award. However, when I try to book with US on the phone, they say “T” class is available for purchase, but not for miles. I even had the do a long-sell and it would not come back confirmed. Has anyone seen this glitch for an inter-island Hawaaiin US Airways flight?
Specifically I am talking about HA320 on 6/14 and HA190 on 6/9.
However, the 2 Hawaiian inter-island flights are an issue. They both show up on Hawaaiian’s website as available for “super saver coach” which should be bookable for a US economy award. However, when I try to book with US on the phone, they say “T” class is available for purchase, but not for miles. I even had the do a long-sell and it would not come back confirmed. Has anyone seen this glitch for an inter-island Hawaaiin US Airways flight?
Specifically I am talking about HA320 on 6/14 and HA190 on 6/9.
http://Help.KVSTool.com/#Classes
There is currently no Partner Economy Award (T) Availability on those flights, so the Agent was correct:
[KVS Availability Tool 6.9.8/Diamond - Sabre: Availability/FS/US]
Code:
OGG Kahului HI US [PHOG]
LIH Kauai Is Lihue HI US [PHLI]
THU 14 Jun 2012
Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- --------------------------------------------------------
HA 340 OGG 11:31 LIH 12:14 717 F7 P6 J7 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q7 S7 I7 G7 N0 L0 H0 K0 M0 B0 T0 U0
HA 320 OGG 17:33 LIH 18:16 717 F7 P4 J7 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q7 S7 I7 G7 N7 L7 H7 K7 M7 B7 T0 U4
Code:
LIH Kauai Is Lihue HI US [PHLI]
HNL Honolulu Intl HI US [PHNL]
SAT 09 Jun 2012
Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- --------------------------------------------------------
HA 124 LIH 08:29 HNL 09:00 717 F7 P2 J7 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q7 S7 I0 G0 N0 L0 H0 K0 M0 B0 T0 U0
HA 304 LIH 09:43 HNL 10:14 717 F3 P1 J3 Y5 X7 W7 V0 Q0 S0 I0 G0 N0 L0 H0 K0 M0 B0 T0 U0
HA 346 LIH 11:06 HNL 11:40 717 F0 P0 J0 Y0 X7 W7 V0 Q0 S0 I0 G0 N0 L0 H0 K0 M0 B0 T0 U0
HA 144 LIH 12:05 HNL 12:37 717 F2 P0 J2 Y0 X0 W0 V0 Q0 S0 I0 G0 N0 L0 H0 K0 M0 B0 T0 U0
HA 344 LIH 12:42 HNL 13:14 717 F2 P0 J2 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q4 S4 I0 G0 N0 L0 H0 K0 M0 B0 T0 U0
HA 394 LIH 13:18 HNL 13:50 717 F7 P4 J7 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q7 S7 I7 G7 N7 L7 H7 K7 M7 B7 T0 U7
HA 204 LIH 13:38 HNL 14:10 717 F7 P6 J7 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q7 S7 I0 G0 N0 L0 H0 K0 M0 B0 T0 U0
HA 172 LIH 14:18 HNL 14:50 717 F6 P4 J6 Y7 X7 W7 V4 Q0 S0 I0 G0 N0 L0 H0 K0 M0 B0 T0 U0
HA 354 LIH 15:47 HNL 16:19 717 F7 P6 J7 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q7 S7 I7 G7 N7 L7 H7 K7 M7 B7 T0 U0
HA 190 LIH 16:51 HNL 17:22 717 F7 P7 J7 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q7 S7 I7 G7 N7 L7 H7 K7 M7 B7 T0 U0
HA 240 LIH 17:40 HNL 18:11 717 F7 P3 J7 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q7 S7 I3 G0 N0 L0 H0 K0 M0 B0 T0 U0
HA 284 LIH 18:44 HNL 19:15 717 F7 P5 J7 Y7 X7 W7 V7 Q7 S7 I7 G7 N1 L1 H1 K1 M1 B1 T0 U0
Mar 31, 2012, 10:18 pm
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
Apr 1, 2012, 9:08 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
I currently have zero miles with US Air and have never flown on a US Air flight in my life. I'm a 2MM with American and have concentrated all of my earning, credit cards, etc. with Oneworld. In hindsight I wasn't maximizing my opportunities. I was just approved for three CCs that will net me 150k United miles in the next couple of months.
I also have about 160k Starwood points.
We have a trip planned to SE Asia in August, already booked on Cathay in F from DFW-BKK via SFO and HKG. Our desired destination is Denpasar but the HKG connection wasn't available, so we settled on BKK. If something opened up to DPS last minute we'd just pay the change fee and switch.
This was booked before I applied for the cards that will get us the United miles, now I'm considering splitting the trip into two one way awards. I would only be interested if we could route DPS-BKK (stopover for three days)-FRA-DFW. That would allow us ample time to sample both the Thai First lounge in BKK and the First lounge in Frankfurt.
That brings me to my question about the Starwood transfer. I can transfer over 40k into my DM miles account and 40k into my wifes DM account right now and net 75k. I can buy the remaining 5k before April 15th to give me 80k.
I'm looking for opinions on the chances of booking the DPS-BKK-FRA-DFW ticket sometime between now and August using Dividend Miles. How likely is that given that it will be on a combo of Lufthansa and Thai in First?
I also have about 160k Starwood points.
We have a trip planned to SE Asia in August, already booked on Cathay in F from DFW-BKK via SFO and HKG. Our desired destination is Denpasar but the HKG connection wasn't available, so we settled on BKK. If something opened up to DPS last minute we'd just pay the change fee and switch.
This was booked before I applied for the cards that will get us the United miles, now I'm considering splitting the trip into two one way awards. I would only be interested if we could route DPS-BKK (stopover for three days)-FRA-DFW. That would allow us ample time to sample both the Thai First lounge in BKK and the First lounge in Frankfurt.
That brings me to my question about the Starwood transfer. I can transfer over 40k into my DM miles account and 40k into my wifes DM account right now and net 75k. I can buy the remaining 5k before April 15th to give me 80k.
I'm looking for opinions on the chances of booking the DPS-BKK-FRA-DFW ticket sometime between now and August using Dividend Miles. How likely is that given that it will be on a combo of Lufthansa and Thai in First?
Alternately: if you book the intra-SE Asia C award on UA, it costs 35K (5K more), but gives you a stopover AND an open-jaw, and has very flexible routing, so you could easily add in HKT, CNX or whatever to your itinerary. (One note: HKG is considered NORTH Asia for US, SOUTH Asia for UA. However, US considers India and Pakistan to be South Asia. If you're clever you can use HKG advantageously that way- use HKG for the jump-off point from a US or AA award to a UA award.)
IMO, SE Asia is a really good place to daisy-chain awards- the mileage return for premium class travel is really good. Some complain about how CX/TG/SQ don't use their super-fancy premium class metal on those short routes, but compared to the decrepit narrowbodies with CRTs in the ceiling we usually see in the USA, you'll think it's pretty posh.
Oh, and by the by- that promo giving the 50% bonus on SPG->DM is over now. Hope you did your transfer already!
Oh, and another other thing: AMEX is giving 50% bonuses on AMEX transfers to BA right now. On the BA mileage chart, one way HKG-BKK or BKK-SIN in business is 15K (HKG-SIN/PEN is 20K). Also might be handy if you're doing hopping around SE Asia and want flights to mix in with US/UA awards. I've been doing some end of the year planning for SE Asia as well and found this to be of great utility. Happy travels!
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Apr 1, 2012 at 9:22 am
Apr 1, 2012, 10:50 am
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: London
Posts: 878
...
I was explicitly told by the booking agent, that if O should open op on the flights that were in I now, I would NOT be able to upgrade. In this case, that's ok, since these flights are on two-cabin class birds... I asked about this and she told me this new rule was about two months old.
I was explicitly told by the booking agent, that if O should open op on the flights that were in I now, I would NOT be able to upgrade. In this case, that's ok, since these flights are on two-cabin class birds... I asked about this and she told me this new rule was about two months old.
If you try to book EU-US-South America, please follow up with an update, I'd be very interested in this.
Last edited by koroleon; Apr 1, 2012 at 11:02 am