jspear

So, just so I understand, US is now blocking all award space on LH F for Dividend Miles members? If that's the case then the US reps I talked to (four today) didn't get the memo -- they were under the impression that they just didn't have the space on the flights I was looking at. Then again realistically corporate would probably not want to tell the front line troops about a bit of nefarious seat-blocking code they just had inserted into their systems.

I should mention, as an aside, that each of the reps I talked to was very, very nice and they tried to be as helpful as they could, but all they could do was tell me what their screens were telling them.

Just to reiterate, so there's no misunderstanding:

For LH flight XXX on XX/XX:

1. The KVS Availability tool tells me there is a First Class award seat available to book.
2. The ANA web site tells me there is a First Class award seat available to book.
3. The United web site tells me there is a First Class "saver" award seat available to book.
4. The US Airways reps tell me that there is NO First Class award seat available to book.

Is anyone else a little steamed about this "new" development? (sorry if I came late to the party...)

matthew gulino

Hi All, Stopover question for you?

My friend is trying to do:

BOS-IAD-LAS (Stopover)

LAS-YVR-SYD (Destination)

SYD-YVR-ORD-BOS

Now, I know LAS isn't a legal stopover because UA (the incoming carrier for that segment) doesn't have a hub there, but I was hoping that this rule was "loosely" enforced.

She called up and the agent told her that this routing wasn't possible because she had "2 stopovers, and you can only have one". My friend hung up and tried again, and got the same agent (it was late at night). She tried to persuade the agent again that there was only 1 stopover because SYD was a destination - NOT a stopover, and was told she couldn't do it because she had a stopover and an open jaw (also false). Is it worth even arguing over this point because the system won't let the agent do what we're asking no matter how correct/wrong she thinks we are?

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Matt

travelkid

Another data point. MUC-DEL and FRA-DEL available on ANA with LH F in April. US agent cant see it. He specifically stated that he often could see LH F though, but he definately sounded lost.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

try booking it though BD - they should be able to see the same availability as LH. BD can also see lots more SQ availability.

travelkid

Actually having FRA-BKK-FRA on TG F ticketed (suites only on return), but willing to cough up change fee to get LH out. Checked all LH F destsinations in Asia, and ANA showed only DEL and BOM. MUC deaprture connects better with TG C.

Also 2,5x miles on BD + hefty taxes prevent me doing that (although a bit less miles with the HKG add on trick at least outbound).

mfanderso

I will be trying to book award tickets for next Spring. I will be going on a cruise that leaves from PEK and ends up in BKK. From looking at the award chart it looks like the round-trip First Class ticket to PEK is 120,000 miles and the round-trip First Class ticket to BKK is 160,000 miles.

If I went from DFW to PEK and then BKK to DFW would they charge a total of 160,000? I apologize if this has been asked before, but I was unable to find it.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

while YMMV is you get an agent that isn't so good on geography, yes, you will pay the highest rate applicable to your itinerary, which in this case is BKK.

your other option (painful) would be to buy a one way ticket bkk-PEK to connect with your flight for the lower level of miles. depending on how they feel, Sri lankan airlines sometime has some very good deals in (their really quite good) business class. they are currently offering one way biz class for about USD400

mfanderso

Thank you. I will check that out.

shaggy_mutt

You may have to try a couple of reps to get FRA-AMS-ZRH, but AMS is so close to both cities that if all else fails, you can just declare either FRA or ZRH as your stopover city and take the Deutsche Bahn (or SBB, the Swiss equivalent) train. Honestly, for a trip that short, you may end up saving time by taking the train anyway (and intra-Europe C is just Y with slightly better food and center seats blocked), so unless cash is especially tight I'm not sure I'd bother.

Yes to both.

Keep in mind there's a lot of phantom availability - both of those are almost unobtainium right now. With that in mind they're both supposed to be fantastic products (I can vouch for LX F, never ridden LH F).

jspear

Close in, there is a smattering of LX F availability. I've done YUL-ZRH before (a popular route for mileage redemption). Now I'm seeing MIA-ZRH-MIA and ZRH-NRT-ZRH within the next 7 days.

However absolutely NO LH F from today until the cows come home.

A1pax

A friend has told me about the 100% bonus dividend miles offered by US Airways until 15 April 2012. I understand I need to register with both US Airways and points.com, then buy 50K miles (max allowed), and I will get 25K miles bonus from US Airways and 25K miles bonus from points.com - giving me a total of 100K points.

Here are some of my questions which I would appreciate some help.

1. US Airways website said I could only purchase miles after I joined for 12 days. Does this mean that I may miss out the deadline of 15 April, on being able to buy miles?

2. I now live in the UK, and would like to visit Australia around Christmas / New Year. I have looked at US award table, and for flights from Europe to Pacific / South Asia, 100K is required for Y, 120 for J and 150 for F. I remember reading in this thread that points for one-way and return are the same. Is this correct?

3. Does anyone know if there will be J or F seats available during Christmas / New Year for flights from LHR to SYD - any possible route?

4. If I participate in this current dividend miles promotion by US, I may get a total of 100K miles. If I would like to fly back to Australia for a visit, then I will need to buy another 20K to 50K in order to fly J or F. Is this correct?

Sorry, I am not very clear on how the whole thing works, and would appreciate some guidance. Thank you in advance.

goliath

You might be cutting it close. But I am sure there will be another promo after this one.


Yes.

Yes. If you are flexible on dates and routing. You'll probably have the best chances on LHR(-somewhere in Europe)-BKK-SYD, but there's a ton of other possible routings as well.

Yes.

A1pax

Thank you, goliath, for your answers - most helpful and much appreciated to clear up some confusions for me.

shaggy_mutt

Is it ticketable? I see what you're talking about (and even saw LH F on 4/8 from NRT-FRA) but wonder if anyone is actually able to get it...

jrmcrm

Just booked UA F transatlantic (Under 21 days out). So no blocking going on there...