US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

[markis10]

I think the ball was in your court to tell people you had reached a resolution on that issue. You came to this board with a problem, people worked overtime to find you a solution so you didn't lose your whole holiday, and as far as we knew, you were still trying to resolve it with Thai. I think it is a bit unfair to blame us for not having concern! We did everything we could to make sure you still got to travel.

Quite a few forums have stories where the blanks are not filled in after the big claims, as always, take anything on the net with a grain of salt :0

 

[burmans]

I said this 10 months ago and everyone jumped on me. Im struggling to find two seats in F syd-bkk-cdg-syd . And impossible to find 4 seats on the one plane. Last year i didnt have a problem on 13 segments .

Ah yes, the old "I want everyone to tell me the information but keep it quiet for others" attitude. While I agree that, yes, the wider this becomes known it is likely that availability will start to dry up so have some sympathy. But given we all have benefitted from the advice freely given on this forum I would regard it as a bit selfish of myself to want the information to start being withheld as soon as I have it.

And also agree that readership of this forum is really relatively minimal, FT plus US blogs is a far bigger problem (if you regard it as such).

 

[Shanye2233]

I agree that FT is 50 times larger than here . But how many of them members are flying from Australia ? I would say none . They are all here !

 

[Masonic Phantom]

I agree that FT is 50 times larger than here . But how many of them members are flying from Australia ? I would say none . They are all here !

Let it go son.
M.P.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I guess the nature of the internet and free flowing information is what makes this forum so useful. I have no problem sharing any deals or anything I learn with people on here: at some point they have searched 'frequent flyer' or 'cheap business class', found this forum, signed up and asked the right question. Once you've done that in my books you have paid your dues and are eligible to receive these valuable techniques.

While I am yet to book a trip using my DM account I have studied hard and when I am ready to pull the trigger I will do so with certainty and ease. Even one F class trip for this LCC and self-funded flyer will make all the effort of others on here worthwhile. If others are willing to do the work then they should share in the spoils...although I do have thoughts on folk who come barrelling on here with 3 posts to their name demanding 8 F seats together and then getting upset because it won't happen easily.

 

[Flashback]

Just as an interesting data point, here's the targetted offer I received a few days ago (most likely because I have credited about 15,000 miles of travel to them this year):
Reach for the next level
Earn up to 6,000 Preferred-qualifying miles*

Reach your Preferred goals faster. When you buy miles October 1 − 31, 2012, you’ll get up to 6,000 Preferred-qualifying miles as a bonus. Buy now to quickly reach your next Preferred status.

• Buy 10,000 – 19,000 miles, get 500 PQMs
• Buy 20,000 – 29,000 miles, get 1,000 PQMs
• Buy 30,000 – 39,000 miles, get 3,000 PQMs
• Buy 40,000 – 49,000 miles, get 5,000 PQMs
• Buy 50,000 miles, get 6,000 PQMs

 

[burmans]

Let it go son.
M.P.

Yep, I think you need to consider some of them wanting to fly TO Australia (and needing to get back).

 

[Insaneous]

I'm really struggling to see any availability of award flights from HNL to MEL. Tried searching various dates and routes (i.e. HNL to AKL, HNL to MEL, etc) but don't get anything on the KVS tool "No results/search too complex"
DO any of you know is this a searching problem or just that there is no availability at all?

Really would like a stop over at HNL on way home from US, but it's the one leg making it difficult!

 

[TraceyK90]

Flashware I got this as well and like you have credited about 15,000 butt in seat miles this year. So did the kids but they didnt get it?? Dont think i will do anything with this offer.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm really struggling to see any availability of award flights from HNL to MEL. Tried searching various dates and routes (i.e. HNL to AKL, HNL to MEL, etc) but don't get anything on the KVS tool "No results/search too complex"
DO any of you know is this a searching problem or just that there is no availability at all?

Really would like a stop over at HNL on way home from US, but it's the one leg making it difficult!

try Honolulu to Tokyo or something. otherwise if you want the air New Zealand I think those seats are very hard to come by..

 

[Insaneous]

try Honolulu to Tokyo or something. otherwise if you want the air New Zealand I think those seats are very hard to come by..

ahh ok thats probably why they wont show up. Might have to go via Tokyo then! Ill keep looking.

 

[spudwa]

Strange thing for me is that I've told a heap of people but no one believes me, even after making two redemptions. Everyone seems to equate points with miles and says 120/150k seems too low and when explain its "miles" they say its too good to be true. My wife did make me promise that if our first trip turned out bad I was up for 3 weeks in Bali ;-)

With the current promotion does anyone feel like 'too many' people are now on board with these deals? 18 months ago only a handful of us here were interested in these bookings, and now that some of us here have 'flown' and gone (and gone again), then passed on these deals to family and friends who not only have flown and gone (and gone again) but they then have also passed on these deals to others who have flown, bought points or planning to buy points. Hands up that I am guilty as I have passed on these deals, and have heard that some of those who have gone from my influence have passed them on as well. So to me, it feels like that everyone now know that these deals exists which will only make it harder for all of us to get seats in the future given the increase in demand, the possible reduction of award seats being released and any other changes to make it more restrictive. Personally (and maybe selfishly) I feel like its a bad thing that 'too many' people now know. I have only booked one award for myself to date, so when I embark on my next booking once the share bonus posts, I do hope that I am able to get the flights that I desire. Anyway just my thoughts for tonight.

 

[burmans]

Strange thing for me is that I've told a heap of people but no one believes me, even after making two redemptions. Everyone seems to equate points with miles and says 120/150k seems too low and when explain its "miles" they say its too good to be true. My wife did make me promise that if our first trip turned out bad I was up for 3 weeks in Bali ;-)

I've had the same expereince with people just not believing it or thinking I'm doing something dodgy! Ah well, you can lead a horse to water .....

 

[GCC]

I have looked at both the Us Airways booking engine and the Award Travelr site. As far as I can tell, while this is an excellent way of traveling in a premium cabin for minimal cost, available award redemption flights are are limited and flexibility with routing and dates is needed.

On both search engines I'm seeing plenty of Y availability, but no J. The only J are short segments to a hub with the long hauls in Y. The US airways is showing some options for F, but they are long routings via multiple stops in the USA.

So, as per my earlier post, if I'm looking for a flight to the UK and back with a toddler and a baby (babies and Mrs G are happy with one stopover but not more than that), in the June / July peak season, using US Dividend miles to book an award probably isn't going to work.

Or am I missing something?

 

[travelislife]

I have looked at both the Us Airways booking engine and the Award Travelr site. As far as I can tell, while this is an excellent way of traveling in a premium cabin for minimal cost, available award redemption flights are are limited and flexibility with routing and dates is needed.

On both search engines I'm seeing plenty of Y availability, but no J. The only J are short segments to a hub with the long hauls in Y. The US airways is showing some options for F, but they are long routings via multiple stops in the USA.

So, as per my earlier post, if I'm looking for a flight to the UK and back with a toddler and a baby (babies and Mrs G are happy with one stopover but not more than that), in the June / July peak season, using US Dividend miles to book an award probably isn't going to work.

Or am I missing something?

Australia to the UK you should easily have multiple J options available all year round with all manner of airlines including but not limited to combinations of the following: SQ, TG, OZ, TK, LH. This is only searching for 2 seats. If you need more I advise putting 2 on hold and then waiting a day or two and some more may be released.

Yes generally travel across the pacific there are less options but you can go via Asia for no more miles. Trans Atlantic is probably the most competition due to US based FF.

Edit: Apologies you may have trouble with only 1 stop along the way. TG is your best bet then or also OZ from SYD.

 

[travelislife]

I did a search for 26/06/13 forward 7 days for SYD-LHR, 2 people in Business class and filtered for 1 layover and it provided 14 different flight options all on TG and OZ. First the whole way was also available on these searches.

 

[travelislife]

• Mrs G, toddler (ie child) G and baby G travel from Sydney to Glasgow to visit Grandma mid June.
• GCC travels Sydney - Vancouver for meetings July 4 - 13, then Vancouver - Glasgow
• Family is reunited in Glasgow and we all travel to Gatwick to visit family in England
• We all travel from Gatwick home to Sydney, possibly with stop somewhere in Asia for resort R&R.

Just found your original request as above. For Mrs G, child and baby (ie 2 seats required) you can definitely do what I explained above and all in first class to have the extra space for the infant. Can even have a stopover in Asia on the way home in Thailand if you wanted, all too easy.

GCC your requests for your ticket I don't think will work that well with US Dividend miles unfortunately.

 

[GCC]

Thanks Travelislife.

That was the issue - with a 2 seat booking I can see the options, if I try 3 seats they disappear.

Generally speaking how long would availability last for, as we probably won't be able to book until later this year? I'm used to QFF availability and needing to grab awards 360 days out.

 

[travelislife]

With the infant you won't actually need a 3rd seat (as long as they are below the age requirement). It doesn't seem the most simple process to pay for the infant ticket separately from what I have read but it can be done and others on here have actually had experience doing so. Availability 'should' be fine as long as you have a bit of flexibility. Star Alliance (in particular TG) have heaps more availability than you will ever find on QF.

I will be booking 2 x J class to Europe in January and am not at all worried about availability but I am probably a bit more flexible than you without the kids in toe.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm really struggling to see any availability of award flights from HNL to MEL. Tried searching various dates and routes (i.e. HNL to AKL, HNL to MEL, etc) but don't get anything on the KVS tool "No results/search too complex".

DO any of you know is this a searching problem or just that there is no availability at all?

Really would like a stop over at HNL on way home from US, but it's the one leg making it difficult!

I read in another post somone said OZ flew HNL/SEL direct so maybe do a search on the day that flight operates or break it down to a HNL/SEL & SEL/SYD search.