Dividend Miles - A.West USAirways

[d15.in.oz]

For Aussie travellers, who like airline choice, what does everyone think about the Dividend Miles program from A-West/USAir?

• Points on all Star Alliance
• Points on Virgin Atlantic & Hawaiian (for alternative US or UK connections)
• Points on Qantas (other than red e-deal)
• Status is also earned on most hotel and car hire points
• Free US domestic upgrades to first class, instead of flying empty seats

PLUS, if they take over Delta, we can probably assume Sky Team points!
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/dividendmiles/preferred/howtoqualify.aspx

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

For Aussie travellers, who like airline choice, what does everyone think about the Dividend Miles program from A-West/USAir?

• Points on all Star Alliance
• Points on Virgin Atlantic & Hawaiian (for alternative US or UK connections)
• Points on Qantas (other than red e-deal)
• Status is also earned on most hotel and car hire points
• Free US domestic upgrades to first class, instead of flying empty seats

PLUS, if they take over Delta, we can probably assume Sky Team points!
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/dividendmiles/preferred/howtoqualify.aspx

VS, HI and QF are redeemable miles not status miles.

If US merges with DL then it is unclear whether would be in *A or ST. Normally in these situations other partners fall by the wayside (eg AA no longer partner with LX).

 

[NM]

And don't forget that Qantas Club members get access to US lounges when flying on US flights (must be US code and not America West code). This includes QF FF members with complementary Qantas Club membership by way of Gold or Platinum status.

 

[d15.in.oz]

Thanks guys for pointing that out… pity Qantas points don’t count toward status as well! (At least lounge access at Qantas is available, without status, for just over $200 a year. Which also, as pointed out, get you into USAir Clubs on domestic USA flights!)

However, it might just be the way that I am reading the website http://usairways.com/awa/content/dividendmiles/earnmiles/airlines.aspx, but I thought miles on Hawaiian Airlines & Virgin Atlantic count to preferred status (assuming you don’t have some more up to date information on HA & VS).

So it is possible to get Star Alliance status, without having to sacrifice Qantas points to a separate program! What I am still unsure about, though, is if you can redeem points for domestic Australian travel, and if so, at what rate?

I am also impressed by the amazing US connection opportunities via HNL (at significant reductions to Qantas transpacific prices) and can also see a heap more variety/oportunities on the Kangaroo/EU route. Status on many, points on Qantas, and as for BA…well, they seem to be pulling out of Australia anyway.

And as noted, we will have to wait and see what the clever marketing boffins at A.West/USAir come up with, if they do merge with Sky Team’s Delta.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The *A partner airlines thread may be of some use to you, as well as *A credited to non-*A FFP.

 

[Shano]

As posted by JohnK in another thread US Airways is leaving the QFF program so I would assume that reciprocal lounge access rights will also terminate

 

[d15.in.oz]

Thanks for the info, pity... I had done the math, and was preparing to join.