AAdvantage & Dividend Miles Programs Will Combine Within 30 Days

Please, stop 500-miles upgrade! It is so hard to use. Upgrade process on US Airways is more enjoyable.Hopefully,AA can convert my 500-miles upgrade to miles after merge.

I want to burn DM... but need inspiration!

I think the contrast here in messaging versus the other Legacy airlines is stark, and very favorable for AA:

"If you plan to redeem Dividend Miles for an upcoming trip, we encourage you to book now."

Giving a heads up on the change, to the point where they give explicit guidance on how and when to use the miles you've been saving - contrast that with the overnight, unannounced changes we've seen elsewhere. Bravo AA!

What do you think will happen with existing USDM awards? Will they be able to be re-booked?

Specific example/question: I have a USDM North Asia award and my flight to US gateway city just changed times, causing misconnect. The only available flight that day is on Alaska. Do you think I'll be able to change to that flight once the programs merge?

Alrighty then, I got both hubby and my accounts linked. he's took a bit of figuring - USAirways had his birth year wrong.

Now waiting for combining so we can see our totals zoom 🙂

Hey Lucky,

I haven't seen anyone address this -- what will happen to the US Airways $99 companion certificates? Barclays has been issuing plenty of new accounts -- I just got a certificate in the mail a few days ago and still have one valid one from a card I opened last year. My assumption would be that as the airlines will still have separate booking systems, the certificates will still be usable as expected -- but I haven't seen any blogger address this yet.

Thanks,
Nico

What will happen to my US airways MasterCard? I have had this card for a few years, it has my dividend miles number on it, and I earn points every time I use it.

Will I receive a new branded card with my AAdvantage account on it? Until then, will all the points I earn for purchases be directly deposited into my AAdvantage account?

Thanks!

@ Nico -- My understanding is the same. As long as the airlines are on separate reservations systems you'll continue to be able to redeem them for travel on US Airways.

@ Nick -- See this post:
https://onemileatatime.com/reward-programs/airline-rewards/aadvantage/

@ Matt -- Yep, see here:
https://onemileatatime.com/aadvantage-aviator-red-mastercard/

I've been hearing a lot of rumors around March 20th on this. I wouldn't be surprised if US Airways awards are done after that date. I don't want to cause panic but just saying.

I want to book an award CX F Europe to NA end of march and back few days later on JAL F but they will open up only 1 week before I think, at the moment there is no availability...so have to wait until maybe 20/21.03. Hopefully it is not to late then...what would you do?...wait or book an award for any date late this year and rebook on Aadvantage? But then if it doesn't happen now/next week...fck 🙂

@ Thomas -- I assume we'll get at least some advance notice of when the programs integrate, so I would hold off a bit longer.

What is the latest travel date that can be booked by USDM? If I call in today, I can book the flight on Feb 13 , 2016?

I have been trying to make a DM award booking but literally every time I call (several days now), I get told that because of bad weather, all the agents are busy & I should try again later. Any info?

Will AAdvantage let us change existing US Airways award itinerary for free? I'd like to change my award flights but now US Charge me $150.Do you expect AAdvantage will wave this fee? Should I wait to change until the integration?

@ Themilesflyer -- Yes, American rules will apply, so if the origin and destination remain the same you can change the routing for free.

@ Mike -- Eeek, that sucks, sorry. Have you tried calling during non-peak hours instead? That's all I can think of.

@ alex -- You can plan up to 335 days out:
https://onemileatatime.com/when-do-airlines-open-award-seats/

Hi Ben,

I have a USDM award currently ticketed: outbound LGA-ORD-HKG-DPS. LGA-ORD is on AA but in economy since no first was available at time of booking. ORD-HKG is on CX first class and HKG-DPS is on CX business class. Here's my question: I found EWR-ORD on AA first class now available on saver award. Should I wait till the programs merge to change the first segment since AA won't charge the $150 change fee to change from LGA-ORD economy to EWR-ORD first?

Now for the inbound: DPS-HKG-HND NRT-LAX-JFK. DPS-HKG is on CX business class. HKG-HND is on CX first class. NRT-LAX is on JL first class. LAX-JFK is on AA first class. Here's my question: Since my award ticket is a round-trip ticket, I know that USDM won't allow you to change your itinerary once travel has begun. Does AA allow you to change your itinerary once travel has begun? Since my inbound has a lot of connections, I was hoping that HKG-JFK first class on CX will open up. However, I know that CX doesn't open up first until closer to departure. I will most likely have taken my outbound flights by the time CX opens up first class for my inbound departure. On the other hand, I haven't tried JL first and AA first transcon so maybe I should just stick with my inbound flights?

Thanks for your input.

@ John -- Either way you'll be charges, since switching from LGA to EWR would count as a change in origin.

Yep, AA does let you change routings after travel begins.

I just received my US Airways anniversary companion certificate, which expires at the end of Dec. 2015. With this merger, will I be able to use that certificate for AA flights?

@Denise - As of now the US companion certificates cannot be used on AA flights or US codeshare flights on AA metal, only on US and US Express equipment.

@ Denise -- No, just on US Airways operated/marketed flights.

Lucky, one of the sections mentioned that the new status will be determined based on 2014 qualifying activities. I assume they'll honor DM Chairmans who had qualified through the trial preferred program right?

Can I transfer my USDM to UA Mileage PrograM? If I can, do you recommend doing so? I am thinking transfer more than 200K points because I think it generally costs less miles with more seats availability for reward redemption than AA reward chart.

@ globetrotter -- No you can't. They don't partner, and there's no way to transfer points between the two programs efficiently.

@ Jonathan -- Yes.

Hi Lucky, I enrolled the 50% points promotion for USDM, I wonder could those points received after April will be transferred to AA? If not, should I pay the credit card before 3/31?

@ Lisa -- They'll automatically be transferred.

Ben, as you said, American rules will apply, we can change the routing for free if the origin and destination remain the same, but will we be charged more miles if we have a stopover on our original reservation? (Since AA doesn't allow a stopover)

@ Paul -- If you add a stopover to an award that doesn't have one then you'll be charged extra miles. However, if you're just keeping a stopover you had before, I don't believe you should be charged for it.

Hi Lucky,
Have a USDM J booking CDG/DOH/PER to BNE (destination), If iI change to say CDG/HKG/BNE there will be no charge after the AA merger?.

@ Wizard -- Correct, there should be no charge.

Made it under the wire -- CP upgrade cleared for a flight in 3 weeks so one less thing to worry about in the world.

Trying to book a family trip to Hawaii for June. Have DM for 2 tickets and a little shy of 1 for AA. Was going to book now but am wondering if its best to wait so I can do one reservation for 3 tickets. Once combined I wil have more than enough for 3. So do I wait? Or buy the AA miles I need and book now.

@ Alex -- Unless you're going over totally peak dates I'd probably just wait. It's only going to be a couple more weeks until the programs merge, from the looks of it.