US Airways will keep its current award chart when it enters the Oneworld Alliance March 31, so you'll be able to book Qantas First Class, Cathay Pacific First Class, and other Oneworld awards with US Air Dividend Miles.
Also, you'll (at least for a short time) still be able to book some awards on partners such as Air China, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, TAM and Turkish Airways with which US Air has bilateral agreements that extend past US Air's March 30 exit from the Star Alliance.
This is pretty amazing, since a lot of folks were expecting transferability of US Airways miles to AA, but having to book all oneworld awards using the AAdvantage partner award chart and rules.
Instead, at least for now, US Airways Dividend Miles and AAdvantage award charts and rules will both survive on March 31 but remain separate. So you'll be able to use the US Airways Dividend Miles award chart to book gems such as Cathay Pacific Business Class roundtrip to North Asia for 90,000 Dividend Miles, or Cathay Pacific First Class to North Asia for 120,000 miles.
Per Australian Business Traveller (emphasis mine):
“After US Airways’ entry into oneworld, US Airways will maintain its current award chart” the spokesperson advised, with bookings for Oneworld airlines available through US Airways.”
FAQ
Which Star Alliance Airlines Will I Still Be Able to Book with US Airways Miles as of March 31?
Per the US Airways site:
“We plan to continue relationships with the following airlines, which means you'll be able to earn and redeem miles on these select partners even after we've exited Star Alliance: Aegean, Air China, Air New Zealand, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, TAM, TAP and Turkish Airways.”
Keep in mind that these are partners that US Air has bilateral agreements with that extend past US Air's exit from the Star Alliance.
What Happened to Ethiopian and EVA?
They're not included in the current list of airlines on the US Airways site, so for now, assume that Ethiopian and EVA will not be bookable as awards as of March 31. That said, EVA's own announcement says that the partnership will terminate effective May 15, 2014, so we'll have to see if any EVA flights are actually bookable as awards using US Air miles as of March 31.
How Long Will It Be Possible to Book These US Air Bilateral Partner Airlines with US Airways Miles?
It will vary by partner, but probably not more than a few weeks to a few months.
- Can't book partner awards online
- Long hold times; see US Airways Not Answering Your Phone Call? Call Abroad for Better Service
- Only roundtrip awards–no one way awards for 50% the cost are NOT allowed
- No changes after travel has commenced. If for some reason you can't complete your trip, you won't get any miles back, and you can't change flights either. See Emergency Flight Award Change? Hope You Didn't Book with US Airways Miles
1. Cathay Pacific Business Class to the Maldives for 120,000 Miles via HKG (instead of 170,000 AA miles for 2 separate awards)
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