I figure we have alot of PHL-FRA flyers here, so I'd likely get a better answer on the US board than LH.

I have a coach ticket BOS-FRA-TXL on the cramped LH 747.

Thinking of switching it for a Z fare BOS-PHL-FRA-TXL with a good connection window into PHL.

Anybody happen to have been on the LH flight from PHL? Are they the lie flat seats? Seat guru lists 6 configs, so looking for history. Based on stats 5 of the 6 configs have lie flat seats. Do I go LH or US? I think the answer is LH based on service. On the return, the plane looks so empty, I'll bring my own food and go Y. Either way, I think it makes sense.

I think I get 150% EQMS on either carrier, but as a CP I get double miles on the 150% EQM, if I'm correct.....

Thanks!

They did away with the preferred bonus on LH a while ago, so you won't get a 100% bonus by being CP. It's still valid on ANA, United and a few other carriers.

From http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/dividendmiles/preferred/chairmans.aspx :

Members earn an automatic mileage bonus for all paid, qualifying flights on US Airways, US Airways Express carriers, US Airways Shuttle, ANA, United, Hawaiian and Big Sky Airlines.

If you're flying in C then will still get the 150% class of service bonus. So you'll have to fly US if you want the CP bonus miles.

I see why you'd be tempted to change to the new iten, but honestly, and we all know this, PHL is a nightmare for international connectionions. And also the front of those A330's isn't all that great. I mean, it's better than coach in any situation, but still. Between the extra connection & chance of a baggage misconnect, the nightmare that is international connections at PHL...I'd stick with your original itenerary.

I would likely do this on Thanksgiving, so with a 3-4 hour connection it wouldn't be too bad. Air traffice should be short on that day. The way back.. have to see on that one. If LH Y wasn't so cramped, it would be a no brainer.

Next year, if I go Skyteam, I may just take the NW A330s... that would solve the problem. The downside is you only have lounge access, if you are ST Elite plus, whatever that means...

Is the Z fare BOS-FRA-TXL so much more than BOS-PHL-FRA-TXL to make you want to add the extra time and inconvenience?

If the choice is LH Coach nonstop from BOS or LH Business via PHL, I think the answer is clear: go through PHL! LH Business is lovely.

LH Coach nonstop vs. US Envoy via PHL is a tougher call... it would depend on the cost differential for me. I have an unnatural aversion to transoceanic flights in coach, though.

David

Is the Z fare BOS-FRA-TXL so much more than BOS-PHL-FRA-TXL to make you want to add the extra time and inconvenience?

$1200 RT via PHL vs $6000 from BOS....

Kind of odd actually....

Anybody happen to have been on the LH flight from PHL? Are they the lie flat seats? Seat guru lists 6 configs, so looking for history. Based on stats 5 of the 6 configs have lie flat seats. Do I go LH or US? I think the answer is LH based on service. On the return, the plane looks so empty, I'll bring my own food and go Y. Either way, I think it makes sense.

Seatguru is mostly worthless for LH. There are three different A343 configs left, all of them with angled lie-flat seats. PHL seems to get the 2class config called 34V, you can see the seatmap for it here (http://www.lufthansa.com/cdautils/mediapool/media_436103.pdf) on the Lufthansa website.