Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners) - Flying LH within Europe Questions

Hello--

I'm a US Plat (*A Gold), and will be flying the following on LH--

Ticket #1
2 Dec MUC-TXL
6 Dec TXL-MUC

Ticket #2:
6 Dec MUC-MAD
13 Dec BCN-MUC


Have a couple of questions--

* Both of my itineraries say seats will be assigned at check-in. Do they ever pre-assign any seats? Any chance of getting exit row or anything like that (would be especially nice for MUC-MAD)?

* For 6 Dec, it was cheaper to book TXL-MUC, MUC-MAD in separate tickets. Will it be possible to link them together, so not have to claim luggage and re-check-in at MUC? (we have 2-1/2 hours in MUC, just in case)

* I'm assuming I'll be allowed to use the appropriate lounges before/between any flights (with my boarding pass and *Gold card), is that correct? If there's more in any airports I'll have access to, are there better I should try to go in?

* I think *Gold should let me use preferred check-in and/or security in any of the airports (if it matters), is that right?

I'm open to any ideas/suggestions to making the trip better and running more smoothly. Flying over to MUC on UA in biz, staying in MUC before and after the flights above.

Have a separate ticket MAD-BCN on JK (was dirt cheap, far less than the train), if anyone has any experiences to share on them, I'd appreciate that also.

Thanks!

You can OLCI at T-23h. Exit seat reservation is an LH SEN/HON benefit only, not *G.
LH will be able to check your luggage through all the way.
You will have access to the LH SEN lounges with your *G card.
You can also checkin at the LH First counters.
Enjoy your flights.

* For 6 Dec, it was cheaper to book TXL-MUC, MUC-MAD in separate tickets. Will it be possible to link them together, so not have to claim

You can link the two PNRs by calling LH but they will check your bags through no matter what.

You can link the two PNRs by calling LH but they will check your bags through no matter what.

Thanks, that's great news.

If there's space left on the earlier MUC-MAD flight (when we check-in at TXL), would they let us change to it? Any fees?

LH usually does not let you on an earlier flight, even if there is space. The exception is when they expect the later flight to be delayed etc.
Otherwise the fees depend on the ticket and the available booking class on the earlier flight, but usually it is prohibitive.

For checking the luggage thru you don't need to link reservations etc, just show your two reservations when you check in.

* I think *Gold should let me use preferred check-in and/or security in any of the airports (if it matters), is that right?

No security, only First Class/Business Class (intra-Europe) check-in. Security is not for *Gs, only SAS EBG elites and LH SEN/HON.

You can OLCI at T-23h. Exit seat reservation is an LH SEN/HON benefit only, not *G.

Actually, *Gs also have access to exit-rows. I flew CPH-FRA-TRN just a few days ago (had to check-in using SAS's OLCI because departing Scand.). I was able to select exit-row seats for both flights.^ Maybe this had to do with checking in with SAS, not LH:confused:

No security, only First Class/Business Class (intra-Europe) check-in. Security is not for *Gs, only SAS EBG elites and LH SEN/HON.
Where?

The signs in say FRA and ZRH limit it to Biz and F customers but in reality you get through with anything that identifies you as an elite.
Actually, *Gs also have access to exit-rows. I flew CPH-FRA-TRN just a few days ago (had to check-in using SAS's OLCI...
That is during check-in. LH SEN or better have (or at least should have) the privilege to reserve an exit row seat upon making the reservation.

If there's space left on the earlier MUC-MAD flight (when we check-in at TXL), would they let us change to it? Any fees?Very unlikely even without checked luggage, extremely unlikely with checked luggage. Of course you can change your ticket, but that would be change fee of your ticket plus fare difference to next available fare (possibly Y or B on the day of departure... This standby thing does not exist in Europe as it does in the US.

Have a separate ticket MAD-BCN on JK (was dirt cheap, far less than the train), if anyone has any experiences to share on them, I'd appreciate that also.

MAD-BCN on either JK or IB is run like a shuttle service. Nothing out of the ordinary.