Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners) - Which way to PEK?

Hey guys,

I'm looking at JFK-PEK on LH affiliated carriers. Here are my options as I understand them:

LH JFK-FRA-PEK (on two 744s)
LH JFK-MUC-PEK (on a 346 and a 343)
OS JFK-VIE-PEK (on two 763s)

1. Purely from an in-cabin standpoint, what is likely to be my best experience? I will be flying business class; do all these planes have lie-flat seats? I've heard OS is particularly known for its catering, but its IFE is lacking? Any recent experiences would be appreciated.

2. I will have enough time in each connecting city to leave the airport and explore. Which city is the most interesting for a tourist? I realize this is obviously subjective.

Still browsing various trip reports, but thanks in advance for any advice!

Hey guys,

I'm looking at JFK-PEK on LH affiliated carriers.
,,,,
2. I will have enough time in each connecting city to leave the airport and explore. Which city is the most interesting for a tourist? I realize this is obviously subjective.



What exactly do you mean by "LH affiliated carriers"?
If you mean fully integrated M&M partners, your choices are LH and OS.
If you´re also willing to fly on any Star Alliance partner, there are plenty of other options both via the Atlantic and Pacific:
AC, CO, CA, UA, NH, SAS etc.
(as a single pax travelling in C there IMO are better options than LH, at least with regards to the seat)
Also CO offers a non-stop flight NYC-PEK which many people would prefer over two long-hauls.

If you really want to fly LH, I would recommend flying via MUC as the Airbus 330 and 340 have a 2-2-2 configuation (whereas the 744 has a 2-3-2 config.) Seats are lie flat, but not horizontal.
IMO VIE and MUC are also more interesting places for a stopover than FRA.

Thanks Jasper. By "LH affiliated" I mean all the carriers that LH has bought over the years. I usually fly TPAC to PEK; thought I'd try something new this time.

confirmed!
much better option via MUC.PEK via FRA might take 45 mins walking as terminal C is faaaaar away and as said planes configuration are much better because of the airbus instead of 744.
LH C seats do not lie flat so it is really up to you if you want to "enjoy" this experience...

Another vote for MUC. Much nicer airport than FRA. Instead of taking the train into MUC you also could go to Freising (Small town close to MUC, has been discussed here, recommend searching).

I definitely would vote for VIE.

Catering in OS is outstanding, meals are IMHO even better than LH F. As you mentioned yourself IFE in OS is crappy but you can compensate that with some movies of your choice an your own PC if you like. Planes are a little bit older but seats are OK and very similar to LH (also lieflat with an angle and 2-2-2 setup). FAs usually are nicer than LH :D.

Finally VIE would be the city of my choice for a short visit. If you take the CAT (City Airport Train) you can be in the inner city in only 16 minutes and have a very nice stroll! Very special now during Christmas time but also an experience during the rest of the year.

cma410

LH C seats do not lie flat so it is really up to you if you want to "enjoy" this experience...
:confused: This is simply wrong! The LH seat is lie flat! It's just not a flat-bed seat.

Apart from this "minor" point the OP may want to check the M&M guide thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/811685-read-first-miles-more-guide-version-0-11-beta.html) which is a sticky in this forum. There are pictures of the seat, links to the meal thread and the LX/OS seating thread and lots of other information.

Another vote for VIE and OS.

Never been on Austrian.
In general i don't like the C seats on 767 in a 2-2-2 configuration. They seem significantly narrower than on the A330/340.
The 767 is narrower than the 330/340 (in Eco 7 across instead of 8 across). Some airlines have a 1-2-2 configuration in Business on the 767 which allows for normal width seats.

Avoid VIE unless food is the only thing you care about - the airport is a nightmare and the OS seat a desaster.

MUC is a very nice airport, and the LH Airbusses are much nicer than the cramped OS 767s.

The other thing I'd look at are the transfer times. If any of them is significantly longer/shorter that could tweak my opinion to use FRA vs MUC, but I'd avoid VIE unless you can one of those OS super savers.

Of all three airports FRA is closest to the City, so if you really want to visit the city that's where you can make most of it.

Of all three airports FRA is closest to the City, so if you really want to visit the city that's where you can make most of it.

VIE is 16 minutes with the CAT, or 25 minutes in a taxi (<20 EUR).

VIE is 16 minutes with the CAT, or 25 minutes in a taxi (<20 EUR).
How do you manage to get from VIE to the city center for less than 20 EUR by taxi? Have have been to VIE many times and always paid more.

How do you manage to get from VIE to the city center for less than 20 EUR by taxi? Have have been to VIE many times and always paid more.

Book the taxi in advance. It is 18.90 EUR.

VIE is 16 minutes with the CAT, or 25 minutes in a taxi (<20 EUR).

In Frankfurt it's about 10 minutes in the S bahn that unlike the CAT runs every couple of minutes and gets you directly to lots of places in the middle of the city. IMHO a lot less painful. Of course both VIE and FRA are much better than MUC in that respect.

In Frankfurt it's about 10 minutes in the S bahn that unlike the CAT runs every couple of minutes and gets you directly to lots of places in the middle of the city. IMHO a lot less painful. Of course both VIE and FRA are much better than MUC in that respect.

Very true. But who wants to see FRA if the choice contains VIE and MUC as well, considering there is plenty of time for a city visit anyway?

Very true. But who wants to see FRA if the choice contains VIE and MUC as well, considering there is plenty of time for a city visit anyway?

I actually like the city in FRA while I find MUC rather boring and VIE so-so, but hey everyone to their likening.

Following the questions of the OP, and the variety of replies some preferring LH, some liking OS), I am curious as to what would be recommended for the long haul portion with any Star Alliance flight from EDI to PEK (could be connecting via FRA, MUC, VIE, CPH, ARN, LHR,...)?

I plan to be in J (business class), and am most interested in opinions on the comfort and level of service for the different airline choices. In addition to LH and OS, SK and CA appear to be viable options. I plan to travel in Summer 2010.

Which do you prefer and why?

I definitely would vote for VIE.

Catering in OS is outstanding

FAs usually are nicer than LH :D.

Finally VIE would be the city of my choice for a short visit. If you take the CAT (City Airport Train) you can be in the inner city in only 16 minutes and have a very nice stroll! Very special now during Christmas time but also an experience during the rest of the year.

cma410

I fully agree with cma410 ... Vienna would my choice !

double post

tripple post

no need to post 3 times, iandm.

OP, MUC and the A340 family are much better than FRA, although I have not tried OS and Vienna yet.

After looking at the timetables, it appears that there aren't as many options as I originally thought.

For EDI-PEK, the flights with one stop are with LH (via FRA), SK (via CPH), and CA (via LHR). Can anyone offer comments on the relative merits of these three options, again looking at J class?

Thanks for all the input guys. I decided to go with OS via VIE. I'll do a trip report and link it to this thread.