I asked you already a few month ago, but then it got better for a few weeks, now it started again. Why is Swiss not releasing any seats to its partner in F, even a few hours before departure?! This are todays flights, leaving within the next few hours.
All flight are a few hours before departure and more then half empty in First, Business is not overbooked, so why are you blocking all seats??!!
Please find out whats going on and if you are blocking all F seats for partner miles, then announce it as official policy. At least Singapore admits it and people are not wasting their time searching for seats.
Please find out whats going on and if you are blocking all F seats for partner miles, then announce it as official policy. At least Singapore admits it and people are not wasting their time searching for seats.
+1
I think it's not a fair policy at all since M&M customers can redeem on other *A-carrier as well. It was a big benefit of airline alliances to redeem and earn miles on partner airlines - so why does LX block it?
I suspect that F6 O0 may indicate that it was F8 O2 and somebody was faster than you...
Does not explain why they do not open more seats on the day of the flight...
moebod
Jun 14, 12, 5:24 am
I suspect that F6 O0 may indicate that it was F8 O2 and somebody was faster than you...
Does not explain why they do not open more seats on the day of the flight...
This should not matter a few hours before the flight. Look at LH in the next few hours
FRA-ORD F2 O2
FRA-JFK F2 O2
So Lufthansa does give out seats, I am not asking to give every last one, but if 6 or 7 are available, then some should be given. They are blocking all flights!
Please keep the discussion to the other thread and lets wait for a answer from the Swiss rep on here
Hopefully I will get one, as last time, when asked about the fuel surcharges being double from the US for Business and First Class and also being double for JFK-ZRH-JFK then ZRH-JFK-ZRH for no reason, he promised a real answer, that someone would understand, but never got back
Please explain why Swiss has not released 1 !!!! F reward seat to Star alliance partners in the last 2 weeks, even 4 hours before departure if the flight is empty.
I would really apreciate a answer, even if your answer is: Swiss will not comment on our policy, but please dont just ignore it. I think the reason you became the Swiss rep here, is so people can ask and rely you will answer... If not I can just send a letter to customer care, as there I know I will never get a reply.
SwissInternationalAirLines
Jun 26, 12, 6:02 am
Hi
I asked you 12 days ago and again 5 days ago. Why are you ignoring my questions?
Please explain why Swiss has not released 1 !!!! F reward seat to Star alliance partners in the last 2 weeks, even 4 hours before departure if the flight is empty.
I would really apreciate a answer, even if your answer is: Swiss will not comment on our policy, but please dont just ignore it. I think the reason you became the Swiss rep here, is so people can ask and rely you will answer... If not I can just send a letter to customer care, as there I know I will never get a reply.
Dear moebod
Sorry for not getting back to you earlier. I was out of the office a lot lately on holidays and projects. As FlyerTalk is not an official customer care channel, we cannot guarantee response times on here.
I will try to get a new statement on your question from our respective department, but chances are that I will get the same response as on earlier occasions where this question was asked (if I remember correctly it was raised also by you), as the situation has not changed as far as I know.
Kind regards,
Gianrico
moebod
Jun 26, 12, 11:34 am
Dear moebod
Thank you for your patience. I am very sorry that you are currently unable to obtain the reservations you require.
I can here forward you the response given to me by the departments concerned:
"SWISS provides redemption availability to all airline partner programs in accordance with bilateral contracts. The steering of redemption classes is dynamic and value oriented. Depending on the booking channel, differences in the availability of redemption classes may occur."
I can therefore confirm to you that SWISS does not have a policy of not opening seats to partner programs or on certain routes, but steers availability in accordance with our capacity needs and the contracts with our partner programs.
Kind regards,
Gianrico
That was your reply at that time.As I wrote you and showed with the last few days. Even flights, that have 8 seats left in First are not available! If they tell you the same, challenge them to give you one flight leaving Zuerich on the entire network that has F available for partners in the next week.
divjan
Jun 26, 12, 12:00 pm
That was your reply at that time.As I wrote you and showed with the last few days. Even flights, that have 8 seats left in First are not available! If they tell you the same, challenge them to give you one flight leaving Zuerich on the entire network that has F available for partners in the next week.
I think you are acting now like a bully....every airline has the right to control the capacity of their award seats....in opinion I don't think swiss lurker will ever get a clear answer from the honchos dealing with award inventories and as to why LX is not releasing more seats to *A members (particularly US/UA)
Personally for the past 2 years i have yet to see a single First class seat released by TAM to GRU or GIG (from jfk), we know how difficult SQ could be with their F seats,
moebod
Jun 26, 12, 6:23 pm
I have seen Tam and a friend of mine even flew with them in F, Dont forget Tam has only 4 F seats
SQ is hard, but not impossible
I am not a bully, but would like a answer. If Swiss will get up and say we decided to block all F travel with star miles, ok. But like this people hope for it to open last minute and it doesnt, thats not right.
htb
Jun 26, 12, 9:55 pm
I am not a bully, but would like a answer. If Swiss will get up and say we decided to block all F travel with star miles, ok. But like this people hope for it to open last minute and it doesnt, thats not right.
I read the answer as "SWISS limits the amount of released F seats to the absolute minimum required by contracts, stretching the terms of these contracts as much as possible."
If that matches the rather high opinion most people have of SWISS is another question.
HTB.
oliver2002
Jun 27, 12, 5:08 am
Split off the 11 posts into a separate thread to keep the topic together. Please note that on FT we are all civil to each other. Let the members posts speak for themselves, no name calling required.
Regards Oliver2002
Mod M&M forum
airoli
Jun 27, 12, 7:24 am
It takes two to tango. The first question would be if LX makes O class inventory available for partner FFPs through Starnet. Swiss Lurker says that it does, as per their revenue management strategy.
The second question is if your *A FFP of choice elects to display these seats to you, moebod, so that you can redeem your miles for them and the *A carrier will have to pay LX the contractually agreed price in $$ for those seats. It may be worthwhile investigating if it is just your FFP, or any *A FFP, that does not offer LX O inventory.
snic
Jun 27, 12, 7:34 am
It takes two to tango. The first question would be if LX makes O class inventory available for partner FFPs through Starnet. Swiss Lurker says that it does, as per their revenue management strategy.
The second question is if your *A FFP of choice elects to display these seats to you, moebod, so that you can redeem your miles for them and the *A carrier will have to pay LX the contractually agreed price in $$ for those seats. It may be worthwhile investigating if it is just your FFP, or any *A FFP, that does not offer LX O inventory.
There are 3 ways to easily search for award availability to *A on LX, via 3 different airlines: ANA, UA and AC. I don't know if the OP checked all three sites, but if he did, and there were no LX seats on any of them for the flights he identified, this would suggest that the absence of F award availability is due to restriction by LX and not the *A partners.
By the way, I hope Gianrico does not view the OP's comments as bullying, but as an expression of frustration and a request for help. Of course he may not get an answer from his colleagues at Swiss, but I appreciate his efforts and advocacy.
killuminati
Jun 27, 12, 7:43 am
The second question is if your *A FFP of choice elects to display these seats to you, moebod, so that you can redeem your miles for them and the *A carrier will have to pay LX the contractually agreed price in $$ for those seats. It may be worthwhile investigating if it is just your FFP, or any *A FFP, that does not offer LX O inventory.
It IS all FFP (except M&M).
Part of being in *A is that your FFP has access to seats on members flights AND vice versa. What SWISS is doing now sets bad precedent for the rest of the alliance.
moebod
Jun 27, 12, 10:16 am
I checked all and Swiss blocks to all partners
I am not bullying, but really frustrated, if I cant get a seat with my UA miles 3 hours before departure with F7. They are clearly blocking all F ex ZRH on starnet.
Even SQ doesnt block, but only on certain aircrafts, but Swiss blocks all without explaining or announcing.
I also dont understand, Swiss is owned by LH, so why would LH release seats, even on the A380, but Swiss nothing....
By the way last time after I complained, all of a sudden seats opened again, lets hope that happens again, but I just dont see LX game here. Even if United only pays them 1000 Dollars, its still better then traveling with F7 or F8 around the world
killuminati
Jun 27, 12, 10:20 am
Ya it is weird...I don't see how it's in their best interest to let the cabin fly empty. Unless they really want to protect the prestige/exclusivity of their product.
Whatever their reason though it is ridiculous.
craz
Jun 27, 12, 11:11 am
Ya it is weird...I don't see how it's in their best interest to let the cabin fly empty. Unless they really want to protect the prestige/exclusivity of their product.
Whatever their reason though it is ridiculous.
is it the same for M&M members? If they can get the seats then start creding ones flights to M&M instead of MP
personally I dont have any problems with what they are doing as long as its within their T&Cs to do so. Since all US Carriers program allows them not to offer even a single seat for an award tkt in any cabin on any route whenever they feel like it,I take it LX can do the same
Im sure they ahve their reason and Im not holding my breath waiting for the answer that will never be coming
Wombelero
Jun 27, 12, 11:18 am
I did not read all of your posts, but it seems to me that you try to beat a dead horse:
It seems that LX opens F seats depening on FFP (he mentions contract with other airlines). So I see two options for you:
1) Start earning miles with M&M and fly LX.
2) Complain at the miles scheme that you collect to negotiate better contracts with Swiss. I can image that Swiss let them pay a high price if you fly with miles.
3) there is always a third: Please please fly a different airline...
Allow me to add that indeed you bully (IMO), because you do not accept the answer given and fill up the forum. Write emails to LX directly, which might be more helpful then a forum.
W
killuminati
Jun 27, 12, 11:24 am
It seems that LX opens F seats depening on FFP (he mentions contract with other airlines). So I see two options for you:
There are only 2 types of awards released by LX: awards loaded into starnet that are available to all *A members, and additional seats released for M&M members.
Star Alliance members are supposed to release some seats to other alliance members, that's the whole point of the alliance. Other airlines should block their F seats to M&M members until Swiss starts releasing seats.
moebod
Jun 27, 12, 4:09 pm
I am not bullying I want a honest answer:
Swiss should say, until further notice we dont release seats to starnet. Are they allowed to do that? I dont know the star alliance agreement, but if every airline would do it, then whats the point of star miles.
Yes, I can collect with MM, but why should I want to spend 210k miles to HKG in F, if I can get it by aeroplan or UA for much less (not to mention US) Its not my miles, its all of star alliance miles
I am not expecting the same avail. as a MM member, but yes I am expecting that I can get a seat if its F8 3 hours before departure.
UA also blocks for high peak travel and doesnt allow F boookings with miles, but I have never seen any airline in the entire star alliance network, blocking all flights on all routes at any day, even with F8 a few hours before departure
jumbooze
Jun 28, 12, 1:00 am
Let's hope the Lurker succeeds, or at least forwards our comments to TPTB.
I would like to see some availability for my upcoming flight as well :cool:.
GetSetJetSet
Jul 1, 12, 4:40 pm
In my experience it's just been certain routes. I'm not sure i've ever seen ZRH-JFK availability in F. However in April I had an easy time finding NRT-ZRH on short notice...I was very underwhelmed by the A340 F product though and found myself wishing i'd taken NH or OZ.
WestAust
Jul 2, 12, 1:04 am
I manged to get a F seat for a YUL-ZRH flight in septembre when booking last week with AE point, so I ust have been lucky! But usually it was -14days or less to get F seats on LX
tockstew
Jul 2, 12, 10:18 am
There is availability on ZRH-JFK for example on 31.8.
alinghi90
Jul 2, 12, 12:05 pm
There is availability on ZRH-JFK for example on 31.8.
For M&M yes...but here we are talking about *A-Miles ;)
gpeso8
Jul 4, 12, 5:42 pm
There has been availability three times this week on LX65 MIA-ZRH to star partners. I booked one seat myself at T-24 with UA miles.......
jumbooze
Jul 5, 12, 3:10 am
Agreed it's just seem very limited, but that's up to Swiss I guess.
I have seen availability for ZRH-ORD in F 7 days before departure.
Unfortunately it wasn't my flight...
dgilman
Jul 9, 12, 2:31 pm
FWIW I was able to book ZRH-NBO in F 8 months in advance - and that was two tickets.
Still searching for NYC-ZRH though...
David
delanet
Sep 7, 12, 12:29 pm
FWIW I was able to book ZRH-NBO in F 8 months in advance - and that was two tickets.
Still searching for NYC-ZRH though...
David
Any further info on this? Its been months since i've seen a single LX F seat to anywhere!
gpeso8
Sep 7, 12, 5:41 pm
I've still seen (very) sporadic availability and have booked LX F last minute, usually the night before or the day of travel.
gpeso8
Sep 7, 12, 5:44 pm
If you're in BOS right now maybe you can use this. :D
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
GreatDane
Nov 10, 12, 3:34 am
Travelling next week in full C on a A333.
Expertflyer shows F7 and only one seat booked with 3 blocked and 4 vacant.
But when booking a star alliance upgrade Im told that no seats are available for upgrades.
Any tips on when this could change? If at all?
killuminati
Nov 10, 12, 3:26 pm
Upgrades comes from the same inventory as award inventory. So if LX decides to release more reward space it will be bookable to upgrade from paid C. From my recent experience LX hasn't been releasing many F seats close to departure.
PetzLUX
Nov 10, 12, 5:01 pm
The easiest thing to do: just give LX a call and ask if you can upgrade.
GreatDane
Nov 15, 12, 7:15 am
The easiest thing to do: just give LX a call and ask if you can upgrade.
Not sure LX will answer when I want to use *A points to upgrade - dont they just deal with M&M upgrades?
TRAVELSIG
Nov 15, 12, 9:26 am
Not sure LX will answer when I want to use *A points to upgrade - dont they just deal with M&M upgrades?
Yes- you will need to call the redemption centre of the company you have the points with.
GreatDane
Nov 22, 12, 11:57 am
Yes- you will need to call the redemption centre of the company you have the points with.
And they just said that there was no availability for *A upgrades right up until 24 hours before (double checked) with expertflyer still showing only 1 seat taken in F. Very strange.
The flight went off with only 2 pax in F - never got my UG. Wonder why LX choose not to release for *A - would they rather go out empty than rele:td:ase to partners paying with points? KInd of defeats the * partnership spirit I would think.
hedur
Nov 22, 12, 12:51 pm
And they just said that there was no availability for *A upgrades right up until 24 hours before (double checked) with expertflyer still showing only 1 seat taken in F. Very strange.
The flight went off with only 2 pax in F - never got my UG. Wonder why LX choose not to release for *A - would they rather go out empty than rele:td:ase to partners paying with points? KInd of defeats the * partnership spirit I would think.
Agreed. I found this post from another thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/1401194-lx-award-availability-expert-flyer-but-not-united.html#post19574391) that's a possible explanation. Not a good one, but...
LX stopped offering awards in F to both UA & US a few months ago. In an interview I read while in Germany, the President of LX was quoted as saying there are "to many mileage millionaires in the US" who buy miles for almost nothing & they no longer want to offer seats in F to those passengers. (can you blame him :)
GetSetJetSet
Nov 25, 12, 5:11 pm
I hope that UA and US have stopped offering their seats to LX fliers. What is the point of an alliance if airlines like LX and SQ decide only their own FF's are entitled to redeem F seats?
NewbieRunner
Nov 25, 12, 5:51 pm
I hope that UA and US have stopped offering their seats to LX fliers.
Does anybody want award seats on UA or US? :p:rolleyes::D
Crampedin13A
Nov 25, 12, 7:04 pm
Does anybody want award seats on UA or US? :p:rolleyes::DHow very true.:D With all the enhancements to M+M it's nice we are still thrown a few crumbs.
Thunderroad
Nov 25, 12, 7:58 pm
Does anybody want award seats on UA or US? :p:rolleyes::D
Ouch! And in terms of service and all-around professionalism, agreed that UA and US are not that desirable. BUT aren't the UA and especially the US lie-flat J seats preferable to LH?
janehoya
Nov 25, 12, 8:09 pm
Ouch! And in terms of service and all-around professionalism, agreed that UA and US are not that desirable. BUT aren't the UA and especially the US lie-flat J seats preferable to LH?
In our family, while we'll redeem UA miles for C awards on UA metal we refuse to do so for F on UA metal. UA F really is a joke, at least in our opinion. YMMV.
Granted the LH C seats are really uncomfortable but we prefer to redeem UA miles for LH C rather than UA C because of the superior service, food and liquor. Again, that's just us and others may feel differently.
GetSetJetSet
Nov 25, 12, 8:09 pm
Does anybody want award seats on UA or US? :p:rolleyes::D
as mentioned, I'd take UA/US longhaul J over the LH angled lie flats, but more to the point, I have to imagine that many LX/LH fliers come to the U.S. and need to travel domestically...
Crampedin13A
Nov 25, 12, 8:39 pm
The LH seats J seats are horrible but this thread is about LX F award availability which is a completely different subject.;)