Star Alliance - Transatlantic Y?

OK, so I'm asking a question that's been asked, and some others that I don't think have been asked. I searched (really!) and mostly found older posts. If I missed a recent one, my apologies to all...

So I'm buying one ticket and using miles for one ticket BOS-CPH RT. A few questions:

> Which economy is best these days? I don't really want to book US, due to concern about their viability. Looks like I could take SK, LH, or Icelandair across. Maybe UA on some routings. My three priorities are seat pitch, IFE, laptop power.

> Will my *G status allow both of us to get preferred seating? My ticket will be revenue, my (no tier status) companion will be award. That is, could I be assured of getting into UA E+?

> Does *G get me into SK's Economy Flex?

> One popular option is SK926/925 IAD-CPH. Who actually runs that flight these days?

> Lastly, I'm assuming that there's 0.00% chance of an op-up, since I'm with non-revenue companion. Does that seem right?

As always, thanks FTers for all wisdom and advice. This forum is one of the best things going on the Internet. People who care, who have real information to provide.

Having done the BOS-CPH run multiple time on different carriers my advice would we be as follows:

Of SK, LH and FI (Icelandic) the better seat (pitch), IFE, service (food) is in my opinion without a doubt SK. I can not speak of UA on transatlantic Y (I also believe that this would require a stop flight as there are UA flights to Europe from BOS - and no direct UA flights to CPH).

The BOS-CPH route through Iceland is the fastest but really horrible going east as you in reality only will get 2 hours of sleep (take-off, dinner, lights out, sleep, lights on, breakfast - all in 5½ hours on the Boston Iceland leg)

The *G will bring you very little on FI, and only if OP upgrades are required it will bring you something on SK (no deafault seating in Economy Flex (Plus). On LH they usually block the seat next to you, but when travelling with some one I do not know if that is a true value-add. And going as far as 0% on op upgrades for your companion is taking it a bit far. Being a *G my wife (no status) and I have both been upgrade a couple of times.

The IAD-CPH route is this winter a SK wet lease on UA metal, which gives a few special seating adjustments - try these links:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369779
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=350357

Good luck

My suggestion would be SK over LH for comfort and IFE. These are the quickest connections you will get. You will need to fly via EWR or ORD to fly on SK metal. Sadly there is no *A flight from BOS to EWR, so you will have to fly to LGA and then trek all across NYC.

FI: I have no experience.

UA IFE and seating is superior to LH & SK, but you will have to fly via the UA hubs IAD or ORD to FRA, LHR or AMS and then on to CPH. A big waste of time.

One advantage of BOS-FRA on LH is that I can get a shower in FRA at the midpoint. I take it there are no showers at IAD or ORD, or am I wrong about that?

As always, thanks for all the great info. I'll post a trip report.

swingspan:
As *G you have access to showers at CPH upon arrival (at Scandinavian Lounge).
LH lounges at FRA are a really sad experience

swingspan:
As *G you have access to showers at CPH upon arrival (at Scandinavian Lounge).
LH lounges at FRA are a really sad experience

Is this a local situation unique to CPH? I thought lounge access typically required an outbound flight?

SG