Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners) - still 20k miles for upgrade both ways for us-members?

hi...

i was just surfing the lh website and looking at the arward charts. looking at the upgrades it showed:

upgrade eco to biz us -> germany 20.000 miles
upgrade eco to biz germany -> us 35.000 miles

it used to be 20k both ways for us members.

anyone has more information on this if 40k for rt is still valid?

thanks.

yes, still 20'000 both waysw for US members http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
and 35'000 for us, discriminated Europeans http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Does the trip needs to start in the US or do you only need to be a US LH member?

This is really not fair that they discriminate against us.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by STR:
This is really not fair that they discriminate against us.</font>

They already "have" you, a relatively captive consumer/market. They want us (U.S.?).

Seriously, from this side of the pond I'd say that LH 'discounts' upgrades for U.S. & Canadian members from the 'real' price of 35k miles, in order to attract members. And yes, it 'costs' 20k miles U.S. --&gt; Germany (includes connecting flights within Germany) and 20k miles Germany --&gt; U.S.

kempis, the trip has to start in USA or Canada and you have to be an US or Canadian member (=adress) to qualifly for this cheaper upgrade.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Patron:
kempis, the trip has to start in USA or Canada and you have to be an US or Canadian member (=adress) to qualifly for this cheaper upgrade.</font>

Are you sure it has to start in the U.S.? I upgraded onetime on an itinerary which started in Germany, although I have a U.S. address.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Patron:
kempis, the trip has to start in USA or Canada and you have to be an US or Canadian member (=adress) to qualifly for this cheaper upgrade.</font>

I get upgrades for 20.000 miles per leg on trips starting in Europe all the time. Last time was 3 weeks ago. I do have a US adress though.

thanks for all the info... just wanted to make sure that all stayed the same with those 20k miles both direction even starting the trip in germany.

For US citizen, is that 20k for each leg, or 20k for the trip? Is IAD-FRA-LED 20k, or 40k each way?

it is each way!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UllRR:
I get upgrades for 20.000 miles per leg on trips starting in Europe all the time. Last time was 3 weeks ago. I do have a US adress though.
</font>

Same here. As long as your account is in the U.S., all upgrades are 20K, no matter where the trip starts or who is flying (from my U.S. account I paid 20K for upgrades for others flying from Europe).

Ajax, UlRR, hmsflytalk and Greg 45, I am glad to hear, that your U.S or Canadian based M&M accounts all upgrades are 20K, no matter where the trip starts. This cannot be confirmed, if you look at the official rules.

As I answered kemis´question, I consulted LH´s US-homepage and here is what the say:

Europe Fly smart Y C F o/w up
from Canada 2) 55,000 60,000 75,000 100,000 20,000
from USA 2) 50,000 80,000 100,000 20,000
to USA/Canada 55,000 70,000 105,000 140,000 35,000
2) Valid only for members residing in US/Canada and for awards commencing in the US/Canada.

If you search at the earn & spend calculator for upgrade awards on LH/OS flights and you enter your country of residence (USA), your departure region (Germany) and your final destination (USA) your required air miles are 35.000 miles for one way.

Links:
http://cms.lufthansa.com/us/fly/en/mam/0,5070,0-0-71446,00.html
http://www.lufthansa.com/aerodyn/es_main.aero

What about reward flights with a NA address starting in Europe, which award level is charged - the NA or European one ?

What about reward flights with a NA address starting in Europe, which award level is charged - the NA or European one?.

According to the M&M chart, a reward flight starting in Europe to US/Canada is 70.000/105.000/140.000 miles (Y/C/F, irrespective of the country of residence.

I have been an American M&M member until some months ago and most of my trips started in Europe. I have always been charged upgrades and awards according to the table for NA members, even if this table says it is only valid for travel beginning in US. I have paid 20K miles for upgrades on NA routes all the time.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Uli:
I have been an American M&M member until some months ago and most of my trips started in Europe. I have always been charged upgrades and awards according to the table for NA members, even if this table says it is only valid for travel beginning in US. I have paid 20K miles for upgrades on NA routes all the time.</font>

Uli, which office do you use to book your awards. I have a US/CAN address and I just recently did an award from EUR to US and I was charged at EUR rates. Technically that is correct, but in the past I also did such an award and got US rates, so it is unpredictable. If I could find a way to get US rates on an award with a EUR origin that would be great. Reply by e-mail if you want...

thanks
Ron

Ron,

I have only be using the German SEN phone number. My info is from last year, maybe they are more strict now?

emailMan, living in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Dallas, USA confirmed often, that with his miles&more account being a US-one, he is only charged the lower 20'000 miles for any transatlantic upgrade (it didn't matter where he bought the tickets or where he started the journey).

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 03-18-2002).]

sorry, I should have been more clear. I was speaking about flight awards, not upgrades.

I think that is not possible, you can not get the EUR rates for award tickest with its origin in EUR. I tried this twice and.....they charged me 105.000 in Business!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by saaflyer:
I think that is not possible, you can not get the EUR rates for award tickets with its origin in EUR. I tried this twice and.....they charged me 105.000 in Business!</font>

In theory you're right, but in practice it sometimes happens. I myself have gotten award flights originating in Europe for the NA rate, and see what Uli says above:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
I have always been charged upgrades and awards according to the table for NA members, even if this table says it is only valid for travel beginning in US.
</font>

So there's obviously a loophole or just the agent is not familiar with the rules. It would be good to know if there's some way to consistently get the NA rate out of EUR.

Ron