US Airways Dividend Miles - USAirways to Germany

Hello everyone. I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to post this question. Our family of four is planning a trip to Munich in April. We can go Lufthansa/United out of Dulles or USAirways out of PHL. The USAirways tickets would cost less, and we'd be traveling on 767's which seem to be roomier than the Lufthansa/UA planes (Airbus I believe).

Can anyone tell me about USAirways reputation for transatlantic flights these days?

TIA. :)

Hi

I pick LH if the price difference isn't to bad. Saying this I only got 2 transatlantic returns with US, but approx 30 returns with LH.

I just did PHL FRA in economy class this weekend. I will only ever do this again to save 700 bucks for my family.

The US airbus 330 economy cabin is soooo packed. The recline pitch is close to almost nothing. I saw at least 2 more passengers asking the FA if the seat was broken. US has many movies going, but the system broken down a few times, had to be re-booted. And why are US FA resting in the passenger area in possibly the roomies seats?

Located in Germany I fly LH very often in Airbus 340 or Boeing 747.
LH charge often more and have old inflight system. But they have normal standard recline pitch and normal seat depth. Also I think that the FA are very much friendlier.

I have no experience with UA transatlatic. But the UA 777 and 767 LAX-HNL are better than US, but clearly worse than LH.

I feel that I have to give US some credit about the food and their domestic PHL-LAX was a pleasure.

Thanks for the reply. I went and checked out the prices and planes.

Going US would be $770 less total for the four of us.

Lufthansa - Dulles to MUC (Airbus A330-300)
United - MUC to Dulles (777-200/300)
4 hr layover going
2.75 hr layover coming back

or

US - PHL to MUC (767)
US - MUC to PHL (767)
6.5 hr layover going
2 hr layover coming back

I didn't even look at flights connecting in Chicago. We are coming from Syracuse, and I don't want to back track. ;)

Do you have to take a *A partner?

What about CO via EWR?

Just tried that Alpha. $1800 per person. :eek:

We booked a package to London through Virgin last year. We were on our own getting to JFK (went with JB). That was kind of a pain, because we had to claim our baggage in JFK and then check in with Virgin.

I defer to others on this, but booking an April trip in November is pretty far out... no sales or anything. Unless its mission critical to go say, Sat to Sat or something... I'd wait til at least January....

I defer to others on this, but booking an April trip in November is pretty far out... no sales or anything. Unless its mission critical to go say, Sat to Sat or something... I'd wait til at least January....

I agree, too soon to book. Watch for fare sales.


What are your dates? I see some really cheap fares in April, so it may not be too soon. :D

I agree, too soon to book. Watch for fare sales.


What are your dates? I see some really cheap fares in April, so it may not be too soon. :D

The kids are off the week of 4/14. The dates I was looking at were 4/10 to 4/18. I figured we could get a full week in, get home on a Friday and have two full days to recoup, and only have to take the boys out of school for two days. :)

Of course there is the option of going during summer break. I know it's very early for that, but right now the fares are very high for any time from late June to late August.

BTW everyone, thanks again for your help. This is only our family's second trip to Europe, so we are still new to this. :D

Welcome to FlyerTalk, syrasnow

I know that during school holidays, places like Disneyworld are packed, and it's imperative to book early. Whether this applies to transAtlantic travel, I do not know. Common sense would tell me that if I find a decent fare, I'd book rightaway and have one thing less to worry about :)

I'd say go with the cheapest airline option, and blow the savings in Germany! With the Euro as high as it is, we need all the help we can get ...

I see some $539 fares non-stop on LH EWR-MUC, leaving on April 10 and returning April 17, for $539. For an April 18 return, there are flights for $569. (Note: this fare seems to work for the UA codeshare of the LH flight on the outbound and the LH code and metal on the return.)

The kids are off the week of 4/14. The dates I was looking at were 4/10 to 4/18. I figured we could get a full week in, get home on a Friday and have two full days to recoup, and only have to take the boys out of school for two days. :)

The best I saw for SYR-MUC was $540(all in) in that time frame.

Are those prices with our without taxes and fees?

I get (4/10 to 4/18) via kayak and the LH website:

EWR - MUC (Remember we still need to fly to EWR from SYR which is an expensive airport)
LH/UA $410 + $166-$234 X 4 = $2578

or

SYR - MUC (through IAD)
LH/UA $579 + $292 X 4 = $3486

or

SYR - MUC (through PHL)
US ? X 4 = $2714

I don't even know what a good price is these days. My head hurts. ;)

Are those prices with our without taxes and fees?

EWR - MUC (Remember we still need to fly to EWR from SYR which is an expensive airport)


I only quote all-in prices (too much variability in fees/taxes, etc.).

If you will be flying from SYR, you should just search for tickets from SYR.
Returning on 4/17 instead of 4/18 is cheaper right now.
I see all-in tickets for $597-$647 for 4/10-4/17.

It's hard to know what is a "good fare"...US-Europe tickets seem to be more expensive than they were a year or two ago (not just for April, just in general). For a trip in April, though, prices may well come done, but it is hard to say.

I think we've got it! 4/9 to 4/17 (UA and LH). I just have to pull the kids out of school for 2.5 days. I don't think it will be a problem if we give the teachers advance notice (I have 6th and 9th graders).

I'm loving this itinerary, because it only involves 4 hours at IAD on the way there and 2 hours on the way back. We'd get into SYR at 6:15 which is great too.

4 travelers, round-trip
Airfare $1,596.00
Taxes and Fees $722.84
Total trip cost $2,318.84 USD

Now I just have to make sure the home we want to rent is available. :D

Thanks again everyone.

If the price diff is not that much I would go with another airline like UA if you are planning on flying in coach- at least you would have the option for E+. I have done many TA flights on US and they are cramped to say the least and food has been getting progressively worse.

Do you get 100% miles toward status for all fares on LH?

Do you get 100% miles toward status for all fares on LH?

These (Economy) LH fare classes would earn Miles in US DM program -

B, G, H, K ,M, Q, Y, V, S(50%), W(50%)

Hi

And why are US FA resting in the passenger area in possibly the roomies seats?



S5804,
The f/a's sit in those roomy seats because they are negotiated crew rest seats and are not allowed for sale on transatlantic flights. All airlines have crew rest seats for longer flights. Some airplanes like the 747 have bunks in the upper deck behind the cabin. Some airlines have compartments below the galleys in the cargo compartment. If it's any consolation, the crew rest seats on the 767 are the middle seats on the last row. i Hope this answers your question.:)