How to avoid LH Fuel Surcharge on award ticket?
Jul 26, 2015, 11:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 91
How to avoid LH Fuel Surcharge on award ticket?
Hi there,
I have about 100k miles still sitting on my dormant M+M account (no more status on M+M). Those miles are slated for expiration soon (I think).
Never used these miles as the fuel surcharge truly kills the benefit of using miles via M+M.
Are there any options to use these miles on award travel by avoiding that expensive fuel surcharge (different Star Alliance member, etc.)?
I have about 100k miles still sitting on my dormant M+M account (no more status on M+M). Those miles are slated for expiration soon (I think).
Never used these miles as the fuel surcharge truly kills the benefit of using miles via M+M.
Are there any options to use these miles on award travel by avoiding that expensive fuel surcharge (different Star Alliance member, etc.)?
Jul 26, 2015, 11:28 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
Best way would be to use them for US domestic flights, preferrably United PS on transcontinental routes. But otherwise you can fly EVA Air, since they have very low fuel surcharges. Last I checked, a transpacific segment would only have around $100 in fuel surcharge one-way, which is pretty decent in my books.
Jul 26, 2015, 11:38 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
One way LAX-Europe Lufthansa First is 85,000 plus $455 or about the same cost as United's 110,000 miles plus $5.60.
Plus you get better availability not just inside the last week or so.
Jul 26, 2015, 11:46 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 91
In general, I would rather spend 25k miles and safe $449.40. Do you feel that the opposite is more beneficial? I, for my part, prefer to keep my cash but use miles wherever possible.
On M+M award availability: I have tried and tried and tried and tried again but I never have found a suitable flight with seat availability with a travel window of 2 month. Noted that I was a Silver *A at that time and a bottom feeder.
Jul 26, 2015, 11:50 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
As for availability, sure you may have to be flexible and be patient, but in the end there is availability.
We've taken 20+ LH First mileage trips in the past 6-7 years and always found flights.
Jul 26, 2015, 12:15 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 91
Best way would be to use them for US domestic flights, preferrably United PS on transcontinental routes. But otherwise you can fly EVA Air, since they have very low fuel surcharges. Last I checked, a transpacific segment would only have around $100 in fuel surcharge one-way, which is pretty decent in my books.
In the past, I have never seen an available flight for any US domestic route on the M+M award site.
I guess I would have to call the M+M Call Center to make such booking manually?
Jul 26, 2015, 12:32 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 91
Different strokes but I consider 1.8 cents per mile a good price especially when redeeming for a $5-$8K ticket. Even better when you can plan your trip in advance and not have to wait until the last week wondering whether seats are going to open on the day you've planned to travel.
As for availability, sure you may have to be flexible and be patient, but in the end there is availability.
We've taken 20+ LH First mileage trips in the past 6-7 years and always found flights.
As for availability, sure you may have to be flexible and be patient, but in the end there is availability.
We've taken 20+ LH First mileage trips in the past 6-7 years and always found flights.
I have been treated quite nicely the last few years on MP being a 1K when it came to award travel and I have almost always found a seat on a relative short travel window. Perhaps I am just spoiled that way.
Thanks again for your feedback
Jul 26, 2015, 12:58 pm
#8
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,512
The M&M website only shows awards on LH Group of airlines. For anything else you will have to check availability on UA, AC, NH, etc. websites and call M&M.
Jul 26, 2015, 1:23 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 91
Would M+M then use the 'pool' of award seats from UA?
Jul 26, 2015, 1:37 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MAA
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 130
Jul 26, 2015, 2:37 pm
#11
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,512
Jul 26, 2015, 10:23 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
HTB.
Last edited by htb; Jul 27, 2015 at 9:55 am
Jul 26, 2015, 10:57 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 91
You search for your trip as two one-ways. Normally the sum of both legs will be more expensive in terms of total fuel surcharge, but I have found the opposite as well. Plus the surcharges may be asymmetric, i.e. very cheap in one direction and overly expensive in the other direction. In that case you could buy the expensive direction with miles of another program.
HTB.
HTB.
Thank you.
Jul 26, 2015, 11:02 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 91
So, I am checking for an award flight on UA.
If a flight is available on UA as award, then I do what exactly? Just know that this flight has available award seats or do I print out anything and submit to M+M?
I assume that the M+M Call Center would have access to the UA award seats/system and that they 'sell/book/transfer' the UA award seat with their M+M miles?
I have a feeling I am overcomplicating things here but want to make sure I understand the process somewhat.
Jul 26, 2015, 11:31 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
You will need to call M&M and let them book the tickets. Tell them you saw open award space on UA flight XY and they will take a look if they can access it.
Unfortunately though it is not always the case that M&M can access all open award space shown on UA, but to my experience most of it.
Unfortunately though it is not always the case that M&M can access all open award space shown on UA, but to my experience most of it.