Please post your M&M award booking experience
Aug 21, 2006, 6:11 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 9
- Which flights did you book and which class?
MUC-CDG-SIN
long-haul: SQ; shorthaul: LH
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 persons, 360000
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
1 month before departure
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No
- Overall: Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I had to call several times but got 2 seats on SQ F. At the end, I was quite pleased.
MUC-CDG-SIN
long-haul: SQ; shorthaul: LH
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 persons, 360000
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
1 month before departure
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No
- Overall: Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I had to call several times but got 2 seats on SQ F. At the end, I was quite pleased.
Aug 22, 2006, 5:59 pm
#32
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: BA Executive Club
Posts: 37
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
M&M C class award, Route: FRA-SIN(SQ)-PVG(SQ)-NRT(NH); KIX-BKK(SQ)-SIN(SQ)-AMS(SQ)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax and 160000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked the trip 7 weeks in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, I got exactly the dates and route I wanted in the end.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
During the time I tried to book the award it was possible to look up the availability of award classes on amadeus. That made everything a lot easier and I just told the agents which seats I wanted. Otherwise it would have been very time consuming.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I needed around 10 phone calls over a 3 week period to get the routing and seats I wanted in the first place.
M&M C class award, Route: FRA-SIN(SQ)-PVG(SQ)-NRT(NH); KIX-BKK(SQ)-SIN(SQ)-AMS(SQ)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax and 160000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked the trip 7 weeks in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, I got exactly the dates and route I wanted in the end.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
During the time I tried to book the award it was possible to look up the availability of award classes on amadeus. That made everything a lot easier and I just told the agents which seats I wanted. Otherwise it would have been very time consuming.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I needed around 10 phone calls over a 3 week period to get the routing and seats I wanted in the first place.
Aug 23, 2006, 9:58 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Former 1KMM now free as UA Gold MM, former HH D, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,121
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH DEN-FRA-BCN and Return
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Passengers; 160000 UA Miles for Business
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
316 days prior to departure; 330 days prior to return
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I was reasonably happy--UA International Awards reservations, not LH. Seats assigned at time of booking without any problems.
LH DEN-FRA-BCN and Return
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Passengers; 160000 UA Miles for Business
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
316 days prior to departure; 330 days prior to return
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I was reasonably happy--UA International Awards reservations, not LH. Seats assigned at time of booking without any problems.
Aug 23, 2006, 10:17 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: MUC/LAX/SMV
Programs: LH, UA, BD, AA, NW, FB, NH, AC, Sixt, Hertz, Avis, *W, HH, Marriott, PC, Leaders Club, AMEX
Posts: 12,406
Where did M&M come into play here?
Originally Posted by bmr12
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH DEN-FRA-BCN and Return
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Passengers; 160000 UA Miles for Business
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
316 days prior to departure; 330 days prior to return
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I was reasonably happy--UA International Awards reservations, not LH. Seats assigned at time of booking without any problems.
LH DEN-FRA-BCN and Return
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Passengers; 160000 UA Miles for Business
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
316 days prior to departure; 330 days prior to return
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I was reasonably happy--UA International Awards reservations, not LH. Seats assigned at time of booking without any problems.
Aug 23, 2006, 10:46 pm
#35
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
AKL-YVR on NZ, AC and UA; business class.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
120k miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked several months ahead but ticketed 24 hours in advance (took that long to get the right flights - NZ was easy with choice of 3 flights each way, UA and AC was difficult to get flights that worked for me).
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, and eventually preferred timing
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes. Frustrated with lack of availability and need to keep checking, but M&M service was excellent including holding multiple flights for me, holding illegal connections as backup and requesting (and getting) forced availability from UA when there was none. M&M kept in regular contact without any prodding from me.
-How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Often. I checked availability tools regularly, and M&M made regular contact.
AKL-YVR on NZ, AC and UA; business class.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
120k miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked several months ahead but ticketed 24 hours in advance (took that long to get the right flights - NZ was easy with choice of 3 flights each way, UA and AC was difficult to get flights that worked for me).
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, and eventually preferred timing
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes. Frustrated with lack of availability and need to keep checking, but M&M service was excellent including holding multiple flights for me, holding illegal connections as backup and requesting (and getting) forced availability from UA when there was none. M&M kept in regular contact without any prodding from me.
-How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Often. I checked availability tools regularly, and M&M made regular contact.
Aug 23, 2006, 10:55 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: MUC/LAX/SMV
Programs: LH, UA, BD, AA, NW, FB, NH, AC, Sixt, Hertz, Avis, *W, HH, Marriott, PC, Leaders Club, AMEX
Posts: 12,406
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked several months ahead but ticketed 24 hours in advance (took that long to get the right flights - NZ was easy with choice of 3 flights each way, UA and AC was difficult to get flights that worked for me).
Booked several months ahead but ticketed 24 hours in advance (took that long to get the right flights - NZ was easy with choice of 3 flights each way, UA and AC was difficult to get flights that worked for me).
Jul 23, 2007, 9:52 pm
#38
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA, AA, US, DL, PC Plat, Dollar, Avis, National, SPG, HH Gold, CC Gold
Posts: 1,212
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
ORD-DTW (UA) DTW-FRA (LH) FRA-ATH (LH) / ATH-FRA (LH) FRA-DTW (LH) DTW-ORD (UA) C class award
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 pax and 240000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked the trip 11 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I made my reservations through the India Call Center of United. Although it was not the worst experience I did need to "encourage" him to look up alternative routes. He kept telling me that the flights were "sold out"
I once asked about a specific LH flt out of IAD #419 that showed 3 available C award tickets on the ANA tool. He told me no such flight existed
I needed to goad him into checking other cities of departure. Eventually I got my tickets.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I probably spent 6 hours on line researching. Luckily one phone call did it!
ORD-DTW (UA) DTW-FRA (LH) FRA-ATH (LH) / ATH-FRA (LH) FRA-DTW (LH) DTW-ORD (UA) C class award
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 pax and 240000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked the trip 11 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I made my reservations through the India Call Center of United. Although it was not the worst experience I did need to "encourage" him to look up alternative routes. He kept telling me that the flights were "sold out"
I once asked about a specific LH flt out of IAD #419 that showed 3 available C award tickets on the ANA tool. He told me no such flight existed I needed to goad him into checking other cities of departure. Eventually I got my tickets.- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I probably spent 6 hours on line researching. Luckily one phone call did it!
Jul 24, 2007, 12:41 am
#39
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: EDXF
Programs: LH, bmi, Hyatt Gold, SPG
Posts: 86
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
HAM-LHR-LAX-LHR-HAM in C LH/NZ
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 person / 180k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
8 month in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
one day earlyer than wanted
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
No possibility on LH so need to book the award by phone, which was easy and nice.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?[/QUOTE]
checked online several times, and just called once.
HAM-LHR-LAX-LHR-HAM in C LH/NZ
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 person / 180k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
8 month in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
one day earlyer than wanted
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
No possibility on LH so need to book the award by phone, which was easy and nice.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?[/QUOTE]
checked online several times, and just called once.
Jul 24, 2007, 4:10 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MHG
Posts: 242
For this year:
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
1. FRA-(LH/F)-LAX-(LH/F)-FRA
2. FRA-(LH/C)-DUS-(LH/C)-EWR-(LO/C)-WAW-(LO/C)-FRA
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1. 2 for 280.000 miles
2. 1 for 90.000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
1. 7 months
2. 10 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
1. No, two weeks difference
2. Yes
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
1. By phone, very helpful and friendly stuff
2. Online, no problem anywhere
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
1. One call -> two seats
2. Got them within the booking process
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
1. FRA-(LH/F)-LAX-(LH/F)-FRA
2. FRA-(LH/C)-DUS-(LH/C)-EWR-(LO/C)-WAW-(LO/C)-FRA
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1. 2 for 280.000 miles
2. 1 for 90.000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
1. 7 months
2. 10 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
1. No, two weeks difference
2. Yes
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
1. By phone, very helpful and friendly stuff
2. Online, no problem anywhere
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
1. One call -> two seats
2. Got them within the booking process
Jul 24, 2007, 10:28 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: LX
Posts: 40
very interesting - it looks like, SWISS longhaul is not that good; people are flying mostly Lufthansa when requesting award tickets? 
Jul 24, 2007, 11:01 am
#42
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: FRA
Programs: LH FTL, BA Blue, UA Corpse
Posts: 1,423
Jul 24, 2007, 11:21 am
#43
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: UA*S, TK*G, BA G
Posts: 361
- Route: MUC-DEN-LAS-DEN-MUC in LH C
- Pax: 1 - 90,000 award miles
- Booked two months in advance for flights in August, i.e. during peak season
- Got my preferred dates of travel - LH FTL line bent over backwards to get me on the flights I wanted (completely zeroed out)
- I was very happy with the entire procedure as I only had to call once and they kept calling me with updates.
- Pax: 1 - 90,000 award miles
- Booked two months in advance for flights in August, i.e. during peak season
- Got my preferred dates of travel - LH FTL line bent over backwards to get me on the flights I wanted (completely zeroed out)
- I was very happy with the entire procedure as I only had to call once and they kept calling me with updates.
Jul 25, 2007, 12:27 am
#44
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,738
For this year:
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
1. SIN-(SQ/C)-FRA-(LH/C)-LEJ-(LH/C)-FRA-(TG/C)-BKK-(SQ/C)-SIN
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1. 1 for 120.000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
1. 5 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
1. No, +/- 3 days difference on average
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
1. By phone, first agent very helpful and friendly and knowledgable but could have been more accomodating with other carriers/ routings; made a revision later and second agent had a strange "lecturing" attitude and was actually much less knowledgable then first one arguing with me whether the routing/ transfers/ stops were okay etc
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
1. Used ANA tool first, called and let them search (nada came up), then pointed them to the flights I had found already, got all I wanted but if I hadn't done the research already then nothing offered in C as LH/LX/OS full but Y seat recommended, nedded to point them to SQ and TG
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
1. SIN-(SQ/C)-FRA-(LH/C)-LEJ-(LH/C)-FRA-(TG/C)-BKK-(SQ/C)-SIN
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1. 1 for 120.000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
1. 5 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
1. No, +/- 3 days difference on average
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
1. By phone, first agent very helpful and friendly and knowledgable but could have been more accomodating with other carriers/ routings; made a revision later and second agent had a strange "lecturing" attitude and was actually much less knowledgable then first one arguing with me whether the routing/ transfers/ stops were okay etc
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
1. Used ANA tool first, called and let them search (nada came up), then pointed them to the flights I had found already, got all I wanted but if I hadn't done the research already then nothing offered in C as LH/LX/OS full but Y seat recommended, nedded to point them to SQ and TG
Jul 25, 2007, 5:51 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: FRA
Programs: LH FTL, BA Blue, UA Corpse
Posts: 1,423
[...]
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
1. Used ANA tool first, called and let them search (nada came up), then pointed them to the flights I had found already, got all I wanted but if I hadn't done the research already then nothing offered in C as LH/LX/OS full but Y seat recommended, nedded to point them to SQ and TG
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
1. Used ANA tool first, called and let them search (nada came up), then pointed them to the flights I had found already, got all I wanted but if I hadn't done the research already then nothing offered in C as LH/LX/OS full but Y seat recommended, nedded to point them to SQ and TG