LH Star Alliance Reward Availability Release vs Miles and More Awards
Nov 24, 2011, 11:33 am
#31
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
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Posts: 29,517
Definitely do FRA-KIX via USAir once! I flew FRA-KIX-FRA early this month and the new F was spectacular. I haven't tried the A380 in F, but I can't imagine it's a better overall experience - maybe the humidity difference. But privacy, having the seat available anytime you want to get out of bed is worth more to me than the wardrobe and a big bathroom.
Now of course I don't know how inconvenient KIX is for you vs. NRT, that might also play a part.
Now of course I don't know how inconvenient KIX is for you vs. NRT, that might also play a part.
I also called bmi DC and their response was even less credible. I know I should try again but I only have so much patience (and time). 
So now the decision is whether to go for a straightforward M&M award or pay for a Z ticket and try to upgrade with eVouchers. If I can book this award online I might just go ahead and do it but if I include connecting flights F awards suddenly seem to disappear.
Nov 24, 2011, 2:19 pm
#32
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: LH SEN, SPG Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,021
A little bird tells me there's more F award availability for FRA-NRT than FRA-KIX on the particular day which is rather unexpected. In any case I've given up trying to get an award with US DM miles because I've called them twice and neither agent could see F award seats which are found via CO and AC. I also called bmi DC and their response was even less credible. I know I should try again but I only have so much patience (and time).
So now the decision is whether to go for a straightforward M&M award or pay for a Z ticket and try to upgrade with eVouchers. If I can book this award online I might just go ahead and do it but if I include connecting flights F awards suddenly seem to disappear.
I also called bmi DC and their response was even less credible. I know I should try again but I only have so much patience (and time). So now the decision is whether to go for a straightforward M&M award or pay for a Z ticket and try to upgrade with eVouchers. If I can book this award online I might just go ahead and do it but if I include connecting flights F awards suddenly seem to disappear.
That happens to me with award availability from the hub being there, but not from other cities. This reverse married segments or whatever it is doesn't seem to be a problem when I call.
Nov 24, 2011, 4:48 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: BKK, CDG, TLS
Programs: QR G, A3 G, EK G, IHG Amb, GHA Black, WOH LT something
Posts: 1,306
i am trying to book two LH F tickets to South America, using DM of courses for 1st quarter of next year. Anyhow, the dates I am looking at, are selling at F8 A7, seatmap empty; yet no award space on ANA,CO, AC, etc!
I pushed a little further tonight and just called M&M and they don't have any avaibility either... The phone rep kept telling me they're sold out, I replied "how can they be sold out if you haven't sold any yet".... In the end i got nowhere!
I pushed a little further tonight and just called M&M and they don't have any avaibility either... The phone rep kept telling me they're sold out, I replied "how can they be sold out if you haven't sold any yet".... In the end i got nowhere!
Nov 24, 2011, 4:54 pm
#34
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: BKK, CDG, TLS
Programs: QR G, A3 G, EK G, IHG Amb, GHA Black, WOH LT something
Posts: 1,306
A little bird tells me there's more F award availability for FRA-NRT than FRA-KIX on the particular day which is rather unexpected. In any case I've given up trying to get an award with US DM miles because I've called them twice and neither agent could see F award seats which are found via CO and AC. I also called bmi DC and their response was even less credible. I know I should try again but I only have so much patience (and time).
I also called bmi DC and their response was even less credible. I know I should try again but I only have so much patience (and time). I am sure you thought of this but just in case, are you starting your award from FRA or MAN? if from MAN ask them to only look at the avaibility from FRA-NRT or KIX and then add the original feeder flight at the end.
synd
Nov 24, 2011, 10:00 pm
#35
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
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Posts: 29,517
I've just returned from a trip to Asia flying LH F with US miles and thought LH F availability to Asia was quite reasonable.
The second time I called I didn't even mention MAN. I was given an explanation that US Airways only received a certain number of award seats per flight or some such. I hadn't realised flights between Germany and Japan were so popular among US DM maximisers. 
Dec 2, 2011, 12:09 am
#36
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 819
F award availability on LH for *A partners
Seems like Lufthansa have closed the shop for *A partners. I can't seem to find any availability on common routes where there were plentyful of award seats availabe(ICN and PVG for example), but no longer. Even LX has better availibilty for *A partners now in F. I know they block the Airbus 380 F cabin, but it seems like LH have blocked everything in F for non M&M members.
Dec 2, 2011, 2:54 am
#37
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: FRA
Programs: LH, Avis, Hyatt, ...
Posts: 4,213
Seems like Lufthansa have closed the shop for *A partners. I can't seem to find any availability on common routes where there were plentyful of award seats availabe(ICN and PVG for example), but no longer. Even LX has better availibilty for *A partners now in F. I know they block the Airbus 380 F cabin, but it seems like LH have blocked everything in F for non M&M members.
Dec 2, 2011, 8:02 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
Why is that expected, and by whom? Do you expect this because of the updated F cabin (which will generate increased demand from paying customers)? Or is there some other reason why March 2012 is significant? Is your expectation based on communication from Lufthansa?
Anyway, as far as short-term availability, the odd problems where the continental and united web sites were showing LH F award seats available, whereas the ANA tool was not, seem to have resolved themselves yesterday. Now everything matches (for seats showing available in December), as far as I can tell.
Dec 2, 2011, 8:22 am
#39
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: FRA
Programs: LH, Avis, Hyatt, ...
Posts: 4,213
Just curious:
Why is that expected, and by whom? Do you expect this because of the updated F cabin (which will generate increased demand from paying customers)? Or is there some other reason why March 2012 is significant? Is your expectation based on communication from Lufthansa?
Why is that expected, and by whom? Do you expect this because of the updated F cabin (which will generate increased demand from paying customers)? Or is there some other reason why March 2012 is significant? Is your expectation based on communication from Lufthansa?
To me this all makes perfect sense. So Yes, it was expected.
Dec 3, 2011, 1:39 am
#41
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Do you happen to know what the status of this promise is? Does 'available' simply mean that the allocation is allowed by the system even though the bucket is always zero or does it mean that LH actually provides some inventory on extremely unpopular F routes?
I am asking because this year - grace to UA's abysmal COization and LH's very good C offers - I flew LH in lieu of UA a fair bit with the terrible 747 replaced by the delicious 380, FRA is better for me than MUC ... but not once did I score an ug into F.
And no, I did not try to use SWUs, I waitlisted them. Several months out but at no avail.
Dec 4, 2011, 11:39 am
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
Well, I'm glad that the rumor has been confirmed by our flying colleagues!
It means changing the strategy for planning rewards for Star Alliance trips. Better to have realistic expectations than to sit around and be irritated about it!!
Unfortunately it means that those rubber duckies from the FC lounges just got all that much more valuable.
It means changing the strategy for planning rewards for Star Alliance trips. Better to have realistic expectations than to sit around and be irritated about it!!
Unfortunately it means that those rubber duckies from the FC lounges just got all that much more valuable.
Dec 6, 2011, 6:55 am
#44
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: LHR
Programs: Ex-NWA Plat
Posts: 1,480
ANA has become a bit buggy... the background is that their FFP seems to have blackout dates that even reflect on partner redemptions. In general inventory released by LH to Starnet should should up equally on AC/CO/UA/BD/US etc.
I think the A380 F availability on Starnet is pretty common nowadays. Do you have some examples I could check via Amadeus?
I think the A380 F availability on Starnet is pretty common nowadays. Do you have some examples I could check via Amadeus?
When you say ANA is blocking our partner awards on dates where it, itself, has blackouts - do you have any more to share in this regard? Anecdotes etc.?
Thanks!
Dec 6, 2011, 7:29 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
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