Originally Posted by
SFO777
You are correct. I use EF just to monitor avails prior to T-14, so I know potential options. Based on experience, anything F6 or more will generally have O (First) avails at T-14. ANA tool will then confirm the avails at T-14.
This matches my experience. I've been checking the UA site to plan a trip of my own over the last couple of days and have seen huge numbers of LH F seats coming online within 1-3 days of departure (the lower the number of open seats on a flight, the closer to departure they open up for UA award booking).
I'd book the trip in business or whatever and then monitor availability at T-14, T-7, and every day after that. Seems like you're usually able to get at least one F seat each day to FRA or MUC at the last minute based solely on what I've seen in the last week or so. Connecting flights from Germany to wherever you want to go in europe seem plentiful at the last minute as well.