The "ANA tool" ( https://aswbe-i.ana.co.jp/p_per/sky_...gin.do?LANG=en ) does not show any LH F availability for that flight and date.



There's a known bug in united.com where it often shows Lufthansa first-class availability on flights where there is no availability and it cannot be ticketed. As a rule of thumb, if you see LH F award availability on united.com more than 14 days in the future, it's probably a lie.

You can sign up for a free ANA account online.

You can do a Star Alliance award search by first searching for ANA flights availability at the above link (e.g. search for NRT-SFO), then clicking the "use star alliance" button once you're on that results page.

You can search for availability within the next 3-4 days by **reversing the order of your search** -- although the ANA tool grays out all award availability on the outbound in the next 3-4 days, it does not hide award availability on the return segment. So if you're looking for award availability on IAD-MUC for Saturday, and today is Thursday, just search for award availability from MUC to IAD departing Friday and returning Saturday, and you'll see the IAD-MUC segment availability you want on the date you want.

It would be wrong of UA to "long sell" you this award space that doesn't exist but it would be totally fascinating if it works -- let us know what happens!