Well, first of all thanks to all your input.
Originally Posted by
smallmj
You have two later flights to choose from if you do try for a change. Both flights land after midnight. Looking at it another way there are two later flights that AC can try to fit you on if you miss the connection. What is LH's OTP (On time percentage) like on the MUC-YYZ flight?
I have no feeling regarding how good or bad that performance is.
I guess it is all about your risk tolerance. What are the consequences of missing the connection? Do you have an important event the next day? If there is no room on the two following flights, are there big consequences for not arriving until the next day? If there are no business class seats left, do you care that much about the seat on a two hour flight if you miss the connection? AC has about 10 YYZ-YHZ flights per day. If you need to stay overnight in YYZ, will AC put you up on a business class award ticket? If it were me, I'd be happy to be put up in a hotel in YYZ and take a next day flight instead of landing in YHZ after midnight local time while my body clock was still on German time.
Well, these are all good points. We don't have any pressing plans in YHZ, it's just the start of our vacation. Having the extra stopover in YYZ including retrieving the luggage etc. is always a bit of a mess with a (then) 5 yr. old, so I'd prefer to so straight through to YHZ if possible. The question I am asking myself (and as a matter of fact you all out here) is whether we stand a realistic chance getting on a later flight YYZ-YHZ in case we miss the original flight. Having to fly in the back would not be an absolute no go, but of course we prefer to get the most bang for the miles and the extra space and service is greatly appreciated.
Originally Posted by
RangerNS
The late night YYZ-YHZ flights are "always" delayed, but that isn't something you can bank on. (I would not assume the MAX being back in service by May having any change, its usually crew problems or LIBAC delays, rather than mechanical)
Usually on that route, most of the business class is on upgrades, so them maintaining your cabin on a different flight should not be an issue. If you ask for a change, they may need bucket space, but if delays the day of force a change, they only need seats.
Personally, I would leave it, but day of, in MUC, contact the concierge for monitoring and assistance. They should be able to block off business seats for the later flights, and help you through YYZ if its at risk.
By May (we all hope), the I->D connection should be even faster than it is now. There will be customs, but no security. And by May, it won't require waiting for a bus, all walking. Or indoor golf cart riding, with concierge help.
Would you be able to elaborate a little more on the improvements regarding the connection and when are things supposed to change?
The flight leaving at 9:20 p.m. shows I0 X3 - so unless LH is able to convince AC to open up I space (or put us into a revenue booking class - this is extremely unlikely, I know) we'd have to travel in the back of the (Air)bus. I am LH*G and have no clue how much that (and the fact that we're travelling with a child) could help us in case things go south.
Thanks again.