Originally Posted by
bokashi
Ah, some good points. Thank you. Here are some more details on those three flight options. I am returning home to Denver.
1. United Business Polaris 777-200 - goes from BCN to EWR to DEN. So customs in EWR
2. United Business Polaris 767-400ER - goes from BCN to IAD to DEN. So customs in IAD
3. Lufthansa Business 788-9 - goes from BCN to MUC to DEN. Customs in Denver. Obviously, I am on the overseas flight longer with no domestic flight.
I looked up on a government website data on CBP times and Denver is one of the fastest.
You sure that MUC-DEN is 789 on LH? It’s A350 right now with 2-2-2 (LH does have A359 with 1-2-1, like their 789’s, but fly them mostly to Canada/India - not US). That LH A359 seat is not as nice as Polaris. No mattress pad IIRC on LH (I flew MUC-EWR on LH a few weeks ago).
Check that the LH MUC-DEN segment isn’t actually UA codeshare (given that UA flies 789s MUC-DEN)
food will be better LH > UA, wine better on UA (but close).
EWR Polaris lounge almost not worth it - usually packed and worse quality food/beverage than other Polaris lounges. IAD is nice, but need >2hrs cnx to enjoy. LH lounges in MUC are fine, but definitely not same quality as Polaris.
I would avoid connecting in US to avoid re-checking bags (if checking bags).
I’d probably pick LH, unless you could get UA 789 DEN-MUC to get Polaris J seat.