curt,

I know I am taking a risk delaying sending the confirmation but it worked for the first time and second and I just hope it will work again.

The two ladies in Lufthansa M&M Desk are always the same and they are always helping. When I do the reservation, I ask for an option date of 20 days. Then I call them on that day and ask them to extend the option date to less than 14 days. Just about 14 days before my planned departure day, I call and make a new reservation. If the seat is available on K Class, that become a "FlySmart" reservation. Then I cancel my first "regular" free ticket reservation.

By this way, I am always sure that I have my seat on the plane. I did this two times and it worked. I had to cancel one of the flight just one week before because of an family emergency by delaying sending the confirmation. So that is also worked for me.

But of course, maybe they all worked because the ladies in Istanbul M&M Desk are tolerant and trying to help. Or maybe I am just lucky.