I am United Premier and I need to book a trip to ATH from SFO. I was thinking that I can get with UA SFO-FRA on E+ on H upgradeable fare and then LH or A3 to ATH, but the connections are horrible, at least 3+ hours.

So i am looking at an alternative Itin SFO-MUC-ATH on Lufthansa metal, much shorter connections, again on H fare (same cost more or less to UA H via FRA)

I am booking H just in case LH might offer me an upgrade, although all previous times I have taken the SFO-MUC I have not been successful.

The LH flights via MUC save approx. 3-4 hours from the whole trip both outbound and inbound and frankly when compared to the little more comfort that E+ offers getting to my destination quicker has its advantages.

Does anyone know if LH will have the new Econ seats with the entertainment system on the A340-600 from SFO-MUC in late Oct 2008? When I took that flight back in 2004 and 2005 the seats were the most uncomfortable long haul economy seats I have ever sat on. They made those 11+ hrs very loooong.

Thanks for all the feedback
--e