Lufthansa F award availability / blocking?
Mar 26, 2019, 12:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: C2/PRG
Programs: LH M&M FTL
Posts: 71
Lufthansa F award availability / blocking?
First of all, the new website is a dumpster fire, but that's not important right now.
I have a stockpile of around 150k miles which I'd like to turn into LH F booking.
To ease it up for the Lifemiles search engine, I tried searching one-way trips, within the next 14 days (the usual LH F release window), however it seems that some destinations have award space severely limited and I can't figure out who's to blame.
I painstakingly tried clicking through every date from today and 13 days ahead, from PRG to DTW, IAH, BLR, DEL, BOM, JNB, SIN, BKK, HKG, ICN, HND and they all don't even show the "First class" in the results tab.
I can see possible flights on UA Award search engine...
PRG to PVG, PEK, KWI, DMM, BOS, ORD and IAH all seem to have some F class award space available. But the connections are really tight, leaving less than 2h to maximise F Lounge experience, even when UA site shows longer possible layovers (+5h) possible for award booking.
So that leaves China, middle east and some less frequent US airports?
As I read in other threads that LM bookings are segment based, should I try booking FRA-whatever and just position myself in Y for cash?
Any other recent tips on burning LM for LH F from C2?
I have a stockpile of around 150k miles which I'd like to turn into LH F booking.
To ease it up for the Lifemiles search engine, I tried searching one-way trips, within the next 14 days (the usual LH F release window), however it seems that some destinations have award space severely limited and I can't figure out who's to blame.
I painstakingly tried clicking through every date from today and 13 days ahead, from PRG to DTW, IAH, BLR, DEL, BOM, JNB, SIN, BKK, HKG, ICN, HND and they all don't even show the "First class" in the results tab.
I can see possible flights on UA Award search engine...
PRG to PVG, PEK, KWI, DMM, BOS, ORD and IAH all seem to have some F class award space available. But the connections are really tight, leaving less than 2h to maximise F Lounge experience, even when UA site shows longer possible layovers (+5h) possible for award booking.
So that leaves China, middle east and some less frequent US airports?
As I read in other threads that LM bookings are segment based, should I try booking FRA-whatever and just position myself in Y for cash?
Any other recent tips on burning LM for LH F from C2?
Mar 26, 2019, 4:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
"Who's to blame" - as I understand it, LH. It's always the airline offering the seats that decides to which program they will release inventory and in what quantity. Just because LH have released to UA/MP doesn't mean they'll release to LM
Mar 26, 2019, 7:40 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,735
As far F space goes, yes LH. However, LM site is notoriously bad in showing slightly longer connections even if available which seems to be another point the OP is highlighting. YMMV.
Mar 26, 2019, 11:22 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: C2/PRG
Programs: LH M&M FTL
Posts: 71
I remeber that HKG used to have at least some availability back in November, should I wait for “off-seasons” or just burn the miles ASAP?
Honestly, the destination is really the last thing that concerns me
Honestly, the destination is really the last thing that concerns me
Apr 5, 2019, 5:27 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
Apr 5, 2019, 6:59 am
#8
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,158
A houmorous look at the LH F maximisers: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lufthansa-austrian-swiss-brussels-lot-other-partners-miles-more/1040252-definitive-how-maximise-lh-f-experience-thread.html
Apr 5, 2019, 11:00 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Apr 7, 2019, 4:15 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: C2/PRG
Programs: LH M&M FTL
Posts: 71
A houmorous look at the LH F maximisers: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lufthansa-austrian-swiss-brussels-lot-other-partners-miles-more/1040252-definitive-how-maximise-lh-f-experience-thread.html
I think 3 hours in the FCT is more than enough. If there is more time, maybe a hop to FCL B for some spotting, or FCL A to watch the heavies at Z gates in the morning
Apr 7, 2019, 7:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 119
curious - I was checking LH F from IAH-FRA over the next two weeks. When using the LM search function, the results only display the possibility of Y or J - except for Saturday, 4/20. On this date, they show the possibility of F but there is no availability.
Any reason as to why they do not show the F box for the other dates? It appears IAH-FRA is always the 388.
Any reason as to why they do not show the F box for the other dates? It appears IAH-FRA is always the 388.
Apr 12, 2019, 7:06 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: A bit of this and a bit of that
Posts: 777
Did anyone try calling LifeMiles? It might be the new (horrible) website but agents could possibly see space on their system (it happens on other FF programs). I see plenty of LH F space on United's site but none on LifeMiles ex-EZE.
Apr 14, 2019, 4:21 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
Speaking about F for EVERYTHING not just LH, do Lifemiles show F anymore? All I see are options for Economy or Business on all flights. I don’t see first for anything. Even to Seoul or Tokyo on OZ and ANA when they usually showed plenty of F space.
I liked the old website better.
I liked the old website better.