Using miles NYC to Germany - help needed
 

Hi,

my miles will expire this summer (old rules) so I am looking for a Business/First flight
1) EWR to HAJ would be ideal but don’t think that would work
2) know I have to fill out a form but how do I do this best so that I get a flight? NYC area airports to FRA/AMS/DUS/HAM ( etc in reasonable distance to HAJ)
otherwise is there any reasonably good value on how to use the miles (GC, transfer to other programs,....)

What exactly do you want to do?

If your objective is to get as close to EWR-HAJ, I suggest that you look at AA/BA schedule.

It is impossible to know which flights will operate by late 2021, given the covid situation. Before covid there as a good option on BA from EWR via LHR. And several AA/BA options from JFK.
Other options to get from JFK to AMS, FRA on AA.

CX does partner Lufthansa on Asia Miles, along with their subsidiaries Swiss, Austrian and SN. Is this not an option?

Lufthansa and Swiss are always an option. Just wasn’t sure what was possible or better do I use EWR to HAJ for the request or will the give me 2 connections doing that and NYC to FRA non stop would be better.

There is nothing "better" or "worse" at this point because any schedule more than 30 days out is entirely notional. In addition, there is no way to predict what entry (or transit) requirements there might be for transit or stopover points.

If, on the other hand, your trip is soon, you could look at NYC (which includes EWR) and then run various routings and look at TIMATIC to determine documentation & admissibility requirements based on your citizenship & residence.

Just found the correct search/booking engine on the Asia Miles page as this at least shows the BA connections ....
pretty bad IT systems (aka market standards)

Very limited LH Group routes redeemable w AM.

Per AM Website "Flight redemption are available for scheduled flights marketed and operated by Lufthansa between Frankfurt and Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Dresden, Hannover, Hamburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Oslo, Stuttgart; between Hong Kong and Frankfurt, Munich."

I don't think that LH/LX can be booked on AM for US to Europe flights.

Unfortunately Often1 advice is good.
Do not rely on what is currently scheduled for S21 or W21. These are just placeholders and you can be assured that most flights will not operate.
If your AM only expire this summer, it is better to wait for a few months and have a clearer picture. If you book a ticket now based on the placeholders (e.g. EWR-HAN on BA) it is extremely likely that your flights will be cancelled. Some idea of the most likely itin to fly might be looking at what flies currently.
Using Experflyer would be worth it.

When do your miles expire and when do you want to travel?

I would in fact recommend you to redeem now (while award seat availability lasts) if you intend to travel after the expiry of your miles. If there's a significant schedule change or cancellation to one of your flights, you can ask for a free refund after your original miles expiry date but before the original start date of your trip, and that way you will get another year of mileage validity. If you can travel by the time you intend to, great, because you secured the availability now, which may not be the case later.

That's the spirit!

Redeem for EU airline. If they cancel, EU flight cancellation regulation will ensure you can pick ANY!!!!111!! future date you desire. That totally resolves your mileage expiration issue.