What's up with the fees on award flight?!
Aug 22, 2011, 9:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
Programs: AA, SPG
Posts: 88
What's up with the fees on award flight?!
I plan to book award with LH NYC-WAW, which would cost me 50k in coach + additional taxes and fees which = ~$400 (!)
Does this apply to all award bookings with LH (and other SA partners)?
Does this apply to all award bookings with LH (and other SA partners)?
Aug 22, 2011, 11:04 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
But yes, it's usually a sad reality for M&M awards.
Aug 22, 2011, 11:08 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
What´s hidden in those taxes and fees are the so-called "fuel surcharges". Basically LH charges this "surcharge" (which will often nearly cover the entire cost of fuel) in addition to the miles and does so on most *A partners. I´m not sure whether you can avoid them on TATL routes by choosing another carrier (possibly US Airways?).
Aug 23, 2011, 10:30 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum
Posts: 138
I agree it is really crazy- makes no sense to book awards in LH Y Longhaul anymore... (did it ever)
We now book all LH Y awards through UA which has about 25% of the taxes and fees (not sure why though)
We now book all LH Y awards through UA which has about 25% of the taxes and fees (not sure why though)
Aug 23, 2011, 11:45 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: LH FTL
Posts: 228
What are the taxes and fees when a person books UA Y using LH miles ?
Aug 23, 2011, 12:56 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
- fly LH metal or any *A carrier
- credit miles to UA
- redeem UA miles for Y award
- book any *A flight (incl. LH)
The advantage of the UA Mileage Plus program is that they don´t charge as many fuel surcharges for awards as LH Miles&More does.
When redeeming UA miles you pay something like miles + $100-$150 max. taxes+fees while you pay miles + $300-$500 taxes+fees+fuel surcharges when redeeming LH miles.
Last edited by Jasper2009; Aug 23, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Aug 23, 2011, 12:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
Depends on the route - domestic don't have YQ, long haul do.
Aug 24, 2011, 1:10 am
#9
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,251
Problem is that UA MP members don't have the same access to to award inventory as M&M members do, especially if you compare SEN to 1K. So if you live in Germany or want to predominantly redeem on LH/LX/OS etc, M&M is a better bet. Also outside of the US earning decent amounts on non-flight activity on UA MP is pretty difficult.