New "Light" Flight Class means ZERO bags for star alliance gold members
Aug 18, 2016, 12:57 pm
#123
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,350
That's good!
I'm still confused about my fare. As I wrote a few threads up, I bought this ticket on expedia. When I looked up my record locator on OS's website, it shows a fare class of K. This fare class earns 50% mileage on UA MP program.
When I called OS yesterday they checked and told me I have a light fare and can't get seat assignment in advance.
I just now tried to do a dummy booking on exactly the same flights on OS website, and all 3 economy options (light, classic and flex) are showing class M. I can't find class K.
Is K in fact a light fare class?
I'm still confused about my fare. As I wrote a few threads up, I bought this ticket on expedia. When I looked up my record locator on OS's website, it shows a fare class of K. This fare class earns 50% mileage on UA MP program.
When I called OS yesterday they checked and told me I have a light fare and can't get seat assignment in advance.
I just now tried to do a dummy booking on exactly the same flights on OS website, and all 3 economy options (light, classic and flex) are showing class M. I can't find class K.
Is K in fact a light fare class?
Aug 18, 2016, 1:06 pm
#124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,170
That's good!
I'm still confused about my fare. As I wrote a few threads up, I bought this ticket on expedia. When I looked up my record locator on OS's website, it shows a fare class of K. This fare class earns 50% mileage on UA MP program.
When I called OS yesterday they checked and told me I have a light fare and can't get seat assignment in advance.
I just now tried to do a dummy booking on exactly the same flights on OS website, and all 3 economy options (light, classic and flex) are showing class M. I can't find class K.
Is K in fact a light fare class?
I'm still confused about my fare. As I wrote a few threads up, I bought this ticket on expedia. When I looked up my record locator on OS's website, it shows a fare class of K. This fare class earns 50% mileage on UA MP program.
When I called OS yesterday they checked and told me I have a light fare and can't get seat assignment in advance.
I just now tried to do a dummy booking on exactly the same flights on OS website, and all 3 economy options (light, classic and flex) are showing class M. I can't find class K.
Is K in fact a light fare class?
There is K Light, K Classic and K Flex. And there is M light, M Classic and M Flex. K or M or Y or whatever is the fare bucket and will determine the general price. Assume that you will get a 20 Euro discount for K light and need to pay 50 Euro (or so) extra for K Flex.
K Flex allows you to rebook free of charge as long a the K bucket is available. If not, you need to pay the fare difference.
Aug 18, 2016, 1:14 pm
#125
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,350
There is K Light, K Classic and K Flex. And there is M light, M Classic and M Flex. K or M or Y or whatever is the fare bucket and will determine the general price. Assume that you will get a 20 Euro discount for K light and need to pay 50 Euro (or so) extra for K Flex.
K Flex allows you to rebook free of charge as long a the K bucket is available. If not, you need to pay the fare difference.
K Flex allows you to rebook free of charge as long a the K bucket is available. If not, you need to pay the fare difference.
Sep 9, 2016, 5:53 pm
#127
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pikes Peak COS
Programs: 3 Month Delta Plat, UA PP 2.4mm, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Lifetime Diamond, National EE
Posts: 426
I booked LHR-FRA on UA website only to find out about the LH Light fares after the fact. What burns me the most was no mileage or segment credit, but I've been burned on AC no credit fares so I should have known better.
What surprised me the most about the whole RT fare of $142? $104 of it was taxes and fees.
What surprised me the most about the whole RT fare of $142? $104 of it was taxes and fees.
Sep 10, 2016, 6:40 am
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,044
I booked LHR-FRA on UA website only to find out about the LH Light fares after the fact. What burns me the most was no mileage or segment credit, but I've been burned on AC no credit fares so I should have known better.
What surprised me the most about the whole RT fare of $142? $104 of it was taxes and fees.
What surprised me the most about the whole RT fare of $142? $104 of it was taxes and fees.
Sep 10, 2016, 11:02 am
#130
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
OK, thanks. So that's the problem with booking with expedia or similar third party sites. I didn't know I'd end up with a "light" fare that has limitations even for *G flyers.
Sep 10, 2016, 11:57 am
#132
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
K class on LH has not been earning any miles on UA for man years now. Its not just a recent change. Even if you book on united.com, there won't be any award miles, PQD, PQM or PQS. You can see the fare class before you book.
Sep 14, 2016, 9:05 am
#133
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
And once again I'm booking a mixed airline 2-leg ticket through SN instead of buying a direct on LX, mainly because I dislike LX's baggage policy. I'll "waste" 1.5 hours on a layover, but I think the SN lounge compensates for that. Not being stuck on an LX cramp-air-bus for 2 hours is also a minor bonus (not that SN seats are much better, but at least I get a break in the middle).
(Posting mainly in case any LH/LX employees are watching this thread. Not that I think my one defection will be noticed, but maybe it will help...)
(Posting mainly in case any LH/LX employees are watching this thread. Not that I think my one defection will be noticed, but maybe it will help...)
Oct 5, 2016, 1:22 am
#134
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,517
The 20€ difference between Economy Light and Economy Classic actually includes one checked bag and advance seat reservation. Seat reservation for a standard seat costs 10€ and an exit row seat 25€. If you are SEN and want to check a bag and reserve an exit row seat for no extra cost, Economy Classic can be a very good value.
On the A321 with Eco Classic tickets I usually select exit row window seats. Automated seat assignment has given me 26A and 10F so far which I was able to change to 11A if still available. Even on the A320 I was assigned "exit row" seats but since they are not real exit row seats I managed to move myself further forward in the cabin.
The trick may not work on very busy flights but so far my experience has been good if you OLCI early.
Nov 1, 2016, 12:05 am
#135
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, AA EXP, UA 1K
Posts: 84
Would/should bags be checked through to final destination if departing on LH J (international) and connecting to LH Y (trans-EU on unexpected "light" fare)?
No. When your fare does not have ANY allowance, you won't get an extra bag (extra as in, only if your allowance is already ONE bag, you'll get one more extra) - and you can perfectly mix LH/LX/OS on keep on being Light (ie, no baggage) - only if you add carriers outside of LH Group, it will not be Light anymore (but more expensive)