Frustrating experience attempting to book M&M award
Dec 10, 2017, 1:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: BNA, ATL
Programs: AS MVPG, LH, Marriott Titanium, National Executive Elite
Posts: 118
Frustrating experience attempting to book M&M award
Maybe I am doing something wrong, but currently I am trying to find any award availability for SFO-SIN (presumably on UA, SQ, or CX) and I have systematically gone through September and October 2018 without finding a spot.
The whole "we looked +/- 6 days and didn't find anything, please select other dates" is complete ........ from a user experience perspective. Just show me a calendar of when seats are available, that's not rocket science.
So, am I doing it wrong or is it really that hopeless?
The whole "we looked +/- 6 days and didn't find anything, please select other dates" is complete ........ from a user experience perspective. Just show me a calendar of when seats are available, that's not rocket science.
So, am I doing it wrong or is it really that hopeless?
Dec 10, 2017, 11:31 pm
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Are you searching on the LH website? That does not allow you to book UA or CX online.
That said, you're going to have a really hard time finding J awards SFO-SIN on UA or SQ. Maybe one stop on BR, NH, or OZ.
That said, you're going to have a really hard time finding J awards SFO-SIN on UA or SQ. Maybe one stop on BR, NH, or OZ.
Dec 11, 2017, 2:38 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: BNA, ATL
Programs: AS MVPG, LH, Marriott Titanium, National Executive Elite
Posts: 118
Well that explains it, user error after all. I did indeed try to book via Miles & More web. I suppose I need to call?
The good news is that I have all the flexibility in the world, I literally don't care when I travel. I just need to burn those M&M miles as I am not adding to them in any meaningful way.
The good news is that I have all the flexibility in the world, I literally don't care when I travel. I just need to burn those M&M miles as I am not adding to them in any meaningful way.
Dec 11, 2017, 3:37 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,979
You might want to try the United website. Since you are looking for *A partner awards anyway the availability United.com lists will be pretty much the same you would see on the Miles and More website - with better search options.
When you have found suitable flights you still need to call in and hope the Miles and More Agent can see the same availability. For me it works like 90% of the time ...
When you have found suitable flights you still need to call in and hope the Miles and More Agent can see the same availability. For me it works like 90% of the time ...
Dec 11, 2017, 8:59 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K MM; Bonvoy Titanium; most other FF programs...
Posts: 654
UA is keeping tight control of award and upgrade availability on these flights given the convenience. You may also want to check out LAX-SIN, which is a newer route, and from what I hear anecdotally, has more upgrade space avail (and hence maybe more award space).
Dec 11, 2017, 3:18 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
Somehow the LAX-SIN SQ flight (I believe it stops in ICN), and connections to/from this flight to nearby SQ mainline destinations such as CGK/DPS/MNL/SGN, sometimes show up, but not connections on the LAX side.
Last edited by monahos; Dec 11, 2017 at 3:43 pm
Dec 12, 2017, 7:34 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
You usually find more flights when you search sector by sector.
You should search SFO to the hubs of Star members (BKK for Thai, TPE for EVA, Tokyo (both airports) for ANA, ICN for Asiana and so on) and then from there to SIN. Make sure yoru connection is under 24 hours (otherwise they charge miles for both parts separately). Also keep in mind that most likely they will charge for a 3 region award if your connection is in a different zone which makes the award very expensive (but for the same amount of miles you could connect in Europe which opens up a lot more possibilities)
You should search SFO to the hubs of Star members (BKK for Thai, TPE for EVA, Tokyo (both airports) for ANA, ICN for Asiana and so on) and then from there to SIN. Make sure yoru connection is under 24 hours (otherwise they charge miles for both parts separately). Also keep in mind that most likely they will charge for a 3 region award if your connection is in a different zone which makes the award very expensive (but for the same amount of miles you could connect in Europe which opens up a lot more possibilities)
Dec 12, 2017, 8:28 am
#9
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
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You should search SFO to the hubs of Star members (BKK for Thai, TPE for EVA, Tokyo (both airports) for ANA, ICN for Asiana and so on) and then from there to SIN. Make sure yoru connection is under 24 hours (otherwise they charge miles for both parts separately). Also keep in mind that most likely they will charge for a 3 region award if your connection is in a different zone which makes the award very expensive (but for the same amount of miles you could connect in Europe which opens up a lot more possibilities)
Dec 12, 2017, 8:34 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
You usually find more flights when you search sector by sector.
You should search SFO to the hubs of Star members (BKK for Thai, TPE for EVA, Tokyo (both airports) for ANA, ICN for Asiana and so on) and then from there to SIN. Make sure yoru connection is under 24 hours (otherwise they charge miles for both parts separately). Also keep in mind that most likely they will charge for a 3 region award if your connection is in a different zone which makes the award very expensive (but for the same amount of miles you could connect in Europe which opens up a lot more possibilities)
You should search SFO to the hubs of Star members (BKK for Thai, TPE for EVA, Tokyo (both airports) for ANA, ICN for Asiana and so on) and then from there to SIN. Make sure yoru connection is under 24 hours (otherwise they charge miles for both parts separately). Also keep in mind that most likely they will charge for a 3 region award if your connection is in a different zone which makes the award very expensive (but for the same amount of miles you could connect in Europe which opens up a lot more possibilities)
Dec 13, 2017, 12:54 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
This must be why the Miles & More online award booking site only lists that 'direct' SQ LAX flight for NA-SEA itineraries, as any other routing transits another region, and the SFO nonstops are not made available. Does anyone know if transit via East Asia qualifies for the mileage levels listed under their award chart, if booking by phone?
Dec 13, 2017, 1:37 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
The M&M.com used to offer US - Asia awards with the transit in Europe on integrated carries so the third region rule doesn't seem like an obstacle to book (that was before they opened up to serve the other star carries though).
And the third region surcharge is valid no matter how you book the reward, so calling in won't overwrite it.
And the third region surcharge is valid no matter how you book the reward, so calling in won't overwrite it.
Dec 13, 2017, 6:25 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
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Posts: 7,739
This must be why the Miles & More online award booking site only lists that 'direct' SQ LAX flight for NA-SEA itineraries, as any other routing transits another region, and the SFO nonstops are not made available. Does anyone know if transit via East Asia qualifies for the mileage levels listed under their award chart, if booking by phone?
Dec 15, 2017, 4:13 pm
#14
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[KVS Tool 8.7.5/Diamond - Awards/AC-StarAlliance/CA-Auto]
Code:
SFO San Francisco Intl CA US [KSFO] SIN Singapore Changi SG [WSSS] MON 03 Sep 2018 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Award Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------------ OZ 211 SFO 23:30 ICN 04:00 +2 359 0 CS+ -> SQ 607 ICN 09:00 +2 SIN 14:20 +2 333 0 CS+ OZ 211 SFO 23:30 ICN 04:00 +2 359 0 CS+ -> OZ 751 ICN 16:10 +2 SIN 21:30 +2 333 0 CS+ NH 7 SFO 12:15 NRT 15:20 +1 77W 0 CS+ YS+ -> NH 803 NRT 17:00 +1 SIN 23:15 +1 788 0 CS+ YS+ NH 7 SFO 12:15 NRT 15:20 +1 77W 0 CS+ YS+ -> NH 801 NRT 18:05 +1 SIN 00:15 +2 789 0 CS+ YS+
Code:
SFO San Francisco Intl CA US [KSFO] SIN Singapore Changi SG [WSSS] WED 05 Sep 2018 | 1 Seat Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Award Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------------ BR 27 SFO 01:20 TPE 05:50 +1 77W 0 CS+ -> BR 225 TPE 07:40 +1 SIN 12:00 +1 77W 0 CS+ BR 27 SFO 01:20 TPE 05:50 +1 77W 0 CS+ -> BR 215 TPE 09:25 +1 SIN 13:50 +1 77W 0 CS+