Choosing Seats in Lufthansa as Star Alliance Gold
Sep 5, 2022, 7:46 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: WAW
Programs: LH SEN *
Posts: 1,167
Another data point. My first flight on Austrian. At check-in, my UA*G was accepted, but Exit Row seats on VIE-MAN were still chargeable at 25 euros. Also thought it was weird that the system was offering to sell me lounge access even though I can access it as part of *G 
Boarding pass looks good - priority boarding listed (zone 2) and recognition of UA*G, but no exit rows like on LH and LX.
Boarding pass looks good - priority boarding listed (zone 2) and recognition of UA*G, but no exit rows like on LH and LX.
Unlike LH and LX, Austrian gives only standard seats for free (no exit rows), even to HON and SEN members.
https://www.austrian.com/us/en/seat-reservation
Sep 5, 2022, 8:27 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: UK
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 353
FWIW several airlines do give some hidden seat benefits to *G customers. CA give access to the virtually empty front sections of their long haul aircraft (and come and greet you by name), I often choose this as 4 seats abreast is a bigger bed than biz.
SAS have regularly blocked the seat next to me which I think is a nice touch.
SAS have regularly blocked the seat next to me which I think is a nice touch.
Sep 18, 2022, 7:48 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LHR, MSN
Programs: WFBF, UA Gold, FB Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 205
They also do it to their own elites 🤷
Was on Lufthansa on the way back and very thankful the system auto put me in an exit row on intra-EU and bulkhead on the long haul. If *G recognition and exit row seats are important to you, either buy it, or LH/LX>OS
Mar 2, 2023, 1:58 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA- 1K, DL-DM, AA-G, BON-T
Posts: 337
Biggest negative of my move from Delta to United is no advance seats on STAR flights. Skyteam was great about giving that benefit to Elite plus members. Also doesn't seem like Star Gold gets priority security at a lot of Eu airports (could be wrong). AF, KL gave it almost everywhere from my pov
Mar 2, 2023, 2:13 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,730
Mar 3, 2023, 1:07 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,734
Mar 3, 2023, 5:32 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2001
Location: San Francisco/Bangkok
Programs: Alaska 75K United 1K
Posts: 1,415
Mar 12, 2023, 5:27 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: VIE/BTS
Posts: 975
is that true that even Senators/HON can't select free seat during OLCI or after OLCI for eco lights OS/LH? I could not find the original thread so excuse me I used this one. As I remember there was a discussion here on FT about it but curious about reality these days coz have booked some OS eco light flights as a *G and indeed I was able to select free seat during OLCI and also change it for free after OLCI. but last time was part of PE ticket so it was eco classic I guess/
Mar 13, 2023, 11:13 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,180
Eco Light will kill your option to select a seat, but it does not always work properly. One thing is for example multi-carrier routings are messing this up even within group. i.e. LH codeshare number on EN or OS metal.
Another way that used to work well is check-in in OS then use LH app to change seat for free (even to exit row)
Another way that used to work well is check-in in OS then use LH app to change seat for free (even to exit row)
Mar 13, 2023, 11:22 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: VIE/BTS
Posts: 975
Eco Light will kill your option to select a seat, but it does not always work properly. One thing is for example multi-carrier routings are messing this up even within group. i.e. LH codeshare number on EN or OS metal.
Another way that used to work well is check-in in OS then use LH app to change seat for free (even to exit row)
Another way that used to work well is check-in in OS then use LH app to change seat for free (even to exit row)