Please post your M&M upgrade booking experience
Aug 19, 2022, 3:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: FRA
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 732
Please post your M&M upgrade booking experience
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LAX - FRA, LH F
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 PAX, 2 eVoucher for the upgrade
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, one call to get WL into F.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
One call. WL cleared in less than 24h.
LAX - FRA, LH F
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 PAX, 2 eVoucher for the upgrade
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, one call to get WL into F.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
One call. WL cleared in less than 24h.
Sep 20, 2022, 10:44 am
#2
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
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
Upgraded LH MUC-BOS from Premium Economy N to Business
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 2 eVouchers
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
7 weeks
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, dates are reasonably flexible and based on availability of cheap PE fare and business award seats. I could only book into N fare online which meant 2 eVouchers per longhaul segment to upgrade but I had 4 eVouchers expiring at the end of the year.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I was impressed by the upgrade options in My Bookings which I hadn't seen before. Fixed cash upgrade plus miles or eVoucher upgrade options for each of 4 segments. But the interface was a little flaky and I had to be careful which option(s) I selected. Eventually I managed to upgrade the outbound TATL segment with 2 eVouchers. I was offered a cash upgrade option of £404.90 per longhaul segment and £84.40 per shorthaul segment, making it possible to "buy" a business class return ticket for 54% of the cheapest business fare on the same flights (which I think was overpriced!). It was tempting if I did not have eVouchers which were about to expire.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats
Upgraded online immediately after I booked the flight but... see the next post.
Upgraded LH MUC-BOS from Premium Economy N to Business
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 2 eVouchers
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
7 weeks
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, dates are reasonably flexible and based on availability of cheap PE fare and business award seats. I could only book into N fare online which meant 2 eVouchers per longhaul segment to upgrade but I had 4 eVouchers expiring at the end of the year.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I was impressed by the upgrade options in My Bookings which I hadn't seen before. Fixed cash upgrade plus miles or eVoucher upgrade options for each of 4 segments. But the interface was a little flaky and I had to be careful which option(s) I selected. Eventually I managed to upgrade the outbound TATL segment with 2 eVouchers. I was offered a cash upgrade option of £404.90 per longhaul segment and £84.40 per shorthaul segment, making it possible to "buy" a business class return ticket for 54% of the cheapest business fare on the same flights (which I think was overpriced!). It was tempting if I did not have eVouchers which were about to expire.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats
Upgraded online immediately after I booked the flight but... see the next post.
Sep 20, 2022, 10:46 am
#3
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
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
Upgraded LH JFK-MUC from Premium Economy N to Business
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 2 eVouchers
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked 8.5 weeks in advanced but upgrade had to be waitlisted and cleared 2 weeks later.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Picked the date based on availability of cheap PE fare and business award seats. I could only book into N fare online which meant 2 eVouchers per longhaul segment but I had 4 eVouchers expiring at the end of the year.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I could only upgrade the outbound TATL segment initially (see my post above) and got the following error message.
"Unfortunately we cannot complete your upgrade booking due to technical reasons. Please contact the relevant Miles & More Service Team. (119401)"
I had to call M&M to be waitlisted.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats
Two weeks for the waitlist to clear. No idea why the outbound upgrade could be booked online and cleared straight away but the inbound could not, especially when the return flight was practically empty.
Upgraded LH JFK-MUC from Premium Economy N to Business
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 2 eVouchers
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked 8.5 weeks in advanced but upgrade had to be waitlisted and cleared 2 weeks later.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Picked the date based on availability of cheap PE fare and business award seats. I could only book into N fare online which meant 2 eVouchers per longhaul segment but I had 4 eVouchers expiring at the end of the year.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I could only upgrade the outbound TATL segment initially (see my post above) and got the following error message.
"Unfortunately we cannot complete your upgrade booking due to technical reasons. Please contact the relevant Miles & More Service Team. (119401)"
I had to call M&M to be waitlisted.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats
Two weeks for the waitlist to clear. No idea why the outbound upgrade could be booked online and cleared straight away but the inbound could not, especially when the return flight was practically empty.
Sep 21, 2022, 1:42 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: MUC/PAR/MIA
Programs: LH SEN; DL PM; Hertz PC; Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 197
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
Upgraded LX ZRH-JFK from Business P to First
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 4 eVouchers
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked 4 months in advance and immediately called the SEN line for the upgrade. Flight was F8A8 and it cleared instantly for both pax.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes; but with revenue ticket.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, almost a welcome surprise these days in terms of F availability
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Worked the first time.
Upgraded LX ZRH-JFK from Business P to First
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 4 eVouchers
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked 4 months in advance and immediately called the SEN line for the upgrade. Flight was F8A8 and it cleared instantly for both pax.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes; but with revenue ticket.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, almost a welcome surprise these days in terms of F availability
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Worked the first time.
Dec 16, 2022, 6:52 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: WRO/BOS
Programs: LH HON/AF Gold
Posts: 286
I know this probably isn’t the best place to voice my frustration (granted, I’ve also sent an email to LH but I’m doubtful anybody will respond even as HON).
But I feel ignored, disrespected and undervalued as a status passenger. Evouchers are completely useless- even with F8A4 flights- evouchers go to waitlist. Award bookings are impossible to secure in premium classes. What’s the point of the evouchers or the award miles accrued if it’s impossible to actually use them?
I’ve paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to LH for travel over the past several years- sleeping on empty chairs in terminals during the pandemic because lounges were closed (all the while paying full F Prices)… but I stayed loyal nevertheless. This is simply ridiculous
But I feel ignored, disrespected and undervalued as a status passenger. Evouchers are completely useless- even with F8A4 flights- evouchers go to waitlist. Award bookings are impossible to secure in premium classes. What’s the point of the evouchers or the award miles accrued if it’s impossible to actually use them?
I’ve paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to LH for travel over the past several years- sleeping on empty chairs in terminals during the pandemic because lounges were closed (all the while paying full F Prices)… but I stayed loyal nevertheless. This is simply ridiculous
Last edited by theKrafty1tar; Dec 16, 2022 at 10:46 am
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Apr 11, 2023, 6:03 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PRG
Programs: M&M SEN**; FB Silver; IHG Platinum
Posts: 496
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
1x MUC-YUL upg to C from paid Y
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, used PPB points to upgrade
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 days before departure, WL cleared 5 days prior
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Took a while to have my call answered, but once answered, all was smooth.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Just once.
The surprise to me was actually how empty the C cabin was. The middle block was absolutely empty, lateral aisle seats were also empty and there still were some window seats available. So maybe like 15 seats out of 48 were taken?
1x MUC-YUL upg to C from paid Y
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, used PPB points to upgrade
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 days before departure, WL cleared 5 days prior
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Took a while to have my call answered, but once answered, all was smooth.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Just once.
The surprise to me was actually how empty the C cabin was. The middle block was absolutely empty, lateral aisle seats were also empty and there still were some window seats available. So maybe like 15 seats out of 48 were taken?
Apr 11, 2023, 6:21 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,853
Is this your predictions based on the seat map or actual observations from the flight?
Apr 11, 2023, 8:05 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PRG
Programs: M&M SEN**; FB Silver; IHG Platinum
Posts: 496
Apr 12, 2023, 11:10 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Hamburg
Programs: Miles & More
Posts: 20
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
JFK-ZRH LX from paid Y (Ecolight booked in V) to C using eVouchers
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 eVouchers
How many days/geeks/months did you book in advance?
Flight booked 8 months in advanced, called 7 monthes before sched flight
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Yes, just one call, could even select seat 4A directly as SEN asr benefit
Happy that I could put the eVouchers to s good use before they would have expired by the end of 2023.
JFK-ZRH LX from paid Y (Ecolight booked in V) to C using eVouchers
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 eVouchers
How many days/geeks/months did you book in advance?
Flight booked 8 months in advanced, called 7 monthes before sched flight
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Yes, just one call, could even select seat 4A directly as SEN asr benefit
Happy that I could put the eVouchers to s good use before they would have expired by the end of 2023.
Apr 17, 2023, 3:14 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 115
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH EZE-FRA in First (O)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1pax, 2 eVouchers to upgrade from paid Business (P). Upgraded the remaining pax on the booking via a rebooking from P to A, for ~880CHF.
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Flights were booked months ago, upgrade cleared instantly via the SEN hotline.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yep.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yep.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
A few times. The first time, the upgrade was put on waitlist (despite availability in O if I booked a one way with miles). Used the vouchers for something else, ended getting them back, called again, and this time it cleared instantly.
LH EZE-FRA in First (O)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1pax, 2 eVouchers to upgrade from paid Business (P). Upgraded the remaining pax on the booking via a rebooking from P to A, for ~880CHF.
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Flights were booked months ago, upgrade cleared instantly via the SEN hotline.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yep.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yep.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
A few times. The first time, the upgrade was put on waitlist (despite availability in O if I booked a one way with miles). Used the vouchers for something else, ended getting them back, called again, and this time it cleared instantly.
Last edited by lxfc; Apr 17, 2023 at 4:33 am
Apr 17, 2023, 6:12 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PRG
Programs: M&M SEN**; FB Silver; IHG Platinum
Posts: 496
Apr 17, 2023, 6:59 am
#15
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH FRA-ORD-FRA in Business (I)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1pax, 1 eVouchers each to upgrade from paid Business (E).
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 month, upgrade cleared instantly via the SEN hotline.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yep.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yep.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Unable to find an online option to use the evouchers I called the SEN hotline in Germany and 4 minutes later the upgrade was done including ASR. Since the flights showed award availability in I the agent didn't even have to WL me.
LH FRA-ORD-FRA in Business (I)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1pax, 1 eVouchers each to upgrade from paid Business (E).
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 month, upgrade cleared instantly via the SEN hotline.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yep.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yep.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Unable to find an online option to use the evouchers I called the SEN hotline in Germany and 4 minutes later the upgrade was done including ASR. Since the flights showed award availability in I the agent didn't even have to WL me.