Please post your M&M award booking experience
Aug 31, 2009, 1:03 am
#241
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Premier Plat (1.2 MM), Hertz PC, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, GE
Posts: 154
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH LAX-FCO (via FRA), C Class
LH VCE-LAX (via MUC), C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 105K miles/passenger
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Was able to obtain exact desired dates (probably because this trip is during the off-peak season, Christmas and New Year's)
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, very pleased with the award booking through the UA 1K line.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
First time success at booking specific seats in C during award ticketing.
LH LAX-FCO (via FRA), C Class
LH VCE-LAX (via MUC), C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 105K miles/passenger
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Was able to obtain exact desired dates (probably because this trip is during the off-peak season, Christmas and New Year's)
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, very pleased with the award booking through the UA 1K line.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
First time success at booking specific seats in C during award ticketing.
Aug 31, 2009, 5:26 am
#242
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,267
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
CPT/FRA/VIE/FRA/CPT, in F-LH for the longhaul, C-OS for the shorthaul.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 133K miles each plus around ZAR3500 each in taxes and surcharges.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
8 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
I looked for available dates on ANA, what I found was very close to my first choice
- 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?
No problem, spent about half an hour with the SA Voyager desk to sort it all out (this is a *A booking with SA miles), then a quick call to LH in JNB to get the seat reservations done
CPT/FRA/VIE/FRA/CPT, in F-LH for the longhaul, C-OS for the shorthaul.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 133K miles each plus around ZAR3500 each in taxes and surcharges.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
8 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
I looked for available dates on ANA, what I found was very close to my first choice
- 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?
No problem, spent about half an hour with the SA Voyager desk to sort it all out (this is a *A booking with SA miles), then a quick call to LH in JNB to get the seat reservations done
Aug 31, 2009, 5:54 am
#243
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: CH
Programs: LX
Posts: 212
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LX ZRH-ORD, C Class
LH SFO-FRA-ZRH, C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 135K miles, CHF400 taxes/pax
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months in advance
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, using M&M online tool
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once
LX ZRH-ORD, C Class
LH SFO-FRA-ZRH, C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 135K miles, CHF400 taxes/pax
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months in advance
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, using M&M online tool
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once
Sep 2, 2009, 6:58 am
#244
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: GVA
Programs: LH KL PC
Posts: 393
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH : GVA-MUC-PVG//HKG-FRA-GVA in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 120K miles pp, 500 CHF in taxes pp.
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
7 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Outbound, exact date and flights.
Inbound, one day later than I originally wished for.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, no problem at all with the Swiss FTL line.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once.
LH : GVA-MUC-PVG//HKG-FRA-GVA in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 120K miles pp, 500 CHF in taxes pp.
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
7 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Outbound, exact date and flights.
Inbound, one day later than I originally wished for.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, no problem at all with the Swiss FTL line.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once.
Last edited by ms1664; Sep 2, 2009 at 9:32 am
Sep 2, 2009, 9:39 am
#245
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 255
Not an C or F booking, but I was still very impressed:
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH : MUC - CLT - small American airport
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 60K miles, 250 EUR in taxes (booking the flight regularly would have cost me 4200 € according to lh.com)
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 days
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Exact dates
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
on the phone and no problem at all selecting the right flights, etc.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH : MUC - CLT - small American airport
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 60K miles, 250 EUR in taxes (booking the flight regularly would have cost me 4200 € according to lh.com)
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 days
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Exact dates
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
on the phone and no problem at all selecting the right flights, etc.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once
Oct 6, 2009, 10:04 pm
#246
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: NH*G, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 116
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
NRT-SIN-BKK-SIN-NRT (SQ), BKK-HKT-BKK (TG), all in C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 60K miles/passenger, taxes approx. 230 EUR/passenger
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6.5 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Only 1st flight NRT-SIN is 1 day later than preferred, but as this is over Golden Week in JP, I was very suprised to find such good availability.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, very happy. The very friendly M&M agent (normal "blue" line only) could even book the A380 for the NRT-SIN-NRT leg, although ANA tool didn't show any availability in C, which was big surprise and I could'nt understand actually.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
First time success on NRT-SIN-NRT and then changed the other legs couple of time without any problems within the (new?) 48 hrs reservation time frame for SQ awards.
NRT-SIN-BKK-SIN-NRT (SQ), BKK-HKT-BKK (TG), all in C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 60K miles/passenger, taxes approx. 230 EUR/passenger
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6.5 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Only 1st flight NRT-SIN is 1 day later than preferred, but as this is over Golden Week in JP, I was very suprised to find such good availability.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, very happy. The very friendly M&M agent (normal "blue" line only) could even book the A380 for the NRT-SIN-NRT leg, although ANA tool didn't show any availability in C, which was big surprise and I could'nt understand actually.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
First time success on NRT-SIN-NRT and then changed the other legs couple of time without any problems within the (new?) 48 hrs reservation time frame for SQ awards.
Nov 28, 2009, 7:48 am
#247
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vienna, Austria - EU
Posts: 42
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
VIE-FRA-PEK(LH)-PVG(CA) and DPS-SIN-LHR(SQ)-VIE(OS), all in C except DPS-SIN
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 120K miles/passenger, taxes 332 EUR/passenger
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
353 days in advance
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)?
Partly.
According to a mail from the Austrian M&M Service Team VIE-NRT[s/o]-ICN-PVG and DPS-SIN-xxx-VIE should be fine, however when trying to book it some weeks later, it wasn't. That's because Tokyo is farther from Vienna than Shanghai and is therefore considered the point of turnaround.
So I skipped Tokyo and Seoul and tried to book VIE-LHR-HKG-PVG, but no luck either: C on NZ wasn't available, nor was C on OS VIE-PEK. Next try: VIE-FRA-PEK[s/o]-PVG - that one worked out.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Three times. First I sent a mail, but as they couldn't book my preferred routing, I called the Austrian M&M team. I could't get award seats on any SQ flight with new C from SIN to Europe. 2 minutes later I called the German M&M number and was able to book SQ322 for 11/13/10.
VIE-FRA-PEK(LH)-PVG(CA) and DPS-SIN-LHR(SQ)-VIE(OS), all in C except DPS-SIN
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 120K miles/passenger, taxes 332 EUR/passenger
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
353 days in advance
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)?
Partly.
According to a mail from the Austrian M&M Service Team VIE-NRT[s/o]-ICN-PVG and DPS-SIN-xxx-VIE should be fine, however when trying to book it some weeks later, it wasn't. That's because Tokyo is farther from Vienna than Shanghai and is therefore considered the point of turnaround.
So I skipped Tokyo and Seoul and tried to book VIE-LHR-HKG-PVG, but no luck either: C on NZ wasn't available, nor was C on OS VIE-PEK. Next try: VIE-FRA-PEK[s/o]-PVG - that one worked out.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Three times. First I sent a mail, but as they couldn't book my preferred routing, I called the Austrian M&M team. I could't get award seats on any SQ flight with new C from SIN to Europe. 2 minutes later I called the German M&M number and was able to book SQ322 for 11/13/10.
Dec 12, 2009, 5:12 am
#248
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SZG, Austria
Programs: LH(OS) HON, IC RA
Posts: 33,194
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
SZG-FRA-SIN-KHI-LHE-BKK-FRA-SZG, all in C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 passengers, 160K miles, taxes approx. 380 EUR
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months in advance
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, very happy. Booked through the M&M SEN Hotline CPT.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I got everything on my first try.
SZG-FRA-SIN-KHI-LHE-BKK-FRA-SZG, all in C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 passengers, 160K miles, taxes approx. 380 EUR
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months in advance
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, very happy. Booked through the M&M SEN Hotline CPT.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I got everything on my first try.
Jan 22, 2010, 12:29 am
#249
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BSL
Programs: LH SEN, ICH, SPG, HH
Posts: 62
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
BSL-FRA-MCO-DEN-MCO-FRA-BSL (long-haul in LH F, US-flights in UA F, short-haul in LH C)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Pax, 280.000, taxes approx. 320 EUR/passenger
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, even different routings available
- 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?
Checked availability online before calling. Everything went perfect on the first attempt!
BSL-FRA-MCO-DEN-MCO-FRA-BSL (long-haul in LH F, US-flights in UA F, short-haul in LH C)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Pax, 280.000, taxes approx. 320 EUR/passenger
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, even different routings available
- 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?
Checked availability online before calling. Everything went perfect on the first attempt!
Jan 22, 2010, 9:59 am
#250
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: HAM
Programs: LH FTL, PC Plat
Posts: 64
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
HAM-DUS-ORD (LH/C) / ORD-MCO (UA/F) // ORD-FRA-HAM (LH/C)
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 180K miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 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, very happy. Started with a reservation, transformed to a booking today (all by phone).
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I checked M&M webseit and the ANA tool for availbility and then called.
HAM-DUS-ORD (LH/C) / ORD-MCO (UA/F) // ORD-FRA-HAM (LH/C)
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 passengers, 180K miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 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, very happy. Started with a reservation, transformed to a booking today (all by phone).
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I checked M&M webseit and the ANA tool for availbility and then called.
Feb 8, 2010, 6:26 am
#251
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Switzerland mostly
Programs: LX Sen, EK Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Sirius Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 357
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
GVA-JFK, LX, C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
3 passengers, 220K miles/all-in incl. spouse reduced award
+ USD 910 in taxes
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 months in advance
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 I booked online (M&M website)
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Got the seats I wanted online
GVA-JFK, LX, C Class
How many pax and how many award miles?
3 passengers, 220K miles/all-in incl. spouse reduced award
+ USD 910 in taxes
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 months in advance
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 I booked online (M&M website)
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Got the seats I wanted online
Feb 8, 2010, 10:51 am
#252
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Belgium
Programs: QR platinum
Posts: 645
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
BRU -> MUC -> HKG // HKG -> FRA -> BRU
How many pax and how many award miles?2 passengers, 120K + 60 K miles/all-in incl. reduced award
+ EURO 2*339 in taxes
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months in advance
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 I booked online (M&M website)
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Got the seats I wanted online
BRU -> MUC -> HKG // HKG -> FRA -> BRU
How many pax and how many award miles?2 passengers, 120K + 60 K miles/all-in incl. reduced award
+ EURO 2*339 in taxes
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months in advance
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 I booked online (M&M website)
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Got the seats I wanted online
Feb 9, 2010, 3:05 pm
#253
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
ZRH-MUC(LX)-NRT(LH)-AKL(NZ)
AKL-PVG(NZ)-ZRH(LX)
all in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 160'000 miles & CHF 476 in taxes each
(of which CHF 426 for the LX/LH flights, but only CHF 50 for the NZ flights - one of the reasons I love NZ
)
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
7 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, with the exception of +1 day on the outbound flight
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, no problems with a friendly agent.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Checked availability for LX/LH on M&M website and NZ availability on Expertflyer and then called once. ^
ZRH-MUC(LX)-NRT(LH)-AKL(NZ)
AKL-PVG(NZ)-ZRH(LX)
all in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 160'000 miles & CHF 476 in taxes each
(of which CHF 426 for the LX/LH flights, but only CHF 50 for the NZ flights - one of the reasons I love NZ
)- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
7 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, with the exception of +1 day on the outbound flight
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, no problems with a friendly agent.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Checked availability for LX/LH on M&M website and NZ availability on Expertflyer and then called once. ^
Last edited by goliath; Feb 9, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Feb 11, 2010, 7:07 am
#254
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: LH-SEN
Posts: 21
I tried several times to book TXL - SYD in C around Christmans but availability was either poor or SQ would not realease seats in C on the A380.
What I booked now is:
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
all in C
TXL-FRA-PVG (all LH)
PVG-AKL-NAN (all NZ)
NAN-AKL-NRT (all NZ)
NRT-ZRH-TXL (all LX)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 @ 160.000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
yes, but some flexibility (+/- 3 days)
- 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?
one agent was useless. hang up and tried again with very helpful agent in call centre Berlin.
What I booked now is:
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
all in C
TXL-FRA-PVG (all LH)
PVG-AKL-NAN (all NZ)
NAN-AKL-NRT (all NZ)
NRT-ZRH-TXL (all LX)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 @ 160.000 miles
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
yes, but some flexibility (+/- 3 days)
- 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?
one agent was useless. hang up and tried again with very helpful agent in call centre Berlin.
Feb 13, 2010, 4:30 am
#255
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: INN
Programs: LH, KLM, BA
Posts: 566
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
inn-fra-jfk-mia-fra-inn C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax 135K miles total (Sen comp award)
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 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)?
Phone Sen hotline Extremely good
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
once
inn-fra-jfk-mia-fra-inn C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax 135K miles total (Sen comp award)
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 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)?
Phone Sen hotline Extremely good
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
once