Please post your M&M award booking experience
Aug 18, 2017, 6:48 am
#571
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,599
Those taxes seem really a lot for one passenger. Am I right in thinking that these bogus surcharges are overall a lot less if you book it as a round trip?
Aug 18, 2017, 9:24 am
#572
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BRU
Posts: 307
For instance
MIA-FCO: ~550$
MIA-FCO-MIA: ~1150$
FCO-MIA: ~380$
FCO-MIA-FCO: ~710$
Aug 19, 2017, 3:18 am
#573
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
FRA-LAX initially in C and then later changed to F.
There was no F availability when I initially booked, so I went for C. At T-4 I called LH on a whim and the lady worked magic, changed the booking from C to F and deducted the mileage balance. Change fee of EUR 50 applied.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax and 85000 miles (C booking was 55k, rest got deducted when changed to F).
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
C booking about six months out and change to F four days before departure.
- 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?
Very happy with the overall experience. Online booking of the C award was straight-forward.
The phone call four days before departure where I got lucky and scored the change to F took a while, but I really didn't mind.
FRA-LAX initially in C and then later changed to F.
There was no F availability when I initially booked, so I went for C. At T-4 I called LH on a whim and the lady worked magic, changed the booking from C to F and deducted the mileage balance. Change fee of EUR 50 applied.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax and 85000 miles (C booking was 55k, rest got deducted when changed to F).
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
C booking about six months out and change to F four days before departure.
- 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?
Very happy with the overall experience. Online booking of the C award was straight-forward.
The phone call four days before departure where I got lucky and scored the change to F took a while, but I really didn't mind.
Aug 19, 2017, 4:58 pm
#574
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: LH HON
Posts: 119
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LAX-FRA-SZG for 2 pax in C and 2 pax in Y+, all one way
- How many pax and how many award miles?
52k miles for adult in C, 40k in Y+, 39k for child in C
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
About 10 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)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Child can be only done via phone so had to call in. FRA-SZG segment for both C and Y got waitlisted but confirmed after 24 hours. Taxes were the usual crazy with 540$ for C and very reasonable 190$ for Y+
LAX-FRA-SZG for 2 pax in C and 2 pax in Y+, all one way
- How many pax and how many award miles?
52k miles for adult in C, 40k in Y+, 39k for child in C
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
About 10 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)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Child can be only done via phone so had to call in. FRA-SZG segment for both C and Y got waitlisted but confirmed after 24 hours. Taxes were the usual crazy with 540$ for C and very reasonable 190$ for Y+
Aug 29, 2017, 8:09 am
#575
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Eastern Europe
Programs: LH SEN LT , Hilton
Posts: 185
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
SOF-MUC-IAD-ATL
ATL-IST-SOF in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax 105k miles in C + 470 EUR taxes
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 weeks
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?
M&M site USELESS .............
1st call SEN line ; availability on outbound zero hence the extra stops / return no problem , CS was great , spent about 20 mins looking at all options to finally make it work as not flexible on OB date
SOF-MUC-IAD-ATL
ATL-IST-SOF in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax 105k miles in C + 470 EUR taxes
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 weeks
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?
M&M site USELESS .............
1st call SEN line ; availability on outbound zero hence the extra stops / return no problem , CS was great , spent about 20 mins looking at all options to finally make it work as not flexible on OB date
Sep 5, 2017, 2:47 pm
#576
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: 29,509
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH MAN-MUC-SFO return in C/F
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 170K miles, Ł573.29 (of which Ł150 is UK APD)
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3.5 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)?
SFO is not my destination but it seems impossible to find an award to where I need to go. I was going to book a Business award on LX to LAX or SFO but a First award on LH popped up even though I wasn't searching for one. Well, it costs the same amount in taxes and fees, and just means more award miles! And an F award to the west coast is a very good value.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Because I couldn't decide whether to fly to LAX or SFO and whether to stay overnight before a connecting flight, I kept on checking award availability for a few days. I wasn't even searching for F awards but for some reason an F award appeared. How could I have ignored it? Everything done online though seat selection seems a little flaky.
LH MAN-MUC-SFO return in C/F
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 170K miles, Ł573.29 (of which Ł150 is UK APD)
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3.5 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)?
SFO is not my destination but it seems impossible to find an award to where I need to go. I was going to book a Business award on LX to LAX or SFO but a First award on LH popped up even though I wasn't searching for one. Well, it costs the same amount in taxes and fees, and just means more award miles! And an F award to the west coast is a very good value.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Because I couldn't decide whether to fly to LAX or SFO and whether to stay overnight before a connecting flight, I kept on checking award availability for a few days. I wasn't even searching for F awards but for some reason an F award appeared. How could I have ignored it? Everything done online though seat selection seems a little flaky.
Sep 6, 2017, 3:03 am
#577
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BTS/VIE
Programs: LH MM**, HH Silver
Posts: 2,282
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH (final segment op. by OS) VIE-FRA-HND-MUC-VIE return in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 2x70K miles, 1140EUR
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, I was really flexible so not an issue
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Tried booking via the meilenschnaeppchen website, but it refused claiming there is not enough miles on the account (I needed to use SEN overdraft). However, when booked directly via M&M, it showed the bargain award for the given dates and booked the tickets without any issues, immediately issued etix. The overdraft appeared on the account the next day.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
It took two attemtps on the web due to having to use the M&M web instead of the bargain portal. Seat selection worked flawlessly during the booking process before finally confirming the purchase, and managed to get seats in the F cabin for the return long haul segment. I hope that sticks
LH (final segment op. by OS) VIE-FRA-HND-MUC-VIE return in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 2x70K miles, 1140EUR
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, I was really flexible so not an issue
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Tried booking via the meilenschnaeppchen website, but it refused claiming there is not enough miles on the account (I needed to use SEN overdraft). However, when booked directly via M&M, it showed the bargain award for the given dates and booked the tickets without any issues, immediately issued etix. The overdraft appeared on the account the next day.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
It took two attemtps on the web due to having to use the M&M web instead of the bargain portal. Seat selection worked flawlessly during the booking process before finally confirming the purchase, and managed to get seats in the F cabin for the return long haul segment. I hope that sticks
Sep 6, 2017, 6:23 am
#578
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,723
Sep 6, 2017, 6:39 am
#579
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BTS/VIE
Programs: LH MM**, HH Silver
Posts: 2,282
fully agree! But, those were the last M&M miles that I had left, SEN expires in February. The overdraft is about 9k miles, which I will comfortably earn until then, and I'm done. Not that grass is greener somewhere else, but it's probably time to go transactional after almost 12 years of preferring M&M.
Oct 2, 2017, 8:42 am
#580
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Programs: Too many...and an Amanjunkie
Posts: 1,667
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
STR-MUC-ICN/GMP-HND/NRT-ICN-FRA-STR in F/C on LH/OZ
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 172.5K miles, EUR 528,96
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
26 days
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)?
On my first call the agent neither structured the booking process or my itinery nor knew how to marry segments or how to find my flights which I was able to see being available online. I broke off the process and called again. Second time, I got a real pro who was not only very knowleadgable in how to marry segments but proactive and funny.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Twice (see above)
STR-MUC-ICN/GMP-HND/NRT-ICN-FRA-STR in F/C on LH/OZ
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 172.5K miles, EUR 528,96
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
26 days
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)?
On my first call the agent neither structured the booking process or my itinery nor knew how to marry segments or how to find my flights which I was able to see being available online. I broke off the process and called again. Second time, I got a real pro who was not only very knowleadgable in how to marry segments but proactive and funny.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Twice (see above)
Last edited by ngfan; Oct 2, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Oct 8, 2017, 4:03 am
#581
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BRU-ZRH
Programs: LX HON, BA Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 764
Which flights did you book and which class?
MUC-ZRH-SFO/SFO-ZRH-MUC in F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax 170.000
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
- Overall: 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?
LX SEN Hotline very fast and competent as usual
MUC-ZRH-SFO/SFO-ZRH-MUC in F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax 170.000
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes
- Overall: 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?
LX SEN Hotline very fast and competent as usual
Nov 14, 2017, 4:11 am
#582
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: PVG, HKG
Programs: LH SEN, MU Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 5
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH, RT, HKG-LHR
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax for 14,000 miles (mileage bargain but no companion award)
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 months before, when the bargain comes up
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Around the preferred dates, since mileage bargain does not available every day;
- 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?
Good process, have to call M&M to check on the mileage advance, but seems the hotline not sure about advance in a mileage bargain condition.
LH, RT, HKG-LHR
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax for 14,000 miles (mileage bargain but no companion award)
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 months before, when the bargain comes up
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Around the preferred dates, since mileage bargain does not available every day;
- 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?
Good process, have to call M&M to check on the mileage advance, but seems the hotline not sure about advance in a mileage bargain condition.
Nov 14, 2017, 7:07 am
#583
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BSL/ZRH
Posts: 75
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
GRU-ZRH-ZDH LX in F
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 1x105k, 1x52.5k miles, paying barely 70CHF
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
One day later than wanted
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
It took literally 10 minutes. Great job LX SEN Team!
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I can't see LX O availability online. Had to call 2 times, on the first attempt my phone battery died
GRU-ZRH-ZDH LX in F
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 1x105k, 1x52.5k miles, paying barely 70CHF
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
One day later than wanted
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
It took literally 10 minutes. Great job LX SEN Team!
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I can't see LX O availability online. Had to call 2 times, on the first attempt my phone battery died
Nov 14, 2017, 12:11 pm
#585
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: FRA
Programs: UA, TG, LH
Posts: 70
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH F FRA to SFO, booked in D, SEN-Hotline.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 255kMiles
[B]- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
[/B about a month
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No. I had checked the availability for about 3 month, no LAX only SFO, and only for a few dates. Once I knew I could have the time off I selected the available dates and limited my stay by a few days.
Interestingly LH offered for some dates a long trip for CA F-tickets, requiring to fly via PEK to reach SFO.
- 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?
Online did not provide seat availablite for two, so I called by phone.
LH F FRA to SFO, booked in D, SEN-Hotline.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 255kMiles
[B]- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
[/B about a month
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No. I had checked the availability for about 3 month, no LAX only SFO, and only for a few dates. Once I knew I could have the time off I selected the available dates and limited my stay by a few days.
Interestingly LH offered for some dates a long trip for CA F-tickets, requiring to fly via PEK to reach SFO.
- 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?
Online did not provide seat availablite for two, so I called by phone.
