Please post your M&M award booking experience
Jul 25, 2007, 6:03 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
a major glitch in your logic, I think
if seats are free in LH it is because passengers are not buying them. The money is chasing SWISS seats ..
Jul 26, 2007, 1:54 am
#47
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-LAX-EWR-FRA-BSL (long-haul in LH F, US domestic in UA F, short-haul in LH C)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Pax, 280.000mls
- 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?
I checked availability online before calling. Call center agent was very friendly and helpful,
everything went excellent on the first attempt! ^
BSL-FRA-LAX-EWR-FRA-BSL (long-haul in LH F, US domestic in UA F, short-haul in LH C)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Pax, 280.000mls
- 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?
I checked availability online before calling. Call center agent was very friendly and helpful,
everything went excellent on the first attempt! ^
Jul 26, 2007, 5:26 am
#48
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: 7,738
Not sure but would give them the benefit of a doubt and say lazy agent maybe or they really want to fill those Y seats for miles as this is rubbish value for us. 
I mean fine if they want to offer their own metal first but if they basically have no award availability on SE Asia routes in C over a 4 week timeframe than offer me something else in the requested class of service. Maybe just bad luck.
OTH, I once had an agent (M&M) that got very snappy when I declined the offer of LH operated flights for SIN-FRA-SIN (LH779/778) and said I would rather fly SQ. She just stated "What's wrong with LH? ... and there is nothing on SQ. Good Bye." and hung up
. A call to a supervisor and a bit shifting of dates got me then the flights I wanted on SQ and an apology.
I mean fine if they want to offer their own metal first but if they basically have no award availability on SE Asia routes in C over a 4 week timeframe than offer me something else in the requested class of service. Maybe just bad luck. OTH, I once had an agent (M&M) that got very snappy when I declined the offer of LH operated flights for SIN-FRA-SIN (LH779/778) and said I would rather fly SQ. She just stated "What's wrong with LH? ... and there is nothing on SQ. Good Bye." and hung up
. A call to a supervisor and a bit shifting of dates got me then the flights I wanted on SQ and an apology.
Last edited by demue; Jul 26, 2007 at 10:05 pm Reason: spelling
Jul 26, 2007, 8:02 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MUC
Programs: LH HON, IC RA
Posts: 167
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
MUC-SFO // DEN-MUC both in LH F-class
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Pax, 210.000mls
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 4 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
nearly, was flexible enough about the routes, but not about the dates
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
sure! hotline was good, but checked the flights and possibilities on the net before...no LAX no IAH no SFO on the return flight to germany in F
MUC-SFO // DEN-MUC both in LH F-class
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Pax, 210.000mls
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 4 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
nearly, was flexible enough about the routes, but not about the dates
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
sure! hotline was good, but checked the flights and possibilities on the net before...no LAX no IAH no SFO on the return flight to germany in F
Jul 26, 2007, 8:53 am
#50
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SZG
Posts: 3,936
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
SZG(OS)-FRA(LH)-BKK(TG)-SYD(NZ)-AKL(NZ)-SYD(SQ)-SIN(SQ)-KUL(LH)-BKK-FRA(OS)-SZG
all in F, except the NZ segments which only had C/Y
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 240k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 10 days
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
got exactly what i wanted!
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
looked all flights up with the ANA tool first, took around an hour to do. then called SEN line and booked, very helpful agent, came up with some better connections on NZ actually. all was done within 20mins on phone...
SZG(OS)-FRA(LH)-BKK(TG)-SYD(NZ)-AKL(NZ)-SYD(SQ)-SIN(SQ)-KUL(LH)-BKK-FRA(OS)-SZG
all in F, except the NZ segments which only had C/Y
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 240k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 10 days
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
got exactly what i wanted!
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
looked all flights up with the ANA tool first, took around an hour to do. then called SEN line and booked, very helpful agent, came up with some better connections on NZ actually. all was done within 20mins on phone...
Jul 26, 2007, 9:14 am
#51
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,043
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
BKK-SIN (SQ)-AKL (SQ)-NAN (NZ)-AKL (NZ)-SIN (SQ)-BKK (SQ) (but had to cancel eventually
)
MEL-AKL-PVG-AKL-MEL - all NZ
All in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 90k each
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months and 7 months respectively.
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Had to tweak my travel dates a little for the first one - ANA tool shows different availability for NZ segments to what M+M had.
Got exactly what I wanted for the 2nd one.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
The first time round I naively called the Australia hotline - was an experience I'd rather forget.
2nd time round I called the SEN line in Switzerland - very helpful agent. Only annoying bit was when NZ rescheduled and left me with an illegal connection. LH couldn't help me with talking to NZ, but a call to NZ myself resolved things in my favour. Don't the different airlines have liaisons to *A that talk to each other to resolve these things?
It's a pity M+M is so inflexible with the zone system, which more direct options via SIN/BKK to North Asia a 3 zone award and resulted in the backtrack to AKL to get to PVG (or via SYD/ICN on UA/OZ) to stay '2 zone.' My other FFP AAdvantage has several exceptions to get around limited direct flights between 2 regions, for eg the ability to go from South Pacific to North Asia via South East Asia (and no not talking about 'oneworld awards') for the same amt of miles.
BKK-SIN (SQ)-AKL (SQ)-NAN (NZ)-AKL (NZ)-SIN (SQ)-BKK (SQ) (but had to cancel eventually
)MEL-AKL-PVG-AKL-MEL - all NZ
All in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 90k each
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months and 7 months respectively.
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Had to tweak my travel dates a little for the first one - ANA tool shows different availability for NZ segments to what M+M had.
Got exactly what I wanted for the 2nd one.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
The first time round I naively called the Australia hotline - was an experience I'd rather forget.
2nd time round I called the SEN line in Switzerland - very helpful agent. Only annoying bit was when NZ rescheduled and left me with an illegal connection. LH couldn't help me with talking to NZ, but a call to NZ myself resolved things in my favour. Don't the different airlines have liaisons to *A that talk to each other to resolve these things?
It's a pity M+M is so inflexible with the zone system, which more direct options via SIN/BKK to North Asia a 3 zone award and resulted in the backtrack to AKL to get to PVG (or via SYD/ICN on UA/OZ) to stay '2 zone.' My other FFP AAdvantage has several exceptions to get around limited direct flights between 2 regions, for eg the ability to go from South Pacific to North Asia via South East Asia (and no not talking about 'oneworld awards') for the same amt of miles.
Jul 26, 2007, 10:47 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: GER, USA
Programs: LH SEN, AA
Posts: 192
That was a special situation. Booked LH FRA-CPT-FRA in C, was rebooked on SA FRA-LHR-CPT(in F)-FRA due to LH schedule changes. Then rebooked LHR-CPT in C (downgraded, with compensation).
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
SA FRA-LHR-CPT-FRA in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 135.000 (-20.000 for LH flight cancellation)
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
started 8 month before, but only get it 6 month before on LH, then was rebooked to SA 4 month before departure
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
NO, no chance. I was told that CPT, LAX and SFO are the most popular award destinations for LH.
=> Have you heard this too?
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Well, this was a special case...Not really...
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats? >30 times
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
SA FRA-LHR-CPT-FRA in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 135.000 (-20.000 for LH flight cancellation)
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
started 8 month before, but only get it 6 month before on LH, then was rebooked to SA 4 month before departure
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
NO, no chance. I was told that CPT, LAX and SFO are the most popular award destinations for LH.
=> Have you heard this too?
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Well, this was a special case...Not really...
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats? >30 times
Jul 26, 2007, 11:17 pm
#53
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF Lifetime SG, LH HON, OZ Lifetime Diamond +, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 14,372
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
SYD-BKK-FRA-HAJ-FRA-BKK-SYD on LH and TG in F and C domestic.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1.5 pax 240,000
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3 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)?
All very easy. LH in MEL sorted everything out. Only problem were seat assignements because LH and TG do not block bassinet seats.
SYD-BKK-FRA-HAJ-FRA-BKK-SYD on LH and TG in F and C domestic.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1.5 pax 240,000
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3 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)?
All very easy. LH in MEL sorted everything out. Only problem were seat assignements because LH and TG do not block bassinet seats.
Jul 27, 2007, 12:32 am
#54
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DUS
Programs: LH HON
Posts: 764
I would like to start a thread to gather award booking experience with M&M for middle and long-haul flights in Business and First class:
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
DUS-FRA-MIA, SFO-FRA-DUS in F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 210k mi.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
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?
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
DUS-FRA-MIA, SFO-FRA-DUS in F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 210k mi.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
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?
Jul 27, 2007, 7:48 am
#55
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: 52°31'15 N 13°19'58 E
Programs: LH, AB & CX Gold, SIXT Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, etc.
Posts: 302
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
HAJ-FRA-SFO-FRA-TXL in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax - 90k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 4 month
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
outound had to move dates for a week, inbound a I wanted
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
over the phone - little complicated as both legs were in peak travel season (outbound summer holidays, inbound christmas)
HAJ-FRA-SFO-FRA-TXL in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax - 90k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 4 month
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
outound had to move dates for a week, inbound a I wanted
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
over the phone - little complicated as both legs were in peak travel season (outbound summer holidays, inbound christmas)
Jul 27, 2007, 7:56 am
#56
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: 52°31'15 N 13°19'58 E
Programs: LH, AB & CX Gold, SIXT Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, etc.
Posts: 302
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
TXL-FRA-EWR-JFK-FRA-HAJ in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax - 90k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 8 month
- 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)?
over the phone - very freindly and helpful agent
TXL-FRA-EWR-JFK-FRA-HAJ in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax - 90k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 8 month
- 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)?
over the phone - very freindly and helpful agent
Jul 27, 2007, 7:58 am
#57
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: 52°31'15 N 13°19'58 E
Programs: LH, AB & CX Gold, SIXT Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, etc.
Posts: 302
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
FRA-(TG)-BKK-(TG)-DPS-(SQ)-SIN-(SQ)-FRA-(LH)-LEJ in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax - 240k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 3 month
- 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)?
over the phone - everything allright
FRA-(TG)-BKK-(TG)-DPS-(SQ)-SIN-(SQ)-FRA-(LH)-LEJ in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax - 240k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 3 month
- 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)?
over the phone - everything allright
Last edited by Rocket2511; Jul 27, 2007 at 8:26 am Reason: typo
Jul 27, 2007, 8:25 am
#59
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: 52°31'15 N 13°19'58 E
Programs: LH, AB & CX Gold, SIXT Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, etc.
Posts: 302
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
FRA-(LH)-LHR-(NZ)-LAX-(UA)-HNL-(UA)-LAX-(LH)-MUC-(LH)-LEJ
in C and domestic F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 pax - 450k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 6 month
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
was flexible but seats were pretty hard to find
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
over the phone - needed 3 calls, then I had the best call center agent ever she spent the entire saturday night calling me back and discussing options - great job !!!!
FRA-(LH)-LHR-(NZ)-LAX-(UA)-HNL-(UA)-LAX-(LH)-MUC-(LH)-LEJ
in C and domestic F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 pax - 450k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 6 month
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
was flexible but seats were pretty hard to find
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
over the phone - needed 3 calls, then I had the best call center agent ever she spent the entire saturday night calling me back and discussing options - great job !!!!
Jul 27, 2007, 8:32 am
#60
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Iīm on a road to nowhere
Programs: If I donīt have it, I donīt need it!
Posts: 758
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
FRA-(LH)-LHR-(NZ)-LAX-(UA)-HNL-(UA)-LAX-(LH)-MUC-(LH)-LEJ
in C and domestic F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 pax - 450k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 6 month
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
was flexible but seats were pretty hard to find
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
over the phone - needed 3 calls, then I had the best call center agent ever she spent the entire saturday night calling me back and discussing options - great job !!!!
FRA-(LH)-LHR-(NZ)-LAX-(UA)-HNL-(UA)-LAX-(LH)-MUC-(LH)-LEJ
in C and domestic F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 pax - 450k
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
about 6 month
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
was flexible but seats were pretty hard to find
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
over the phone - needed 3 calls, then I had the best call center agent ever she spent the entire saturday night calling me back and discussing options - great job !!!!
Last edited by silversurfer; Jul 27, 2007 at 8:33 am Reason: typing