Please post your M&M award booking experience
Feb 26, 2009, 11:35 am
#196
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,238
Welcome to FT!
No need for runabout if its a straighforward booking... as SEN you can make use of the 50% companion benefit on LH/OS/LX, so just pick a 160k award from the table and book away!
My suggestion would be far east or south east asia in C or S. Africa in F.
No need for runabout if its a straighforward booking... as SEN you can make use of the 50% companion benefit on LH/OS/LX, so just pick a 160k award from the table and book away!
My suggestion would be far east or south east asia in C or S. Africa in F.
Feb 27, 2009, 2:46 am
#197
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2
thx oliver
i was referring to runabout as he seems to know a trick with some sen waitlist awrd booking
the dates i tried so far never confirmed so that trick might be just what we are looking for....
little nervous cos running out of time tonite...
also, how exactly does the 3 region award work?
many thx
i was referring to runabout as he seems to know a trick with some sen waitlist awrd booking
the dates i tried so far never confirmed so that trick might be just what we are looking for....
little nervous cos running out of time tonite...
also, how exactly does the 3 region award work?
many thx
Feb 27, 2009, 4:33 am
#198
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: EDXF
Programs: LH, bmi, Hyatt Gold, SPG
Posts: 86
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
HAM-FRA-DXB-MUC-HAM all with LH in F and C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 pax (one child), 220.000 miles in total
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, exact dates.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, 1st check online but couldn't find three C seats. Just called one time and told the agent what I wanted. Very friendly and she called me back twice. She made a split booking and we are all happy.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once
HAM-FRA-DXB-MUC-HAM all with LH in F and C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 pax (one child), 220.000 miles in total
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, exact dates.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, 1st check online but couldn't find three C seats. Just called one time and told the agent what I wanted. Very friendly and she called me back twice. She made a split booking and we are all happy.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once
Feb 27, 2009, 8:17 am
#199
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thurgau, Switzerland
Posts: 195
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
ZRH-LAX-FRA-ZRH in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 adults and 2 kids, 315’000 miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
11 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Outbound: yes. I was surprised to find 4 C on first Saturday of school holidays.
Inbound: could have flown via MUC on preferred date, but this flight is quite late in the day. So we’ve settled for FRA flight one day earlier.
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?
Two calls. Online bookings are not possible for child tickets. First call was to friendly FTL hotline in BSL. Fast and painless despite complicated procedures with adult tickets paid by miles from children’s M&M accounts and vice versa. Second call five days later since not ticketed yet and seating on outbound not as requested - parents placed in row 5 (in front of galley) and kids in row 6 (behind galley).
ZRH-LAX-FRA-ZRH in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 adults and 2 kids, 315’000 miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
11 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Outbound: yes. I was surprised to find 4 C on first Saturday of school holidays.
Inbound: could have flown via MUC on preferred date, but this flight is quite late in the day. So we’ve settled for FRA flight one day earlier.
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?
Two calls. Online bookings are not possible for child tickets. First call was to friendly FTL hotline in BSL. Fast and painless despite complicated procedures with adult tickets paid by miles from children’s M&M accounts and vice versa. Second call five days later since not ticketed yet and seating on outbound not as requested - parents placed in row 5 (in front of galley) and kids in row 6 (behind galley).
Feb 27, 2009, 10:40 am
#200
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: WA
Programs: AS , AA, Hilton, Hyatt, Kimpton, Hertz
Posts: 310
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
SEA-FRA-SEA LH/C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 - 160
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, exact dates.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, - How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once
SEA-FRA-SEA LH/C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 - 160
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, exact dates.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, - How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once
Feb 28, 2009, 6:00 am
#201
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: 14,377
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
SIN-MUC-FRA//HAJ-FRA-PVG in F and C. But wanted SYD-FRA //HAJ-FRA-SYD in C.
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Adult - 150,000 miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, had to change routing and dates. Had to combined with oneworld award for SYD-SIN and PVG-SYD.
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?
Many calls, lots of research. Just no availability on SQ or TG. ANA Tool was showing LH availability where there was none.
SIN-MUC-FRA//HAJ-FRA-PVG in F and C. But wanted SYD-FRA //HAJ-FRA-SYD in C.
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Adult - 150,000 miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, had to change routing and dates. Had to combined with oneworld award for SYD-SIN and PVG-SYD.
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?
Many calls, lots of research. Just no availability on SQ or TG. ANA Tool was showing LH availability where there was none.
Feb 28, 2009, 6:20 am
#202
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
Apr 27, 2009, 4:53 am
#203
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-SIN-CGK-SIN-FRA-BSL (long-haul in LH F, short-haul in LH C)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Pax, 180.000 + 90.000mls
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
7 weeks
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, plenty of seats and dates in all classes 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?
I checked availability online before calling. Call center agent was very friendly and helpful,
everything went excellent on the first attempt!
BSL-FRA-SIN-CGK-SIN-FRA-BSL (long-haul in LH F, short-haul in LH C)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 Pax, 180.000 + 90.000mls
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
7 weeks
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, plenty of seats and dates in all classes 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?
I checked availability online before calling. Call center agent was very friendly and helpful,
everything went excellent on the first attempt!
Apr 27, 2009, 6:32 am
#204
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: From and of Boston.
Posts: 4,973
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
Boston to Johannesburg round-trip, with a stopover in Basel on the return, in F.
The routing is BOS-FRA-JNB-FRA-BSL-MUC-BOS, all on LH.
How many pax and how many award miles?The routing is BOS-FRA-JNB-FRA-BSL-MUC-BOS, all on LH.
1 passenger, 240,000 miles. I will use a (No. Am.) 20% discount coupon, so the net cost is 192,000 miles.
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?Booked the outbound flights 340 days in advance, the return flights 347 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)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?I could not book this itinerary online -- or, at least, I could find no way to book the itinerary online. I know of no way to book a stopover online on an award ticket. Also, because BOS-FRA-JNB requires a long (16-hour) layover, a BOS-JNB routing is not shown in the award dialog -- I could not even book a BOS-JNB r/t (with no stopover) online.
I tried to make the reservation while in Japan, using the Japan M&M service center. However, they were unable to see the flights that I wanted to take -- they said it was too far in advance. I called the German SEN line to make the reservation, and, with some coaching from me* they were able to make the reservation.
* The German M&M agent tried to look for BOS-JNB flights, and nothing showed. She could only see the flights when I asked her to look for BOS-FRA then FRA-JNB separately.
I tried to make the reservation while in Japan, using the Japan M&M service center. However, they were unable to see the flights that I wanted to take -- they said it was too far in advance. I called the German SEN line to make the reservation, and, with some coaching from me* they were able to make the reservation.
* The German M&M agent tried to look for BOS-JNB flights, and nothing showed. She could only see the flights when I asked her to look for BOS-FRA then FRA-JNB separately.
Jun 22, 2009, 5:45 am
#205
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?
MUC-PEK-AKL-NPE-AKL-SYD-BKK-MUC in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 160.000 miles in total - about 300 EUR Taxes.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, but I got my flights +/- 1 day.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
No, because the first routing was unacceptable, but I found a routing with the ANA tool, which was bookable.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
5 times
MUC-PEK-AKL-NPE-AKL-SYD-BKK-MUC in C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 160.000 miles in total - about 300 EUR Taxes.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, but I got my flights +/- 1 day.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
No, because the first routing was unacceptable, but I found a routing with the ANA tool, which was bookable.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
5 times
Jul 31, 2009, 1:34 pm
#206
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-FRA-BKK-FRA-STR in LH F/C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 150.000 miles per pax - about 328 EUR taxes per pax.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3,5 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, but I got my flights +/- 1 day.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes and No.
The first two call agents (changed my initial reservation one time) were very professional, easy going and quick.
When I wanted to ticket my (second) reservation the third agent confessed that my reservation was cancelled one day too early (contrary to their previous oral and written statements) !
Instead, the agent offered me to either route me on LX or TG, with a mix of C and Y as my booking classes on my reserved LH flights were allegedly not available anymore or to change dates. I insistently complained and after the agent talked to a supervisor for five minutes they were finally able to rebook me on my preferred flights. The rebooking process itself became painfully slow but in the end, everything worked out to my satisfaction.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
1 time (after lengthy and frequent checks on M&M website and ANA tool)
STR-FRA-BKK-FRA-STR in LH F/C
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 150.000 miles per pax - about 328 EUR taxes per pax.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3,5 months
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, but I got my flights +/- 1 day.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes and No.
The first two call agents (changed my initial reservation one time) were very professional, easy going and quick.
When I wanted to ticket my (second) reservation the third agent confessed that my reservation was cancelled one day too early (contrary to their previous oral and written statements) !
Instead, the agent offered me to either route me on LX or TG, with a mix of C and Y as my booking classes on my reserved LH flights were allegedly not available anymore or to change dates. I insistently complained and after the agent talked to a supervisor for five minutes they were finally able to rebook me on my preferred flights. The rebooking process itself became painfully slow but in the end, everything worked out to my satisfaction.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
1 time (after lengthy and frequent checks on M&M website and ANA tool)
Last edited by ngfan; Aug 1, 2009 at 12:22 am Reason: spelling
Jul 31, 2009, 8:49 pm
#207
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: USA
Programs: SQ PPS SOLITAIRE, AA ,HHONOR GOLD, BONVOY GOLD, IHG PLAT
Posts: 2,041
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
CCU-FRA-EWR and JFK-FRA-CCU in C.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, SEN Companion Award = 160,000 miles + 80,000 miles = 240,000 miles plus about US$600 in taxes.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months.
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, but not preferred routing. I had to go to EWR instead of IAD, as I also booked 2 more Y tickets upgraded to C using PPB, which were not available on the FRA-IAD route. I am unfortunately left with a long layover (6 hours) in FRA.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once. Seats were readily available.
Conclusion: In spite of much higher award taxes, it is worth it.
CCU-FRA-EWR and JFK-FRA-CCU in C.
- How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, SEN Companion Award = 160,000 miles + 80,000 miles = 240,000 miles plus about US$600 in taxes.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months.
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, but not preferred routing. I had to go to EWR instead of IAD, as I also booked 2 more Y tickets upgraded to C using PPB, which were not available on the FRA-IAD route. I am unfortunately left with a long layover (6 hours) in FRA.
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Once. Seats were readily available.
Conclusion: In spite of much higher award taxes, it is worth it.
Aug 2, 2009, 9:52 am
#208
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Stavanger, Norway
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond
Posts: 355
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
- How many pax and how many award miles?
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
- 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?
- How many pax and how many award miles?
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
- 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?
Gard: I'm flying FRA-HKG LH in F and back from BKK to FRA TG in F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
Gard: 1. Costing me 180.000 of my SAS Eurobonus points
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Gard: I booked about a week ago and I'm flying in the end of September. So about 2 months in advance.
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Gard: yes, more or less. I was flexible
- 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?
Gard: I would have like to see an online service for this. I had to call 3 times and the first booking was done with a SAS lady that was not so nice. But the guy I talked to the next day to modify the ticket was nice.
What I was not happy with was that it is not easy to find out where there are seats available and the SAS lady did not seem to care. I would have liked to see one more 24 hour stop on my trip but that was not possible.
Aug 2, 2009, 10:06 am
#209
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
[...]
Gard: 1. Costing me 180.000 of my SAS Eurobonus points...
[...]
Gard: I would have like to see an online service for this. I had to call 3 times and the first booking was done with a SAS lady that was not so nice. But the guy I talked to the next day to modify the ticket was nice.
Gard: 1. Costing me 180.000 of my SAS Eurobonus points...
[...]
Gard: I would have like to see an online service for this. I had to call 3 times and the first booking was done with a SAS lady that was not so nice. But the guy I talked to the next day to modify the ticket was nice.
Aug 2, 2009, 10:57 am
#210
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Garden of England
Programs: LH HON, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 407
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LCY - FRA - NGO and NRT - ZRH - LCY in F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1, 180.000 plus € 399,-- in taxes.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 1/2 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.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Twice. Booked via LH Senator Line, who could book everything for me except for the window seat on LX161 (NRT - ZRH). Booked me on one of the middle seats but asked me to call SWISS. Called SWISS, a friendly chap said he would "waitlist" me for 1 of the window seats and said that it should clear within 24 hours..... which it did.
Conclusion: Quite a painless and smooth experience.
DUS
LCY - FRA - NGO and NRT - ZRH - LCY in F
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1, 180.000 plus € 399,-- in taxes.
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 1/2 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.
- How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Twice. Booked via LH Senator Line, who could book everything for me except for the window seat on LX161 (NRT - ZRH). Booked me on one of the middle seats but asked me to call SWISS. Called SWISS, a friendly chap said he would "waitlist" me for 1 of the window seats and said that it should clear within 24 hours..... which it did.
Conclusion: Quite a painless and smooth experience.
DUS