Please post your M&M award booking experience
May 28, 2011, 4:47 pm
#346
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Hamburg
Programs: M&M FTL, bahn.comfort
Posts: 62
From Z to O with M&M miles on LH710 FRA-NRT 
Yes, it is decadent and a waste of miles, but it's my first time on the A380 and to Japan, so that deserves some celebration. First time for the FCT too tomorrow morning.
NewbieRunner, they held off the upgrade until the day of the flight - I was monitoring availability, and it was F4/A4 or better until the very last second. And I was apparently lucky that not many HON/SEN are on the flight with higher waitlist priority
(Last time I did a F upgrade to HKG, LH messed it up and while I got the seat, I spent 45 minutes at the transfer desk in FRA, no more time for the FCT. So very happy that it's all confirmed prior to check-in now.)
Yes, it is decadent and a waste of miles, but it's my first time on the A380 and to Japan, so that deserves some celebration. First time for the FCT too tomorrow morning.NewbieRunner, they held off the upgrade until the day of the flight - I was monitoring availability, and it was F4/A4 or better until the very last second. And I was apparently lucky that not many HON/SEN are on the flight with higher waitlist priority
(Last time I did a F upgrade to HKG, LH messed it up and while I got the seat, I spent 45 minutes at the transfer desk in FRA, no more time for the FCT. So very happy that it's all confirmed prior to check-in now.)
May 29, 2011, 1:01 am
#347
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Munich
Programs: Miles & More;
Posts: 377
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
MUC-ZRH (LX - C) ZRH-NBO (LX - C)
NBO-BRU (SN - C) BRU-HAJ (SN - C)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Passenger, 70.000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked 5 and a half months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Almost - i`m flying within one day of my preferred date - but not because of
lack of available award seats - but simply because neither Swiss nor Brussels
Airlines fly on my preferred date.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Online Booking was really easy - even allows you to book open-jaw
MUC-ZRH (LX - C) ZRH-NBO (LX - C)
NBO-BRU (SN - C) BRU-HAJ (SN - C)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Passenger, 70.000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Booked 5 and a half months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Almost - i`m flying within one day of my preferred date - but not because of
lack of available award seats - but simply because neither Swiss nor Brussels
Airlines fly on my preferred date.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Online Booking was really easy - even allows you to book open-jaw
May 29, 2011, 1:27 am
#348
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,321
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
MUC-IAC in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 child, 39.000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 weeks
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
exact date I wanted (a little research in advance helped) thanks to SEN WL
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
by phone, had to specifically ask to get WL, CHD discount etc, but the agent knew what to do once I requested it.
MUC-IAC in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 child, 39.000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
4 weeks
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
exact date I wanted (a little research in advance helped) thanks to SEN WL
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
by phone, had to specifically ask to get WL, CHD discount etc, but the agent knew what to do once I requested it.
Jun 30, 2011, 5:42 am
#350
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: GVA
Programs: LH KL PC
Posts: 393
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
GVA-FRA-EZE (LH C)
EZE-FRA-GVA (LH C)
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 1st person 135'000 miles, 2nd person 67500 miles as SEN companion award
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3 months almost to the day
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, the exact dates I wanted.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Very happy, I checked before to make sure there were seats available, and spent 10 minutes on the phone to confirm everything. No problems whatsoever.
GVA-FRA-EZE (LH C)
EZE-FRA-GVA (LH C)
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 1st person 135'000 miles, 2nd person 67500 miles as SEN companion award
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3 months almost to the day
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, the exact dates I wanted.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Very happy, I checked before to make sure there were seats available, and spent 10 minutes on the phone to confirm everything. No problems whatsoever.
Jul 3, 2011, 7:51 pm
#351
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
Rebooking F awards:
I had an F award Germany-MUC-US for 2 people, booked a few days ago. I was not able to find a good connection in MUC and ended up with 6 hours in MUC.
SEN waitlist did not work for the later connector (less than 7 days and almost no more seats for sale)
Called today to check if the later connector is available. No. Anything else available? No.
Called the US SEN hotline. Still no connector to MUC, but the ZRH connection was available (it was showing F3 A3 before - and no award seats on the AC website). Changed my booking,
Availability ZRH-US changed to F1A1, the MUC-US flight changed from F2A2 to F4A4, but the number of available award seats in F (using the Air Canada site) changed from 1 to 3.
It seems that cancelled award tickets (sometimes) go back into award inventory immediately. Also availability seems to be different between SEN Germany and SEN US - and different from what the AC website shows.
I had an F award Germany-MUC-US for 2 people, booked a few days ago. I was not able to find a good connection in MUC and ended up with 6 hours in MUC.
SEN waitlist did not work for the later connector (less than 7 days and almost no more seats for sale)
Called today to check if the later connector is available. No. Anything else available? No.
Called the US SEN hotline. Still no connector to MUC, but the ZRH connection was available (it was showing F3 A3 before - and no award seats on the AC website). Changed my booking,
Availability ZRH-US changed to F1A1, the MUC-US flight changed from F2A2 to F4A4, but the number of available award seats in F (using the Air Canada site) changed from 1 to 3.
It seems that cancelled award tickets (sometimes) go back into award inventory immediately. Also availability seems to be different between SEN Germany and SEN US - and different from what the AC website shows.
Jul 6, 2011, 1:21 pm
#352
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 15
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
MUC-ZRH-SFO SWISS Business (I)
SFO-PHL-YUL US Airways First (O) and Economy (X), no First on E170
YUL-ZRH-MUC SWISS Business (I) to ZRH and Lufthansa (I) to MUC
How many pax and how many award miles?
Just me
105.000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
approx. 2,5 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, and I had to change my stopover. I wanted to fly MUC YUL (stopover) SFO (destination) MUC instead.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes! Although it took two calls, the agents were really helpful to find alternatives. Online wasn't possible due to the SFO-YUL leg.
MUC-ZRH-SFO SWISS Business (I)
SFO-PHL-YUL US Airways First (O) and Economy (X), no First on E170
YUL-ZRH-MUC SWISS Business (I) to ZRH and Lufthansa (I) to MUC
How many pax and how many award miles?
Just me
105.000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
approx. 2,5 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, and I had to change my stopover. I wanted to fly MUC YUL (stopover) SFO (destination) MUC instead.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes! Although it took two calls, the agents were really helpful to find alternatives. Online wasn't possible due to the SFO-YUL leg.
Jul 7, 2011, 12:58 am
#353
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: 7,757
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
MUC-ZRH-SFO SWISS Business (I)
SFO-PHL-YUL US Airways First (O) and Economy (X), no First on E170
YUL-ZRH-MUC SWISS Business (I) to ZRH and Lufthansa (I) to MUC
How many pax and how many award miles?
Just me
105.000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
approx. 2,5 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, and I had to change my stopover. I wanted to fly MUC YUL (stopover) SFO (destination) MUC instead.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes! Although it took two calls, the agents were really helpful to find alternatives. Online wasn't possible due to the SFO-YUL leg.
MUC-ZRH-SFO SWISS Business (I)
SFO-PHL-YUL US Airways First (O) and Economy (X), no First on E170
YUL-ZRH-MUC SWISS Business (I) to ZRH and Lufthansa (I) to MUC
How many pax and how many award miles?
Just me
105.000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
approx. 2,5 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, and I had to change my stopover. I wanted to fly MUC YUL (stopover) SFO (destination) MUC instead.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes! Although it took two calls, the agents were really helpful to find alternatives. Online wasn't possible due to the SFO-YUL leg.
If so I'm surprised they allowed this as in my book it has one to many sectors on the outbound (4 sectors reaching your turnaround point vs. allowed 3). That is unless the US SFO-PHL-YUL flight is operated as one flight number with a technical stop in PHL and not as a connecting flight with different flight numbers.
Here is what I mean:
Outbound
1. MUC-ZRH
2. ZRH-SFO (stop)
3. SFO-PHL
4. PHL-YUL (turnaround)
Inbound
1. YUL-ZRH
2. ZRH-MUC
Well either way, good you got it ticketed. I had LH give me a really hard time before on this (rightfully though) and needed to shuffle around routings to comply with the 3 sectors each on outbound and inbound rule.
Jul 7, 2011, 1:07 am
#354
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 207
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
CLT-IAT on LH
Business
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax using UA miles, 105000 each
1 pas using LH miles 105,000
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
330 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)?
Had to do it all on the phone. 2 pax by calling UA, 1 pax calling LH and juggling all of them to get the same dates.
CLT-IAT on LH
Business
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax using UA miles, 105000 each
1 pas using LH miles 105,000
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
330 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)?
Had to do it all on the phone. 2 pax by calling UA, 1 pax calling LH and juggling all of them to get the same dates.
Jul 7, 2011, 2:07 am
#355
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 15
So your stopover is now SFO and YUL is your turnaround point?
If so I'm surprised they allowed this as in my book it has one to many sectors on the outbound (4 sectors reaching your turnaround point vs. allowed 3). That is unless the US SFO-PHL-YUL flight is operated as one flight number with a technical stop in PHL and not as a connecting flight with different flight numbers.
Here is what I mean:
Outbound
1. MUC-ZRH
2. ZRH-SFO (stop)
3. SFO-PHL
4. PHL-YUL (turnaround)
Inbound
1. YUL-ZRH
2. ZRH-MUC
Well either way, good you got it ticketed. I had LH give me a really hard time before on this (rightfully though) and needed to shuffle around routings to comply with the 3 sectors each on outbound and inbound rule.
If so I'm surprised they allowed this as in my book it has one to many sectors on the outbound (4 sectors reaching your turnaround point vs. allowed 3). That is unless the US SFO-PHL-YUL flight is operated as one flight number with a technical stop in PHL and not as a connecting flight with different flight numbers.
Here is what I mean:
Outbound
1. MUC-ZRH
2. ZRH-SFO (stop)
3. SFO-PHL
4. PHL-YUL (turnaround)
Inbound
1. YUL-ZRH
2. ZRH-MUC
Well either way, good you got it ticketed. I had LH give me a really hard time before on this (rightfully though) and needed to shuffle around routings to comply with the 3 sectors each on outbound and inbound rule.
Of course I prefer the AC direct flight or transferring via YYZ instead of US via PHL. Better C product and an A333 on the YYZ-YUL leg! Unfortunatelly, not available.
Jul 7, 2011, 3:01 pm
#356
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: FRA
Programs: LH SEN, SPG Plat, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 566
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
FRA-MIA LH A380 First (O)
MCO-FRA-QKL LH First (O) (obviously no F on FRA-QKL)
How many pax and how many award miles?
Me and my girlfriend. Booked as two one way awards with companion award (127.500 miles each).
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Approx. 6 weeks
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Booked FRA-MCO first (about 3 months before travel date), called back and changed to FRA-MIA when award wait list got me two seats on the A380
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Everything worked quite smoothly...
FRA-MIA LH A380 First (O)
MCO-FRA-QKL LH First (O) (obviously no F on FRA-QKL)
How many pax and how many award miles?
Me and my girlfriend. Booked as two one way awards with companion award (127.500 miles each).
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
Approx. 6 weeks
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Booked FRA-MCO first (about 3 months before travel date), called back and changed to FRA-MIA when award wait list got me two seats on the A380
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Everything worked quite smoothly...
Jul 7, 2011, 5:44 pm
#357
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Guatemala
Programs: CM PP DL GM
Posts: 406
GUA-BKK
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
GUA-ORD COTINENTAL C
ORD-MUC LH F
MUC-BKK TG F
BKK-MUC TG F
MUC-DUS LH C
DUS-MIA LH F
MIA-GUA CM C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 PAX
360000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
approx. 5 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
I HAD TO GET THIS ROUTE INSTED OF FRA CONECTION
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone
All was done over the phone
GUA-ORD COTINENTAL C
ORD-MUC LH F
MUC-BKK TG F
BKK-MUC TG F
MUC-DUS LH C
DUS-MIA LH F
MIA-GUA CM C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 PAX
360000 Miles
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
approx. 5 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
I HAD TO GET THIS ROUTE INSTED OF FRA CONECTION
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone
All was done over the phone
Jul 9, 2011, 12:22 pm
#358
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
Which Flight did you book and which class?
All Luthansa Flights
Lax to Ist (B), Ist to Krakow(B), Krakow to LAX( B) except for leg from Frankfurt to Lax (F)
How many PAX and how many award Miles?
1 person, 117k (continental airlines mileage points)
How much in advance?
11 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Pretty much. I had flexibility for traveling in Mid May through Early June 2012
Love the search engine of Continental.
All Luthansa Flights
Lax to Ist (B), Ist to Krakow(B), Krakow to LAX( B) except for leg from Frankfurt to Lax (F)
How many PAX and how many award Miles?
1 person, 117k (continental airlines mileage points)
How much in advance?
11 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Pretty much. I had flexibility for traveling in Mid May through Early June 2012
Love the search engine of Continental.
Jul 9, 2011, 2:25 pm
#359
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MIA and VRN
Programs: SEN LH Hyatt Globalist AA EXP
Posts: 612
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?
LH 267 VRN-FRA continuing LH 462 FRA-MIA, Business on A388, one way (today July 9th)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 PAX, 52,500x3 minus 26,250 credit for companion award
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes. Date was not available, but was requested and confirmed while I was on the phone
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, US Senator hotline operator was very nice and quite efficient
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Twice (second time to get the credit for companion award)
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH 267 VRN-FRA continuing LH 462 FRA-MIA, Business on A388, one way (today July 9th)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
3 PAX, 52,500x3 minus 26,250 credit for companion award
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes. Date was not available, but was requested and confirmed while I was on the phone
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, US Senator hotline operator was very nice and quite efficient
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Twice (second time to get the credit for companion award)
Aug 25, 2011, 2:26 am
#360
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: GVA
Programs: LH KL PC
Posts: 393
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
GVA-(LH in C)-FRA-(LH in F)-ORD
LAX-(LX in F)-ZRH-(LX in C)-GVA
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 255'000 miles in total incl. SEN companion award
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
9 months.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, the exact dates I wanted.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Smooth process, I spent some time finding availability online, then 10 mins on the phone and the tickets were booked.
GVA-(LH in C)-FRA-(LH in F)-ORD
LAX-(LX in F)-ZRH-(LX in C)-GVA
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 255'000 miles in total incl. SEN companion award
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
9 months.
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, the exact dates I wanted.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Smooth process, I spent some time finding availability online, then 10 mins on the phone and the tickets were booked.