Please post your M&M award booking experience
Sep 22, 2016, 7:21 am
#526
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Berlin
Programs: BAEC Gold, Etihad Silver
Posts: 10
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
TXL-FRA-DXB in LH F Oneway (TXL-FRA in C obviously)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Pax, 62.000 LH Miles, 226€ 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)?
Searched for Availability online, got 3 results for my preferred date with the earliest flight leaving TXL at 9:45am; I didnt book online but called Miles&More (no Status) because i wanted to leave one flight earlier from Berlin (to have more time in the FCT, as that will be my first visit); Agent was very helpful and booking was done within 5 minutes; even got my preffered seats
TXL-FRA-DXB in LH F Oneway (TXL-FRA in C obviously)
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Pax, 62.000 LH Miles, 226€ 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)?
Searched for Availability online, got 3 results for my preferred date with the earliest flight leaving TXL at 9:45am; I didnt book online but called Miles&More (no Status) because i wanted to leave one flight earlier from Berlin (to have more time in the FCT, as that will be my first visit); Agent was very helpful and booking was done within 5 minutes; even got my preffered seats
Sep 29, 2016, 12:20 pm
#527
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 54
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
ZAG-YVR, stopovers in YYC and YUL
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Pax, 105k miles,500 EUR in taxes
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Roughly, looked for flights on weekends, but got them on workdays
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
M&M online useless for finding availability, had to find availability on UA and AC sites and to feed them to M&M agent over the phone
ZAG-YVR, stopovers in YYC and YUL
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Pax, 105k miles,500 EUR in taxes
- How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months in advance
- Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Roughly, looked for flights on weekends, but got them on workdays
- Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
M&M online useless for finding availability, had to find availability on UA and AC sites and to feed them to M&M agent over the phone
Oct 1, 2016, 5:27 am
#528
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX M&M
Posts: 318
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
TPE-PVG(BR) C
PVG-FRA(LH) F
FRA-ZRH(LX) C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2pax (myself & friend) 105,000 each, 320€ tax
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3 month
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?
First attempt.
Even got two seats to FRA eventhough there was no availability online.
TPE-PVG(BR) C
PVG-FRA(LH) F
FRA-ZRH(LX) C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2pax (myself & friend) 105,000 each, 320€ tax
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
3 month
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?
First attempt.
Even got two seats to FRA eventhough there was no availability online.
Nov 18, 2016, 4:04 pm
#529
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: 29,517
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LH MAN-MUC-HND oneway in C/F
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 105,000 miles + £361.24
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5.5 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)?
Yes, checked availability and booked online.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Plenty of availability on most days.
LH MAN-MUC-HND oneway in C/F
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 105,000 miles + £361.24
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5.5 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)?
Yes, checked availability and booked online.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Plenty of availability on most days.
Nov 18, 2016, 4:27 pm
#530
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: 29,517
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
OS/OS/TG MAN-VIE-BKK-RGN oneway in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 67,000 miles + £391.34
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2.5 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)?
I could only find C awards to SIN on LX within a few days of my preferred date. Since I didn't think the routing MAN-ZRH-SIN-RGN was allowed I was going to book an award to SIN and purchase a cheap SIN-RGN ticket separately. I hesitated a little since the layover in ZRH would be 60 minutes. There was no C award available to BKK. The following day I checked again and found MAN-VIE-BKK has become available on the day I wanted. I called M&M and eventually persuaded the agent to book the flights I found online.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
The CPT-based agent didn't know where Yangon was and could not find availability on the longhaul segment possibly because I didn't tell him the flight was VIE-BKK. He had no problem finding the BKK-RGN segment on TG. Taxes and fees would have been £282.54 for MAN-VIE-BKK but adding BKK-RGN increased the charges by more than £100.
OS/OS/TG MAN-VIE-BKK-RGN oneway in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 67,000 miles + £391.34
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2.5 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)?
I could only find C awards to SIN on LX within a few days of my preferred date. Since I didn't think the routing MAN-ZRH-SIN-RGN was allowed I was going to book an award to SIN and purchase a cheap SIN-RGN ticket separately. I hesitated a little since the layover in ZRH would be 60 minutes. There was no C award available to BKK. The following day I checked again and found MAN-VIE-BKK has become available on the day I wanted. I called M&M and eventually persuaded the agent to book the flights I found online.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
The CPT-based agent didn't know where Yangon was and could not find availability on the longhaul segment possibly because I didn't tell him the flight was VIE-BKK. He had no problem finding the BKK-RGN segment on TG. Taxes and fees would have been £282.54 for MAN-VIE-BKK but adding BKK-RGN increased the charges by more than £100.
Nov 19, 2016, 11:33 pm
#531
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Montreal
Programs: Aeroplan, M&M
Posts: 585
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
FRA-YYC-FRA, Business class on AC
How many pax and how many award miles?
3 Pax (2 adults and 1 toddler). 105k / pax
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.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Knew that we wanted to visit YYC, checked aeroplan for availability. Called in, tickets booked.
FRA-YYC-FRA, Business class on AC
How many pax and how many award miles?
3 Pax (2 adults and 1 toddler). 105k / pax
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.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Knew that we wanted to visit YYC, checked aeroplan for availability. Called in, tickets booked.
Dec 23, 2016, 5:14 am
#532
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Germany
Posts: 25
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
MUC - FRA - BKK - MEL - Stopover - MEL - WLG - Destination - AKL - BNE - Stopover - BNE - BKK - MUC
The first sector to FRA is on LH and the flights between Australia and New Zealand are on ANZ. All other flights are on TG.
All fligths in business, except the sector from MEL to WLG, which is on a A320 with economy only.
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Pax, 185k and 334,-- EUR
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes. Only on the way back from BKK to MUC I wanted to go via FRA or VIE, to avoid the angled lieflat of the TG 747. Unfortunately this was not possible.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I booked by phone and had a very friendly an competent agent in the line.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I only called once, but I checked before for availability with the ANA-tool.
MUC - FRA - BKK - MEL - Stopover - MEL - WLG - Destination - AKL - BNE - Stopover - BNE - BKK - MUC
The first sector to FRA is on LH and the flights between Australia and New Zealand are on ANZ. All other flights are on TG.
All fligths in business, except the sector from MEL to WLG, which is on a A320 with economy only.
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Pax, 185k and 334,-- EUR
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes. Only on the way back from BKK to MUC I wanted to go via FRA or VIE, to avoid the angled lieflat of the TG 747. Unfortunately this was not possible.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I booked by phone and had a very friendly an competent agent in the line.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I only called once, but I checked before for availability with the ANA-tool.
Dec 28, 2016, 7:40 pm
#533
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BRU-ZRH
Programs: LX HON, BA Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 764
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
BRU-FRA-GIG-FRA-BRU in C/F/F/C
Booked as 2 one ways to avoid tax
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax
315.000 miles (210.000 + 105.000 SEN companion)
370 EUR tax pp
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No - but we were flexible, so not really an issue.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Booked online
BRU-FRA-GIG-FRA-BRU in C/F/F/C
Booked as 2 one ways to avoid tax
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax
315.000 miles (210.000 + 105.000 SEN companion)
370 EUR tax pp
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
2 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No - but we were flexible, so not really an issue.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Booked online
Jan 2, 2017, 1:09 pm
#534
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: 29,517
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LX HKG-ZRH-MAN oneway in F/C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 105,000 miles + CHF 116.00
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)?
Called a SEN number in Switzerland (Zurich) to make sure I talked to someone who knew SEN could book F awards on LX. Managed to book a later connecting flight to ensure I have more than 45 mins in ZRH (though 11 hours is a little longer than I would have liked
)
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I wanted experience 77W F and chose a date when the load is F8A7 on ExpertFlyer.
LX HKG-ZRH-MAN oneway in F/C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 105,000 miles + CHF 116.00
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)?
Called a SEN number in Switzerland (Zurich) to make sure I talked to someone who knew SEN could book F awards on LX. Managed to book a later connecting flight to ensure I have more than 45 mins in ZRH (though 11 hours is a little longer than I would have liked
)How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I wanted experience 77W F and chose a date when the load is F8A7 on ExpertFlyer.
Jan 2, 2017, 5:05 pm
#535
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: DUB
Programs: LH Sen, QR Gold
Posts: 87
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LX/LH DUB-ZRH-HKG / HND-FRA-DUB - both in F (feeders in J)
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 210k + 105k miles (50% SEN companion discount) + €1100 in taxes/fees
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, no problems with availability
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Booked by phone since LX F award was involved but would have preferred straight online process
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
At booking
LX/LH DUB-ZRH-HKG / HND-FRA-DUB - both in F (feeders in J)
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 210k + 105k miles (50% SEN companion discount) + €1100 in taxes/fees
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes, no problems with availability
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Booked by phone since LX F award was involved but would have preferred straight online process
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
At booking
Jan 3, 2017, 4:26 pm
#536
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New York, Paris
Programs: AA ExPlat 4MM, AA Life Plat, Lufthansa FT, Delta Basic
Posts: 1,593
Not among the best nor easiest...
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
ZRH-JFK LX, Business
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax
52.500 miles
278 EUR tax
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 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)?
Not really.
A last minute change of plans on the return part of an AA award gave me no cheap availability (but plenty at the higher rate) so I decided to check M&M and found what I needed, BUT
1) No way to book online due to a glitch (even when selecting "One Way", the program would not proceed unless I gave a return date).
2) Phone booking went fine, with "Taxes" much higher than AA flights.
3) 3 agents gave me 3 different replies on availability of last minute voluntary cancellation. If AA ZRH-JFK flight opens (but Expertflyer shows it very full), switching would save me about $ 250 in "Taxes" which are negligible on AA. One said OK for 50 euros, one said "Impossible", third one suggested taxes would not be refunded (TAXES???) plus fee to reinstate miles in M&M account. Which is it? Web info is absent.
4) Confirmation email with Record Locator was only sent after I called again twice to ask for it. First agent could not find my booking and suggested there was none.
5) First agent insisted I had to fill out an ESTA file to board the US bound flight. That I have a US passport made "no difference". On the other hand, I was surprised that DOB and Passport number were not requested by agent or through link.
6) Refusal to allocate seat 6K or 8K although they showed wide open on Expertflyer map. Could they be kept for higher tier? I shall try again at check-in.
I am a former M&M FT who, when the massive downgrade of Non-Full Fare Business Class (P inventory) earnings occured about 2-3 years ago, deserted LH/LX/SN/OS/ (there must be thousands like me) and concentrated on Oneworld where I am "Emerald" (Highest tier) . Some things are better in each program (in this case the LX availability at short notice). Altogether, I was not impressed by M&M knowledge or efficiency. However, phones were answered promptly.
ZRH-JFK LX, Business
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax
52.500 miles
278 EUR tax
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
5 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)?
Not really.
A last minute change of plans on the return part of an AA award gave me no cheap availability (but plenty at the higher rate) so I decided to check M&M and found what I needed, BUT
1) No way to book online due to a glitch (even when selecting "One Way", the program would not proceed unless I gave a return date).
2) Phone booking went fine, with "Taxes" much higher than AA flights.
3) 3 agents gave me 3 different replies on availability of last minute voluntary cancellation. If AA ZRH-JFK flight opens (but Expertflyer shows it very full), switching would save me about $ 250 in "Taxes" which are negligible on AA. One said OK for 50 euros, one said "Impossible", third one suggested taxes would not be refunded (TAXES???) plus fee to reinstate miles in M&M account. Which is it? Web info is absent.
4) Confirmation email with Record Locator was only sent after I called again twice to ask for it. First agent could not find my booking and suggested there was none.
5) First agent insisted I had to fill out an ESTA file to board the US bound flight. That I have a US passport made "no difference". On the other hand, I was surprised that DOB and Passport number were not requested by agent or through link.
6) Refusal to allocate seat 6K or 8K although they showed wide open on Expertflyer map. Could they be kept for higher tier? I shall try again at check-in.
I am a former M&M FT who, when the massive downgrade of Non-Full Fare Business Class (P inventory) earnings occured about 2-3 years ago, deserted LH/LX/SN/OS/ (there must be thousands like me) and concentrated on Oneworld where I am "Emerald" (Highest tier) . Some things are better in each program (in this case the LX availability at short notice). Altogether, I was not impressed by M&M knowledge or efficiency. However, phones were answered promptly.
Last edited by Cofyknsult; Jan 3, 2017 at 4:35 pm
Jan 4, 2017, 2:17 am
#537
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Answers to the above questions are here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lufth...lp-thread.html
Please continue the discussion there.
Regards Oliver2002
Mod M&M forum
Please continue the discussion there.
Regards Oliver2002
Mod M&M forum
Jan 19, 2017, 2:49 pm
#538
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 60
- Which route/airline did you book and which class?
JFK-IST-VIE and JFK-IST-HAM oneway in Turkish Business
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Pax each trip, 52.000 LH Miles, USD 238 Taxes
- 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)?
Wanted to avoid LH/OS/LX due to crazy high taxes, checked United and Aeroplan for availability and kept calling for about 10 days until a seat opened up. Booked via phone.
JFK-IST-VIE and JFK-IST-HAM oneway in Turkish Business
- How many pax and how many award miles?
1 Pax each trip, 52.000 LH Miles, USD 238 Taxes
- 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)?
Wanted to avoid LH/OS/LX due to crazy high taxes, checked United and Aeroplan for availability and kept calling for about 10 days until a seat opened up. Booked via phone.
Jan 25, 2017, 1:08 pm
#539
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: ZRH
Programs: EK, AF, SQ, LH, AA
Posts: 18
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
ZRH-MUC (LX C)-SFO (LH F)-FRA (LH F)-ZRH (LH C)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 170,000 miles + CHF 675
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
15 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)?
Yes, checked availability and booked online. Had to call MnM to reserve seats and to add APIS info as these couldn't be saved via website.
ZRH-MUC (LX C)-SFO (LH F)-FRA (LH F)-ZRH (LH C)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax, 170,000 miles + CHF 675
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
15 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)?
Yes, checked availability and booked online. Had to call MnM to reserve seats and to add APIS info as these couldn't be saved via website.
Feb 7, 2017, 3:55 am
#540
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BRU-ZRH
Programs: LX HON, BA Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 764
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
upgraded LX ZRH-LAX from P to First
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 70,000 miles and 2 e-vouchers
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes - though I did pick a flight with 8/8 availability in F.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, called SEN hotline in Switzerland. Got waitlisted but upgrade went through within the hour.
upgraded LX ZRH-LAX from P to First
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 70,000 miles and 2 e-vouchers
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
6 months
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes - though I did pick a flight with 8/8 availability in F.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, called SEN hotline in Switzerland. Got waitlisted but upgrade went through within the hour.