Please post your M&M award booking experience
Feb 22, 2020, 12:16 am
#706
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Germany
Posts: 25
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
MUC - CHC / AKL - MUC in C-class
How many pax and how many award miles?
Outbound: 97.000 miles and about 300 EUR
Inbound: 97.000 miles and 81,85 NZ$ (about 60 EUR)
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
8 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Allmost. The outbound flight is 1 day earlier.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I found a oneway online from FRA via SIN to CHC (97.000 miles / 124 EUR). But until I got the permisson to take holiday from my boss, this fligth was gone. No other flight was offered between Germany and New Zealand within +/- 7 days. So I called in. The first 2 agents either could not see any availability. Only the 3rd agent found a flight MUC (LX) -ZRH (LX) - SIN (SQ) - CHC. The taxes were higher, but I was happy to get this flight.
The way back I´ve booked online, with availability wide open. I could choose between the following routes:
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
3x
MUC - CHC / AKL - MUC in C-class
How many pax and how many award miles?
Outbound: 97.000 miles and about 300 EUR
Inbound: 97.000 miles and 81,85 NZ$ (about 60 EUR)
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
8 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Allmost. The outbound flight is 1 day earlier.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
I found a oneway online from FRA via SIN to CHC (97.000 miles / 124 EUR). But until I got the permisson to take holiday from my boss, this fligth was gone. No other flight was offered between Germany and New Zealand within +/- 7 days. So I called in. The first 2 agents either could not see any availability. Only the 3rd agent found a flight MUC (LX) -ZRH (LX) - SIN (SQ) - CHC. The taxes were higher, but I was happy to get this flight.
The way back I´ve booked online, with availability wide open. I could choose between the following routes:
- AKL (SQ) - SIN (SQ) - CPH (SAS) - MUC
- AKL(SQ) - SIN (LX) - ZRH (LX) - MUC
- AKL (CA) - PEK (CA) - MUC
- AKL(SQ) - SIN (LH) - FRA (LH) - MUC
- AKL(SQ) - SIN (SQ) - DUS (LH) - MUC
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
3x
Mar 5, 2020, 7:35 am
#707
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: LJU
Programs: LH FTL
Posts: 50
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
LJU-MUC-FRA-BKK Y
BKK-IST-LJU C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 adults + 1 child. Needed to book two one-ways to get the LH group child discount on outbound. On inbound it's a standard *A business award therefore the child tix was as per regular pricelist.
Outbound: 2x40.000 miles + 30.000 miles child; €285 taxes x3
Return: 3x71.000 miles; €189 in taxes x3
Total is 323.000 miles and €1422
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
booked on beginning of March for end of October/beg of November
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes but had to compromise on Y class for the outbound.
LX C was available for outbound 1 day later (the child would cost less miles compared to TK C).
LH PE was available on the return (but not LH C) so I rather took TK C since having to fly out in Y. At least I got the CHD discount on the outbound.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
By phone b/c I had additional enquiries. Turned out two one-ways was cheaper than the return (the TK leg cancels child discount for entire trip).
Agent was very kind. The whole procedure lasted about 45 mins.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Checked online for my options and then called in to book.
LJU-MUC-FRA-BKK Y
BKK-IST-LJU C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 adults + 1 child. Needed to book two one-ways to get the LH group child discount on outbound. On inbound it's a standard *A business award therefore the child tix was as per regular pricelist.
Outbound: 2x40.000 miles + 30.000 miles child; €285 taxes x3
Return: 3x71.000 miles; €189 in taxes x3
Total is 323.000 miles and €1422
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
booked on beginning of March for end of October/beg of November
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes but had to compromise on Y class for the outbound.
LX C was available for outbound 1 day later (the child would cost less miles compared to TK C).
LH PE was available on the return (but not LH C) so I rather took TK C since having to fly out in Y. At least I got the CHD discount on the outbound.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
By phone b/c I had additional enquiries. Turned out two one-ways was cheaper than the return (the TK leg cancels child discount for entire trip).
Agent was very kind. The whole procedure lasted about 45 mins.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Checked online for my options and then called in to book.
Last edited by Vivid; Mar 5, 2020 at 8:17 am
May 7, 2020, 2:57 pm
#708
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX M&M
Posts: 318
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
ZRH-FRA LH C
FRA-HND NH C / new C
HND-CTS NH Y
CTS-TPE BR C
TPE-CDG BR C
CDG-ZRH LX C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax. 142, 000 miles and ~ CHF 390 in fees/taxes each
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 month in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
almost
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?
checked it online and had to call once to book
ZRH-FRA LH C
FRA-HND NH C / new C
HND-CTS NH Y
CTS-TPE BR C
TPE-CDG BR C
CDG-ZRH LX C
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax. 142, 000 miles and ~ CHF 390 in fees/taxes each
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
10 month in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
almost
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?
checked it online and had to call once to book
Last edited by lx343; May 8, 2020 at 12:23 am
May 7, 2020, 9:53 pm
#709
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,842
Sorry, I havn't made M&M award bookings for a long time, so may not be entirely updated, but 71,000 miles for a Europe to Japan return ticket in I class seems very cheap - what is going on/how?
May 7, 2020, 11:01 pm
#710
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: ZRH
Programs: QR Gold / M&M FTL / Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 653
May 8, 2020, 12:25 am
#711
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX M&M
Posts: 318
Jan 6, 2021, 3:40 am
#712
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,165
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
DEL-WAW-MUC all C.
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 ADT 56k+ 4228 INR
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
80 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)?
All online. I doubt this flight will operate though, but I'll gladly use the option to book an award without YQ ^ and get rebooked onto LH when the flight cancels.
DEL-WAW-MUC all C.
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 ADT 56k+ 4228 INR
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
80 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)?
All online. I doubt this flight will operate though, but I'll gladly use the option to book an award without YQ ^ and get rebooked onto LH when the flight cancels.
Nov 12, 2021, 5:58 am
#713
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,165
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
MUC-FRA-DTW//SFO-FRA-MUC in C ( I )
How many pax and how many award miles?
4 pax, 292k miles, 2637.48€
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)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I had checked earlier (October) and did not find any award seats (peak season Bavarian easter holidays) except on 4Y to LAS
Last week I just played around on M&M and to my surprise the seats appeared. So I booked online and was done.
MUC-FRA-DTW//SFO-FRA-MUC in C ( I )
How many pax and how many award miles?
4 pax, 292k miles, 2637.48€
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)? How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
I had checked earlier (October) and did not find any award seats (peak season Bavarian easter holidays) except on 4Y to LAS
Last week I just played around on M&M and to my surprise the seats appeared. So I booked online and was done.
Nov 13, 2021, 2:00 pm
#714
formerly a193991
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Zulu Romeo Hotel
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist; LX SEN (*A Gold), AA LTG, SBB-CFF-FFS First Class GA
Posts: 4,573
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
ZRH-MUC-CLT//MIA-FRAZRH in C ( I )
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 112k + 56k miles, 2x649.25 CHF
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
327 days
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, return flight 1 day later on LH. Only option on preferred day was on LOT, which I have no intention to fly. And wanted LX returning.
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?
It was ok. I know I can cancel with limited costs. Would have preferred LX from MIA, but nothing available at all. Wanted F on LX, too.
ZRH-MUC-CLT//MIA-FRAZRH in C ( I )
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 pax, 112k + 56k miles, 2x649.25 CHF
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
327 days
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
No, return flight 1 day later on LH. Only option on preferred day was on LOT, which I have no intention to fly. And wanted LX returning.
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?
It was ok. I know I can cancel with limited costs. Would have preferred LX from MIA, but nothing available at all. Wanted F on LX, too.
Last edited by 59Impala; Nov 14, 2021 at 1:13 am
Nov 20, 2021, 12:33 pm
#715
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX M&M
Posts: 318
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
ZRH-WAW LX C
WAW-LHR LO C
LHR-HND NH F / new F
HND-ORD NH F / old F
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax. 155,000 miles and ~ CHF 330 in fees/taxes each
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
12 month in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
almost
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?
checked it online and had to call once to book
ZRH-WAW LX C
WAW-LHR LO C
LHR-HND NH F / new F
HND-ORD NH F / old F
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax. 155,000 miles and ~ CHF 330 in fees/taxes each
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
12 month in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
almost
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?
checked it online and had to call once to book
Nov 21, 2021, 4:25 am
#716
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,621
I think that is a wonderful routing in the post above. Of course, this is a OW (one way) ticket, right? I believe on OW award tix it is not possible to make a stop for longer than 24 hours. Or did you somehow make this into a RT ticket? Would it have been possible to add a 5th segment, to some obscure US destination for example, or are 4 segments the limit on M&M?
Nov 21, 2021, 1:05 pm
#717
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX M&M
Posts: 318
I think that is a wonderful routing in the post above. Of course, this is a OW (one way) ticket, right? I believe on OW award tix it is not possible to make a stop for longer than 24 hours. Or did you somehow make this into a RT ticket? Would it have been possible to add a 5th segment, to some obscure US destination for example, or are 4 segments the limit on M&M?
lx343
Jan 7, 2022, 6:45 am
#718
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: FRA
Programs: LH SEN**, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 669
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
FRA-ZRH-BKK roundtrip in LX F (O)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax: 222000 miles and 609 EUR fees
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
~7 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
almost, need to stay 2 days longer than initially planned
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, called German SEN hotline, no waiting, very quick and helpful agent proactively offering alternatives. Took less than 10 minutes.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
checked availability in I on LX before as backup (as LX O seats cannot be booked online), then called once.
FRA-ZRH-BKK roundtrip in LX F (O)
How many pax and how many award miles?
1 pax: 222000 miles and 609 EUR fees
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
~7 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
almost, need to stay 2 days longer than initially planned
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
Yes, called German SEN hotline, no waiting, very quick and helpful agent proactively offering alternatives. Took less than 10 minutes.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
checked availability in I on LX before as backup (as LX O seats cannot be booked online), then called once.
Jan 8, 2022, 3:25 am
#719
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Up in the air
Programs: LH HON, BA LT Gold, AFKL ULTI, WOH Lifetime Globalist, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 385
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
Out: LH FRA-MLE in C
In: OS MLE-VIE-FRA in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 adults, return tickets
145.000 miles for the first ticket, 72.500 miles for the second one as companion award
Tax and Fees of 625 Euros for the two tickets together as I chose the Business Premium award that costs more miles, but saves taxes and fees
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
18 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)?
Yes, on the phone and they went all the way to clear the seats for me under HON best Award availability
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Called once, 18 minutes to finish
Out: LH FRA-MLE in C
In: OS MLE-VIE-FRA in C
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 adults, return tickets
145.000 miles for the first ticket, 72.500 miles for the second one as companion award
Tax and Fees of 625 Euros for the two tickets together as I chose the Business Premium award that costs more miles, but saves taxes and fees
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
18 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)?
Yes, on the phone and they went all the way to clear the seats for me under HON best Award availability
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Called once, 18 minutes to finish
Jan 16, 2022, 7:44 am
#720
formerly a193991
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Zulu Romeo Hotel
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist; LX SEN (*A Gold), AA LTG, SBB-CFF-FFS First Class GA
Posts: 4,573
Which route/airline did you book and which class?
out: ZRH-ORD in F on LX
in: not available on my wanted dates ex MIA
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 adults, one way
91.000 miles for the first ticket, 45.500 miles for the second one as companion award
Tax and Fees of 321.65 CHF for each ticket.
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
9 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes for the outbound
No for the inbound, hence only a oneway. I will look for alternate solutions for my return flight. I wanted a MIA-ZRH end of October in C or F, but nothing available, only LH.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
not really. I cannot book F in LX online - did not show any availability. as per the agent, I should be able to book F online. He had 2 Seats in O available as I wanted. In general, booking on M&M.com is simply dreadful.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Called once, less than a minute wait after the announcements (called on a Sunday afternoon) - very friendly and efficient employee.
out: ZRH-ORD in F on LX
in: not available on my wanted dates ex MIA
How many pax and how many award miles?
2 adults, one way
91.000 miles for the first ticket, 45.500 miles for the second one as companion award
Tax and Fees of 321.65 CHF for each ticket.
How many days/weeks/months did you book in advance?
9 months in advance
Have you been able to book your preferred dates of travel?
Yes for the outbound
No for the inbound, hence only a oneway. I will look for alternate solutions for my return flight. I wanted a MIA-ZRH end of October in C or F, but nothing available, only LH.
Were you happy with the award booking procedure (e.g. online/by phone)?
not really. I cannot book F in LX online - did not show any availability. as per the agent, I should be able to book F online. He had 2 Seats in O available as I wanted. In general, booking on M&M.com is simply dreadful.
How often did you have to check/call until you got the seats?
Called once, less than a minute wait after the announcements (called on a Sunday afternoon) - very friendly and efficient employee.