Best * Alliance Business Class (Lie Flat Seats & Service) USA to Berlin & Back
Mar 27, 2012, 10:00 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AA Ex Platinum
Posts: 161
Best * Alliance Business Class (Lie Flat Seats & Service) USA to Berlin & Back
My company is sending me to Berlin on business in July and I am getting ready to book flights.
Are the options I'm considering below, the most comfortable in business class (i.e., lie flat seats, meals, IFE, etc.)?
The routing i'm considering is as follows:
Outbound:
UA96: EWR-BER 1750-0805
Return:
UA8723 (operated by Lufthansa) BER-FRA 1330-1440
UA8834 (operated by Lufthansa) FRA-ORD 1725-1950
Any advice would be appreciated, i'm trying to keep the ticket under $9k.
Thanks!
Are the options I'm considering below, the most comfortable in business class (i.e., lie flat seats, meals, IFE, etc.)?
The routing i'm considering is as follows:
Outbound:
UA96: EWR-BER 1750-0805
Return:
UA8723 (operated by Lufthansa) BER-FRA 1330-1440
UA8834 (operated by Lufthansa) FRA-ORD 1725-1950
Any advice would be appreciated, i'm trying to keep the ticket under $9k.
Thanks!
Mar 27, 2012, 10:10 am
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ORD / DUB / LHR
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA Silver; Marriott Plat
Posts: 8,243
I would recommend another approach:
JFK-FRA on SQ (A380), FRA-BER on LH. Return, BER-EWR on UA, then EWR-ORD.
This appears to be around $6700 on a random set of dates I checked in July. This way you get the far better A380 product outbound (adds a stop though) and a flat bed on UA on the way back. The LH product is not a flat bed - it's angled lie flat seat.
JFK-FRA on SQ (A380), FRA-BER on LH. Return, BER-EWR on UA, then EWR-ORD.
This appears to be around $6700 on a random set of dates I checked in July. This way you get the far better A380 product outbound (adds a stop though) and a flat bed on UA on the way back. The LH product is not a flat bed - it's angled lie flat seat.
Mar 27, 2012, 10:16 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,170
Just looked at this route yesterday - n/s UA on my dates is $8K. That's not going to happen.
Option 2 - connect in FRA, much cheaper (like 1/2 the price). I'd like to go SQ (better experience/seat, no JV revenue $) but may get sucked into UA due to lifetime mileage push & not wanting to miss out on elite bonus.
Option 2 - connect in FRA, much cheaper (like 1/2 the price). I'd like to go SQ (better experience/seat, no JV revenue $) but may get sucked into UA due to lifetime mileage push & not wanting to miss out on elite bonus.
Mar 27, 2012, 10:19 am
#4
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I would probably try and take either US or AC on the outbound. Those two have the best lie flats for sleeping.
On the return, probably LH or PMCO metal (ewr) over PMUA (ORD/IAD).
SQ is obviously the best, but you have to connect in JFK and change terminals no matter where you are connecting. That seems like a pain.
On the return, probably LH or PMCO metal (ewr) over PMUA (ORD/IAD).
SQ is obviously the best, but you have to connect in JFK and change terminals no matter where you are connecting. That seems like a pain.
Mar 27, 2012, 10:20 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AA Ex Platinum
Posts: 161
Just looked at this route yesterday - n/s UA on my dates is $8K. That's not going to happen.
Option 2 - connect in FRA, much cheaper (like 1/2 the price). I'd like to go SQ (better experience/seat, no JV revenue $) but may get sucked into UA due to lifetime mileage push & not wanting to miss out on elite bonus.
Option 2 - connect in FRA, much cheaper (like 1/2 the price). I'd like to go SQ (better experience/seat, no JV revenue $) but may get sucked into UA due to lifetime mileage push & not wanting to miss out on elite bonus.
Mar 27, 2012, 10:20 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: UA 1PP MM
Posts: 328
Just looked at this route yesterday - n/s UA on my dates is $8K. That's not going to happen.
Option 2 - connect in FRA, much cheaper (like 1/2 the price). I'd like to go SQ (better experience/seat, no JV revenue $) but may get sucked into UA due to lifetime mileage push & not wanting to miss out on elite bonus.
Option 2 - connect in FRA, much cheaper (like 1/2 the price). I'd like to go SQ (better experience/seat, no JV revenue $) but may get sucked into UA due to lifetime mileage push & not wanting to miss out on elite bonus.
Mar 27, 2012, 10:23 am
#7
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AA Ex Platinum
Posts: 161
Mar 27, 2012, 10:23 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
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Posts: 21,170
Mar 27, 2012, 10:29 am
#9
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Mar 27, 2012, 10:35 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: UA 1PP MM
Posts: 328
I think they only run the 777 in the summer. It's the only time I've ever been on one this route. And I don't think it's everyday both ways.
Mar 27, 2012, 10:40 am
#11
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
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Posts: 18,039
As the OP seems open to options outside of UA, I will move this to the Star Alliance Forum.
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
Apr 3, 2012, 12:14 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AA Ex Platinum
Posts: 161
Thanks for everyone's help.
I ended up booking the following:
Outbound
UA96- EWR-BER (Does anyone know if this has lie flat seats? United.com seems to suggest so, but seatguru complicates this).
Return
UA8723 (Op by LH) BER-FRA
UA8834 (Op by LH) FRA-ORD
Thanks so much.
I ended up booking the following:
Outbound
UA96- EWR-BER (Does anyone know if this has lie flat seats? United.com seems to suggest so, but seatguru complicates this).
Return
UA8723 (Op by LH) BER-FRA
UA8834 (Op by LH) FRA-ORD
Thanks so much.