West Coast to Germany in Z
Dec 13, 2012, 2:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3
West Coast to Germany in Z
Hey, just moved to LA and expected to encounter cheaper ways to get into business. it turns out that i have no idea how to book my way into business for coming trips on basically Westcoast (preferably LAX) to FRA or MUC.
The way "I did it" from Europe was to check on KVStool.com availability on lets say Z fares and then talk to talented travel agents who did the booking for me. sometimes i purchased myself thru LH homepage.
Anyways, I ended up paying around 2K Euro for US trips. Now, as UA gold and still LH senator I have no idea how to book or with whom to do the booking.
Any ideas?
thx
The way "I did it" from Europe was to check on KVStool.com availability on lets say Z fares and then talk to talented travel agents who did the booking for me. sometimes i purchased myself thru LH homepage.
Anyways, I ended up paying around 2K Euro for US trips. Now, as UA gold and still LH senator I have no idea how to book or with whom to do the booking.
Any ideas?
thx
Dec 13, 2012, 6:36 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
You can still deal with a travel agent if you want. Or you can search for the availability using something like ITA's 30-day search if you want. That can help you find dates where there are discount biz seats available. Also keep in mind that many discount biz fares are booking in P these days, not Z.
You can still deal with a travel agent if you want. Or you can search for the availability using something like ITA's 30-day search if you want. That can help you find dates where there are discount biz seats available. Also keep in mind that many discount biz fares are booking in P these days, not Z.
Dec 14, 2012, 9:30 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
You can still deal with a travel agent if you want. Or you can search for the availability using something like ITA's 30-day search if you want. That can help you find dates where there are discount biz seats available. Also keep in mind that many discount biz fares are booking in P these days, not Z.
You can still deal with a travel agent if you want. Or you can search for the availability using something like ITA's 30-day search if you want. That can help you find dates where there are discount biz seats available. Also keep in mind that many discount biz fares are booking in P these days, not Z.
P is a pain btw..
Dec 15, 2012, 6:58 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: FRA
Programs: AC SE 1MM, UA 1K, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Gold Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,933
West Coast to Germany in Z
The ITA matrix is great, you can specify that you are looking for Z or any other class only and it will show you the lowest fare. In the TATL JV, Air Canada does not have P fares yet, while the fare conditions are identical to UA or LH, they book into Z class which is their lowest booking class for business class.
Dec 15, 2012, 7:13 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Yes, you can specify a specific fare class in ITA. That said, if you search for business class and the duration of stay you want with the 30-day flexible search then you'll see if the fares work or not, regardless of the fare class they are booking in.
Once you find the fare you're looking for booking it should be possible on the airline site, a 3rd party OTA or via an agent. Some of the more complicated itineraries are harder to force OTAs to find but so long as you're just looking for the lowest fare in a market most should find them OK. I've also had pretty good success recently using Hipmunk to force complex routings into an OTA.
Once you find the fare you're looking for booking it should be possible on the airline site, a 3rd party OTA or via an agent. Some of the more complicated itineraries are harder to force OTAs to find but so long as you're just looking for the lowest fare in a market most should find them OK. I've also had pretty good success recently using Hipmunk to force complex routings into an OTA.
Dec 15, 2012, 10:06 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3
Yes, you can specify a specific fare class in ITA. That said, if you search for business class and the duration of stay you want with the 30-day flexible search then you'll see if the fares work or not, regardless of the fare class they are booking in.
Once you find the fare you're looking for booking it should be possible on the airline site, a 3rd party OTA or via an agent. Some of the more complicated itineraries are harder to force OTAs to find but so long as you're just looking for the lowest fare in a market most should find them OK. I've also had pretty good success recently using Hipmunk to force complex routings into an OTA.
Once you find the fare you're looking for booking it should be possible on the airline site, a 3rd party OTA or via an agent. Some of the more complicated itineraries are harder to force OTAs to find but so long as you're just looking for the lowest fare in a market most should find them OK. I've also had pretty good success recently using Hipmunk to force complex routings into an OTA.