Combining Lufthansa and Asiana
 

I'd like to fly from London to Seoul. The cheapest / best option seems to be via Frankfurt with Lufthansa and then Asiana. Star Alliance website says that this is a valid route, so does anyone know how I can book the flights so that it is ticketed as one journey?

OTA??

Any travel agent should be able to do this if you cannot book online.

Combining Lufthansa and Asiana
 

If you phone Lufthansa, they should be able to do it.

Thanks for the help. I don't seem to be able to do this online at any of the travel agencies I have tried.

I haven't used a non-online travel agent in years, but I'll try to find one (do they still exisit?) and see if they can do it.

In the US you can do it via Orbitz, Expedia, etc. You may have to go into the multiple destination option to specify the specific legs (LHR-FRA, FRA-ICN and back). Then limit the search to LH and OZ.

I don't know what is available in the UK though.

Thanks. Orbitz actually allows me to book the flights I want to; however, they are $7,000 which is around $6,000 more than booking them separately!

I'll talk to a travel agent tomorrow, but clearly there is something I'm missing.

Where are you getting the price quote?

The Asiana flights are €800 on the Asiana website (as well as other websites) and the Lufthansa flights are £100 on the Lufthansa website (as well as other websites).

I went to a travel agent who couldn't do anything. I also phoned Lufthansa who were slightly more helpful - apparently there is no availability on the return Lufthansa flight if I fly Asiana, but there is availability if I book it directly or fly Lufthansa from Seoul (absurdly expensive).

In conclusion, my only choice for this route is to book them separately and take the chance on being able to check my bags all the way through (Lufthansa couldn't confirm if this was possible). There is also the risk that one of the flights is late. Not much of an alliance.

Can you take the OZ direct flight from LHR to ICN?

Update:

I did an ITA search trying to force the LH/OZ combination you desires. Apparently it only books into business class which explains the huge fare jump. Not saying that it is appropriate but just that it explains the fare jump.

Checking luggage thru should not be a problem in my experience. Just show both reservations at check in. You still have the risk of a flight delay. Just built enough buffer time between the flights.

I'd be delighted to fly both ways direct with Asiana. Unfortunately, it is only available on my outward journey (24/12) and not on my return (5/1). This seems to make it almost impossible to use the direct outward flight. But yes, LON-ICN-AMS-LON would be good.

Thanks for doing that. It is all a bit strange.

I'm finding it amazingly difficult to book a simple return flight! BA flies (for a reasonable price) on 5/1, but not on 24/12.

I have two other options to consider:
- Air Korea direct then via Paris and Easy Jet on the way back (I only have the final short flight at risk, but it is another £100.)
- KLM via AMS both ways. Also another £100, but at least it will all be on one ticket

Not sure which is best. Time to think about it.

The issue seems to be that OZ521 (ICN-LHR) does not operate on 5 January. To fly direct on OZ, you would have to return on 4/1 or 6/1.

And the fare will be £1000.

Indeed which is why I've been looking at slightly obscure combinations. Flying on the 5th is quite important.

I'm probably guilty of having the inflexibility and desire for comfort of a business traveller and the purchasing power of a backpacker!

That's always been my understanding, but in the past I've found it very hard to get anyone to confirm in advance. On this occasion, time and making the connection is the only consideration, but previously I have had the situation where I would need a visa if the bags were not checked through, and I still couldn't get a definite confirmation!