Book United codeshare or Lufthansa direct?
Aug 6, 2015 | 4:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
Book United codeshare or Lufthansa direct?
Hi all -
I'm booking a flight in October that basically looks like this:
DEN -> IST
KBP -> DEN
I see the same fare on both United and Lufthansa, about $1280 which is fine. But, I am trying to figure out where to book the flight. Can anyone tell me if I'm understanding this properly:
If I book in UA: It looks like I'll get 100% miles for the flight, but I can't do seat assignments (which I don't really like because I'm tall and finicky)
If I book on Lufthansa: It looks like I'll get 50% mileage for this flight (I think) and I can pay extra for assigned seats.
Note that I only have a UA Mileage Plus acct, I don't actually have any miles on Lufthansa. In the past, I've always been able to get a decent seat on these flights by checking in exactly 24 hours ahead and just grabbing a seat online, but I'd sure like to reserve in advance. Then again, I hate to give up miles
Any advice here?
I'm booking a flight in October that basically looks like this:
DEN -> IST
KBP -> DEN
I see the same fare on both United and Lufthansa, about $1280 which is fine. But, I am trying to figure out where to book the flight. Can anyone tell me if I'm understanding this properly:
If I book in UA: It looks like I'll get 100% miles for the flight, but I can't do seat assignments (which I don't really like because I'm tall and finicky)
If I book on Lufthansa: It looks like I'll get 50% mileage for this flight (I think) and I can pay extra for assigned seats.
Note that I only have a UA Mileage Plus acct, I don't actually have any miles on Lufthansa. In the past, I've always been able to get a decent seat on these flights by checking in exactly 24 hours ahead and just grabbing a seat online, but I'd sure like to reserve in advance. Then again, I hate to give up miles
Any advice here?
Aug 6, 2015 | 4:30 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
Wow looking at this page I'm seeing how I really didn't understand how miles were awarded in the first place: https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/Mar...es/united.aspx
Maybe they are the same after all
Lufthansa lists them both as 'restricted economy' but united lists them as L & V class.
Maybe they are the same after all
Lufthansa lists them both as 'restricted economy' but united lists them as L & V class.
Aug 6, 2015 | 6:04 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: UA/MM/1K
Posts: 181
Book United codeshare or Lufthansa direct?
United allows seat assignment in advance free of charge unless you want e+ ; in that case they charge you, unless you have *G status on UA or you are traveling with someone who has status.
If you don't care about programs and have no status you may want to think About opening a SQ account to get 100% credit on K and V class .
If you don't care about programs and have no status you may want to think About opening a SQ account to get 100% credit on K and V class .
Aug 6, 2015 | 7:03 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
United allows seat assignment in advance free of charge unless you want e+ ; in that case they charge you, unless you have *G status on UA or you are traveling with someone who has status.
If you don't care about programs and have no status you may want to think About opening a SQ account to get 100% credit on K and V class .
If you don't care about programs and have no status you may want to think About opening a SQ account to get 100% credit on K and V class .
Lufthansa charges you to reserve a seat, any seat, even it's just an ordinary seat. But, for $35 I'm ok with that.
Aug 6, 2015 | 8:43 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA - 1K, MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 95
Book United codeshare or Lufthansa direct?
You'll get PQD towards status if you book through United. That may or may not matter to you, but really should be the deciding factor.
United is going to credit you based on the Lufthansa fare class you get ticketed into - NOT the United one they sell you.
United is going to credit you based on the Lufthansa fare class you get ticketed into - NOT the United one they sell you.
Aug 6, 2015 | 9:01 pm
#6
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You are not going to get advance seats if you buy through UA, period. You may be able to get advance seats if you book on LH, but only if you pay extra.
It's generally a bad idea to buy codeshares so I wouldn't do it without a good reason, i.e., because you are chasing UA status.
It's generally a bad idea to buy codeshares so I wouldn't do it without a good reason, i.e., because you are chasing UA status.
Aug 6, 2015 | 9:16 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
Ok, thanks for this info.
I wasn't chasing status on United because I thought I'd never even make the first tier. But, looking at their website, maybe I'm close to Premier level. Here is what I need:
PQM 23,536 of 25,000
PQD $2,169 of $3,000
4 segments (this is done)
If I'm understanding, by booking these as a codeshare through United I would achieve premies status with this single flight. That would probably be worth it, and I am pretty diligent about doing the online checking 23:59 before the flight so I could risk it with the seats.
Am I right? thanks for all this info!
I wasn't chasing status on United because I thought I'd never even make the first tier. But, looking at their website, maybe I'm close to Premier level. Here is what I need:
PQM 23,536 of 25,000
PQD $2,169 of $3,000
4 segments (this is done)
If I'm understanding, by booking these as a codeshare through United I would achieve premies status with this single flight. That would probably be worth it, and I am pretty diligent about doing the online checking 23:59 before the flight so I could risk it with the seats.
Am I right? thanks for all this info!
Aug 6, 2015 | 11:42 pm
#8
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Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
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Moderator, pls move this to UA forum.
Anyway, this is spot on:
You need to focus on how much UA will credit for LH K class flights (or whatever booking class you are looking at). With UA you earn ZERO miles for LH K class and 50% L, T and S class on LH flights
Anyway, this is spot on:
You need to focus on how much UA will credit for LH K class flights (or whatever booking class you are looking at). With UA you earn ZERO miles for LH K class and 50% L, T and S class on LH flights
Last edited by SK AAR; Aug 6, 2015 at 11:50 pm
Aug 7, 2015 | 12:29 am
#9
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Most of the time the fare class will map straight across UA => LH.
OP should check his ticket after booking to confirm that it's not booked as an LH K. But that's a very unlikely result here, particularly with a $2100+ ticket.
That's just flat wrong. If OP books the UA codeshare, a T, S, or L will credit 100%.
Aug 7, 2015 | 8:14 am
#10
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If the OP buys from UA and the ticket is issued on 016 stock then the RDM earning will be dollar-based, not distance based.
https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mar...spx?ItemId=298
If booked direct through LH then the earning will be based on the fare class and may be only 50% or 75% for RDMs, especially if they really are in L or V class. They will earn 100% PQMs in those fare classes.
https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mar...spx?ItemId=298
If booked direct through LH then the earning will be based on the fare class and may be only 50% or 75% for RDMs, especially if they really are in L or V class. They will earn 100% PQMs in those fare classes.
Aug 7, 2015 | 8:18 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
I tried to understand as much as possible about whether this would work, and what I found was:
PQM: Since this is a United issued ticket, there should be no issue picking up 1700 mies here.
PQD: It looks like I'll also accumulate PQD, based on the fare price but not taxes, etc. This was a little ambiguous. The Lufthansa fare was around $600 in fare in $600 in taxes, but somehow the UA fare broke down differently.
I went ahead and purchased the UA fare. Here is how the itinerary ticketed and priced, in the end:
PQM: Since this is a United issued ticket, there should be no issue picking up 1700 mies here.
PQD: It looks like I'll also accumulate PQD, based on the fare price but not taxes, etc. This was a little ambiguous. The Lufthansa fare was around $600 in fare in $600 in taxes, but somehow the UA fare broke down differently.
I went ahead and purchased the UA fare. Here is how the itinerary ticketed and priced, in the end:
Code:
FLIGHT INFORMATION Thu, 15OCT15 LH447 L DENVER, CO (DEN) 5:25 PM FRANKFURT, GERMANY (FRA) 10:55 AM (16OCT) 747-400 Flight operated by LUFTHANSA. Fri, 16OCT15 LH1300 L FRANKFURT, GERMANY (FRA) 12:55 PM ISTANBUL, TURKEY (IST) 4:50 PM A-321 Flight operated by LUFTHANSA. Sun, 25OCT15 UA9149 V KIEV UA (KBP) 6:00 AM FRANKFURT, GERMANY (FRA) 7:55 AM A-320 Breakfast Flight operated by LUFTHANSA. Sun, 25OCT15 UA8878 V FRANKFURT, GERMANY (FRA) 1:20 PM DENVER, CO (DEN) 4:35 PM 747-400 Flight operated by LUFTHANSA. FARE INFORMATION Fare Breakdown Airfare: 1,130.00 USD U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50 U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00 U.S. APHIS User Fee: 5.00 U.S. Transportation Tax: 35.40 September 11th Security Fee: 5.60 Germany Airport Security Charge: 18.00 Germany Passenger Service Charge: 46.40 Ukraine Security Charge: 4.00 Ukraine State Charge: 2.00 Ukraine Airport Passenger Charge: 17.00 U.S. Passenger Facility Charge: 4.50 Per Person Total: 1,280.40 USD eTicket Total: 1,280.40 USD Form of Payment: VISA Last Four Digits 7647 The airfare you paid on this itinerary totals: 1,130.00 USD The taxes, fees, and surcharges paid total: 150.40 USD
Aug 7, 2015 | 8:37 am
#12
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2. Assuming it's not a K fare, you will earn 5650 award miles (RDM) and just over 12,000 premier qualifying miles (PQM). PQDs are $1130. I'm surprised there's no international surcharge on that fare.
Aug 7, 2015 | 8:48 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
1. That's way too cheap for a V. Call LH and find out what fare class Lufthansa has you booked in before 24 hours expire.
2. Assuming it's not a K fare, you will earn 5650 award miles (RDM) and just over 12,000 premier qualifying miles (PQM). PQDs are $1130. I'm surprised there's no international surcharge on that fare.
2. Assuming it's not a K fare, you will earn 5650 award miles (RDM) and just over 12,000 premier qualifying miles (PQM). PQDs are $1130. I'm surprised there's no international surcharge on that fare.
Code:
Flight on Thursday, 15.10.2015 from Denver to Istanbul 17:25 Denver - International, CO (DEN) Lufthansa Duration: 09h 30min Lufthansa LH447 10:55 +1 day Frankfurt/Main International Airport (FRA) Economy (L) Layover: 02h 00min 12:55 +1 day Frankfurt/Main International Airport (FRA) Lufthansa Duration: 02h 55min Lufthansa LH1300 16:50 +1 day Istanbul (IST) Economy (L) Flight on Sunday, 25.10.2015 from Kiev to Denver 06:00 Kiev - Boryspil Intl (KBP) United Airlines Duration: 02h 55min Lufthansa UA9149 07:55 Frankfurt/Main International Airport (FRA) Economy (V) Layover: 05h 25min 13:20 Frankfurt/Main International Airport (FRA) United Airlines Duration: 10h 15min Lufthansa UA8878 16:35 Denver - International, CO (DEN) Economy (V)
Aug 7, 2015 | 9:22 am
#14
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LH must have fixed its systems, because this was a consistently reported problem.
Aug 7, 2015 | 9:30 am
#15
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Probably not, according to ITA.
It appears that UA rolled it in to the airfare in this version of the display. ITA breaks it out but the numbers are roughly the same in total.
It appears that UA rolled it in to the airfare in this version of the display. ITA breaks it out but the numbers are roughly the same in total.