Anyone booked LH F awards recently?
Aug 23, 2013, 11:37 am
#1471
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
I was trying to get two FRA-DTW (for PEK-FRA-DTW) in F at T-14. .com showed two seats, but phone call only found one. So I put a dummy FRA-DTW on hold for two ppl. Sometime overnight, it went from waitlist to confirmed. I then canceled the dummy hold, both seats went back into inventory immed, and I was able to make change.
Aug 23, 2013, 4:07 pm
#1472
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DTW, but drive to/from YYZ/ORD
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards 2MM, Diner Club points
Posts: 31,920
united.com saw inventory of two F seats so it let me "hold" it. I have no idea what happened behind the scenes or if another seat would have opened if I waited without a hold. Just a suggestion for others to try if they run into phantom availability.
Aug 23, 2013, 7:45 pm
#1473
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: LAX IAH AMS
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 1,268
i just had "reverse phantom" occur. The flight I have been waiting for has been showing available for days as phantom.... it then disappeared from UA.com and appeared on ANA and KVS as available.
So, couldnt see it on UA.com, but the agent on the phone could see it and booked, ticketed, seat 1A for me!
So, couldnt see it on UA.com, but the agent on the phone could see it and booked, ticketed, seat 1A for me!
Aug 26, 2013, 5:40 am
#1474
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,521
Success at T-4. Saver Award
Just booked the following for two at the Saver First (67.5k miles/person):
CLE EWR in UA Y
EWR BOS in UA F
BOS FRA in LH F (744 with seat+bed configuration)
FRA PRG in LH J (that's Euro-J)
Connection time in FRA is just over four (4) hours.
Will be first time in FCT. ^
At five days before travel ua.com was showing two seats available on the Lufthansa 744 flight. However, in reality, only one was available.
The following day (yesterday) I tried again and found two seats.
CLE EWR in UA Y
EWR BOS in UA F
BOS FRA in LH F (744 with seat+bed configuration)
FRA PRG in LH J (that's Euro-J)
Connection time in FRA is just over four (4) hours.
Will be first time in FCT. ^
At five days before travel ua.com was showing two seats available on the Lufthansa 744 flight. However, in reality, only one was available.
The following day (yesterday) I tried again and found two seats.
Aug 26, 2013, 5:57 am
#1475
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Aug 26, 2013, 9:03 am
#1476
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 91
LH F4 at T-10, any chance of an award via MP?
Flight I'm interested in is FRA->SIN. I see F4 in terms of availability right now. What are the odds something shows up for MP booking? Nothing was opened up at T-14 (I checked), does LH sometime release closer in? If so, how close? And from collective experience, what's the chances of any seats being released for awards if the cabin is already half full?
Aug 26, 2013, 9:08 am
#1477
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,185
All random, no concrete system. If available, they sometimes release it hours before a flight.
Best option is to use a EF subscription and set an alert.
Best option is to use a EF subscription and set an alert.
Aug 26, 2013, 9:45 am
#1478
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Flight I'm interested in is FRA->SIN. I see F4 in terms of availability right now. What are the odds something shows up for MP booking? Nothing was opened up at T-14 (I checked), does LH sometime release closer in? If so, how close? And from collective experience, what's the chances of any seats being released for awards if the cabin is already half full?
Aug 26, 2013, 9:52 am
#1479
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
It doesn't even take F2 for them to decide not to release. Tomorrow (8/27) the FRA-LAX flight is sitting at F6A6 on the 744 and they haven't released a single seat for *A awards! Can't check M&M availability because we are within 2 days, but the last time I checked they weren't even releasing a seat to their own members 
On the plus side, my FRA-DEN tomorrow is now showing New F!
BTW, anybody else notice that http://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/First-Class-Product is now a dead link?
On the plus side, my FRA-DEN tomorrow is now showing New F!
BTW, anybody else notice that http://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/First-Class-Product is now a dead link?
Aug 26, 2013, 1:20 pm
#1480
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
It doesn't even take F2 for them to decide not to release. Tomorrow (8/27) the FRA-LAX flight is sitting at F6A6 on the 744 and they haven't released a single seat for *A awards! Can't check M&M availability because we are within 2 days, but the last time I checked they weren't even releasing a seat to their own members ..
..
Aug 26, 2013, 3:35 pm
#1481
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: If only I knew
Programs: Several of my own making in which I was recently fast-tracked to super-duper-über-elite status
Posts: 1,074
BTW, anybody else notice that http://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/First-Class-Product is now a dead link?
Aug 26, 2013, 8:55 pm
#1482
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat
Posts: 885
LH First Class strategy
I'm primarily a DL flyer, but I know a few things about UA awards and booking LH first class (namely, that they tend to release inventory about two weeks out). Well, I'm looking to book 2 FC award tickets on LH next July (2014), from FRA to any of BOS, NYC or WAS. Here is my question:
Should I...
(a) book some First Class ticket on UA metal now and then attempt to switch to LH if inventory opens? I assume this will entail a fee though (I have no UA status).
(b) book LH business class ticket now and then attempt to upgrade to FC if inventory opens up? But, will this entail a fee too?
Also, beyond just the potential change fees, what would the impact of a change to the reward chart mean in either case if the cost in miles to book FC increases between now and July next year?
Any insight and additional thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Should I...
(a) book some First Class ticket on UA metal now and then attempt to switch to LH if inventory opens? I assume this will entail a fee though (I have no UA status).
(b) book LH business class ticket now and then attempt to upgrade to FC if inventory opens up? But, will this entail a fee too?
Also, beyond just the potential change fees, what would the impact of a change to the reward chart mean in either case if the cost in miles to book FC increases between now and July next year?
Any insight and additional thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Aug 26, 2013, 9:39 pm
#1483
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: LAX IAH AMS
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 1,268
I'm primarily a DL flyer, but I know a few things about UA awards and booking LH first class (namely, that they tend to release inventory about two weeks out). Well, I'm looking to book 2 FC award tickets on LH next July (2014), from FRA to any of BOS, NYC or WAS. Here is my question:
Should I...
(a) book some First Class ticket on UA metal now and then attempt to switch to LH if inventory opens? I assume this will entail a fee though (I have no UA status).
(b) book LH business class ticket now and then attempt to upgrade to FC if inventory opens up? But, will this entail a fee too?
Also, beyond just the potential change fees, what would the impact of a change to the reward chart mean in either case if the cost in miles to book FC increases between now and July next year?
Any insight and additional thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Should I...
(a) book some First Class ticket on UA metal now and then attempt to switch to LH if inventory opens? I assume this will entail a fee though (I have no UA status).
(b) book LH business class ticket now and then attempt to upgrade to FC if inventory opens up? But, will this entail a fee too?
Also, beyond just the potential change fees, what would the impact of a change to the reward chart mean in either case if the cost in miles to book FC increases between now and July next year?
Any insight and additional thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Not sure about the change fees.... I dont have to pay those
Aug 26, 2013, 11:05 pm
#1484
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,465
I'm primarily a DL flyer, but I know a few things about UA awards and booking LH first class (namely, that they tend to release inventory about two weeks out). Well, I'm looking to book 2 FC award tickets on LH next July (2014), from FRA to any of BOS, NYC or WAS. Here is my question:
Should I...
(a) book some First Class ticket on UA metal now and then attempt to switch to LH if inventory opens? I assume this will entail a fee though (I have no UA status).
(b) book LH business class ticket now and then attempt to upgrade to FC if inventory opens up? But, will this entail a fee too?
Also, beyond just the potential change fees, what would the impact of a change to the reward chart mean in either case if the cost in miles to book FC increases between now and July next year?
Any insight and additional thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Should I...
(a) book some First Class ticket on UA metal now and then attempt to switch to LH if inventory opens? I assume this will entail a fee though (I have no UA status).
(b) book LH business class ticket now and then attempt to upgrade to FC if inventory opens up? But, will this entail a fee too?
Also, beyond just the potential change fees, what would the impact of a change to the reward chart mean in either case if the cost in miles to book FC increases between now and July next year?
Any insight and additional thoughts are greatly appreciated!
$100 per traveller for a close-in change.
I would aim to book UA saver first award. Better than being stuck with LH J.
Aug 28, 2013, 8:36 am
#1485
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
apologies if this has been covered but, I've been looking at close in F award availability. Is United.com not showing any LH availability at this time? I can see seats available on ANA but UA doesn't even show the flight options.
Thanks
FDW
Thanks
FDW