tomcat007

This was surprising. I had to call the UA Silver line to reserve my business class seats on LH booked on UA stock. I thought the systems would be more integrated than they currently are.

EndlosLuft

I found out about this after I had booked my United ticket and opted for a later Lufthansa return flight.

That you don't even have an option to pay for a seat assignment because it's not on Lufthansa stock is a total failure.

With every year the Star Alliance is becoming less sticky precisely when it should be getting tighter against competitors like Norwegian (who are big trouble for United/LH in Europe with their fares and service) and Emirates on the long haul.

It's crazy that a decade later even on a V fare you can't select your seat online for LH flights via the United site.

This is just the latest example of why you have to stick to UA planes at all cost (if your goal is EQM with United).

The only recent move Lufthansa has made that is remotely interesting is their introduction of a premium economy. Although I'm sure it will be impossible to book that on United ticket stock.

sakaike

Just to add a contrasting data point: My boss booked LH non-stop LAX-FRA-LAX for next month yesterday. Booked into economy on a V-fare on UA stock. Was able to both select and change seats on UA.com.

So it appears as if the reports are mistaken in this particular case, or there is something inconsistent going on behind the scenes.

emcampbe

Except the first two points are are at least partially incorrect, based on what I've read and my (admittedly limited) experience.

For the first point, on UA (016) stock, you can select seats with LH assuming you are on a V fare or higher (and very recent posts seem to indicate you can do it on UAs site). But you can not purchase a seat from a lower fare class, as LH has no way to reconcile the cost with a UA ticket (or that of any OAL partner, I believe). *G has nothing to do with this, AFAIK. IME, even prior to the change, *G could not select many seats near the front of the aircraft, as they are blocked for LHs HON members only, I believe. Although some have suggested that LH blocks empty seats next to *G pax when able to, I don't know if there has ever been enough concrete proof of a policy. I know that my wife and I had an empty seat next to us on an LH flight late last year - though have no idea if it was because of a block or it just happened to remain empty.

For the second point, again, *G has nothing to do with it. On a V+ fare, anyone can select a seat free of charge (regardless of ticket stock) - though likely, as mentioned above, some rows near the front are blocked for HON only. On <V fares, you can choose a seat for a fee - again, regardless of *G or a flyer not using an FF #.

Kacee

Sorry, I do not believe this to be possible. .com does not offer on-line seat selection for non-UA operated flights:

Advanced seat assignments are not available on united.com for this flight. Please see an airport agent during check-in to receive your seat assignment.

(Although I have been assigned seats on UA booked, LH operated flights, I have never been able to select them on united.com.)

emcampbe

I believe it could be possible. While definitely short lived - there was a brief time when I booked an AC flight as part of a UA itin and was able to select a seat assignment on UA.com. I was shocked , but next time I tried it, I got the usual message you mention above.

And in the in a dream world category, would be nice if UA would join much of the airline world, including many *A carriers, in using Amadeus - would really help out for things like this.

Kacee

I did a test booking on the UA LAX-FRA codeshare before posting that. Got the error message when I went to select seats.

I agree it would be awesome if UA were to switch to Amadeus. Maybe they could hire TG to consult, since TG has the best website for selecting seats on *A partners. Who would have thought the Thais would have better IT than the Germans, Koreans, Japanese, and Americans

sakaike

I just tried to do the same dummy booking and got the same results as you.

Having said that, I'm not yet ready to call my boss a liar, and while I wasn't looking over his shoulder when he made the booking, I'm wondering if it might have been possible that a seat was assigned when he made the booking, i.e., finished the transaction and paid for the ticket, and then upon being fully ticketed, he was then allowed to change seats, which he claimed he was able to do.

ETA: I was Skyping with him while he was purchasing the ticket, because he's a Plat and I'm a 1K and we're going to use two of my GPUs to hopefully get him upgraded. Here's the relevant portion of our chat:

Boss: Just did it. (purchased the ticket)
[7/17/2014 4:54:21 PM] Boss: They do allow you to pick your seat.
[7/17/2014 4:54:27 PM] Boss: change your seat
[7/17/2014 4:54:50 PM] Boss: I know using miles you have to be on LH paper
[7/17/2014 4:54:57 PM] Boss: I think the GPU can be either

Kacee

I have definitely experienced getting a seat assigned by LH. The "change" thing still has me scratching my head.

Life is full of mysteries

Alpha Golf

I hope you're getting a serious bonus this year!

fly747first

sakaike

Those GPUs would have gone to waste this year on domestic upgrades due to a decrease in my business travel this year. But he will make 1K next year after dropping to Plat this year, and has promised to pay me those GPUs back next year. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to use them

sfo

So much for seamless travel

bmwe92fan

It seems that the LH seat tool is now working again on their website - it hasn't worked for months for me but decided to try it again today and it worked flawlessly...

flltravel

I just tried again as well, no where I can find an option to select seats after putting in my booking code and last name.