Earning PQM/PQD on LH vs UA
 

I will going on work travel next month to Frankfurt, flying SFO to FRA in business class (D class). I have two options for the identical flight - LH codeshare (on UA metal), or direct with UA. Strangely, the LH flight is $2k cheaper than the UA. I understand that PQM earning will be the same, but PQD and award miles may be different. Since I will be booking via travel agent (via Concur), I am not sure if I will be issued a 016 ticket or not. What should I expect regarding PQD and award miles? Also, are there any challenges with seat assignments if booking on LH codeshare?

You will not know until you know the ticket stock for RDMs. Once you know that, then[s] follow the charts in https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/united.html, UA operated flights will earn RDMs based on PQDs, if not bulk / speciality tickets.

UA operated flights regardless of codeshare or ticket stock, earn PQDs, if crediting to UA MP. It is up to the ticket issuer to allocate the PDQs if multiple carriers. If single carrier, UA, it will be no different than if UA issued the ticket

UA is better than most for this and generally no issues.

It seems like in your case no matter who issues the ticket, Lufthansa or United, you will be earning PQD and RDM based off the fare. As long as the flight is operated by United you earn RDM and PQD based off fare, so in your case buying the more expensive flight yields more PQD and more RDM.

There seems to be some discrepancy. Per https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/united.html, United operated flights will earn RDM based on the fare. However, https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...lufthansa.html states that some tickets might not be ticketed with 016, and thus will earn RDM based on distance. In my case, I do not know if my ticket will be 016 or not, as I am booking through an agency. Is it possible to be issued a UA stock ticket if purchased through LH directly? If I am issued a LH stock ticket, then is it safe to assume my RDM earn will not be base on fare?

UA operated flight mileage earnings are independent of codeshare or ticket stock. Always the standard UA method. See https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/united.html. As this is a UA operated flight, the LH page is nonrelevant.

It is just partner-operated flights that ticket stock matters.

Yes, it is a bit complicated (I even made a mistake in the initial repsonse, now corrected)

It depends on who is actually doing the ticketing. I have a flight DEN-FRA that is on LH outbound and UA inbound (no codeshares) that our corp travel agent purchased on 016 stock (booked through Concur, but the actual TA is BCD Travel)., so you might end up with a 220 ticket or an 016 ticket. I also had (had to cancel it) a 220 ticket with LH outbound and UA on the inbound. For that UA was showing PQD for the UA operated flight.

So if I understand this correctly, United operated flights, regardless of where the ticket is purchased (LH site, UA site, some other partner airline), will always issue a 016 ticket, thereby earning RDM based on fare?

No, not at all.

UA operated flights crediting to UA MP will post the same earnings if purchased from UA or if purchased from another site and on a non-016 ticket stock.
There will be no difference in the earning for a UA operated flight crediting to UA MP if purchased on 016 ticket stock, on 220 ticket stock (LH) or any other ticket stock.