Debating United vs Lufthansa
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
Debating United vs Lufthansa
We’re flying ORD-MLA this summer. There are no nonstops of course, so it seems the choice I have is ORD-FRA-MLA-FRA-ORD on either UA or LH. In either case I buy 016 stock from united.com so I’d at least get the PQF and PQP. If I buy the transatlantic segments on LH, it’s about $300 per person less but a) the outbound connection is only 95 mins in FRA, b) I get to fly a 748, which would be a new airplane for me, and I love the 747, and c) I don’t think LH has an economy plus equivalent and for a 8-9 hour flight I think I’d really want that. Plus I’d have to pay for seat selection.
have I got the basic facts straight? I have only flown LH once, but it was in 2007 in J and I don’t remember it well anyway. I am leaning to spending the extra money to go on UA metal for economy plus. Is LH a markedly better experience otherwise? What would you do?
have I got the basic facts straight? I have only flown LH once, but it was in 2007 in J and I don’t remember it well anyway. I am leaning to spending the extra money to go on UA metal for economy plus. Is LH a markedly better experience otherwise? What would you do?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,273
We’re flying ORD-MLA this summer. There are no nonstops of course, so it seems the choice I have is ORD-FRA-MLA-FRA-ORD on either UA or LH. In either case I buy 016 stock from united.com so I’d at least get the PQF and PQP. If I buy the transatlantic segments on LH, it’s about $300 per person less but a) the outbound connection is only 95 mins in FRA, b) I get to fly a 748, which would be a new airplane for me, and I love the 747, and c) I don’t think LH has an economy plus equivalent and for a 8-9 hour flight I think I’d really want that. Plus I’d have to pay for seat selection.
have I got the basic facts straight? I have only flown LH once, but it was in 2007 in J and I don’t remember it well anyway. I am leaning to spending the extra money to go on UA metal for economy plus. Is LH a markedly better experience otherwise? What would you do?
have I got the basic facts straight? I have only flown LH once, but it was in 2007 in J and I don’t remember it well anyway. I am leaning to spending the extra money to go on UA metal for economy plus. Is LH a markedly better experience otherwise? What would you do?
I’d also consider connecting through ZRH and using LX instead of LH for your European connection. Correct, LH doesn’t have an Economy Plus equivalent.
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,088
#7
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,520
I love the 747 as well, and very much enjoy flying LH's 748.
However, LH has had numerous strikes this year the union for their ground handling staff (ver.di) with short notice. Earlier this week, the LH cabin crew voted to authorize a strike as well, though no dates are set on that. At the moment, there is every reason to believe the strikes will continue.
When the strikes do get announced, getting help from LH is not the easiest based on the LH forum (long hold times, IT that theoretically should let you self-service but often doesn't work).
If you book LH, I would recommend booking via United as an 016 ticket. That way if a strike does get announced, you are able to contact UA (rather than LH) to get it sorted.
However, LH has had numerous strikes this year the union for their ground handling staff (ver.di) with short notice. Earlier this week, the LH cabin crew voted to authorize a strike as well, though no dates are set on that. At the moment, there is every reason to believe the strikes will continue.
When the strikes do get announced, getting help from LH is not the easiest based on the LH forum (long hold times, IT that theoretically should let you self-service but often doesn't work).
If you book LH, I would recommend booking via United as an 016 ticket. That way if a strike does get announced, you are able to contact UA (rather than LH) to get it sorted.
#8
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,520
Search for the routing on Google Flights and see if you get an option to book it via United (sometimes you will, sometimes you won't, sometimes, the price on United will be the same, sometimes more).
#10
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,273
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
All right, thanks all. I’m happy sticking with UA metal. But another question: I went to book it. If I book it as a round trip ORD-MLA-ORD with stopovers in FRA, it shows premium plus is unavailable for the outbound ORD-FRA leg. But if I book multi city ORD-FRA, FRA-MLA, MLA-FRA, and FRA-ORD, it shows premium plus available on the outbound ORD-FRA leg. But when I finish selecting flights, after selecting the fourth flight FRA-ORD, it thinks for a minute and then just says “Choose another option” and doesn’t let me book it.
Why would this be?
Why would this be?
#15
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,273
All right, thanks all. I’m happy sticking with UA metal. But another question: I went to book it. If I book it as a round trip ORD-MLA-ORD with stopovers in FRA, it shows premium plus is unavailable for the outbound ORD-FRA leg. But if I book multi city ORD-FRA, FRA-MLA, MLA-FRA, and FRA-ORD, it shows premium plus available on the outbound ORD-FRA leg. But when I finish selecting flights, after selecting the fourth flight FRA-ORD, it thinks for a minute and then just says “Choose another option” and doesn’t let me book it.
Why would this be?
Why would this be?