Consolidated "Lufthansa Upgrade With UA SWU Questions/Experiences" Thread [2010/11]
Sep 30, 2011, 11:41 am
#526
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: MEL
Programs: QR platinum
Posts: 606
As GS you can have free changes of the award tickets, though. So you can just call the GS desk and rebook into XF/XC on LH if seats are released close to departure. At least on DEN-FRA where I have direct experience, LH usually opens up unsold inventory in premium cabins a week or so before the flight.
Sep 30, 2011, 12:08 pm
#527
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New York
Programs: UA1K, IC RA, *wood Plt, AA EXP, LH Sen, HH Gold, Hyatt Diamond, EK Gold
Posts: 571
T&C
This upgrade may be used on a dtandby basis, subject to upgrade availability, on the day of travel on any eligible Lufthansa flight in accordance with the terms and conditions of this certificate except when booked in LH booking classes L,X,I,R,N,E,S,W,ID, AD and IP fares. T fares are also excluded on Intra-Europe flights.
The front also lists L now.. everything else seems to be the same.
This upgrade may be used on a dtandby basis, subject to upgrade availability, on the day of travel on any eligible Lufthansa flight in accordance with the terms and conditions of this certificate except when booked in LH booking classes L,X,I,R,N,E,S,W,ID, AD and IP fares. T fares are also excluded on Intra-Europe flights.
The front also lists L now.. everything else seems to be the same.
3) Eligible flights on Lufthansa
The following Lufthansa tickets are not eligible for a Systemwide Upgrade:
•Tickets in booking codes X, I, R, N, W, S, L, K,T and E
K is now listed as not upgradeable.
I wonder what will the do with the already issued certificates on K Lufthansa flights (K fare is not eligible for earning miles as well).
These changes were posted on ual.com, but not announced as far as I know -- sneaky -- not acceptable.
Last edited by flying MD; Sep 30, 2011 at 12:10 pm Reason: adding
Sep 30, 2011, 4:43 pm
#528
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New York
Programs: UA1K, IC RA, *wood Plt, AA EXP, LH Sen, HH Gold, Hyatt Diamond, EK Gold
Posts: 571
I already posted this in the M&M forum but this is what M&M's upgrade awards T&C says:
Since LH treats upgrades with paper SWUs from UA exactly the same as M&M miles or eVoucher upgrades, booking classes excluded from M&M upgrades must also be excluded from upgrades with SWUs.
Since LH treats upgrades with paper SWUs from UA exactly the same as M&M miles or eVoucher upgrades, booking classes excluded from M&M upgrades must also be excluded from upgrades with SWUs.
Oct 1, 2011, 12:07 pm
#529
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Premier Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 441
As GS you can have free changes of the award tickets, though. So you can just call the GS desk and rebook into XF/XC on LH if seats are released close to departure. At least on DEN-FRA where I have direct experience, LH usually opens up unsold inventory in premium cabins a week or so before the flight.
Oct 11, 2011, 8:17 am
#530
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 22
Unable to upgrade on K class fare on LH
I was denied an upgrade on a K class fare from BOS to FRA on Oct 8th. I had requested the paper SWU before the rules changed and the paper SWU doesn't list K class fares as being non-upgradable. I tried at the check-in desk at BOS and also at the Lounge but was told that their system wouldn't allow then to upgrade a K class fare (i.e. they couldn't override it). I am now at FRA waiting to return to BOS and was again told at the Lounge that they couldn't do anything with upgrading my ticket. However, they did tell me to try at the gate and implied that the gate agent would have more flexibility.
Wish me luck!
I did e-mail 1KVoice on the 8th but haven't heard anything from them yet.
Wish me luck!
I did e-mail 1KVoice on the 8th but haven't heard anything from them yet.
Oct 11, 2011, 9:11 am
#531
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
I was denied an upgrade on a K class fare from BOS to FRA on Oct 8th. I had requested the paper SWU before the rules changed and the paper SWU doesn't list K class fares as being non-upgradable. I tried at the check-in desk at BOS and also at the Lounge but was told that their system wouldn't allow then to upgrade a K class fare (i.e. they couldn't override it). I am now at FRA waiting to return to BOS and was again told at the Lounge that they couldn't do anything with upgrading my ticket. However, they did tell me to try at the gate and implied that the gate agent would have more flexibility.
Wish me luck!
I did e-mail 1KVoice on the 8th but haven't heard anything from them yet.
Wish me luck!
I did e-mail 1KVoice on the 8th but haven't heard anything from them yet.
Oct 11, 2011, 11:26 am
#532
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Oct 11, 2011, 5:10 pm
#533
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Florida
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,917
Flew LH on L-class ticket twice in the last few days (ORD-MUC and FRA-MUC), agents in ORD and FRA would not even consider accepting a paper UA-SWU to upgrade the flights. Agent in Chicago even pointed to "L" on my ticket and said "see that? That means 'low class'!") Figured it wouldn't hurt to ask, and I didn't really expect LH to bend a rule, so I wasn't too disappointed.
I did get a view of the empty biz-class seats from my economy seat.
I did get a view of the empty biz-class seats from my economy seat.
Oct 12, 2011, 4:16 am
#534
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
Last edited by iluv2fly; Oct 12, 2011 at 9:02 am Reason: merge
Oct 12, 2011, 8:17 am
#535
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Varies :-)
Programs: AS; AA; UA; DL; VS; BA; Nat'l Emer. Exec.; AGR
Posts: 2,250
Flew LH on L-class ticket twice in the last few days (ORD-MUC and FRA-MUC), agents in ORD and FRA would not even consider accepting a paper UA-SWU to upgrade the flights. Agent in Chicago even pointed to "L" on my ticket and said "see that? That means 'low class'!")
Oct 12, 2011, 9:38 am
#537
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 22
Success on upgrading K class fare - Oct 11 2011
Despite being turned down for an upgrade at the Lounge, I turned up at the gate as soon as the Gate Agent got there. Since there was quite a bit of space available in C, she took pity on me and upgraded me. She did point out that the K class fare wasn't upgrade eligible and that next time I should pay attention to the fare class (I did - when I booked the ticket prior to Sep 30 and requested the SWU at that time the fare did appear to be eligible for upgrade).
What I don't understand is why if there is space available would LH not take a SWU for an upgrade and get money from UA for a seat that would otherwise be empty.
Moral of the tale - never give up. Smile sweetly at the gate agent and you never know what might happen.
What I don't understand is why if there is space available would LH not take a SWU for an upgrade and get money from UA for a seat that would otherwise be empty.
Moral of the tale - never give up. Smile sweetly at the gate agent and you never know what might happen.
Oct 12, 2011, 2:52 pm
#538
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Looong story, but thats just how LH operates: rather fly empty than give a away premium seats (creating the impression that you don't need to pay big $$$ to get into the premium cabin). LH feels confirmed that their logic works as they mint money in the premium cabins on longhaul even with an inferior product (compared to their benchmark AF/KL & BA).
Oct 12, 2011, 7:06 pm
#539
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: 1P, AA EXP, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,491
Looong story, but thats just how LH operates: rather fly empty than give a away premium seats (creating the impression that you don't need to pay big $$$ to get into the premium cabin). LH feels confirmed that their logic works as they mint money in the premium cabins on longhaul even with an inferior product (compared to their benchmark AF/KL & BA).
Oct 13, 2011, 1:41 am
#540
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187