Lufthansa usually releases
first class award space no more than 14 days in advance, so I was pretty excited to book first class yesterday, November 1, for 15 days in advance, November 16.
Since then Lufthansa has full - on stopped releasing
first class award space more than a couple of weeks before departure, eliminating quite a few redemption opportunities in advance.
Not exact matches
If you are
more flexible and using a partner program to book, start looking for Lufthansa
first class award space 15 days prior to your departure.
While this is
more of an issue with
first class award space, you should also note that the Asia Miles program does have increased access to
award space for business
class.
Usually, SWISS guards its
First Class space closely, releasing
award... [Read
more...] about Aeroplan - Swiss Fiasco Illustrates Risk of Credit Card Points Transfers
While you can't book Korean Air
first class with partner miles, this actually ensures there is
more award space available.
United miles are still
more valuable for travel to Europe, though not by a huge margin anymore, ever since Lufthansa stopped releasing
first class award space in advance.
It's worth noting that it's tougher than ever before to find
first class Star Alliance award space on Lufthansa and Swiss (see How to Deal with No More Lufthansa Advance First Class Availability), so nowadays this is most practical when planning close to departure, as Lufthansa tends to open up award space no more than three weeks
first class Star Alliance award space on Lufthansa and Swiss (see How to Deal with No More Lufthansa Advance First Class Availability), so nowadays this is most practical when planning close to departure, as Lufthansa tends to open up award space no more than three weeks
class Star Alliance
award space on Lufthansa and Swiss (see How to Deal with No
More Lufthansa Advance First Class Availability), so nowadays this is most practical when planning close to departure, as Lufthansa tends to open up award space no more than three weeks
More Lufthansa Advance
First Class Availability), so nowadays this is most practical when planning close to departure, as Lufthansa tends to open up award space no more than three weeks
First Class Availability), so nowadays this is most practical when planning close to departure, as Lufthansa tends to open up award space no more than three weeks
Class Availability), so nowadays this is most practical when planning close to departure, as Lufthansa tends to open up
award space no
more than three weeks
more than three weeks out.
I'd recommend using United miles to book Lufthansa
first class — you avoid the higher surcharges that are now charged with Aeroplan
awards, you don't face Starnet blocking as you do with US Airways (
more about that below) and you use a lot fewer miles than you would with Miles & More miles, although it's true that only Lufthansa's Miles & More members get advance access to first class award sp
more about that below) and you use a lot fewer miles than you would with Miles &
More miles, although it's true that only Lufthansa's Miles & More members get advance access to first class award sp
More miles, although it's true that only Lufthansa's Miles &
More members get advance access to first class award sp
More members get advance access to
first class award space.
The
first leg was in United economy as there was no domestic First Class award seat available (I monitored award space but it never opened up — more on that in the Anatomy of an Award p
first leg was in United economy as there was no domestic
First Class award seat available (I monitored award space but it never opened up — more on that in the Anatomy of an Award p
First Class award seat available (I monitored award space but it never opened up — more on that in the Anatomy of an Award p
award seat available (I monitored
award space but it never opened up — more on that in the Anatomy of an Award p
award space but it never opened up —
more on that in the Anatomy of an
Award p
Award post).
By late June, I see
more award space on the A380 in
First Class, probably due to the second daily A380 frequency.