Author Topic: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa  (Read 8561 times)

Offline me

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Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« on: March 10, 2010, 04:24:52 PM »
I have points on US Air for 2 economy tickets to Israel and they dont have space on the dates that I need - I checked Air Canada and Continental as well and they dont have space...

How do I check Swiss or Lufthansa??

Thanks!

Offline Dan

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2010, 04:45:21 PM »
ANA has Star Alliance award search.
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Offline me

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2010, 04:54:34 PM »
ANA has Star Alliance award search.

I couldnt find it on their website.. Can you post a link?

THANKS!!

Offline Dan

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2010, 05:49:56 PM »
Did you open an ANA account?
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Offline chuchem

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2010, 06:29:58 PM »
Ana does not show swiss availi.

Please also note, that Lufthansa gives more seats to members of their own programm then to star alliance members. But Ana is good for Lufthansa

Offline mordys

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2010, 06:32:14 PM »
So anyone know tricks to checking Swiss availability? I saw something about checking with JetFriends, anyone know how this works?

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2010, 10:01:57 AM »
you can try checking with aeroplan.com , however, always check segment by segment, and a return trip

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2010, 10:57:00 AM »
you can try checking with aeroplan.com , however, always check segment by segment, and a return trip

Thanks!

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2010, 10:54:25 AM »
In the end, I found through ANA space on Lufthansa. WhenI called US Airways to book, they found me availability one way on Swiss.

So I'm going the way there on Swiss and the way back on Lufthansa.

Thanks for all your help

Offline Dan

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2010, 11:11:19 AM »
In the end, I found through ANA space on Lufthansa. WhenI called US Airways to book, they found me availability one way on Swiss.

So I'm going the way there on Swiss and the way back on Lufthansa.

Thanks for all your help
Nicely done.
If only there were an accurate way to check Swiss online, life would be much simpler!
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Offline Mikeoracle

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #10 on: March 23, 2010, 11:13:39 AM »
How much if any are the taxes and fees?

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #11 on: March 23, 2010, 11:14:13 AM »
Nicely done.
If only there were an accurate way to check Swiss online, life would be much simpler!
I think someone with a travel agent program could.

Offline me

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #12 on: March 23, 2010, 11:15:57 AM »
$93 + $50 per ticket

Offline Mikeoracle

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2010, 11:33:36 AM »
Not bad, I guess that is a perk of redeeming through US instead of ANA (when that option is available, i.e. when transfering *points)which would have had higher fees. Last time I spoke to ANA they estimated the fees on Swiss and LH at 300-400 per ticket.

The *point cost will be 15K more on US (65K = 80K US as opposed to 50K = 60K ANA for econ)  with a savings of about $250 or so in fees, comes to about 1.7 cents per *point and also a much quicker transfer time to US than ANA- might be worth it in certain situations esp when time is an issue.

Offline Dan

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2010, 11:37:43 AM »
Not bad, I guess that is a perk of redeeming through US instead of ANA (when that option is available, i.e. when transfering *points)which would have had higher fees. Last time I spoke to ANA they estimated the fees on Swiss and LH at 300-400 per ticket.

The *point cost will be 15K more on US (65K = 80K US as opposed to 50K = 60K ANA for econ)  with a savings of about $250 or so in fees, comes to about 1.7 cents per *point and also a much quicker transfer time to US than ANA- might be worth it in certain situations esp when time is an issue.
ANA told me they don't charge fuel surcharges for travel on CO, UA, and US.
But for travel on the other *A partners ANA is not so worthwhile.
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Offline damaxer91

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #15 on: March 23, 2010, 12:13:30 PM »
Nicely done.
If only there were an accurate way to check Swiss online, life would be much simpler!

There is. ExpertFlyer.com

Offline Dan

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #16 on: March 23, 2010, 12:28:57 PM »
There is. ExpertFlyer.com
I'm too cheap to pay for info that should be free  ;)

Honestly, if they had more airlines' award availability I might consider buying a subscription.
« Last Edit: March 23, 2010, 12:33:42 PM by Dan »
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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #17 on: March 23, 2010, 12:58:42 PM »
Quote
ANA told me they don't charge fuel surcharges for travel on CO, UA, and US.
I wonder if this is a new change or maybe I just spoke to an incompetent rep a few months ago when they told me a CO redemption would be about $100 in fees through ANA...

Offline Dan

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #18 on: March 23, 2010, 01:25:04 PM »
I wonder if this is a new change or maybe I just spoke to an incompetent rep a few months ago when they told me a CO redemption would be about $100 in fees through ANA...
Just called ANA.
They really did not want to figure out the taxes as I have no ANA miles in my account, but after some prodding ("I'm not transferring points from AMEX until I know the taxes") they said it was $79 for EWR-TLV on CO.

Directly from CO it's $43, but they also charge an expedite fee within 21 days and charge 75K miles instead of 60K miles with ANA.
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Offline Mikeoracle

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Re: Availability on Swiss or Lufthansa
« Reply #19 on: March 23, 2010, 01:31:16 PM »
Thats still not too bad and definitly worth it.
 The biggest downside as far as I am concerned with ANA is the transfer time. If you dont have the points in your account then you take a big chance that the availability might not be there a few weeks later once the transfer is complete, so the options are just transfering now for a future reservation that will hopefully work out, or just taking a big risk once you have available dates and you want to book.