Author Topic: Star Alliance Award Search Tips (Read 901752 times)

aussiebochur · « **Reply #200 on:** May 08, 2011, 06:11:25 PM »

Quote from: LAXtraveler on May 08, 2011, 03:40:42 PM

In general, how hard is it to snag a *A F seat on a trip to TLV? Seems like both LH and LX have almost no availability in F for any of the flights to/from LAX. Is that because there is only one flight a day to FRA (I'd rather not go through MUC because I want the F Terminal if possible) and ZRH on each airline?

From LAX you're gonna have a real hard time.
If you get Miles&More miles, the availability is better..

Dan · « **Reply #201 on:** May 08, 2011, 06:15:25 PM »

don't search from lax...

LAXtraveler · « **Reply #202 on:** May 08, 2011, 06:27:18 PM »

Quote from: Dan on May 08, 2011, 06:15:25 PM

don't search from lax...

I tried from SFO also and it wasn't much better. Any suggestions as to where to search from?

Quote from: aussiebochur on May 08, 2011, 06:11:25 PM

From LAX you're gonna have a real hard time.
If you get Miles&More miles, the availability is better..

Problem is I don't have miles in my Miles and More account, so it is still only temporary and won't allow me to do a search.

Dan · « **Reply #203 on:** May 08, 2011, 06:50:16 PM »

I was actually going to say anywhere but lax and sfo...

aussiebochur · « **Reply #204 on:** May 08, 2011, 07:33:18 PM »

Quote from: LAXtraveler on May 08, 2011, 06:27:18 PM

I tried from SFO also and it wasn't much better. Any suggestions as to where to search from?

Problem is I don't have miles in my Miles and More account, so it is still only temporary and won't allow me to do a search.

ExpertFlyer searches M&M availability.
Just be prepared to pay the award rates and the fuel surcharges...

LAXtraveler · « **Reply #205 on:** May 08, 2011, 07:34:22 PM »

Quote from: Dan on May 08, 2011, 06:50:16 PM

I was actually going to say anywhere but lax and sfo...

Are there any other good west coast locations to search from (LAS maybe?)

LAXtraveler · « **Reply #206 on:** May 08, 2011, 07:43:33 PM »

Quote from: LAXtraveler on May 08, 2011, 07:34:22 PM

Are there any other good west coast locations to search from (LAS maybe?)

Seems like DEN has some better options.

aussiebochur · « **Reply #207 on:** May 08, 2011, 07:50:11 PM »

Quote from: LAXtraveler on May 08, 2011, 07:34:22 PM

Are there any other good west coast locations to search from (LAS maybe?)

Do you want west coast for the short connection flight or the long flight in F?

Theres SEA. Otherwise theres tons of gateways, ATL, BOS, CLT, ORD, DFW, DTW, DEN, IAH, MIA, MCO, EWR, JFK, IAD, PHL. Then there is YYZ, YVR, YUL, YYC.

LAXtraveler · « **Reply #208 on:** May 08, 2011, 07:51:26 PM »

Quote from: aussiebochur on May 08, 2011, 07:50:11 PM

Do you want west coast for the short connection flight or the long flight in F?

Theres SEA. Otherwise theres tons of gateways, ATL, BOS, CLT, ORD, DFW, DTW, DEN, IAH, MIA, MCO, EWR, JFK, IAD, PHL. Then there is YYZ, YVR, YUL, YYC.

I'm starting in LAX so I'd rather a short flight somewhere nearby (and cheaper if I need to pay $$ for it) and then as long as possible for the long-haul.

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #209 on:** May 15, 2011, 04:46:04 AM »

M&M will cost you a bomb on miles and taxes.
I would trade in any day a flight via FRA (with the FCT) for the following:
LX, top seats/beds, love the airport,
LH MUC as the airport gives you more chashivus (fra is over crowded with HONs and First pax), as well a bigger chance ending in a limo vs van, and finally the aircrafts have less First seats meaning better treatment.

And off course FRA has the most taxes, and the longest walks + the rudest people.

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #210 on:** May 15, 2011, 05:34:11 AM »

I have an issue that has been driving crazy for a while.

When calling US Airways to book an award, I obviously made my homework already, but very often flight that are available they won't find available...

In the same spirit, it seems to push forward availability on CA vs LH and on LH vs LX, even if that means with a stopover vs direct.

What can be done about it.

Note, some flights that are departing just past midnight, you need to ask them to look on the previous day to see its availability...

Dan · « **Reply #211 on:** May 15, 2011, 02:25:19 PM »

There were rumors that US was doing StarNet blocking...

aussiebochur · « **Reply #212 on:** May 15, 2011, 06:36:01 PM »

It was a little on and off.

More likely the agent/s don't know what they're doing.

Quote from: Dan on May 15, 2011, 02:25:19 PM

There were rumors that US was doing StarNet blocking...

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #213 on:** May 15, 2011, 06:47:41 PM »

Any way around it? Sometimes I suggest a different routing that suddenly will show as available the leg that I'm interested in.

Then they contact texhnical support to allow me to book.

Often I don't find another route that shows it available le by them, which is a royal pain in the barto...