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DDMS: The Best Cards From Barclays Bank

-The Lufthansa Premier Miles & More World MasterCard
You can enroll in the Miles & More program here.

US to Israel: For departures from the USA nonstop to Tel Aviv: 80K coach, 135K business. For departures from the USA to Tel Aviv via Europe: 100K coach, 185K business, 290K first. For departures from Israel to the USA nonstop or via Europe for Miles & More accounts with an Israeli address on file: 60K coach, 105K business, 170K first.

The card has no foreign exchange fees.
Lufthansa miles have a few sweet uses:

3 one-way domestic first class flights on United:
You can fly on Star Alliance partner United in domestic first class for just 17,000 miles each way with no fuel surcharges.  All United flights between JFK and Los Angeles or S. Francisco and several flights from Newark have lie-flat seats in business class.  Plus you can still order hot kosher meals between JFK and Los Angeles or S. Francisco in business class.  United charges 25,000 of their own miles each way for these seats, so you’ll save 8,000 miles each way via Lufthansa. Within 24 hours Lufthansa does allow free cancellations even on United medal.

Remember to book one-way flights as a round-trip business class is 35,000 but they charge half the price and round down for one-way so it’s only 17,000 each way.

4 one-way coach tickets:
A one-way coach ticket within the US on United will run 12,000 miles.

Business class to Europe:

Business class to Europe is 52,000 miles each way and there are no fuel surcharges on Lot Polish which flies 787s with an excellent lie-flat business class to Warsaw. (Note that United.com can’t search for LOT Polish flights if you use that to search for Star Alliance awards).
Availability is excellent.

Hawaii:

Business class to Hawaii (including lie-flat seats on flights from Houston and Newark) is just 35,000 miles each way when booked with Lufthansa miles flying on United with no fuel surcharges.  That’s a 10,000 mile savings on a round-trip flight compared to using United miles.
Coach is 20K miles each way, a 5,000 mile savings on a round-trip flight compared to using United miles.

Israel based account:
If your Lufthansa account is registered with an Israeli address then you can book tickets from Israel using the much cheaper Europe award rates.  A flight from Israel to the US will be prices like a flight from Europe to the US. (now must call to get this rate)

Other uses:
Lufthansa First Class has significantly better availability when booked with Miles & More as opposed to programs like United.
There is also much better availability on other airlines like Singapore’s top-notch business class when booked via Miles & More as opposed to programs like United.
Barclays cards can be churned, so you can always start saving up for a dream trip.

Mileage Expiration
Miles expire after 36 months, regardless of activity. If you have a Miles & More credit card and use it monthly, then your miles will not expire.
« Last edited by Thingywingy on June 12, 2020, 06:22:36 PM »

Author Topic: Miles and more  (Read 122141 times)

Offline D93

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #140 on: March 11, 2016, 07:34:19 AM »
Do they audit frequently? And if so, what proof do they ask for? Bill?

They've been known to audit for changing address and then immediately booking.

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #141 on: March 11, 2016, 07:37:58 AM »
They've been known to audit for changing address and then immediately booking.

So to be safer, just change address months before.  :)
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Offline Elchay

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #142 on: March 11, 2016, 11:38:42 AM »
According to T&C do you just need an Israeli address or do you actually need to live in Israel?

Offline GAM Z.

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #143 on: March 11, 2016, 11:39:32 AM »
According to T&C do you just need an Israeli address or do you actually need to live in Israel?
Whats the difference?

Offline Elchay

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #144 on: March 11, 2016, 11:41:27 AM »
If it's fraud or not

Offline GAM Z.

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #145 on: March 11, 2016, 11:44:47 AM »

Offline D93

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #146 on: March 12, 2016, 12:25:13 PM »
According to T&C do you just need an Israeli address or do you actually need to live in Israel?

Take a look at them. What does it say?

Offline shauly

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #147 on: March 29, 2016, 10:02:47 AM »
Any recent experience booking TLV-ZRH-FRA-JFK? US call center claims it's against the routing rules, German call center can't get it done. I currently have TLV-FRA-JFK held.

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #148 on: March 29, 2016, 10:06:55 AM »
Any recent experience booking TLV-ZRH-FRA-JFK? US call center claims it's against the routing rules, German call center can't get it done. I currently have TLV-FRA-JFK held.

Might be considered backtracking. Why is ZRH needed in this itinerary?
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Offline mmm740

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #149 on: March 29, 2016, 10:08:46 AM »
Might be considered backtracking. Why is ZRH needed in this itinerary?
Flat-bed?

Offline shauly

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #150 on: March 29, 2016, 10:16:21 AM »

Offline elya

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #151 on: March 29, 2016, 11:41:49 AM »
Any recent experience booking TLV-ZRH-FRA-JFK? US call center claims it's against the routing rules, German call center can't get it done. I currently have TLV-FRA-JFK held.
I did it a few days ago! The issue is having them issue the resident award.

Offline shauly

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #152 on: March 29, 2016, 12:26:18 PM »
I did it a few days ago! The issue is having them issue the resident award.

Did they give you any issues with the routing?

Offline elya

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #153 on: March 29, 2016, 12:27:41 PM »
Did they give you any issues with the routing?
Yes. I had to call a few times. Call the German call center and ask to speak with a supervisor.

Offline shauly

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #154 on: March 29, 2016, 01:20:43 PM »
Yes. I had to call a few times. Call the German call center and ask to speak with a supervisor.

Thanks so much, will give it another try in the morning.

Offline elya

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #155 on: March 29, 2016, 01:23:10 PM »
Thanks so much, will give it another try in the morning.
Sure thing. Good luck.

Offline TAVI

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #156 on: May 12, 2016, 04:35:44 AM »
Looking to book a OW F award for a friend. Routing is TBS to LAX via MUC/
 
some questions:
1 - I believe the cost would be 85K miles, but not sure what the fees come out to. when i try to price online i get an error that i dont have enough miles to book the award.
2 - Is there a discount if the friend lives in TBS and i can open his account with TBS address? (similar to TLV discount discussed in the thread)?
3 - is opening a new account and transferring a large amount from SPG a problem? can i transfer points from spouse's SPG account? how long do SPG transfer usually take?

tia


Offline elya

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #157 on: May 12, 2016, 05:43:19 PM »


Looking to book a OW F award for a friend. Routing is TBS to LAX via MUC/
 
some questions:
1 - I believe the cost would be 85K miles, but not sure what the fees come out to. when i try to price online i get an error that i dont have enough miles to book the award.
2 - Is there a discount if the friend lives in TBS and i can open his account with TBS address? (similar to TLV discount discussed in the thread)?
3 - is opening a new account and transferring a large amount from SPG a problem? can i transfer points from spouse's SPG account? how long do SPG transfer usually take?

tia

1- You can check ITA for the breakdown, and see how much the YQ is.

3- Transferring points from SPG is definitely a trigger for a audit, however if the pax is the AH I don't imagine you would have a problem, as when they audit they generally just ask to send in a copy of AH passport.

SPG-LH only last names need to match.

Transfers times can vary significantly, anywhere from about 3-10 days.

For more information, check the "SPG to airline transfer master thread"
(on Tapa so I can't  search the link for you,  sorry)

Offline ari2955

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #158 on: May 12, 2016, 11:12:41 PM »
Looking to book a OW F award for a friend. Routing is TBS to LAX via MUC/
 
some questions:
1 - I believe the cost would be 85K miles, but not sure what the fees come out to. when i try to price online i get an error that i dont have enough miles to book the award.
2 - Is there a discount if the friend lives in TBS and i can open his account with TBS address? (similar to TLV discount discussed in the thread)?
3 - is opening a new account and transferring a large amount from SPG a problem? can i transfer points from spouse's SPG account? how long do SPG transfer usually take?

tia

Nope.

The discount is as follows " For members residing in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya,
 Morocco, Syria and Tunisia, the award levels for Europe apply. The journey
must start in the member’s country of residence."

Basically, If you live in one of the above counties, then when departing from your home county, your home county is counted as Europe. So nothing here to your benefit.

Also, to be safe, make sure that the AH has photo ID with an address that matches the account (not that I think you'll be audited, just to be safe incase..)

Offline TAVI

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Re: Miles and more
« Reply #159 on: May 13, 2016, 12:02:53 PM »
Thank you both for your replies. very informative.
unfortunately, it looks like i overlooked one important fact, that TBS is not part of Europe on their region maps. so it basically becomes a 3-region award and requires more miles than available.
you win some you lose some...