Hi!

I used to travel 3 to 4 times a year from MUC to various destinations within the U.S. I usually fly with UA - due to Economy Plus seating (I'm a LH FTL/*S). I'm 2m tall so it's really relaxing to have more legroom.

Rumors are, that UA changed it's policy and i.e. LH FTL's won't get Economy Plus any longer. On the UA Website I found, that one can purchase "Economy Plus Access" for 299$.

I'm right now planning my next trips from MUC to SEA, PHX and MCO next year. Spending 300$ for 2007 to get EP on all 3 trips seems to be the only solution, isn't it? Spending 300$ isn't really a big problem - compared to the additional comfort. But, UA website states, that you can purchase it only while beeing a MP member. Ok, I could sign up for it - no problem. But, can I still earn my miles on my LH M&M-Account? Having 2 different FF programs (within *Alliance) doesn't make sense to me.

Thanks for any ideas!

Regards,
Hippo72

You are correct, non UA *S does not get E+ seating.

If you do buy EPA, it is tied to your MP number, so you would need to have that in the booking to get pre assigned E+ seats. After you check in and get your boarding pass, you can ask an agent to change to your LH M&M number though. I do similar tricks to get upgrades and earnings where I want them.

Welcome to F/T!

Sounds like a good move. I think you should consider crediting the UA flights to UA's program. You may have enough just from these three to get you Premier status, which will then give you E+ for free in the future.

Indeed, if you credit your LH activity to UA, you might have enough to earn Premier Executive on UA. Then you would have lounge access when flying LH (as *G) and lounge access when flying UA on international itinerary days (not on purely domestic days). You will also be able to request exit row on UA in advance. Plus 100% mileage bonus on UA and some others. I wouldn't think the benefits on LH compare to that.

Charles

Welcome to FT!

My recommendation would be the same as LAX UA 1K.

If you frequently fly UA because of E+, you should really consider credit your mileage to UA. I don't live in US, but I fly UA a lot, so I only credit my miles to UA.

Welcome to FT. I'm only 6' (1.82m), but I still find E- unbareable (thankfully, within China, I'm pretty adept at snagging exit row seating). So, I understand your frustration.

In spite of the fact that you are based in Europe, I think UA MP would be a better frequent flyer program for you than Miles and More because the latter is not well suited for economy class travelers.

So, I suggest you part ways with LH and join our ranks. In the meantime, there are other ways to get E+ that don't entail paying $300. First, I suggest you request a status comp to UA (there's a long thread explaining how to do this).

If that fails, many people in these parts have the ability to bestow 3P status upon you, which will qualify you for E+ seating. Unfortunately for you, most of the action takes place in the Coupon Connection forum, which you can't access until you post ~100 times and have been around here for ~3 months.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the folks around here contact you directly concerning this option.

3-4 annual MUC-US are nowhere near 1P (Premier Exec). In the best case, we
talk about 11K miles per return, so the OP would have to do additional runs
to turn golden.
Also do not forget that LH silver (FTLs) DO get access to the LH lounges. A
very compelling reason for people who fly a bit but regularly to join the unloved
Miles&More.

But if the OP considered to book his or her LH, LX, DB, SK runs within Europe
to MP as well then 1P is definitely preferrable over LH's FTL.

If you know a 1K Hippo72 you could also obtain PremierAssociate level
from him or her, maybe even Premier.
The trick would then be the same omnisapient qasr stated: use the MP
number to reserve seats and upon check-in or at the gate switch to your FTL
account.

Hi!

Thanks everybody for your input/suggestions and the welcome!
I really appreciate it.

Seems to be a clever option if I take EPA, thanks!

I earned 2004 ~65k, 2005 ~60k and 2006 only ~36k. For 2007 I expect ~50k. I enjoy LH FTL/*S for Lounge access and business check-in (specially in MUC, where Y check-in needs ~30 min waiting time and Business ~5 mins). So I'm not sure, If i completely switch to UA M+, if I still be able to get Lounge access for domestiv/intra-european flights and Business check-in (if I don't hit PE) as well as miles for domestic flights. Acording to http://www.united.com/page/article/0,,1189,00.html you can earn only UA M+ miles with LH on flights to/from U.S.

To clarify: MUC-ORD is about 4530 miles. As LH FTL I'll get 4530+1132 miles (25%). As a UA Prem I'll get the same amount and as UA Prem Exec 9060?

Thanks! I found that thread. I'm considering to do that - but I understood, it's a once in a lifetime option. So I'll try that as last option.

That's a very good point! Thanks! Never heared that but I've found some information on the M+ website. Not sure, what the conditions for this are (spending miles?). I'll try to find a fellow colleague or so to ask. It's hard due to most of my colleagues are LH Sen's.

I learned a lot thru this thread! Thank you all! But it's not easy to deal with all the options with it's advantages/disadvantages....

Just want to come back to this.....I'm still considering to switch to MP but haven't made any decission yet :-( I'm too undetermined.

Please allow one further question:

As LH FTL I'll get for MUC-ORD 4535 Status Miles in Y and additional 1134 Status Miles (25%). I also get 4535+1134 "normal" Miles.

According to http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1161,00.html
"Elite members at the Premier level will automatically earn a 25% redeemable mileage bonus every time they fly (...)"

Ok, so is it exactly the same system as with LH? So 4535+1134 EQM (Status Miles) and 4535+1134 "normal" Miles?

And as a Premier Executive, they will give 100% redeemable Bonus. So is it 4535+4535 EQM (Status) and 4535+4535 "normal" Miles?

Somewhat confused...

Season's greetings
hippo

If UA had any common sense, they'd let E+Access be tied to a partner airline's FF number. Shockingly stupid to simultaneously piss people off and refuse to take their money that they would happily take from any once in a lifetime flyer.

If this was a systems problem, it should have been worked out before chopping the heads off of every *G/*S partner flyer out there. And don't even mention the full Y idocy. This is the kind of move that really makes me wonder what the heck is going on at UA these days.

Hippo- close but not quite. The bonus for elite levels is only for RDM, not for EQM. You can get additional EQMs based on the fare level (class of service/COS) you purchase.

The 25% (2P) and 100% (1P/1K) bonus miles are RDM only not EQM. Bonus EQM are only awarded on Class of Service (C+F) and fullfare economy tickets.

No. With United, the status bonus (25% or 100%) does not count toward status. Therefore, with MUC-ORD you get 4535 Status Miles in Y and additional 1134 regular miles. However, if you fly on a Y or B fare or in Business or First, you get a 50% bonus on elite qualifying miles (EQM).

If you do become Premier Executive, you would get access to the F check-in lines on LH, access to the SEN lounges, along with some other benefits.

OK, let's see:

MUC-LAX-MUC nonstop: 5,998 miles x 2 = 11,992 miles
Fly it 4 times: 47,968 miles
In weeroworld, that's "nowhere near 1P".

Now, let's pay those flights with a UA CC: 4 x US$ 510 translate into 2,040 EQM, add this to 47,968 and we got: 50,008 EQM. Bingo: 1P!

Got no UA CC? No worries! Let's fly those 4 trips via FRA!

That's (5,786+500)*2*4=50,288 EQM.
"Nowhere near 1P"? Nah, you already made 1P with that.

Still not enough EQM? Doing only 3 annual trips? No problem! Use the end-of-year double EQM promo and fly your trips via ORD or IAD on UA metal. More miles for you! And E+ access after you made 2P.

While covered extensively on another thread, I respecfully disagree with your contention. UA has chosen to use E+ as a revenue generator, rather than make it available as a "reciprocal" benefit to other airlines *G. NOTE that other airlines do NOT do the same for UA flyers.
What is going on at UA is that it is 1) Taking care of its elites, 2) Making money off E+ upsells/EPA program, and 3) Seeking to further revenue growth thru maintenance of the integrity of E+.

Why this is so difficult to grasp is beyond me.

Best, Dave