Tockeyhockey From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 932 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 4890 times:
My wife and I are planning a trip to Europe and I am hoping to use my UA miles to get us two first class round trips from IAD to a central European city such as FRA or VIE. As I understand it, I have about four options:
UA from IAD to FRA
LH from IAD to FRA
OS from IAD to VIE
LX from IAD to ZRH
First of all, am I correct that those are my only options?
And secondly, I would love some advice as to which airline will give me the best service in first for all those miles. All opinions and ideas are welcome!
LAXintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22023 posts, RR: 51 Reply 2, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 4843 times:
LX does not serve IAD. Any IAD-ZRH flights you see are operated by UA. If you want LX you would have to connect via other US gateways like JFK or BOS.
Another UA IAD option to Central Europe is IAD-MUC.
But using United Mileage Plus awards you can pretty much fly any Star and connect along the way, so in otherwords unless you insist on only those nonstop fligh from IAD you can route via other US gateways or European cities (eg LHR, CDG, AMS etc..)
If you really want First Class and not Business Class as SOBHI51 states OS would be out as it does not offer First Class, as would another potential option from IAD could be SAS via its CPH hub to any Central European city but it also does not do First Class.
If you really want First Class, an option that could be consider is Singapore Airlines who operates JFK-FRA with 744s. Catch a UA flight up to JFK and connect.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
CastropRauxel From Germany, joined Sep 2008, 466 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 4811 times:
Well, I would take LX - but as LAXintl stated, LX doesn't fly to IAD. you can take for the same amount of miles fly UA domestic F to JFK and from there connect to LX flight to ZRH.
You can also of course take UA new suites F directly to ZRH - just make sure that the specific aircraft of your flight has the F suites already (but if I'm not mistaken, all flights IAD-ZRH do).
Finally you can take LH F IAD-FRA.
With all those options you can of course take a connecting flight to your final destination in C class. speaking of which: out of sheer experience, you have nothing to do in FRA. trust me on that one... take a short flight to TXL and experience the amazing Berlin, or MUC to see beautiful Bavaria - but you really, really don't want to spend your holidays in FRA. it's plain boring (sorry all you frankfuters out there!). if not Germany, then by all means ZRH or VIE.
Tockeyhockey From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 932 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 4810 times:
Quoting CastropRauxel (Reply 3): Well, I would take LX - but as LAXintl stated, LX doesn't fly to IAD. you can take for the same amount of miles fly UA domestic F to JFK and from there connect to LX flight to ZRH.
You can also of course take UA new suites F directly to ZRH - just make sure that the specific aircraft of your flight has the F suites already (but if I'm not mistaken, all flights IAD-ZRH do).
Finally you can take LH F IAD-FRA.
With all those options you can of course take a connecting flight to your final destination in C class. speaking of which: out of sheer experience, you have nothing to do in FRA. trust me on that one... take a short flight to TXL and experience the amazing Berlin, or MUC to see beautiful Bavaria - but you really, really don't want to spend your holidays in FRA. it's plain boring (sorry all you frankfuters out there!). if not Germany, then by all means ZRH or VIE.
Have fun Smile
we're not planning on spending any time in FRA. just looking for a central european city to start from. i have enough points with hertz to rent an M5 for a week for free, so highway travel it actually a bonus!
what about UA's first class? i know it gets bashed a lot on here, but is it really that bad? i'd definitely prefer NOT spending any time connecting in a european hub. direct flights are much preferred and i'm guessing UA offers the most of those.
and just as a crazy thought, what about US's product out of PHL? would it be worth the drive? i live in baltimore, so IAD isn't exactly close either.
PHLstudent From United States of America, joined May 2006, 498 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 4808 times:
Quoting Tockeyhockey (Reply 4): and just as a crazy thought, what about US's product out of PHL?
No where near LH first or business product,
No where near LX first or Business product
No where near UA first product, or new business seat, close to United old business seat (depending on which plane you get)
DeltAirlines From United States of America, joined May 1999, 8770 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 4799 times:
Quoting Tockeyhockey (Reply 4): what about US's product out of PHL? would it be worth the drive?
God no - US' C class is nothing special - quite possibly the worst premium cabin of the major US Airlines.
CastropRauxel From Germany, joined Sep 2008, 466 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 4750 times:
Quoting Tockeyhockey (Reply 4): i have enough points with hertz to rent an M5 for a week for free, so highway travel it actually a bonus!
Then Germany by all means! great highways and a lot of fun to stop in different cities and villages along the way! I would drice to NRW region - the most beautiful in my opinion in Germany, and continue either by car or by train to Berlin.
Quoting Tockeyhockey (Reply 4): i'd definitely prefer NOT spending any time connecting in a european hub
Well then, only UA and LH will offer you F product out of IAD. personally, I'd take UA to FRA and LH back (you can do that at the same amount of miles, of course). this would give you the best chance to sample both airlines our of their hubs (which is always better), and check out UA new F suites.
Quoting Tockeyhockey (Reply 4): what about US's product out of PHL? would it be worth the drive?
I really can't emphasize that strongly enough: Noooooooooooooooo.
you'd better use your miles to purchase a UA branded baseball cap - that would be more enjoyable (I'm awful, I know )
Tockeyhockey From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 932 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 4711 times:
Quoting Hawaii12 (Reply 9): hey andy, i think you should eat a hogan
no reason to publicly show your jealousy of my awesome point and mile accumulation skills.
Tockeyhockey From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 932 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 4553 times:
I think I've decided to go with UA's business class service. The new seats look good! Any idea how you can guarantee that you'll be on a newly updated plane?
LAXintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22023 posts, RR: 51 Reply 12, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 4549 times:
Quoting Tockeyhockey (Reply 11): Any idea how you can guarantee that you'll be on a newly updated plane?
When are you traveling? Next month or next summer?
At the moment none of the 777s have been refitted(and wont be until 2009) while 763s and 744s are being worked first.
Out of IAD the ZRH flight which is a 763 seems to be nearly always the new interior.
As time goes on more and more planes are updated however there really is no way to guarantee things until the entire fleet is done.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
Tockeyhockey From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 932 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 4542 times:
Quoting LAXintl (Reply 12): When are you traveling? Next month or next summer?
At the moment none of the 777s have been refitted(and wont be until 2009) while 763s and 744s are being worked first.
Out of IAD the ZRH flight which is a 763 seems to be nearly always the new interior.
As time goes on more and more planes are updated however there really is no way to guarantee things until the entire fleet is done.
most likely next summer. july or august depending on availability.
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5334 posts, RR: 11 Reply 14, posted (4 years 7 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 4495 times:
Quoting Tockeyhockey (Reply 4): and just as a crazy thought, what about US's product out of PHL?
Um, no.
Might I suggest taking Singapore from JFK to FRA? Believe they fly that route with a nice 744. They're like... the best airline in the world, from what everyone says.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 932 posts, 
From Saudi Arabia, joined Jun 2003, 3008 posts, 
From Germany, joined Sep 2008, 466 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
)
Printer friendly format 
