by Lufthansa Flyer | Aug 29, 2014 | Airlines, Featured, Lufthansa |
This post is an important one for all of you United 1K and GS members who use or will use GPUs on Lufthansa!!!!!
Beginning on or about September 3, United will allow for the processing of GPUs electronically via their website. This was supposed to take effect August 1 but tech issues delayed the roll out.
How GPUs process will be DRAMATICALLY different from the current process. Currently, you would need to request a paper certificate that would be issued and mailed to you by United. You then present it to the LH check-in or gate agent and hope that they clear it for you on the day of your departure.
NOW FOR THE MAJOR CHANGE:
Effective September 3 (or thereabout), GPU based upgrades need to be requested electronically, and you will know if you clear within 90 seconds of submitting the request. If you are declined, you can request the upgrade again later, either the same day or the next day, etc. THERE WILL BE NO WAIT-LISTING. If you do not clear, you need to resubmit again, until the upgrade clears.
HERE IS THE KEY PIECE:
IF YOUR UPGRADE REQUEST DOES NOT CLEAR PRIOR TO 10 HOURS AHEAD OF YOUR DEPARTURE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE GPU TO UPGRADE FOR THE FLIGHT.
In other words, you will not be able to upgrade within 10 hours of your flight, which means no clearing potential at the gate. You will know if you cleared 10 hours before your flight, and have 0 chance to clear after that point.
If you have multiple segments that are GPU eligible on LH, you will have to do this for each segment individually and the 10 hour rule applies to each segment, not the start time of your itinerary.
This will apply to tickets booked either through United.com or Lufthansa.com.
It is recommended by United that if your travels are not happening in the next 2-4 weeks, to wait and process your GPU electronically instead of requesting a paper certificate.
This information came from a very friendly and knowledgable United Supervisor who answered my call at the United Star Alliance Award Desk this evening.
UNITED Mileage Plus members will be receiving an email detailing this new program on September 1 or 2.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Aug 28, 2014 | Featured, germanwings |
The union representing the majority of Lufthansa’s pilots has followed up on their threat to call strikes on short notice by asking pilots for ‘germanwings’ to strike on Friday from 6:00a to noon (CEST). This will affect upwards of 116 flights.
The strike can still be averted if a negotiation session taking place today goes well and sides can reach some agreement on the issues at hand. The biggest sticking point creating this mess is the fact that the union wants pilots to be able to take 60% of their income if or when they retire at age 55, while Lufthansa is suggesting that pilots can fly until they are 65 and begin taking benefits at that point.
If your germanwings flights are impacted by this strike, please use this link to contact their service center so that they can reaccommodate you.
I wish I could retire at 55 and get 60% of my income at that point. Sounds a bit too optimistic 😉 .
by Lufthansa Flyer | Aug 27, 2014 | Featured, Route Announcements, Star Alliance |
AIR CHINA:
Beijing-Bangkok effective October 26 will decrease from 3x/day to 2x/day.
Beijing – Chiang Mai effective December 1 will increase from 3x/week to 4x/week.
Beijing – Houston effective October 26 will decrease from 7x/week to 5x/week.
Beijing – New York (JFK) effective October 26 will decrease from 14x/week to 12x/week.
Beijing – Phuket effective October 26 will decrease from 1x/day to 6x/week.
Beijing – Siem Reap effective between December 8 and February 2 will increase from 2x/week to 4x/week.
Beijing – Siem Reap effective between February 2 and March 1 will increase from 4x/week to 1x/day.
AIR INDIA:
Delhi – Sydney – Melbourne – Delhi effective between September 1 and September 30 will decrease from 4x/week to 3x/week.
Delhi – Melbourne – Sydney – Delhi effective between September 1 and September 30 will decrease from 3x/week to 2x/week.
ETHIOPIAN:
Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Singapore effective between September 4 and October 25 will decrease from 3x/week to 2x/week.
SWISS:
Zurich – Kiev effective October 1 is CANCELLED.
THAI:
Bangkok – Colombo effective March 1 will decrease from 1x/day to 5x/week.
Bangkok – Dusseldorf effective December 2 will begin 4x/week service (Approval pending).
Bangkok – Frankfurt effective December 1 will decrease from 13x/week to 7x/week.
Bangkok – Jakarta effective December 16 will decrease from 1x/day to 3x/week.
TURKISH:
Istanbul (IST) – Luanda service launch has been delayed from September 17 to January 4.
UNITED:
Crescent City – Arcata/Eureka effective December 3 is cancelled.
Los Angeles – Yuma effective December 3 is cancelled.
Sacramento – Arcata/Eureka effective December 3 is cancelled.
San Francisco – Chico effective December 3 is cancelled.
PREVIOUS STAR ALLIANCE ROUTE ANNOUNCEMENTS
H/T: www.AirlineRoute.net
