Excellent 2-4-1 First and Business Class flights deals from the UK with Lufthansa and SWISS

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• Anna says:

  30 Apr30 April 14:48

  Presumably these aren’t direct flights, even though they start in the UK?

  • BlueHorizonuk says:

    30 Apr30 April 14:53

    No, you have to connect in FRA/MUC/ZRH or GVA

    • Lady London says:

      30 Apr30 April 15:33

      Always choose MUC over FRA to change in if you can, even if it costs a tiny bit more.
      You will find that anything changing out of MUC will fill up much faster too.

      I’m happy with MUC or ZRH both of which are amongst my favourite airports.

      • BJ says:

        30 Apr30 April 17:41

        Never been to MUC, how is it for transit? I’m guessing it must be easy because I’ve seen sone very tight connections offered out of GLA. The website highlights the connections as short but presumably still tickets them.

      • Lady London says:

        30 Apr30 April 21:17

        MUC is generally really easy, well signposted, well organised. Nice airport. Good variety of places to eat/coffee (for an airport). Various Lufty lounges. They might have built a new satellite or something that could possibly make some gates longer than before to reach, not sure. But a really efficient airport.

        Frankfurt is a different experience.
        I’ve noticed over the years that to the US the connections and flights via MUC seem to fill up much faster (and often command a small price premium) compared to stuff that goes via FRA.

        FRA has excellent rail transport connecting all sorts of places. The older terminal is… well, old.. They’ve not done bad with it but it reminds me a bit of some of the older US airports, claustrophobic, low ceilings etc. Newer parts of the airport are not bad. the place is huge though and it’s easy to land a connection that is a huge distance away between the planes (not really the case in MUC). So the best thing for me about FRA is the ease of getting into (and mainly out) of it. I’m not up to date though and have always avoided it. Others on here may love it and recommend it.

        if MUC wasn’t available out of Germany I’d always check ZRH first before I consideered anywhere else especially FRA.

      • Lady London says:

        30 Apr30 April 21:39

        It;s not in this offer but I’ve always got a soft spot for Brussels airport so far as Star Alliance flights are concerned – I really like the main Star Alliance lounge there. It’s superbly run, kind of like a mini SQ airlines lounge, that well run. Not luxurious but very decent and nicer than many Star Alliance lounges in Europe. Has different parts to it.

        I think that airport and lounge may be a bit like Marmite – not sure everyone will agree with me. I always pick up tobacco – actual tobacco – when I go through.

      • BJ says:

        1 May1 May 04:57

        Thanks, I’ve been through FRA several times and BRU just twice. Layover in FRA are long for me unless I risk the 1hr(ish) connection. If I’m going to risk that anyway I figure I might as well give MUC a try. I will have a look at the flight stats to check I-mtime arrivals.

  • Polly says:

    30 Apr30 April 15:11

    Anna, QR have a good 2 pax sale, but you need 3 seats?

    • Anna says:

      30 Apr30 April 15:55

      Thanks Polly, just mentally filing all this away for when we’re in a position to jump on offers like this!

      • Lady London says:

        30 Apr30 April 21:32

        And we’re all being a little bit careful because QR was making noises about leaving OneWorld?

        Doesn’t matter if you booked a flight when an airline is in an alliance, if that airline is no longer in that alliance when you fly, you cannot credit your miles to another airline within that alliance anymore. You would sitll be able to credit QR flights, of course, to QR, but their program standalone does not seem to suit everyone.

        Jus’ sayin’

        • Rob says:

          30 Apr30 April 21:45

          It would be impossible not to earn Avios and TPs on London-Doha on Qatar, even if they left oneworld, given that BA has a revenue sharing JV with Qatar on that route.

      • Michael C says:

        1 May1 May 13:39

        Very often the Qatar offers (and indeed the Lufthansa one today) happily include 3 seats at the lower price!

• Polly says:

  30 Apr30 April 15:11

  Cancelling our 241 in F, next Jan, hopefully going to get HKG on either one of them. Was waiting for the return part of our 241 anyway, so might as well use some avios on CX J and MAS J to and from the islands. Just not worth using the avios, even on a 241, and such high fees on BA with these prices.

  • BJ says:

    30 Apr30 April 15:37

    Hoping to do the same but have not checked dates yet. I’m looking to grow my M&M balalance so that would be the icing on the cake.

    • Yan says:

      30 Apr30 April 18:09

      not sure thats the best option with M&M being revenue-based on LH group ticket stocks

      • BJ says:

        30 Apr30 April 18:52

        Got 30k plus 63k to come from Marriott. Need to get another 27k as I think F to seAsia is now around 120k.

      • RussellH says:

        30 Apr30 April 21:00

        Agreed. When we booked this last year we found that we would get only around 6.5K M+M total each for GLA-FRA-HKG return because the fare is cheap – and this was in business out and first back.Outward ticketed in P for both legs, return in A HKG to FRA, then J to Glasgow.
        Instead we credited to United, and got about 28K miles each, though that was boosted because FRA-HKG was cancelled, got rerouted via SIN and upgraded from P to J. SIN-HKG was in C

      • Lady London says:

        30 Apr30 April 21:26

        Go partner, is the thing for that
        Well, right now, anyway

    • Lady London says:

      30 Apr30 April 21:25

      I’ve “had it” with M&M. Too many miles stolen by them over the years. Hgh values needed to redeem now. Expiry policy draconian. Having to deal with unfriendly agents a bit too often.

      However 2 things – if you are serious about M&M there are in fact a LOT of collection opportunities. Hotels, especially cars. very very freqent. but not mailed out. just keep looking back at the M&M site and you’ll see them. That will be the Germany version of the site. But the offers seem to work anyway for us if conditions are met.. Some of them really really good for car hire. Also magainze subscriptions pop up regularly including for women’s manazines. Far better than the newspaper/Economist subscription versions (more bang/miles per buck and a magazine free too). Just keep watching there.

      2nd thing the Star Alliance business program, which is called Partner(ship) Plus Benefits, is considerably better than the Oneworld ones. Take a look. Rob did an article a while back. Basically it’s dominated by Lufthansa (as is much of the Star Aliance itself). If you can, do it as well as the standard stuff.

      I’m out of both of those now but the business one is the one I miss.

  • CV3V says:

    30 Apr30 April 15:37

    Agreed, looks like i will be doing the same – cancel 241, then use the avios (hopefully) for short haul in Asia (failing that Air Asia).

    • Polly says:

      30 Apr30 April 17:27

      Yes think best fly to either hkg or hkt use mas to get to dps and back. Or cx from hkg and back ..decisions decisions, can’t leave it too long. Swiss or lufty..haven’t flown either before but in for a treat, l gather.

      Lady L, tnx for the lufty tip re muc too.

      • Lady London says:

        30 Apr30 April 21:35

        Do First if you can, Polly. There’s the odd ‘lumpy’ report about J on these 2 airlines here and there.

        Don;t forget the First Class Terminal in DE and allow time for it. It’s in FRA, can;t remember is there one in MUC as well?

• Darren says:

  30 Apr30 April 15:11

  MAN to Thai beaches for £2200ish for x2 in Feb 2020 on an A380. Very good price.

  • Polly says:

    30 Apr30 April 17:40

    Brilliant!

  • Paul Stevens says:

    1 May1 May 11:18

    What route are you taking that has the A380?

• Lady London says:

  30 Apr30 April 15:20

  EZE, Tehran…. I wish I wasn’t single right now. Really, really good deals on the best First and Business there is. Swiss has been getting progressively more competitive over the past quite a few years now. But I’ve never seen anything like this.

  Basically First for the price of Business (or less) and on superb European airlines. Love it.
  Just wish I could use it.

  • dgsupersonic says:

    30 Apr30 April 16:54

    Billy no mates? 😛
    Got my F ticket to Delhi for £1500. Excellent price!

    • Lady London says:

      30 Apr30 April 21:43

      Grrrr

    • Robert says:

      1 May1 May 08:25

      dgsupersonic which airport are you flying out of, which part of the year and is it with Luft or Swiss please? Any pointers would be greatly appreciated, struggling to find any flights at the promo rates thanks.

• Russ says:

  30 Apr30 April 15:24

  Look good! Star Alliance, is this the outfit Virgin may join?

  • Lady London says:

    30 Apr30 April 15:32

    No that’s Flying Blue. Flying Blue has a list of interesting promotions that change quite regularly. But quite high numbers of miles required normally to get anything. Virgin tie-up rumoured to be quite soon-ish.

    • Russ says:

      30 Apr30 April 18:49

      Thank you Lady London plus many thanks for your later comment detailing what to consider when looking at another schemes. Very helpful.

• Lady London says:

  30 Apr30 April 15:30

  Just to help newbies (and to prove occasionally I am not just having a rant) if anyone is interested in looking into getting Star Alliance status you could

  – look on the site when booking. You need the fare class which I’m pretty sure Swiss (not sure about Lufthansa) shows you on the website, I think before booking?

  – go to wheretocredit dot com. this will tell you how many miles you will get for each leg of your trip in the fare class you found above, at what rate on which airlines. First is likely to get you a huge amount of miles on at least some of the Star Alliance airlines. Business won’t be too shabby at least on a few, for miles crediting either.

  – Not all airlines require tier points as well as miles flown for status. If the miles you would get look good if you credit them to a particular airline, you might need to look at its program to check if your status would be instant. For some routes, it will be I think. Star Alliance status is worth having. (nicer lounges overall than Oneworld, extra luggage, etc.) however you need Gold not Silver to have all those benefits transfer to a different airline in Star Alliance when you fly. Silver gets you not much and mostly only privileges on your “home” airline. To get privileges across the Star Alliance you do need Gold, or its equivalent, as a minimum.

  – Aegean, Turkish could be looked at to see if they suit you. There’s another but it’s having financial difficulties so not mentioning. Any membership, including “lifetime” lasts only as long as the airline and program.

  – Alaskan also worth a look as not in any of the major alliances, but a bit like Virgin has some interesting tie-ups.

  So, so jealous of those of you who travel in two’s and can use this offer.

  • Polly says:

    30 Apr30 April 17:36

    L London tnx for tips and guidance for us newbies to Swiss and Lufty. It’s worth it for sure.
    I will request status match to them in the next week or so.
    Alaska useful for our future! Hawaii trip. Tho we will have lounges fast track etc., probably no need, but to get extra miles.
    Sorry you miss out this time. Mean of them actually to double up.
    Mind you, one time a single friend of ours got a cheap ticket so worth checking on skyscanner maybe.

    • Lady London says:

      30 Apr30 April 21:50

      I am sure you know this Polly but just for others, there is statusmatcher dot com.

      Two things –
      – bear in mind that lots of people who might give you a status match (Cue: for example to something you have from American Express) have a rule they will only do it once per lifetime for you. Some say lifetime but, you might get it again in, say, 5 years. You can think about what that means and how you would proceed in future…

      – please share your success/what did not work, back on the site as a ‘payback’ to help others as you were helped

      • Polly says:

        1 May1 May 22:58

        Have gone for Swiss via Zurich to HKG. 999 pp. end of Jan into Feb, so will try to place those miles somewhere useful. On 777 from Zur to HKG both ways. Centre pair of seats, so no climbing over anyone. Not an easy website to navigate either.
        Will feel really really strange flying non OW . But will be cancelling an 1st part of a 241 F tkt to HKG for jan 26th tomorrow if anyone wants it.

        • Lady London says:

          3 May3 May 11:26

          Nice. Lounges in ZRH for LX very OK too esp First.

          Switzerland is the land that understands “First Class”. Their banks hold all the world’s money. Their hotels were the first to be really “First Class”. Switzerland really understands and provides high end. They were doing it long before the re-emergence of Asia and the luxe being offered there now. And the Middle East luxe (Dubai etc.) is even newer. So Swiss does “First Class” still very nicely. Quality is still a thing at most levels, in CH even though they are not quite immune to world trends of cheap and nastier and the bottom end.

  • John says:

    1 May1 May 05:04

    *G is basically similar to BA Silver/OW Sapphire though, most airlines have a further status that only has benefits on that airline.

    *S is largely worthless, only minor benefits mainly on the awarding airline, similar to BA Bronze/OW Ruby

    • Lady London says:

      1 May1 May 21:48

      Perhaps I wasn;t clear enough.

      In OneWorld, for example, Silver gets you access to all OneWorld lounges including those of other OneWorld airlines. Not just the OneWorld airline your Silver belongs to.

      In Star Alliance your Silver will only get you whatever your own airline that gave you the Silver, will get you. So you only get into your own airline’s lounges. In Star Alliance, you would need GOLD, i.e. equivalent OneWorld Emerald status, not just Silver (OneWorld Sapphire status) to get access to other Star Alliance lounges that are not those of your ‘home’ Star Alliance airline that issued your Silver Card. If you’re Gold with any Star Alliance airline, you get access to Star Alliance lounges of other airlines. This is not like OneWorld where any OneWorld Silver will do this.

      Situation is complicated by the fact that even sometimes within the Star Alliance lounges, more often than with OneWorld lounges, there is a different nicer lounge or “lounge witin a lounge” part of lounge for Gold only. Rest being Silver (i.e. the Star Alliance airline’s oiwn Silver members, not anyone else’s).

      Situation also complicated by the fact that if your Silver is issued by Lufthansa, you do get some privileges on a few of the other airlines that ae particularly close to Lufthansa or within the Lufthansa group. This includes LOT Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines (not sure if fully shared). Other airlines like Aegean in Star Alliance do kind of seem to shadow Lufthansa on some things, like eventually getting around to making the same restrictions on mileage accrual for low cost ticket classes as Lufthansa does, but they don’t share lounges and other privileges at Silver level. only Gold.

      So trust me Silver is a waste of time unless you spend all your time on Lufthansa or some very closely allied airlines, Gold gets you privileges across the Star Alliance like lounge access and extra luggage.

      And lastlly some of the Star Alliance airlines, just like some of the OneWorld airlines, do have higher tiers that get even more privileges than Gold. But generally speaking Gold is what you need on Star Alliance whereas until a devaluation coming soon, Silver will get you decent privileges in OneWorld across the OneWorld alliance.

      • Polly says:

        1 May1 May 23:03

        Tn x for that in-depth explanation LL. guess l have to aim for Gold with Swiss, when l go to status match? Or is their silver status the same as ow silver status? Won’t need it for lounges, but for mile accrual.

        • Lady London says:

          3 May3 May 11:37

          I think you need to credit the miles that you will earn on Swiss to a different Gold airline.
          I can’t recall ever seeing Swiss match status – not that it’s something I’ve been watching.

          Basically you need to compare the ticket class you’ve bought for each leg on Swiss, on wheretocredit dot com to see which airlines will give you what number of miles for your flight on Swiss.

          Then you need to check the airline programs on Star Alliance for how many miles you have to earn to get the desired Gold-Emerald equivalent on that airline, and whether you also have to do a certain number of flights on that airline or earn “tier points” as well. Refreshingly, for most of them you don’t have to. Note that sometimes Asian airlines will call their equivalent of Silver status “Gold … “. Look carefuly, it will be easy to recognise. You want whatever status on that airline (usually the 3rd one up) gets you privileges across the Star Alliance not just with your own airline.

          As in my other post and as confirmed by another poster I’d suggest to save time you take a quick look at Aegan and Turkish. Of the two, I’d go with Aegean even though you have to earn more if you’re not doing 4 flights. Look at the conditions, you’ll see what I mean.

          Crediting Swiss flights to Miles & More is unlikely to earn you enough quick enough and the requirements to continue at Gold on airlines in that scheme are very high. Unless you are sure you can maintain the Senator level (it’s slightly easier once you are there but still very very high requirement. to maintain). So up to you but I’d look at the requirement to get, and also to maintain (separate issue) status elsewhere using what you can credit to the other Star Alliance program you choose from these flights.

          YMMV.

        • Lady London says:

          3 May3 May 11:41

          Haven’t looked at statusmatcher dot com recently but very doubtful you’ll see much, if anything that can match into LX or LH. Same as into BA, really.

• Bootlace says:

  30 Apr30 April 15:34

  no Sky team….Delta, KLM, Air France Kenya Airways, etc

• Richard says:

  30 Apr30 April 15:53

  Does anyone know if these fares can work open jaw (e.g. out to PEK, rtn from PVG)?

  • BlueHorizonuk says:

    30 Apr30 April 15:59

    I did this when they ran the sale last time. You might need to use a travel agent (have one if you need it) and they can help build in longer stopovers too on the way out if you want to overnight in MUC/FRA/ZRH or GVA.

    • Richard says:

      30 Apr30 April 16:05

      Thanks for the tip. Presumably if a travel agent can do it, so can LH themselves (over the phone)?

      • BlueHorizonuk says:

        30 Apr30 April 16:45

        Yup

      • Lady London says:

        30 Apr30 April 21:52

        Travel agent every time for this kind of thing. A good specialist one, that is. worth every penny even if they do charge a fee extra.
        Try Propeller. Rob might even have a link somewhere.

    • Polly says:

      30 Apr30 April 17:30

      Lots did open jaw last time this came round.

      Plus on the last qr sale people returned to London for around 100£ more.

    • John says:

      1 May1 May 05:11

      The fares rules, at least for some LX tickets, don’t permit stopovers – which is to say that you can only stay in ZRH for 24 hours or less, so no APD saving possible. I tried pricing this on ITA Matrix and it wouldn’t show the discounted fare with minconnect > 1441. Open jaw is permitted though.

      (ps: I thought that a stopover of exactly 24 hours would qualify for short-haul APD, but the booking engines seem to disagree)

      • Lady London says:

        3 May3 May 11:47

        As you found @John booking engines are sadly very precise:

        A gap between landing time incoming and departure time outdoing of 23 hours and 59 minutes is not a ‘stopover’ so far as airline ticket rule are concerned.

        1 minute more than that in the gap between the flights, and it’s a ‘stopover’. Which may mean ticket costs more. And WILL mean that if you’re leaving the UK on the outgoing flight, APD will be chargeable meaning up to not much short of £200 on a long haul business class ticket and your ticket price generally would increase by at least that much as their airline DOES have to pay APD over to the UK government (unlike pretty much all of the rest of whatever the airline says is the “taxes and charges” on that flight).

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