Thread: Lufthansa vs. Air Berlin

The one that has more seats at the lower price

I know that sounds like a smartass response, but it really is the truth. I flew AB SVQ-PMI on an eticketed ZED, and PMI-FRA now that I think about it. Both flights went just fine (little tight PMI-FRA, but I still made it). I haven't personally been on LH before, but I know that's a very frequently traveled airline for both revenue and nonrev. Can't be that bad.

Take a look at the schedules as well. Come up with plan A, B, and C. Give yourself time to move terminals, if needed. Keep in mind that if you go through another city, you have to look at (and worry about, and pay for) two flights, so if you can get a nonstop that'd be a better choice. I also see that today (as an example) there are 11 flights on that route on LH alone. Plus another 9 on LOT Polish, which I'd bet you have a similar agreement with. Just show up early, and show up often. I'd bet you'll get out on one of those 20 flights, and you could probably see if you can find a free CSA to give you some more information. Or, like I said, start calling their res offices. It's reasonable to ask about maybe 3 flights per call, you don't want to take too much of their time.

Aww, that's too bad. Even still, I think all those LH flights should be sufficient. Seems like the more you worry and plan, the more likely you get on anyway :-P

Electronic or paper? Honestly, it doesn't matter that much. Etickets can be purchased probably a few hours in advance. Paper tickets may need 24 hours to get ready, then they take 5 minutes to buy at an airport ticket counter. Just remember that when buying a paper ticket internationally, not every airlines' counter is open all day. You'll probably have to buy it at a US Airways counter, and at the international stations they're generally open only during check in time, roughly (generally in the morning).

My rule of thumb for things like this is to list for a slightly later flight, and if you show up for an earlier one, it's probably easier to move it up than it is to no-show and move it back. At worst, it would be the same.

One time my wife was flying on a confirmed ticket OGG-HNL (this was before we were married, so she wasn't eligible for ZEDs). I think on Mesa. A later flight was cheaper, and you could stand by for an earlier one for free. Told her that was probably the best way to go, since if something weird did happen on the wide-open LAX-OGG flight we were about to board (like a mechanical) she wouldn't no-show, and they were still selling tickets for other flights so she'd probably get on without much difficulty. We had to split up so I could claim and re-check a bag, plus I was flying HA, but all went well for both of us and she only got there about 45 minutes before I did.