This sucks! (bmw extends closed period for Dec) but no Lufthansa 2009 discount yet!

[Bruck]

So I wanted to do a Dec 18/19/20 European Delivery. My car was ordered in time to get a delivery reservation. Initially I was given a Dec 20th reservation for Delivery in Munich.

EXCEPT,

BMW extended the holiday closings this year, so now the factory tours are not available during that weekend. (or the week after) Of course I do not want to go all the way to Munich , and not get a factory tour.

So I decided to push my delivery and tour to the very first day available after the holidays (Jan 12). The problem however, is that BMW has not re-signed the Lufthansa discount contract. So I can't book my flight with the discount.

At the moment the cheapest non discounted flight for that trip, is $1319. The discounted price if they offered it right now would be $1130.82. Do I have spend $200 extra just to make sure the fares don't go up before they figure this stuff out.

I think its rude of BMW to not re-sign the contract before starting to take 2009 model year orders, especially since the dealers are talking up this "2 for 1" deal while you pick ED, but then 2 weeks later you can't even make the reservation!

This is all ignoring the fact that I'm a tad annoyed that my car will be done in Dec, but won't be stateside until Feb.

[ptack]

Sorry to hear it. Is the issue basically that you want to reschedule your ED so you can see the factory, but can't get the plane deal (yet)? If so, it just may be your issue since a factory tour is nice, but not essential. If, on the other hand, someone affiliated with BMW told you that you could reschedule your trip for later and still have the Lufthansa deal, then you might eventually have a case if you remain unable to get the deal before you leave. NJ has good consumer protection laws so be polite, but firm. If BMW is setting you up for an ED, the plane deal is part of the package (unless they've changed their literature and removed it). Since it's not even October, you can't really say you've been harmed yet, just inconvenienced a little.

[Bruck]

well true, but most people book international travel 2 - 3 months prior I believe. I'm not claiming that I've been wronged... but just that BMW is selling 2009 European Delivery cars and there is no way to book flights at the discounted rate at this time unless your car is done before early dec.

[Sephiroth]

Call them up and let them set you straight. I always buy my intn'tl plane tickets months in advance at favorable prices.

[morgie2]

Call Lufthansa. I'm sure their confident BMW will re-new the program.

[Bruck]

I called them before posting this. They think it will be renewed, but at this time it has not been. They told me I had to wait until the program is renewed.

[Bruck]

In a display of excellent customer satisfaction, my salesman pretty much fixed all of this for me.

I explained to him that I couldn't book my flight yet, so he contacted someone in euro delivery dept at Bmw. They called Lufthansa, and found someone that was able to help.

See, part of the way this is done- is that Lufthansa holds your reservation at the discounted rate until 3 weeks before you are scheduled to leave. This makes it easierfor you to adapt to production delays if neccessary, then they book it for real.

While the deal is still un-renewed as of yet, they are perfectly able topretend that it will be for now because of this procedure. I have also of course been made aware that should it not be renewed, I will have to book normal fare tickets. I have been assured that everyone at Lufthansa seems this is highly unlikely.

[mikeo]

Good to see that they went to bat for you and worked it out.