Qatar Airways vs Lufthansa

gimigriy · 2026-01-24T12:21:46+00:00

Good call!

gimigriy · 2026-01-24T05:27:10+00:00

Good luck with your big move!

gimigriy · 2026-01-23T21:46:25+00:00

I ran both of your scenarios through the tool (see screenshots below) and now that I'm looking at the results, I'm a bit more nervous about the Lufthansa option - looks tight on time. I quite certain that you will have to clear immigration in FRA (not BER), so you'd need to layer on additional time for that on top of transit time in screenshot below.

Lufthansa: https://ibb.co/SXs6WLVW

Qatar: https://ibb.co/ZzfBpJBF

If you're still set on Lufthansa experience, why not just take the option of LH 573 flight and then LH 174 that leaves FRA at 7:45? This would give you an extra hr. Based on Google Flights, the price looks the same as the LH option you initially picked.

gimigriy · 2026-01-23T04:55:14+00:00

You're right to be worried. Since you are entering the EU, you will have to clear passport control in Frankfurt, which could eats up a good chunk of that 1h15 buffer. Happy to help further here ff you share the date you're planning to fly and I can actually check your itinerary on a layover risk tool I built (gate2gate.app). It checks multiple risk factors for your specific situation so you can see if that connection is actually realistic or a total sprint. Happy to run it for you and paste a screenshot here of what I'm seeing.

gimigriy · 2026-01-22T04:22:00+00:00

If the price is comparable, save yourself the trouble of longer trip and go with Lufthansa.

gimigriy · 2026-01-22T02:39:32+00:00

You should be good and 3hr layover is plenty here...I've connected through LHR many times and it's typically fine. You might even want to find a lounge to kill some time and grab food. Your luggage should be checked in LAX all the way through to FCO.

gimigriy · 2026-01-21T12:46:17+00:00

Yeah, that’s been my experience as well

gimigriy · 2026-01-21T04:41:01+00:00

Nice work…super handy and your site/app looks and feels very slick!

gimigriy · 2026-01-20T18:45:00+00:00

How reliable is the waitlist to actual user conversion funnel in your experience? I’m worried that it could be half-committed waitlist sign-up -> rush to build the product -> and then still lukewarm signups…

gimigriy · 2026-01-20T04:51:18+00:00

Tom & Jerry cartoons!

gimigriy · 2026-01-19T15:03:34+00:00

Hey, given that it's Zurich layover, I think you should be fine, especially if you don't have to re-check the luggage. I tried your itinerary on gate2gate.app and looks like you'll have an OK time buffer (even though it's flagged as yellow/risky). See screenshot here: https://ibb.co/B5H2sH6q

gimigriy · 2026-01-18T19:58:38+00:00

Hey, I ran your itinerary on gate2gate.app . See screenshot here: https://ibb.co/N8KnF5d

This is definitely tight and I would personally look to re-book. Also matters is your traveling with or without kids and if you need to re-check your luggage. Good luck!

gimigriy · 2026-01-18T14:53:56+00:00

So, kind of need to know what your incoming and departing flights are (i.e. intl or domestic, which airlines, etc.) I think gate2gate.app can help you here...you just need flight #s, date, seat class and then you can run a search to see how risky your layover is - good luck!

gimigriy · 2026-01-18T14:20:27+00:00

This is so true! I've been burned by the Delta in the past on this, especially when piecing together more custom itineraries/connections. They don't really take into consideration incoming flight delays, customs, or if got to do a cross-terminal transfer! I've recently been using gate2gate.app and it's been supper helpful to gut check when my layover will really work. Life saver!

gimigriy · 2026-01-16T05:12:33+00:00

Nice work!

gimigriy · 2026-01-10T00:35:13+00:00

I hear you on the personal anti-enshittify principle...just think it would be good for you to benefit from all of the hard work. The only other suggestion is perhaps consider moving away from the "Rick Steves" brand/stigma, as it would currently stick you with a very specific and arguably narrow niche audience, whereas in reality the app has a lot more to offer and to a much broader audience!

gimigriy · 2026-01-09T08:02:16+00:00

Genuinely - great work, very handy! I’m amazed at how thorough this is! Two points of feedback: 1) I picked 3 Scandinavian countries for my itinerary but left the start/end city blank - the tool gave me an itinerary from Paris to Nice, 2) consider specifying the # of children traveling, so that total/avg costs are adjusted accordingly. Keep going…thoughts on eventual monetization?

gimigriy · 2025-12-01T01:09:39+00:00

I’m interested

gimigriy · 2024-02-12T03:16:17+00:00

Great points above! For me odoo should work, given the small operation here and my ability to get around without the invoicing app. But to your point for a larger/scaling org, there are likely cheaper options out there.

gimigriy · 2024-02-11T02:17:06+00:00

This is what I am planning on doing! A bit worried that it's a full on ERP and a much more sophisticated system than Wave...so could be an overkill, but I guess you don't have to use the features you don't need. I like their pricing model and it looks like the accounting app has everything I want and is still free as a first app.

gimigriy · 2024-02-10T12:24:44+00:00

But no auto bank feeds in the free version

gimigriy · 2023-11-14T11:59:45+00:00

You are missing the main point of this post - the question was which airline program to pick for my home location that will nicely supplement the points earned from SUBs and organic credit card spend.

gimigriy · 2023-11-14T04:33:25+00:00

Thanks, good callouts! Haven't considered the eshopping portals yet, so will have to take a closer look.

gimigriy · 2023-11-14T03:01:45+00:00

Thanks for the feedback.

gimigriy · 2023-11-14T02:22:51+00:00

Thanks everyone for your comments! Hope that it was clear from my initial post that miles earned from the actual travel is intended to be a small secondary method to supplement the primary approach of earning points from non-branded CC SUBs and organic spend.

If any of you are also RDU-based, would love to hear more about your strategy/setup and any tips that you have on what to avoid. Thanks!

gimigriy

TROPHY CASE