Is Thilo Mannhardt the man who flies most? He has 2.1 million miles with Lufthansa.
Apr 2, 2001 | 6:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
Is Thilo Mannhardt the man who flies most? He has 2.1 million miles with Lufthansa.
German Sueddeutsche belives that he travels the most.
He has 2.1 million miles with Lufthansa.
And more miles with American Airlines, Varig Brasil, Singapore Airlines and others.
He likes Singapore Airline & SwissAir the most.
Have any "Flyer Talker" ever met Thilo Mannhardt?
<><><><><><>&l t;><><><><><>< ><><><><><><&g t;<><><> http://www.sueddeutsche.de/aktuell/?...Time=986257980
SZ vom 03.04.2001 Wirtschaft
Meilenknig der Lufthansa
Keiner fliegt fter als Thilo Mannhardt durch die Welt
Thilo Mannhardt ans Telefon zu kriegen, ist wie der Wettlauf von Hase und Igel nur andersrum. Der ist schon weg, sagt seine Sekretrin in Sao Paulo. Rufen Sie bitte in Singapur an. Dort die gleiche Antwort. Mister Mannhardt ist auf dem Weg zum Flughafen, probieren Sie es morgen in New York. Auch da ist er nicht zu erreichen, genauso in Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio, Miami. Irgendwann ist klar: Nur per E-Mail lsst sich Kontakt zu dem Vielflieger aufnehmen.
Dass Mannhardt stndig ber den Wolken schwebt und Interview-Termine von der Zeitzone abhngen, liegt an seinem Beruf. Der Mann ist Mitte 40 und arbeitet als Unternehmensberater in Sao Paulo. Seine Kundschaft ist ber den ganzen Globus verstreut. Statistiken gibt es zwar nicht, aber es ist gut mglich, dass Mannhardt der Mensch auf der Welt ist, der am meisten fliegt.
Prmiensammler der Lfte
Seine Mobilitt hat ihn zum Millionr gemacht zumindest was die Bonusmeilen bei den Fluggesellschaften angeht. Bei der Lufthansa ist er absoluter Meilenknig, sein Kontostand betrgt 2,1 Millionen. Dafr bekme er 30 Gratis-Flge in die USA, das Hotel Sacher in Wien wrde ihn 14 Mal beherbergen, sogar Diamantringe knnte Mannhardt gegen Meilen eintauschen. Und wohlgemerkt, das sind nur seine Lufthansa-Meilen. Bei American Airlines, Varig Brasil, Singapore Airlines und vielen anderen liegt Mannhardt in der Vielflieger-Liste ebenfalls ganz weit vorn. Doch die Sachprmien interessieren ihn nicht. Ich gebe meine Meilen fr neue Flge oder Upgrades aus. Dann buche ich Economy- und fliege Business-Class, sagt Mannhardt. Oder er nutzt die Meilen, um Freunde und Verwandte wiederzusehen. Oft legt er der Einladung auf ferne Kontinente gleich das passende Ticket bei.
Wer soviel fliegt wie Mannhardt, kennt die Strken und Schwchen der Fluggesellschaften. Am liebsten buche ich Singapore Airlines oder Swissair, sagt er. An beiden schtzt er den guten Service und die Freundlichkeit. Das Personal erkennt sofort, was der Gast will und was nicht. Genau das macht fr ihn eine gute Fluggesellschaft aus. Das Produkt der Airlines sei fast identisch, aber beim Service unterscheiden sie sich wie Tag und Nacht. Asiatische Fluggesellschaften wrden groen Wert auf die Beziehung zum Kunden legen, whrend Amerikaner und Europer Menschenmassen bewegen und mehr routiniert als engagiert arbeiteten. Das gelte auch fr die Lufthansa. Da funktioniert alles, aber es wird nicht viel Aufhebens um den einzelnen Kunden gemacht. Welche Fluggesellschaft Mannhardt bucht, entscheiden allerdings nicht seine Vorlieben, sondern sein Terminkalender. Die Meilen sieht er leidenschaftslos als Abfallprodukt.
Von den internationalen Flughfen lobt der Herr der Langstreckenflge vor allem Singapur. In Deutschland ist Hannover sein Favorit. Der Airport sei klar gegliedert, sauber und effizient. Versptungen kmen nur relativ selten vor.
Obwohl Mannhardt mehrmals pro Woche zu Langstreckenflgen abhebt, liebt der promovierte Luft- und Raumfahrtingenieur das Fliegen noch immer. Er nutzt die Zeit zum Ausruhen, fr ein gutes Buch, zum Nachdenken oder Schlafen. Grter Vorteil des Fliegens fr ihn aber ist, dass er fr ein paar Stunden nicht erreichbar ist. An Bord will Mannhardt seine Ruhe. Mit dieser entspannten Einstellung verkraftet Mannhardt das Leben in Abfertigungshallen und Schalensesseln problemlos. Alarmsignale des Krpers sprt er auch nach 15 Jahren noch nicht, an einen ruhigeren Job verschwendet er keinen Gedanken. Thilo Mannhardt will weiter zwischen den Metropolen der Welt pendeln. Doch egal wie viele Meilen der Unternehmensberater noch sammelt, eine Prmie will er nie in Anspruch nehmen: fr 100000 Meilen ein Training im Flugsimulator.
=============================
Translation with Babelfish
Mile king of Lufthansa does not fly more frequently than Thilo Mannhardt by the world
Thilo Mannhardt to the telephone to wars, is like the race of hare and hedgehog? only
differently andersrum one. more?Der is already away?, its secretary in Sao Paulo
says. do you?Rufen please in Singapore on? There the same response. Mannhardt is
on the way to the airport, tries you it tomorrow in new York.? Also there it cannot be
attained, exactly the same in Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, Mexico town center, Rio,
Miami. Is clear sometime: Only by E-Mail contact can be taken up to the many flier.
The fact that Mannhardt constantly floats over the clouds and on the time belt
depends interview dates, is because of its occupation. The man is center 40 and
operates as a management consultant in Sao Paulo. Its customers are scattered
over the whole globe. There are not statistics, but it is well possible the fact that
Mannhardt is humans in the world which at most flies. Premium collecting tank of air
Its mobility made it the millionaire? at least which concerns the bonus miles at the
airlines. At Lufthansa he is absolute mile king, its account balance amounts to 2.1
million. But it would get 30 free flights into the USA, the hotel Sacher in Vienna it 14
times would accommodate, even diamond rings could do Mannhardt against miles
exchanges. And mind you, those are only its Lufthansa miles. With American to
airlines, Varig Brasil, Singapore airlines and many different Mannhardt is situated
likewise quite far in front in the many flier list. But the special premiums do not interest
it. output my miles on new flights or Upgrades. Then posts I Economy and fly
Business Class?, Mannhardt says. Or it uses the miles, in order friends and used to
see again. Often it attaches to the invitation on far of continents equal the suitable
ticket. Who flies as much as Mannhardt, knows the strengths and the weaknesses of
the airlines. dearest I post Singapore airlines or Swissair?, he says. At both he
estimates the good service and the friendliness. personnel detects immediately, what
the guest wants and which not? A good airline constitutes exactly for it. The product of
the airlines is almost identically, more?aber with the service differs it like day and
night?. Asiatic airlines would attach great importance to the relationship with the
customer, while Americans and Europeans?Menschenmassen move? and more
experienced than engaged operated. That applies also to Lufthansa. everything
functions, but it is not made much removal around the individual customer? Which
airline posted Mannhardt, however not its preferences decide, but its appointment
calendar. He sees the miles passionless as?Abfallprodukt?. From the international
airports the master of the langstreckenfluege praises above all Singapore. In
Germany Hanover is its favorite. The air port is clearly arranged, clean and efficiently.
Delays would occur only relatively rarely. Although Mannhardt takes off several times
per week to langstreckenfluegen, air and space travel engineer attained a doctorate
love flies still. It uses the time for resting, for a good book, for thinking or sleeping.
Largest advantage of flying for it however is that it is not attainable for a few hours. On
board Mannhardt wants its peace. With this relaxed adjustment Mannhardt bears the
life in dispatch halls and Schalensesseln problem-free. He does not feel alerts of the
body also after 15 years not yet, to a calmer job wastes he a thought. Thilo Mannhardt
wants to oscillate to far between the metropolises of the world. But no matter how still
collects many miles of the management consultants, it wants to never take a
premium up: for 100000 miles a training in the flight simulator.
He has 2.1 million miles with Lufthansa.
And more miles with American Airlines, Varig Brasil, Singapore Airlines and others.
He likes Singapore Airline & SwissAir the most.
Have any "Flyer Talker" ever met Thilo Mannhardt?
<><><><><><>&l t;><><><><><>< ><><><><><><&g t;<><><> http://www.sueddeutsche.de/aktuell/?...Time=986257980
SZ vom 03.04.2001 Wirtschaft
Meilenknig der Lufthansa
Keiner fliegt fter als Thilo Mannhardt durch die Welt
Thilo Mannhardt ans Telefon zu kriegen, ist wie der Wettlauf von Hase und Igel nur andersrum. Der ist schon weg, sagt seine Sekretrin in Sao Paulo. Rufen Sie bitte in Singapur an. Dort die gleiche Antwort. Mister Mannhardt ist auf dem Weg zum Flughafen, probieren Sie es morgen in New York. Auch da ist er nicht zu erreichen, genauso in Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio, Miami. Irgendwann ist klar: Nur per E-Mail lsst sich Kontakt zu dem Vielflieger aufnehmen.
Dass Mannhardt stndig ber den Wolken schwebt und Interview-Termine von der Zeitzone abhngen, liegt an seinem Beruf. Der Mann ist Mitte 40 und arbeitet als Unternehmensberater in Sao Paulo. Seine Kundschaft ist ber den ganzen Globus verstreut. Statistiken gibt es zwar nicht, aber es ist gut mglich, dass Mannhardt der Mensch auf der Welt ist, der am meisten fliegt.
Prmiensammler der Lfte
Seine Mobilitt hat ihn zum Millionr gemacht zumindest was die Bonusmeilen bei den Fluggesellschaften angeht. Bei der Lufthansa ist er absoluter Meilenknig, sein Kontostand betrgt 2,1 Millionen. Dafr bekme er 30 Gratis-Flge in die USA, das Hotel Sacher in Wien wrde ihn 14 Mal beherbergen, sogar Diamantringe knnte Mannhardt gegen Meilen eintauschen. Und wohlgemerkt, das sind nur seine Lufthansa-Meilen. Bei American Airlines, Varig Brasil, Singapore Airlines und vielen anderen liegt Mannhardt in der Vielflieger-Liste ebenfalls ganz weit vorn. Doch die Sachprmien interessieren ihn nicht. Ich gebe meine Meilen fr neue Flge oder Upgrades aus. Dann buche ich Economy- und fliege Business-Class, sagt Mannhardt. Oder er nutzt die Meilen, um Freunde und Verwandte wiederzusehen. Oft legt er der Einladung auf ferne Kontinente gleich das passende Ticket bei.
Wer soviel fliegt wie Mannhardt, kennt die Strken und Schwchen der Fluggesellschaften. Am liebsten buche ich Singapore Airlines oder Swissair, sagt er. An beiden schtzt er den guten Service und die Freundlichkeit. Das Personal erkennt sofort, was der Gast will und was nicht. Genau das macht fr ihn eine gute Fluggesellschaft aus. Das Produkt der Airlines sei fast identisch, aber beim Service unterscheiden sie sich wie Tag und Nacht. Asiatische Fluggesellschaften wrden groen Wert auf die Beziehung zum Kunden legen, whrend Amerikaner und Europer Menschenmassen bewegen und mehr routiniert als engagiert arbeiteten. Das gelte auch fr die Lufthansa. Da funktioniert alles, aber es wird nicht viel Aufhebens um den einzelnen Kunden gemacht. Welche Fluggesellschaft Mannhardt bucht, entscheiden allerdings nicht seine Vorlieben, sondern sein Terminkalender. Die Meilen sieht er leidenschaftslos als Abfallprodukt.
Von den internationalen Flughfen lobt der Herr der Langstreckenflge vor allem Singapur. In Deutschland ist Hannover sein Favorit. Der Airport sei klar gegliedert, sauber und effizient. Versptungen kmen nur relativ selten vor.
Obwohl Mannhardt mehrmals pro Woche zu Langstreckenflgen abhebt, liebt der promovierte Luft- und Raumfahrtingenieur das Fliegen noch immer. Er nutzt die Zeit zum Ausruhen, fr ein gutes Buch, zum Nachdenken oder Schlafen. Grter Vorteil des Fliegens fr ihn aber ist, dass er fr ein paar Stunden nicht erreichbar ist. An Bord will Mannhardt seine Ruhe. Mit dieser entspannten Einstellung verkraftet Mannhardt das Leben in Abfertigungshallen und Schalensesseln problemlos. Alarmsignale des Krpers sprt er auch nach 15 Jahren noch nicht, an einen ruhigeren Job verschwendet er keinen Gedanken. Thilo Mannhardt will weiter zwischen den Metropolen der Welt pendeln. Doch egal wie viele Meilen der Unternehmensberater noch sammelt, eine Prmie will er nie in Anspruch nehmen: fr 100000 Meilen ein Training im Flugsimulator.
=============================
Translation with Babelfish
Mile king of Lufthansa does not fly more frequently than Thilo Mannhardt by the world
Thilo Mannhardt to the telephone to wars, is like the race of hare and hedgehog? only
differently andersrum one. more?Der is already away?, its secretary in Sao Paulo
says. do you?Rufen please in Singapore on? There the same response. Mannhardt is
on the way to the airport, tries you it tomorrow in new York.? Also there it cannot be
attained, exactly the same in Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, Mexico town center, Rio,
Miami. Is clear sometime: Only by E-Mail contact can be taken up to the many flier.
The fact that Mannhardt constantly floats over the clouds and on the time belt
depends interview dates, is because of its occupation. The man is center 40 and
operates as a management consultant in Sao Paulo. Its customers are scattered
over the whole globe. There are not statistics, but it is well possible the fact that
Mannhardt is humans in the world which at most flies. Premium collecting tank of air
Its mobility made it the millionaire? at least which concerns the bonus miles at the
airlines. At Lufthansa he is absolute mile king, its account balance amounts to 2.1
million. But it would get 30 free flights into the USA, the hotel Sacher in Vienna it 14
times would accommodate, even diamond rings could do Mannhardt against miles
exchanges. And mind you, those are only its Lufthansa miles. With American to
airlines, Varig Brasil, Singapore airlines and many different Mannhardt is situated
likewise quite far in front in the many flier list. But the special premiums do not interest
it. output my miles on new flights or Upgrades. Then posts I Economy and fly
Business Class?, Mannhardt says. Or it uses the miles, in order friends and used to
see again. Often it attaches to the invitation on far of continents equal the suitable
ticket. Who flies as much as Mannhardt, knows the strengths and the weaknesses of
the airlines. dearest I post Singapore airlines or Swissair?, he says. At both he
estimates the good service and the friendliness. personnel detects immediately, what
the guest wants and which not? A good airline constitutes exactly for it. The product of
the airlines is almost identically, more?aber with the service differs it like day and
night?. Asiatic airlines would attach great importance to the relationship with the
customer, while Americans and Europeans?Menschenmassen move? and more
experienced than engaged operated. That applies also to Lufthansa. everything
functions, but it is not made much removal around the individual customer? Which
airline posted Mannhardt, however not its preferences decide, but its appointment
calendar. He sees the miles passionless as?Abfallprodukt?. From the international
airports the master of the langstreckenfluege praises above all Singapore. In
Germany Hanover is its favorite. The air port is clearly arranged, clean and efficiently.
Delays would occur only relatively rarely. Although Mannhardt takes off several times
per week to langstreckenfluegen, air and space travel engineer attained a doctorate
love flies still. It uses the time for resting, for a good book, for thinking or sleeping.
Largest advantage of flying for it however is that it is not attainable for a few hours. On
board Mannhardt wants its peace. With this relaxed adjustment Mannhardt bears the
life in dispatch halls and Schalensesseln problem-free. He does not feel alerts of the
body also after 15 years not yet, to a calmer job wastes he a thought. Thilo Mannhardt
wants to oscillate to far between the metropolises of the world. But no matter how still
collects many miles of the management consultants, it wants to never take a
premium up: for 100000 miles a training in the flight simulator.
Apr 2, 2001 | 8:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: East Bay, CA UA1K
Posts: 813
Well, I'm impressed. I was wonderering the other day if I'd ever make a million...
'course, they say the first million is the hardest
(edited for typos- it was sounding like a babelfish transflation)
[This message has been edited by tigertiger (edited 04-02-2001).]
'course, they say the first million is the hardest
(edited for typos- it was sounding like a babelfish transflation)
[This message has been edited by tigertiger (edited 04-02-2001).]
Apr 2, 2001 | 9:54 pm
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,416
2.1 million banked in a single program probably is *not* an impressive number, on this board. I have over 1.7 million currently banked (all programs combined) and I don't consider myself to be a frequent traveler.
Apr 2, 2001 | 10:19 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Cary, NC, USA - AA Plt 3mm/DL Dia 2mm, Hil/Dia Life, Bonvoy/Titanium Life, Spire
Posts: 3,261
The DTW Admirals Club has posted polaroids on the wall near the entrance of local million mile or higher flyers. One gentleman shown there has 8 million miles and several have 2 million miles. 2.1 million (btw, wouldn't Lufthansa count kilometres?) is pretty commonplace.
I would think million milers who get their miles on base miles should be recognized differently. I earned the last 400,000 AA miles to make AA million miler in the last couple of weeks by transferring USAIRWAYS dividend miles into my Advantage account.
There are plenty of Delta million milers out there, but I'm trying to do it the hard way, with only base miles. I believe Delta made it a lot easier to get mm status a few years back with all sorts of promos. It will take me another 5~6 years to hit mm status with them, even if I continue to hit Plat level every year.
I would think million milers who get their miles on base miles should be recognized differently. I earned the last 400,000 AA miles to make AA million miler in the last couple of weeks by transferring USAIRWAYS dividend miles into my Advantage account.
There are plenty of Delta million milers out there, but I'm trying to do it the hard way, with only base miles. I believe Delta made it a lot easier to get mm status a few years back with all sorts of promos. It will take me another 5~6 years to hit mm status with them, even if I continue to hit Plat level every year.
Apr 2, 2001 | 10:57 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CH-3823 Wengen Switzerland
Programs: miles&more, MileagePlus
Posts: 27,043
2.1 million (btw, wouldn't Lufthansa count kilometres?) is pretty commonplace.
LH counts miles (not kilometers), the program is called miles&more (not kilometers&more).
as a Senator 560'000 flight miles in paid first would already make 2,1 miles credit (status miles too) in miles&more (560'000 * 3.75).
LH counts miles (not kilometers), the program is called miles&more (not kilometers&more).
as a Senator 560'000 flight miles in paid first would already make 2,1 miles credit (status miles too) in miles&more (560'000 * 3.75).
Apr 3, 2001 | 12:58 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,190
Given what Rudi has posted about the way Miles & More counts its miles, this is not very much compared to what many accounts have earned over the years by many FlyerTalkers. How many miles does he cash in each year? Or is he travelling so much, he never does cash them in?
I passed the 2 million miles point a few years ago, before Canadian folded into Air Canada's program, and had another 1.5 million earned in Aeroplan. That would translate into a lot more in LH given all the F and J trips which yield many times that number. And I certainly don't consider myself that heavy a traveller.
I'd say an average account balance of 250K to 300K miles would be the norm for many FTers, and that would be after several award withdrawls each year too.
I passed the 2 million miles point a few years ago, before Canadian folded into Air Canada's program, and had another 1.5 million earned in Aeroplan. That would translate into a lot more in LH given all the F and J trips which yield many times that number. And I certainly don't consider myself that heavy a traveller.
I'd say an average account balance of 250K to 300K miles would be the norm for many FTers, and that would be after several award withdrawls each year too.
Apr 3, 2001 | 7:18 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
I'm not too impressed. I have 1.3 million usused Delta miles, and I use at least 300,000 per year, year after year. Many people fly more than I do. (I also have much smaller balances with a couple of other airlines.)
Bruce
Bruce
Apr 3, 2001 | 8:16 am
#14
Founder of FlyerTalk
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 6,540
Common? Well, in research a few years back, i calculated that there are over 107,000 people who have earned at least one million miles in a particular frequent flyer program. Delta I beleive has just over 20,000 such members and you can guess that AA/UA have substantially more than that given the alliance picture they were into first.
2.1 million, my guess is that there are at least 32,000 such people out there......
2.1 million, my guess is that there are at least 32,000 such people out there......
Apr 3, 2001 | 12:35 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: UA/1K, DL/PM, AA/PLT, NW/SLV; SW/PLT, HH/DIA
Posts: 1,732
The first question is -- is that base miles to date, total miles to date, or current banked miles?
Regardless of the answer, 2.1 million isn't that much. I've met an 8 million base miler on DL (yes, he consults to airports). On that same DL flight there was one 5 million miler and 3 2 million milers. AA has at least one flier with 26M lifetime miles.
Regardless of the answer, 2.1 million isn't that much. I've met an 8 million base miler on DL (yes, he consults to airports). On that same DL flight there was one 5 million miler and 3 2 million milers. AA has at least one flier with 26M lifetime miles.