Star Alliance - Which FFP to use next year: LH or CO?

I have been flying SkyTeam airlines for the past few years and am Gold on both AF/KL Flying Blue (Elite +) and CO OnePass (Elite). I was not 100% happy with them, so I got a status match to LH Miles and More Senator a couple of months ago.

Because CO is moving to Star Alliance, and (I presume) CO/OnePass Gold will be comparable to M&M SEN in terms of benefits and privileges (will it?), which FF Programme should I be using next year, to make sure I keep my Gold/SEN status in following years?

For the time being, it seems to me easier to maintain Gold status with CO than SEN status with LH – but will this change?

In terms of flight patterns, I fly mainly in paid Y (always hoping for op-up’s, which CO has been particularly good at!), many segments a year, but not necessarily very long ones (many intra-Europe, intra-North America or intra-South America), and a few transatlantic.

With Senator status still good for 2 years (IIRC), you could go for CO on the off year and this way profit from both FFPs.

My SEN status on M&M is currently only valid until FEB 2011.

I'm re-qualifing Gold with CO OnePass again for next year, but I suspect that too will only be valid until FEB 2011 (unless OnePass changes its rules with the transition to *A, but I doubt it...)

So unfortunately I think I will have to pick either OP or M&M next year... any suggestions on which one I should stick to?

LH gave you a status match from CO Gold to LH SEN? :confused:

Wow. You must have been lucky. CO Gold is the equivalent to LH FTL. The equivalent to LH SEN is CO Platinum. CO Gold will not get you into lounges once they join *A. My guess is that this will become their Star Alliance Silver status

The program to chose depends on many things: What do you want from a program? Where do you fly? How often? Which class?

LH is great if you fly a lot in paid C and F and take flights within Europe. It is good for two years and gives you lounge access even when flying in the US. CO is better when you want upgrades on US domestic flights and often fly Economy.

LH gave you a status match from CO Gold to LH SEN? :confused:

Wow. You must have been lucky. CO Gold is the equivalent to LH FTL. The equivalent to LH SEN is CO Platinum. CO Gold will not get you into lounges once they join *A. My guess is that this will become their Star Alliance Silver status


CO Gold will be Star Gold (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12358401-post1.html).

CO Gold will be Star Gold (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12358401-post1.html).

I stand corrected then. And I am speechless. So a status which didn't give any lounge access on Skyteam will now have full access on *A? Luckily LH increased their lounge space dramatically in the last 12 month.

CO Gold will be Star Gold (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12358401-post1.html).


Thought so. So I'm guessing sticking to CO/OP will probably be an easier way for me to make sure I keep qualifying for *A Gold...

Especially considering I tend to fly mainly in paid Economy... always welcome any op-ups, and complementary lounge access helps a lot!

Luckily LH increased their lounge space dramatically in the last 12 month.
Not their SEN (*G) lounge space at FRA. :(

I stand corrected then. And I am speechless. So a status which didn't give any lounge access on Skyteam will now have full access on *A? Luckily LH increased their lounge space dramatically in the last 12 month.

New alliance, new rules.

As a frequent poster on the CO board would say, Change has come to Continental.

^

New alliance, new rules.

As a frequent poster on the CO board would say, Change has come to Continental.

^

I hope CO is expanding their lounge space now with tons of CO Golds being able to use them on int itineraries.

I hope CO is expanding their lounge space now with tons of CO Golds being able to use them on int itineraries.

Not to mention all the UA and US *G who can also access the CO lounges on their intl itens. With 3 US (of A that is, not the airline) based airlines in *A, I think lounge space is going to be a big issue in the US.

Something I haven't been able to figure out is whether Lufthansa and Swiss offer any benefits/perks/advantages to M&M SEN which are NOT available to other *A GOLD FFs flying on them...

Anyone know this? (Benefits exclusive to SEN passengers and NOT other *A GOLD members)?
:confused:

If all you are really after is Star Gold, then Air Canada's Aeroplan Elite I think is the easiest (35,000 miles or 50 segments).

Something I haven't been able to figure out is whether Lufthansa and Swiss offer any benefits/perks/advantages to M&M SEN which are NOT available to other *A GOLD FFs flying on them...

Anyone know this? (Benefits exclusive to SEN passengers and NOT other *A GOLD members)?
:confused:

- Anytime lounge access (canceled on 1 Oct) :mad:
- Priority waitlist
- eVouchers
- Companion Award
- SEN Premium Awards
- Waitlist for award tickets
- Free credit card (depending on country).
- Reservation of exit rows

There might be more but that's by list for the day.

If all you are really after is Star Gold, then Air Canada's Aeroplan Elite I think is the easiest (35,000 miles or 50 segments).

Generally TK and OZ are considered to be even easier than that.

If all you are really after is Star Gold, then Air Canada's Aeroplan Elite I think is the easiest (35,000 miles or 50 segments).

Well, I'm mainly interested in 2 things:

1) Being Star Gold so I get lounge access even when travelling in Y.

and

2) Maximising my chances of getting comp. op-ups as often as possible.


Being Star Gold with AC, TK or OZ would definitely give me access to point (1) above, but not to (2) as I am not planning to fly on them at all.

The airlines I'm most likely to be flying frequently next year are CO, LH, LX, TAP and SpanAir.

I already have Gold status for the whole of next year on both LH and CO... But I won't be able to keep it on both and am trying to choose one.

LH M&M doesn't give me unlimited comp upgrades (which CO OP does) but M&M does give me access to lounges when flying domestically in the US (which OP doesn't). So it's a pretty tough call.

I thought that the determining factor in my decision should be how easy it is to maintain Star Gold status. And so far, it seems easier to do so with CO than with LH, although I haven't really been able to compare the details of minimum status miles granted by either airline for each fare class... Any thoughts?

Well, I'm mainly interested in 2 things:

1) Being Star Gold so I get lounge access even when travelling in Y.

and

2) Maximising my chances of getting comp. op-ups as often as possible.

The Op-Ups usually only happen on the carrier of the FFP. So status with CO will only get you upgrades on CO etc (simplified, there are exceptions like the UA SWUs).

If you fly enough, how about this idea:

Join OZ and use CO. After 40,000 miles you have *G with OZ which will give you lounge access in the US. This status is valid for 2-4 years depending on how quick you get the 40k miles.
Then put everything to CO and get status there with your upgrades.

I am a Y flyer SEN. I need to choose a program for 2010 as well (M&M is not really a good Y program and I have it till 2012 anyway). I was considering UA becasue you get 6 international upgrades (M&M gives you a lousy 1...). Need to look at CO as well, don't know their program.

I have received multiple op-ups on BMI (as well as M&M native programs)

I doubt I will have a problem staying gold on UA

Need to look at CO as well, don't know their program.

The great thing about CO's OP is that you get unlimited comp upgrades on all domestic, North and Latin American flights (except for Brasil and Argentina)... No miles, coupons/vouchers or cash payment required. As long as you're elite and there's seats available in their business cabin, you'll be upgraded!

I wonder if this will change now CO is getting closer to UA...

M&M is not really a good Y program


WHICH IS THE BEST *A PROGRAMME FOR A Y-FLYER TO REACH AND MAINTAIN GOLD STATUS?

I guess it would probably be either TK or OZ... But which of the two? And how would UA and CO score in this sense?

WHICH IS THE BEST *A PROGRAMME FOR A Y-FLYER TO REACH AND MAINTAIN GOLD STATUS?

I guess it would probably be either TK or OZ... But which of the two? And how would UA and CO score in this sense?

It depends. OZ is good because status can be valid for a long time but a lot of booking classes earn no miles at all so you need to watch carefully. And they have lifetime status. TK is good because it has a very low requirement for re qualification and you can even buy status miles in case you need some.

Of the "conventional" programs, UA is also good for *G. Relatively easy to reach, lots of booking classes count and you get some benefits on UA. Disadvantage is that you need to re qualify every year and no lounge access for domestic US.

Of the "conventional" programs, UA is also good for *G. Relatively easy to reach, lots of booking classes count and you get some benefits on UA. Disadvantage is that you need to re qualify every year and no lounge access for domestic US.

One thing I haven't figured out now that UA and CO both belong to the same alliance and are getting closer is how complimentary upgrades are going to work...

Have I understood correctly that UA has embraced the CO model of unlimited complimentary upgrades on domestic (and some international) flights for UA Gold elites?

If that is the case, will UA Gold elites be entitled to this unlimited comp upgrades on both UA and CO flights, and vice versa (CO Gold Elites will be entitled to free unlimited upgrades on eligible CO AND UA flights?)