Swiss International Airlines - Edelweiss Air Miles Warning

I recently booked a flight ZRH-PMI on the swiss website. Apparently during summer time they have some additional flights that are being operated by Edelweiss which was the one I chose.

I did not waste any thought about it, at the end I was even sitting on LX metal with LX crew. However the surprise came when the miles were credited: They only gave me simple award miles. No executive bonus, no status miles.

After asking for an explanation they pointed to a small footprint on the following page:

http://www.miles-and-more.com/online/portal/mam/de/earn/flight/offer?nodeid=2510711&l=en&cid=18002

Quote:
*On selected LX code share flights within the ranges LX4220-LX4239, LX4270-LX4279, LX4600-LX4639 und LX8000-LX8499 you are earning award miles only. Status miles, HON Circle miles and Executive Bonus are not being granted on these flights.


It was unexpected for me as I was in the believe that booking on the swiss website a flight with LX number does give the usual miles. I consider it kind of cheesy to hide such an information in a small foot print on a page that is not even linked from the booking page.

I consider it kind of cheesy to hide such an information in a small foot print on a page that is not even linked from the booking page.

While I agree with you that it would be great to get both award and status miles for Edelweiss flights, the special rules *are* linked on the booking page: "Flights with flight numbers between LX8000 and LX8999 are operated by EDELWEISS AIR or SWISS. Click on the flight number for information on the operating carrier. For special services, mileage credit, lounge access and luggage special conditions apply.", with "special conditions" being linked.

Edelweiss is a subsidiary of Swiss, but not part of *A - that's probably why we don't get status miles. So I think of the award miles and other perks (lounge access, luggage...) as a nice gesture...

I have the same problem- I booked MOW-ZRH-PMI-ZRH-MOW on LX website, got LX flight numbers and the e-ticket says operated by Swiss on behalf of Edelweiss. And at the time of booking the website even said that I will earn 2000 miles per segment on this route and a total of 8000 miles. But only award miles have posted for the ZRH-PMI-ZRH segments. The aircraft was Swiss, the crew were Swiss...
I thought it is the operating carrier that counts.:confused::confused:

I thought it is the operating carrier that counts.:confused::confused:
Well yes, but as the e-ticket said operated by Swiss on behalf of Edelweiss., it means it's actually an Edelweiss Flight that's been subcontracted to Swiss, who're operating it as a Wetlease.
The real question is, was it flagged on the Website as an Edelweiss Flightnumber when you originally booked the Flight, as required by EU law?

In the same way as the ZRH-LUG are to all extent and purposes LX Flights, although the metal is Darwin, as LX' own Aircraft are too big to operate to LUG.

Well yes, but as the e-ticket said , it means it's actually an Edelweiss Flight that's been subcontracted to Swiss, who're operating it as a Wetlease.
The real question is, was it flagged on the Website as an Edelweiss Flightnumber when you originally booked the Flight, as required by EU law?


No, the only time I had an Edelweiss flight number was at the time I got the boarding pass in Zurich. The e-ticket and website shows only LX flight numbers,and the website even showed the miles for the two segments (one on LX and one on LX8246) as 4000. The website also mentions clearly that the operating carrier is Swiss, the "on behalf of Edelweiss" bit comes only in e-ticket receipt (which does not mention WK number).
There is some small print and link to click on the website, but until miles were not credited, I assumed everything should be business as usual as the website is misleading to the least.

A while ago I looked at LX flights out of NRT and the fare was great. Then I saw those were flights operated by Edelweiss and found out that they don't hand out any miles. So, I stopped. Then I went to Austrian. Their fares are low, but they don't give credit either. LH has quite a game going on with their subsidiaries which I personally find quite annoying.

A while ago I looked at LX flights out of NRT and the fare was great. Then I saw those were flights operated by Edelweiss and found out that they don't hand out any miles. So, I stopped. Then I went to Austrian. Their fares are low, but they don't give credit either. LH has quite a game going on with their subsidiaries which I personally find quite annoying.
You must be talking about some other FFP and not M&M...

You must be talking about some other FFP and not M&M...

Sorry, I didn't point out mileage credit to MP.

What I find amazing is the fact that Edelweiss is wholly owned by Swiss. Moreover, two of its 6 planes are leased from Swiss. Then, Edelweiss has a flight, code-shared with Swiss, operated by Swiss, and you get zero miles. Go figure.

By the way, several years ago I was often flying HER-AMS with Transavia (a KLM subsidiary) and for some years I was getting miles for the FD programme. When KLM and AF merged, status points from that Transavia flight were stopped and, what a coincidence, the flight was also discontinued a couple of months later...

After asking for an explanation they pointed to a small footprint on the following page:

http://www.miles-and-more.com/online/portal/mam/de/earn/flight/offer?nodeid=2510711&l=en&cid=18002

Quote:
*On selected LX code share flights within the ranges LX4220-LX4239, LX4270-LX4279, LX4600-LX4639 und LX8000-LX8499 you are earning award miles only. Status miles, HON Circle miles and Executive Bonus are not being granted on these flights.It's this kind of mumbo jumbo that has ensured I don't bother Edelweiss.

How can a mere mortal be expected to differentiate conditions on flight numbers 4xxx, some of which qualify and some don't. :rolleyes:

Yeah, how can you be expected to read this simple line and look at your booking to see if the flight numbers (that are clearly mentioned) fall in those 4 ranges. Quite complex don't you think ;)

When you have mastered this exercise you will move to the next levels....
1- determining miles earned in your chosen FFP for flights operated by other airlines.
2- determining miles earned for flight classes (not necessarily the same one as in your booking) on codeshares.
3- determining M&M miles earned for P-class flights on UA.

The first step is only to get you warmed-up :cool:

WK operated flights codeshared by LX are clearly marked as such:

TNZRHPMI/ALX
** AMADEUS TIMETABLE - TN ** PMI PALMA MALLORCA.ES 24AUG12 31AUG12
1WK:LX8244 6 ZRH PMI 0620 0820 0 07JUL12 22SEP12 320 2:00
2WK:LX8246 3 ZRH PMI 0730 0920 0 27JUN12 17OCT12 320 1:50
3 LX2152 6 ZRH PMI 0900 1050 0 25AUG12 22SEP12 320 1:50
4 :LX8246 7 ZRH PMI 0900 1050 0 08JUL12 14OCT12 320 1:50
5WK:LX8246 2 ZRH PMI 1155 1345 0 21AUG12 11SEP12 320 1:50
6 LX2150 D ZRH PMI 1505 1650 0 19AUG12 27OCT12 321 1:45
7 :LX8246 14 ZRH PMI 1705 1855 0 23AUG12 06SEP12 320 1:50
8 LX2154 7 ZRH PMI 1730 1920 0 26AUG12 26AUG12 319 1:50
9WK:LX8246 5 ZRH PMI 1800 1950 0 06JUL12 31AUG12 320 1:50
10 :LX8246 6 ZRH PMI 1825 2020 0 25AUG12 25AUG12 320 1:55
11 LX2806 7 ZRH GVA M 1310 1400 0 CONNECT GVA 320
:LX8484 7 GVA M PMI 1455 1630 0 26AUG12 26AUG12 320 3:20
>dolx8244/25aug
DOLX8244/25AUG
* 1A PLANNED FLIGHT INFO * LX8244 1 SA 25AUG
APT ARR DY DEP DY CLASS/MEAL EQP GRND EFT TTL
ZRH 0620 SA JCDZPYBMUHQ/M 320 2:00
VWSTELK/M
PMI 0820 SA 2:00

COMMENTS-
1.ZRH PMI - COMMERCIAL DUPLICATE - OPERATED BY
EDELWEISS AIR
2.ZRH PMI - AIRCRAFT OWNER EDELWEISS AIR
3.ZRH PMI - COCKPIT CREW EDELWEISS AIR
4.ZRH PMI - CABIN CREW EDELWEISS AIR
5.ZRH PMI - OPERATIONAL LEG WK0244
6.ZRH PMI - CHECK-IN LX
7.ZRH PMI - 1/ MOVIE
8.ZRH PMI - 9/ NON-SMOKING
9.ZRH PMI - ET/ ELECTRONIC TKT CANDIDATE

CONFIGURATION-
320 NO CONFIGURATION SET
>

DOLX8246/25AUG
* 1A PLANNED FLIGHT INFO * LX8246 1 SA 25AUG
APT ARR DY DEP DY CLASS/MEAL EQP GRND EFT TTL
ZRH 1825 SA JCDZPYBMUHQ/M 320 1:55
VWSTELK/M
PMI 2020 SA 1:55

COMMENTS-
1.ZRH PMI - COMMERCIAL DUPLICATE - OPERATED BY
SWISS INTERNATIONAL FOR EDELWEISS AIR
2.ZRH PMI - AIRCRAFT OWNER SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
3.ZRH PMI - COCKPIT CREW SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
4.ZRH PMI - CABIN CREW SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
5.ZRH PMI - OPERATIONAL LEG WK 0246
6.ZRH PMI - CHECK-IN LX
7.ZRH PMI - 1/ MOVIE
8.ZRH PMI - 9/ NON-SMOKING
9.ZRH PMI - ET/ ELECTRONIC TKT CANDIDATE

CONFIGURATION-
320 NO CONFIGURATION SET
>



The key here is to spot the ':' :)

It's this kind of mumbo jumbo that has ensured I don't bother Edelweiss.

How can a mere mortal be expected to differentiate conditions on flight numbers 4xxx, some of which qualify and some don't. :rolleyes:
And I was initially booked on LX2152 leaving ZRH at 0900, had to change the flight, did it on LX website and rebooked on LX8246 leaving ZRH at 0900, both operated by Swiss leaving and arriving at the same time except on different days...one gives you status miles other does not..

Yeah, how can you be expected to read this simple line and look at your booking to see if the flight numbers (that are clearly mentioned) fall in those 4 ranges. Quite complex don't you think ;)No, just unnecessary. @:-)

The airline I use most manages to credit all flights bearing its code as if they were mainline flights. Simple, you see.

It also manages to sell me flights at the price I see on the screen without adding a non-optional OPC, but that's a topic for a different day.

And what airline/FFP is that? It's quite common to have a different earning potential when you are talking codeshares?

But you are right that this would be a lot more easy for us as consumers, but that doesn't mean it's a reality.

And what airline/FFP is that?BA Executive ClubIt's quite common to have a different earning potential when you are talking codeshares?It certainly is.

Take a look at post #4 of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1362974-your-guide-executive-club-attaining-status-earning-avios.html#post18866015 which outlines which BA-coded flights get what and which other coded flights get BA Avios.

The point I was making above was that all BA-coded flights get miles credit whether on BA or not. It would be agreeable if the same could be said of LX-coded flights.

As with other airlines, status points are another matter and qualification for BAEC Tier Points varies.

That's nice to do it this way... I would prefer that myself.

But that also isn't really relevant. If you join a FFP you know you will have to look at the regulations they have. And with M&M it's also quite simpel, the operating airline determines the miles earned and they clearly show how much on the page each airline has on their website... That's also where the exception for Edelweiss can be found for LX coded flights.

Takes about a minute to check before booking.

As with all things you participate in or contracts that you sign... Know what the T&C's are. And complain loudly when they are not followed.

But this is an example where all information was available. And Swiss even has a link on the reservations page to determine how many miles your choosen flights will earn. When a flight is operated by Edelweiss they also show on that page that exceptions on miles earned apply.

I understood that the OP got miles but not status miles - hence not too different from BAEC.

All those that wrote it's clearly written on the booking page. I also see the text now:

Flüge mit Flugnummern zwischen LX8000 und LX8999 werden von EDELWEISS AIR oder SWISS durchgeführt. Klicken Sie auf die Flugnummer für Informationen zur durchführenden Fluggesellschaft. Für spezielle Services, Meilengutschrift, Lounge-Zugang und Gepäck gelten besondere Bestimmungen.

I'm quite sure though that at the time when I booked this flight they did not have that notice (on the booking page itself). Well, maybe too many complained so they acted.