LAN LANPASS - Changes to LAN upgrade policy as of 1 Nov 2012

Over the weekend I received the email pasted below which informs LANPASS members that upgrades with kilometers will be a benefit available only to elite level members as of 1 November 2012. As bizarre as I find this, I guess it's nice that elites are finally getting benefits that are useful (other than the extra km-earning potential on flights), since LANPASS has long been short on the elite-level perks.

It bums me out since I earn on LAN casually and have, until now, just used the kms I earn on my credit cards to upgrade the occasional flight. I've only actually earned elite status on LAN twice and found it to be so not worth it (other then the bonus kms on flights) that I switched back to earning on AA. Now it looks like I just have to keep earning kms until I have a free ticket, which means I'll never have to spend money with LAN (theoretically, of course).

Here's the email in its original Spanish:

Estimado (a) ZPAUL,
Porque en LANPASS queremos que usted esté siempre informado sobre el estado de sus beneficios y condiciones del programa, es nuestro deber comunicarle información importante referente al Canje de Upgrade con KMS. LANPASS.

El Canje de Upgrade con KMS. LANPASS le permite actualmente canjear sus KMS. LANPASS para acceder a la clase de servicio superior en vuelos LAN (Premium Business o Premium Economy) luego de haber comprado un pasaje en clase Económica.

Le informamos que a partir del 1 de noviembre de 2012, el producto "Canje de Upgrade con KMS. LANPASS" quedará disponible como un beneficio exclusivo para socios Elite de LANPASS, que pertenezcan a las categorías Comodoro, Premium Silver y Premium. Además, este tipo de canje será posible realizarlo dentro de los 6 meses antes de la fecha de salida del vuelo y dependiendo de la disponibilidad. Conozca más detalles de este beneficio aquí.

Le confirmamos que todas las otras posibilidades para canjear sus KMS. LANPASS por pasajes se mantienen vigentes, es decir, canje por pasajes en cabina Economy, Premium Economy y Premium Business siguen disponibles para usted a través de LAN.com.

Thanks, interesting. Not good to have the program downgraded. :td:
Not sure why they would do this? Surely non-Elites upgrading with KMs was not a huge problem.

But you say "I guess it's nice that elites are finally getting benefits that are useful". Of course, Elites could upgrade with KMs before and after this announcement, so no added perk, maybe only slightly less competition for U space. But I do find this a useful benefit, sorry to see it go for non-elites.

Thanks, interesting. Not good to have the program downgraded. :td:
Not sure why they would do this? Surely non-Elites upgrading with KMs was not a huge problem.

But you say "I guess it's nice that elites are finally getting benefits that are useful". Of course, Elites could upgrade with KMs before and after this announcement, so no added perk, maybe only slightly less competition for U space. But I do find this a useful benefit, sorry to see it go for non-elites.

I think it may be in line with the reduction of J capacity, since they've removed so many rows from J on many aircraft U space is at a premium.

What surprises me is now, instead of paying for an econ ticket and upgrading, which is what I usually do with my LAN kms that I earn here and there, I'll now just wait a bit longer and go fully non-rev. It does seem strange that the only way I can fly LAN using my kms now is by not giving them any money at all (that's an extreme statement, but you know what I mean!).

As a LAN elite I can see no down side perhaps even increased availability. I only wish they would provide for confirmed upgrades for coupons. As it is now my coupons never get used as I won't risk rolling the dice at departure time.

I'm sorry for any fellow FTers who will get burned by the new policy but I do expect a trend of less generosity (for upgrades and award availability) throughout the industry and this would certainly fall in line with that.

I'm sorry for any fellow FTers who will get burned by the new policy but I do expect a trend of less generosity (for upgrades and award availability) throughout the industry and this would certainly fall in line with that.

I agree 100% and this isn't meant to be a rant. It just surprises me that they have removed a benefit which does generate some revenue from the general public - upgrading a revenue ticket still involves purchasing a ticket. I can't think of another airline that has done this.

I know that the kms I earn on my credit cards are paid for somehow which means using them isn't "free," but as a pax you're not paying anything to the airline. In my case, I don't earn any of my kms from flying LAN, just from the bank, so in theory I'll never pay LAN anything for my award flights now, since I have to go all-or-nothing, whereas before they would get at least the value of an economy ticket.

Now I'm sure there will be erosion to the affinity earning programs, and I'll see the accumulation of kms from the cards fall into the dumpster soon, too. Instead of one r/t J trip to the US every two years, I'll be lucky to make it to Concepción...:rolleyes:

I agree 100% and this isn't meant to be a rant. It just surprises me that they have removed a benefit which does generate some revenue from the general public - upgrading a revenue ticket still involves purchasing a ticket. I can't think of another airline that has done this.

I know that the kms I earn on my credit cards are paid for somehow which means using them isn't "free," but as a pax you're not paying anything to the airline. In my case, I don't earn any of my kms from flying LAN, just from the bank, so in theory I'll never pay LAN anything for my award flights now, since I have to go all-or-nothing, whereas before they would get at least the value of an economy ticket.

Now I'm sure there will be erosion to the affinity earning programs, and I'll see the accumulation of kms from the cards fall into the dumpster soon, too. Instead of one r/t J trip to the US every two years, I'll be lucky to make it to Concepción...:rolleyes:
I feel your pain --- seriously. But for the record I have always been against the whole idea of credit cards earning frequent flyer miles, or any kind of status or perks. These programs were originally intended to encourage loyalty to fly with a specific airline. Once things like credit card churning brokeout I really feel the whole concept just jumped the shark. As far as I'm concerned, in some ways this falls into the same "something for nothing" category which has in part wrecked the world economy. Hyperbole? Perhaps, but I would be happy to see a return to the way it was many years ago. But that's just me.

For the record I am not blaming anyone who followed the rules and earned points in ways other than flying --- I blame the airlines for lack of good, long-term judgement.

I'll never pay LAN anything for my award flights now

Never say never, I am sure if you ask them nicely then LAN will unbundle the fuel surcharge from reward bookings to make your comment redundant.

For the record I am not blaming anyone who followed the rules and earned points in ways other than flying --- I blame the airlines for lack of good, long-term judgement.

They make so much money on the co-branded credit cards that it would be a lack of good, long-term judgment, not to have them.

They make so much money on the co-branded credit cards that it would be a lack of good, long-term judgment, not to have them.
I understand the profit motive but just look at AA for example: They realized they had severely overloaded their ranks of Lifetime Gold and Platinums and so they changed the program so that only BIS miles count for lifetime status. Maybe I am oversimplifying but that's my impression. By long-term thinking I meant to say that they chose short-term profits over the long-term viability of the program.

Never say never, I am sure if you ask them nicely then LAN will unbundle the fuel surcharge from reward bookings to make your comment redundant.

Very true! I was trying more to make the point that now I am not a revenue-generating passenger, even though I will fly LAN using my kms about once a year. This change is actually saving me money as I have to wait until I have enough kms for a full award ticket rather than being able to buy a ticket with my hard-earned pesos and upgrade it. Darn.

I understand the profit motive but just look at AA for example: They realized they had severely overloaded their ranks of Lifetime Gold and Platinums and so they changed the program so that only BIS miles count for lifetime status. Maybe I am oversimplifying but that's my impression. By long-term thinking I meant to say that they chose short-term profits over the long-term viability of the program.

AA was one of the few (if there were even others) that built status (including what turned into high tier lifetime status) into the credit card.

As far as the UG policy itself, it may keep me from joining Lanpass if/when there's a material change to the LA/AS relationship.

As far as the UG policy itself, it may keep me from joining Lanpass if/when there's a material change to the LA/AS relationship.

In my opinion Lanpass is already a poor program compared to others in the OW alliance; this just makes it worse unless you're able to get to elite status quickly. I'll take my Platinum status on AA any day over Premium Silver on LAN.

In my opinion Lanpass is already a poor program compared to others in the OW alliance; this just makes it worse unless you're able to get to elite status quickly. I'll take my Platinum status on AA any day over Premium Silver on LAN.
Yes but I can achieve Platinum Silver (and OW Sapphire) flying less miles than it would take to get me to AA Gold. I agree it's not the best program though.

I don't think it is fair to write LANPASS off as a poor programme. Perhaps you are looking at it from a US centric perspective. For a European like me, that lives in LATAM, flies economy mainly, it is easily the best programme.

*Gives me awesome kms offers for national flights in Colombia
*Gives me lounge access for when I am mincing around the USA on my way to Europe so I can wave at the AA EXP people through the lounge window. AA gets me 100% miles accumulation plus 100% elite bonus in all fare classes but O
*Once back in London I get stellar distance based awards to mainland Europe. 10,000 kms to Paris or 12,000 to Madrid farts in the face of AA redemptions
* I have always got a coupon upgrade between BOG and LIM which is one of my most common routes so that's where it matters.
* As Don Plashba pointed out, you can qualify high and fast with fewer miles. I just passed Comodoro on Saturday with a measly 55,000 kms. I wouldn't have a shot of even making bronze with BA Avios based on tier points.

If you are in North America swanning it down to South America then yep, perhaps AA is a better programme. If you are actually in LANlandia though and can get a visa to get the hell out once in a while, then LANPASS is a deadly programme.

I don't think it is fair to write LANPASS off as a poor programme. Perhaps you are looking at it from a US centric perspective. For a European like me, that lives in LATAM, flies economy mainly, it is easily the best programme.

*Gives me awesome kms offers for national flights in Colombia
*Gives me lounge access for when I am mincing around the USA on my way to Europe so I can wave at the AA EXP people through the lounge window. AA gets me 100% miles accumulation plus 100% elite bonus in all fare classes but O
*Once back in London I get stellar distance based awards to mainland Europe. 10,000 kms to Paris or 12,000 to Madrid farts in the face of AA redemptions
* I have always got a coupon upgrade between BOG and LIM which is one of my most common routes so that's where it matters.
* As Don Plashba pointed out, you can qualify high and fast with fewer miles. I just passed Comodoro on Saturday with a measly 55,000 kms. I wouldn't have a shot of even making bronze with BA Avios based on tier points.

If you are in North America swanning it down to South America then yep, perhaps AA is a better programme. If you are actually in LANlandia though and can get a visa to get the hell out once in a while, then LANPASS is a deadly programme.

One of the benefits (AA AC access when flying within the USA) is going away, or is gone, which is a big downer. I typically fly annually 2 paid RTs in I (each minimum 4 segment trips) which provide 4 N/S America segments and 4 (minimum) intra- S America segments, so some status shouldn't be too hard to keep up.

One of the benefits (AA AC access when flying within the USA) is going away, or is gone, which is a big downer. I typically fly annually 2 paid RTs in I (each minimum 4 segment trips) which provide 4 N/S America segments and 4 (minimum) intra- S America segments, so some status shouldn't be too hard to keep up.

As I was writing that above I was thinking to myself "Did I dream it or is this perk going?"

How can AA take away a core OW perk?

If I understand right, it will not affect me if my domestic flight is part of an international itinerary no?

I don't know how hard it is for you to maintain some status Eastbay1K, What are the thresholds in North America? Or are you registered in South America?

I do know that if you stay within South America and fly economy it is very hard to get status unless you fly crazily and go for segment qualification.

As I was writing that above I was thinking to myself "Did I dream it or is this perk going?"

How can AA take away a core OW perk?

If I understand right, it will not affect me if my domestic flight is part of an international itinerary no?

I don't know how hard it is for you to maintain some status Eastbay1K, What are the thresholds in North America? Or are you registered in South America?

I do know that if you stay within South America and fly economy it is very hard to get status unless you fly crazily and go for segment qualification.

I bank all my LA miles with AS - AS is not a OW member, but has EQM earning with LA (as well as AA and some Skyteam members) and burning with much of OW and ST. For now, this works well for me, but as we know, nothing is forever (and with the case of LAN and alliances, etc) and I'm evaluating future options.

In my opinion Lanpass is already a poor program compared to others in the OW alliance; this just makes it worse unless you're able to get to elite status quickly. I'll take my Platinum status on AA any day over Premium Silver on LAN.

None of the FF programs are perfect but seems that you have forgotten that
the best program depends on each persons travelling needs and preferences
I would say that those mostly travelling to/from/within Latin America are primary target group for LANPass.

While the elite benefits might not be as good as with US-based airlines, one has to have deeper look at the details. Instead of the quantity of the miles, one should have a look at their value. LANPass offer benefits that one can only dream of as AAdvantage, Avios, Finnair Plus etc member like being able to book award flights close to departure date with OW partners (excluding AA but I have the same problem when trying to book them through BA) and without having to pay fuel surcharges... They also have quite often good promotions, eg. on this moment domestic flights within Colombia for 4,000 km... Most economy class passengers probably find more use for being able to redeem awards for less than 15,000 km than being able to upgrade.

Of course being able to use kilometres for upgrading is a loss for non-status members,but decent change fees with all the changeable economy class tickets, personal inflight entertainment and carrier's financial viability are often more important factors in decision making... There must a reason why my Peruvian friends are talking about combi de Iberia although earning Avios miles is much easier... :D

Nevertheless I'm a bit surprised that they eliminated non-elite upgrading posibility instead of requiring them to buy base plus tickets for upgrading...

One of the benefits (AA AC access when flying within the USA) is going away, or is gone, which is a big downer. I typically fly annually 2 paid RTs in I (each minimum 4 segment trips) which provide 4 N/S America segments and 4 (minimum) intra- S America segments, so some status shouldn't be too hard to keep up.
Eastbay are you saying that OW elites can no longer use Admiral's Clubs when flying domestically in the US? Where are you seeing that please?

I still see this as published benefit for OW Emerald and Sapphire on the Admiral's Club web page.

Eastbay are you saying that OW elites can no longer use Admiral's Clubs when flying domestically in the US? Where are you seeing that please?

I still see this as published benefit for OW Emerald and Sapphire on the Admiral's Club web page.

Good news - this has been confirmed as being a published mistake and has been corrected!

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/ghettoife/2012/07/27/update-from-aa-oneworld-lounge-access-has-not-changed-for-emeraldsapphire-mistake-on-oneworld-site/

Whew! Thank you ---- That is a relief! ^^^

None of the FF programs are perfect but seems that you have forgotten that
the best program depends on each persons travelling needs and preferences.


That's why I started my post with the words "in my opinion" in bold. The value of program features and benefits is very subjective.

Regarding the OP, had a chat with a Comodoro beside me. He flies twice weekly domestic but wouldn't make Comodoro because of the kms requirements (his routes only get 25% kms) so he needs a few international (trade fair Europe, NA) trips to get Comodoro, which he does. His experience is that upgrades not a problem for him before, now sometimes a problem for him, so seems Zpaul is on to something suggesting LAN wants less competition for upgrade seats, more opportunties for their Elite flyers with reduced seats on some routes.

I don't think it is fair to write LANPASS off as a poor programme. Perhaps you are looking at it from a US centric perspective. For a European like me, that lives in LATAM, flies economy mainly, it is easily the best programme.


I'm based in Santiago and travel extensively within Chile and to the US and Europe (very little intra-South America travel) from SCL. As a US citizen my perception may be tainted (you can take the gringo out of gringolandia...), but I think four years in SCL and two years as an elite with LAN allows for me to come to some personal conclusions. As I said, though, it's my opinion only and should be taken as such.

From many of the messages on this board LANPass seems to have better fame in other LAN markets than Santiago (those in Colombia seem to have a much better opinion of it from those of us in the deep south, for example).

I'm based in Santiago and travel extensively within Chile and to the US and Europe (very little intra-South America travel) from SCL. As a US citizen my perception may be tainted (you can take the gringo out of gringolandia...), but I think four years in SCL and two years as an elite with LAN allows for me to come to some personal conclusions. As I said, though, it's my opinion only and should be taken as such.

From many of the messages on this board LANPass seems to have better fame in other LAN markets than Santiago (those in Colombia seem to have a much better opinion of it from those of us in the deep south, for example).

and we quite like hearing your opinion :)

ya know of course that Lan in Coloooombia is far different, easy as cake qualifications, great km deals... thinking of moving there myself jeje

and we quite like hearing your opinion :)

ya know of course that Lan in Coloooombia is far different, easy as cake qualifications, great km deals... thinking of moving there myself jeje

I am renting out my broom cupboard for a mere COP$50,000 along with its address rights.

Of course if you or zpaul want to throw in one of your countries' superior empanadas every once in a while then that's fine too

I am renting out my broom cupboard for a mere COP$50,000 along with its address rights.

Of course if you or zpaul want to throw in one of your countries' superior empanadas every once in a while then that's fine too

Deal. jeje And along with the Plaza Vea empanadas, I'll throw in some Altamayo coffee and Cusqueña beer.

Deal. jeje And along with the Plaza Vea empanadas, I'll throw in some Altamayo coffee and Cusqueña beer.

JohnnyC, I'll fight you over who gets the coffee...or I'll bring extra empanadas as a bribe. God the coffee sucks down here.

I am in no position to comment on coffee, twas my country that inflicted the Juan Valdez brand of liquid mud on the whole LAN network

I am in no position to comment on coffee, twas my country that inflicted the Juan Valdez brand of liquid mud on the whole LAN network

... excepting Peru, we kept our coffee.

I am in no position to comment on coffee, twas my country that inflicted the Juan Valdez brand of liquid mud on the whole LAN network

Juan Valdez is better than the powdered brown water that is passed off as coffee in Chile!

Juan Valdez is better than the powdered brown water that is passed off as coffee in Chile!

But they DO serve Juan Valdez here! (not that I would ever drink coffee in an aircraft, except maybe for jetBlue).
And ridicoulously, the poor flight attendants are obligated to offer it by saying "Would you like some Juan Valdez?" with the ocassional passenger then asking "what the hell is that?!" amd then change to their normal and boring "Would you like some coffee?". Poor FAs, the must hate the guy in the Conchita mule...

But they DO serve Juan Valdez here! (not that I would ever drink coffee in an aircraft, except maybe for jetBlue).
And ridicoulously, the poor flight attendants are obligated to offer it by saying "Would you like some Juan Valdez?" with the ocassional passenger then asking "what the hell is that?!" amd then change to their normal and boring "Would you like some coffee?". Poor FAs, the must hate the guy in the Conchita mule...

Yes, LAN does serve it...I was speaking in a more generalized sense of Chile. I have yet to be asked if I'd like some Juan Valdez, though...I must look like the stupid gringo enough that they stick to "café." :rolleyes:

Yes, LAN does serve it...I was speaking in a more generalized sense of Chile. I have yet to be asked if I'd like some Juan Valdez, though...I must look like the stupid gringo enough that they stick to "café." :rolleyes:

You mean the Nescafé everywhere? Yup, it is bad! Luckily there are some proper coffee shops here that serve illy :)