MilesBuzz! - starting jan-1st: Ansett and Air New Zealand count for LH-status-miles

from the LH-home-page (miles&more, specials):

Two "newcomers" joining Star Alliance

Starting on April 1st 1999, Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand, formerly Lufthansa Miles & More partners, will become members of the Star Alliance. From

1st JANUARY 1999 (!!!)

all miles you clock up on flights with these two partners will also be credited on your account as status miles, making it even easier to reach the Lufthansa Frequent Traveller or Senator Status in future, or to extend your
Frequent Traveller or Senator Card.

MY COMMENT: I hope that this is also the case for all other ff-programs of the STARAlliance (it seems that LH is first in updating informations online - please wake-up UA and others!).

But, Rudi, isn't that just anoher example of superior European efficiency?

Subject: RE: United Products - Mileage Plus
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 19:42:44 -0600
From: mpi-2@ual.com
To: rmartel@access.ch

Hello Mr. Martel,

Thanks for your e-mail.

Effective 1/1/99, qualifying miles accrued on Air New Zealand and Ansett will count toward Premier status for 1999.

Thanks again,
Tami
UAL

HOW ABOUT THE OTHERS (and their information politics)?

Air Canada replied to me today and they also will start Jan 1.

In response to your concerns, Air New Zealand and Ansett Airlines will become full Star Alliance Partners as of March 1999. Although any flights taken with either one of the airlines as of January 1, 1999 will accumulate as Qualifying Mileage for your year 2000 status. Hope this clears up any queries you had.

Thank You

Super Elite Centre, Air Canada

UA. Be wary until Star Alliance arrangements are inaugurated on 28March. The UA website clearly defines qualifying AN miles, those that can be credited to a UA M+ account, as ONLY those AN flights taken within 30 days of a UA or NZ trans-pacific flight. The message above, from Tami UA, has to be read that way. Can we have a statement from UA that all AN miles count toward Mileage Plus credit, as well as Premier Status? Otherwise the fine print could catch us out.

Now, if they only do the same for ANA flights. That will be great!

as (to) often, the UA website is not updated.

all Ansett Australia and Air New Zeland flights count (also for Status) with UA (or all other StarAlliance ff-programs) beginning 1-1-99 already. The old 30-days rule is past.

ANA will follow before the end of 1999.

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 02-03-99).]

Rudi

I am not so sure that Ansett flights count to VARIG-ff until the joining date 28/3/99.

As I am not sure that Ansett flights count to SAS as well. Explain: SAS and Qantas are still partners ...for how long ,.. don't know !


MMM

SAS did confirm (1-1-99) when I asked in Copenhague on jan-20 at the lounge (before my SK flight to Bangkok).

Thai did confirm in Bangkok.

VARIG I admit, I didn't ask yet.

But on my flight last friday, from Melbourne to Los Angeles (with UA), on our stop at Auckland at the joint Air New Zealand / Red Carpet - Lounge, they said it was for all StarAlliance-partners per jan-1st.

Thanks Rudi ,... that's good news.

I'll drop RG an email and see what they say.

Still on the SA news topics. Do you know who takes care of the SA Website ?.. now, THAT is out of date !! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

MMM

Rudi:

RG confirmed today that their partnership with Ansett will start only on the 28/Mar/99 .

ANZ flights count for status since 1-1-99


MMM