MilesBuzz! - Mileage debt for SNR on LH MM

With SNR status you can go into 160k milage overdraft has anyone gone all the way, what happens next, why no just start accumlating on another Star Alliance program UA or AC ie

Let me get this straight. You're advocating flying an airline enough to get status, then emptying your account, going into 'debt', without the intention of ever 'repaying' the balance. Where I'm from, that's called fraud.

Gisela (then Senator, now FTL) went negative about 120'000 miles&more miles (had no problem to do so) and now, a year later, is still about 31'000 miles negativ (will be at zero somewhen in automne 2002, depending on promotions ...).

I am bringing this up to try to gain a better understanding of the program and try to hear from others what there experience was. I was negative 40k and now i am back up to +30k and adding 9k+ a month.

I've been to negative 100k, but was back at +100k in a matter of 3/4 months. They give you the overdraft as a courtesy, thinking that you will balance out your account.

Your plan, I have to agree with Kanebear, sounds very much like fraud to me.

I don't know what or if they'll do semthing, but I'm not planning on testing them either.

I have in the past 12 months gone down to close to 160K minus three times - it has never been an issue with the people on the SEN line - on one instance they even suggested in case this still would not be sufficient miles - that I should buy a few tickets for future travel - that would make up the required mileage. I did however not need to take them up on that.
However I will fully agree that gaining the satus in order to "abuse" it, makes little sense - at least to me - apart from the moral and ethical view as voiced by others to which I fully conjure.

Cheers
Thomas

BTW - am in plus again http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by tcswede (edited 06-10-2002).]

In addition to the ethical points made, you would eventually run out of FFP to abuse.

It is not fraud. FF miles are a gift for your patronage and not an entittlement. If LH want's to provide you with additional miles and you for whichever reason decide you can't fly LH anymore - there is nothing wrong with this. This is a risk LH is willing to take, but it does not oblige you to fly them again. Allthough the reality is that many people will appreciate this option and continue their loyalty to LH.

While I appreciate the option to "go negative" on my LH M&M SEN account, I have never done so. I have come close however, dipping to ~ 4,000 miles or so. Personally I would not feel comfortable going to -160,000 miles and then walking away from LH as they run a great airline, and a great FF program, in my opinion. Also, I hate being in debt (other than a relatively modest home mortgage). Finally, I have no problems with others taking advantage of this benefit as most/all seem to buy into the fact that it will, eventually, be paid back.