Swiss International Airlines - Conditions for renewing the status in Switzerland - are there some?

Hello,

I know, the title sounds weird - but I wonder whether there were conditions at all...

I met a friend who is resident in Switzerland. He was for years STC silver and became automatically FTL, although he doesn't fly so much anymore.

Yesterday he showed me his glittering new FTL-card valid until 02/10, although I know pretty well that he didn't make much more than 10K status-miles the last two years. He explained that he got this card with a nice letter with the content that he did not fulfill the conditions for renewing the status, but they are looking forward to welcome him on board more often the next two years...

I wonder what's going on. Does LX panic to loose their elite-customers? First there was the very amazing "keep status"-promo (50% more status miles during 4 months), and now they print new FTL-cards for members who did not reach the 35K miles.

Somebody knows what kind of card a SEN who did not reach the necessary 100K (even with the help of the "keep-status"-promo) receives? We were told at the ZRH-DO that the number of SEN's in Switzerland will decrease dramatically by the end of the year...

If the answer of my question is: "A new SEN card", I'll feel a bit silly with my flown 135K this year... (and will rechange my residence-adress to Switzerland very quick...).

LX did say they wanted to reduce the number of SENs, but they said nothing about the number of FTLs. My guess is this is a last-ditch effort to recover former loyalty - they definitely will not be so generous next time.

As for the SENs - my guess is they will also receive shiny new FTL cards this year.

Indeed very, very interesting. And it suits the near perfect lack of orientation when it comes to LX' customer initiatives.

I struggled a lot this year if I should renew my SEN status ever again as it offers no perks to me beyond the companion award. UA's clumsy move towards becoming a premium airline and ditching its previous elites made me aim for SEN around late Sept.

At the very same time I got a letter from LX with LH logo (not LX to be specific, even though my SEN card carries the LX logo for reasons unknown as I have never been an SR or LX elite before) that they want me to stay SEN with them and they would offer me increased status and bonus miles on the integrated partners through the year's end. I shall call for details.

Called the given number and the SEN hotline 5 times over the next weeks only to learn that no one there has ever heard of that promo or is familiar with the concept. One claimed that such a thing would exist for HONs ... must say, quite a consistent exploit :rolleyes:.

I really don't know for sure, but I could imagine that when it comes to determining who requalifies for FTL, factors such as employer (corporate contracts) and type of miles earned (e.g. only 10k, but from 5 full C return trips in Europe) can play quite an important role behind the scenes. Essentially, FTL costs Miles & More nothing at all and if it succeeds in retaining some profitable business, it's worth a comp.

My guess is this is a last-ditch effort to recover former loyalty - they definitely will not be so generous next time.
I would have done the same statement - two years ago.....

As a SEN making 230K miles in 2007 I definitely don't like the "50% more Status Miles" promotion nor the "stay FTL even if you don't qualify for it" statements. Why publishing tresholds when finally "everybody" can get the status. And what do I get making double the miles required for SEN (still not enough for HON tough)? I'm at least waiting for the "50K upgrade voucher to come back".

I definitely don't like the "50% more Status Miles" promotion nor the "stay FTL even if you don't qualify for it" statements. Why publishing tresholds when finally "everybody" can get the status.
I agree totaly.
I'm at least waiting for the "50K upgrade voucher to come back".
Me the same, but I thing, they never come back.