Apr 5, 2014, 2:03 am
Last edit by: LH4116
Starting 1 June 2014 Miles&Smiles earning/burning rates are changing.
Here are some of the key changes:
Earning:
- TK earning rates depend on the fare class
- All TK fares will earn, including promotions
- Classic plus members earn more on Comfort and Business class fares
- Elite and elite plus members earn less on business class (175% for C & D or 160% for K & J, previously 200% regardless of booking class) and less on A comfort class booking class (125% instead of 150%) and more on U,O comfort class booking class (160% instead of 150%)
- Domestic flights earn more
Burning:
- High/low seasons have been abandoned
- Burning rates are the same for TK and Star Alliance carriers
- TK promise more capacity controlled award tickets
- One way tickets available at half the rate
- Regions have been revised
- Companion award is now 75% the cost of a regular award, previously 50%
- Miles needed for awards slightly increased (e.g. Europe2 to Far East in Business return: old: 70,000 now 90,000 miles)
Upgrades:
- All TK economy/comfort fares can be now be used for upgrades
- Economy > Business upgrades require half the miles of a full award
Award table has been updated and revised (no changes in some regions, significant changes in others).
What we don't know:
- Will status qualification levels change?
- Will Star Alliance earning rates change?
More info: http://www.new-milesandsmiles.com/
Here are some of the key changes:
Earning:
- TK earning rates depend on the fare class
- All TK fares will earn, including promotions
- Classic plus members earn more on Comfort and Business class fares
- Elite and elite plus members earn less on business class (175% for C & D or 160% for K & J, previously 200% regardless of booking class) and less on A comfort class booking class (125% instead of 150%) and more on U,O comfort class booking class (160% instead of 150%)
- Domestic flights earn more
Burning:
- High/low seasons have been abandoned
- Burning rates are the same for TK and Star Alliance carriers
- TK promise more capacity controlled award tickets
- One way tickets available at half the rate
- Regions have been revised
- Companion award is now 75% the cost of a regular award, previously 50%
- Miles needed for awards slightly increased (e.g. Europe2 to Far East in Business return: old: 70,000 now 90,000 miles)
Upgrades:
- All TK economy/comfort fares can be now be used for upgrades
- Economy > Business upgrades require half the miles of a full award
Award table has been updated and revised (no changes in some regions, significant changes in others).
What we don't know:
- Will status qualification levels change?
- Will Star Alliance earning rates change?
More info: http://www.new-milesandsmiles.com/
Significant updates to the M&S programme starting 1 June, good or bad?
Mar 5, 2014, 2:57 am
#61
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: RIX
Programs: SAS Lifetime Gold, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, TK*G Elite+, airBaltic VIP, Sixt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,079
TK provides hotel if same day connection cannot be made also on award trips ^ I like Tanzania very much - safaris, Kilimanjaro, Zanzbar Beaches, etc. There are some other 25k African destinations which might be of interest - Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, etc.
Mar 11, 2014, 6:23 pm
#62
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 109
So, has anyone heard...
...when these changes are effective, and/or if there will be grandfathering for existing reservations? I have a r/t flight on April in "P" class. Under the current rules, I can earn miles on M&S -- not on United, my regular carrier, though. With the changes, I don't get credit in P so I'm hoping for a late rollout.
Mar 12, 2014, 12:58 am
#63
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: AF FB Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 274
...when these changes are effective, and/or if there will be grandfathering for existing reservations? I have a r/t flight on April in "P" class. Under the current rules, I can earn miles on M&S -- not on United, my regular carrier, though. With the changes, I don't get credit in P so I'm hoping for a late rollout.
Mar 12, 2014, 5:11 pm
#67
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 704
Mar 12, 2014, 5:25 pm
#68
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
Mar 12, 2014, 6:48 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
True the N fare isn't on the chart because it's a new booking class and the people at TK haven't entered it in their systems yet. On SAS it wasn't entered in their charts either, so people who flew N didn't get any miles. But once it was entered they were able to retroclaim the miles. In other words it's only a matter of time before N gets credit as well.
Mar 14, 2014, 11:18 am
#70
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: UKB
Programs: NH*G, TK*G
Posts: 39
I am going to fly with TK in May (Booking class: P).
Under the current rule, I can earn 100% miles.
It is certain that the accrual rate for such low fare class will go down under the new rule.
The largest problem for me is that when the new rule will be in effect
Under the current rule, I can earn 100% miles.
It is certain that the accrual rate for such low fare class will go down under the new rule.
The largest problem for me is that when the new rule will be in effect
Mar 14, 2014, 2:20 pm
#71
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
Hopefully they will allow some time before the changes come into effect. Lufthansa did for instance announce their massive enhancements during the spring of 2012, and have them come into effect on Sep 1. Hopefully TK will do something similar, once they reveal the damages that will be made.
Mar 14, 2014, 3:32 pm
#72
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 704
Does anybody actually know which clases will be afected or how much???,if TK introduces a LH like chart its a major,major understatement to say that its a giant depreciation of the program!!!. TK only says they will change the system,nothing abouth how and when. I have trips booked that should make me E+ under the old system,but I have NO IDEA what the results of the "enhancement" will be!
With all due respect to TK "romantics",this seems like a fairly standard TK way to go abouth its bussines!.
With all due respect to TK "romantics",this seems like a fairly standard TK way to go abouth its bussines!.
Mar 14, 2014, 4:15 pm
#73
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
On the other hand though Miles&Smiles is a fairly small program in relation to the number of passengers who fly TK every year. Around 3 million members of which 70-100K is Elite or Elite Plus, and with 40 million (estimated 60 million 2014) passengers traveling each year.
Take this in comparison with SAS who fly around 25 million passengers per year, and aim to have 5 million EuroBonus members by 2016. Today roughly 80K are EB Gold, but that number will most likely increase to 100K as the new Diamond level will be able to gift Gold cards like free candies.
Mar 14, 2014, 4:37 pm
#74
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 704
Usually airlines tend to honor bookings that are already made and let them earn miles as per the old chart. If they sold you a ticket that earns 100% at the time, then they are obliged to deliver what they promised.
I had the opportunity to chat with TK's head of corporate sales during last year's ITB Expo in Berlin, and I did remember bringing up the question about the low status thresholds and generous earnings on cheap fares. He replied by saying that based on their calculations the average Elite/Elite Plus customer generates sufficient revenue for these thresholds to be worthwhile. It's interesting how they changed their mind so quickly.
On the other hand though Miles&Smiles is a fairly small program in relation to the number of passengers who fly TK every year. Around 3 million members of which 70-100K is Elite or Elite Plus, and with 40 million (estimated 60 million 2014) passengers traveling each year.
Take this in comparison with SAS who fly around 25 million passengers per year, and aim to have 5 million EuroBonus members by 2016. Today roughly 80K are EB Gold, but that number will most likely increase to 100K as the new Diamond level will be able to gift Gold cards like free candies.
I had the opportunity to chat with TK's head of corporate sales during last year's ITB Expo in Berlin, and I did remember bringing up the question about the low status thresholds and generous earnings on cheap fares. He replied by saying that based on their calculations the average Elite/Elite Plus customer generates sufficient revenue for these thresholds to be worthwhile. It's interesting how they changed their mind so quickly.
On the other hand though Miles&Smiles is a fairly small program in relation to the number of passengers who fly TK every year. Around 3 million members of which 70-100K is Elite or Elite Plus, and with 40 million (estimated 60 million 2014) passengers traveling each year.
Take this in comparison with SAS who fly around 25 million passengers per year, and aim to have 5 million EuroBonus members by 2016. Today roughly 80K are EB Gold, but that number will most likely increase to 100K as the new Diamond level will be able to gift Gold cards like free candies.
Mar 14, 2014, 6:13 pm
#75
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
By reading from the annual report of 2011 there were 38K Elite and 14K Elite Plus at the time. With the expansion and matching spree (unless those only include a handful savvy FT:ers) I would estimate the total number of Elite or higher to be around 70K.
I guess it's still a fairly small proportion compared to other airlines. BA has more than 90K Gold members and likely twice as many Silver members, and they carry roughly the same if not fewer passengers annually than TK.
I guess it's still a fairly small proportion compared to other airlines. BA has more than 90K Gold members and likely twice as many Silver members, and they carry roughly the same if not fewer passengers annually than TK.