Star Alliance Considers Adding More Status Tiers Beyond Gold
Anya Kartashova June 05, 2018
Star Alliance, which includes United Airlines, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and many others, is considering introducing another status tier, or potentially multiple tiers, above Gold Status.
As a Star Alliance Gold member, you’ll earn perks like priority check-in at the airport, airport lounge access and extra baggage allowance, to name a few.
The alliance is the largest airline alliance in the world and consists of about 30 carriers, many of which roll multiple tiers of their own loyalty programs into the Star Alliance Gold Status. Adding one or two more status tiers would enhance the relationship between the alliance and the individual loyalty programs.
Nothing is confirmed, of course, but adding more levels to the program could mean gaining access to better lounges for certain program members, as suggested on this FlyerTalk thread. It also means more difficult qualification requirements.
At the moment, both SkyTeam and oneworld alliances allow first-class lounge access to the highest tier members, which is something Star Alliance members do not get. Adding one or two more status tiers can help Star Alliance directly compete with the other two titans.
Keep in mind that even premium credit cards do not grant access to first-class lounges, which are reserved for the most elite airline passengers. The majority of the lounges in the Priority Pass network are business lounges, with some exceptions, and many cannot be accessed simply by holding the American Express Platinum Card or the Citi Prestige Card. So, reaching a higher membership tier through flying certainly benefits the customer greatly.
Holding a higher-tier status is key to pre-departure pampering, and adding more tiers would not only have to include tougher qualification requirements but also more premium lounge access and other perks.
What do you think of the possibility of new Star Alliance membership levels?
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@manstein58 Yes, UA 1K get Star Alliance Gold.... While it would be nice if there was an additional tier in Star Alliance, I see some devaluation coming for gold Members. But I can see the highest tier of airlines 1K, GS, & similar having the new status (which would probably be Platinum, & maybe even Diamond for the top 1000 members) Probably a perk would for the highest Star Alliance tier would be gate to gate transfers at hubs, access to exclusive lounges (i.e. Polaris lounge) normally reserved for first., access to preferred seating on partner airlines, etc...
I don't even get to access the J lounge on SkyTeam partner flights.... unless I am flying F/J
Do United 1K get Gold?
"... first-class lounges, which are reserved for the most elite airline passengers." What does a first class lounge have to do with loyalty? Anyone can buy a first class ticket with zero status and get into the lounge.
If they added new top tiers, what other benefits other than F lounge access would there be? Most airports don't even have F lounges anyway...FRA/SIN/ICN then a couple UA airports? I can't really see all the airlines agreeing to this because it's supposed to be a premium for THEIR flyers, not everyone, no matter the spend of miles flown. My fear is that Gold would be stripped of multiple benefits, cuz that's the only place to get them from. Gold would become some upgraded silver, silver would be just as irrelevant as it is now. Then diamond would just be basically what gold is now with some minor tweak that'd be sold as some revelation. Honestly, if they do drop in a diamond status, what I wanna see if free seat selection for ANY seat, in any fare bucket across the alliance. Which I'm assuming will never happen. I get that this is a benefit to the airlines own elites too, but I think it's less obvious than an F lounge being suddenly full. I went into a regular UA club and it was literally full, no seats, no standing tables. So what's the point, no one wants the "Polaris Club" to look like that too. But I feel like seating is more widespread, so adding that benefit across all the airlines wouldn't have a major impact. What's the difference if I sit in row 20 instead of row 40 from IAH-LHR without paying the "upcharge" there's no benefit in service, there's BARELY a benefit in the actual seating pitch and stuff so I see it as no big deal. But again, you'd have to get buy in from all these airlines which means they'd lose that ancillary revenue.