Originally Posted by
Zurich Flyer
2. Sometimes/often the agents have no clue how to change an FT number --> Had recently on my LX flight my US number on file. Wanted to have it replaced with my M&M number. The LX gate agent had no clue how to do that.
I'd say "sometimes" they have problems, if you have run into difficulties "often", then I think you had back luck. I very often change my FFP right at the gate, I often fly with LX, and I actually never had a problem with it.
The
real trouble you will run into is in case of IRROPS, as happened to me only a few days ago. Was flying DUS-ZRH-LCY in Y and the 2nd leg got cancelled due to the weather. I had my lowly blue M&M number in the system to accrue miles, but was sitting in the lounge due to my *G status with KF when the cancellation was announced.
On arrival at the transfer desk I DID manage to go to the C counter, thereby skipping the 30+ pax queue for Y and was looked after very well by the LX CS assistant. She did point out to me that if I changed my FFP to KF in the system, I'd get a better hotel for the night (Hilton instead of Moevenpick) and obviously higher waitlist priority, if that was necessary.
Now, my point being that if you were in the system already as a HON, in the case of IRROPS, they will probably deal with you as one of the first pax to re-arrange travel for you; whereas if you are in the system as a lowly nothing in another FFP, you have to be more proactive and could lose valuable time.
I've since learnt to always book with the highest status, and then change to the FFP that I wish to collect miles with at the gate - as mentioned right at the beginning, I've never really had problems with this approach. It would, however, of course be a lot more convenient if one could enter two FFPs into a booking, one for status, the other for miles collection.