Like others, I too have been status-chasing with Flying Blue this year; I already have 34 segments flown or booked for May, so well on track to re-qualify for Platinum (and I'm already half-way to Lifetime Plat).

Also, like others, I find this latest 'enhancement' something of the "straw that broke the dromedary's back" (the second hump is now only an optional extra ).

So, what was my reaction? I just signed up for Aegean's Miles & Bonus!

I have two possible/likely long-haul work trips coming up this year - they're for Academic Institutions, so I'll be travelling discount economy: (1) Scotland-Australia and (2) Scotland-Argentina.

With Flying Blue, I'd get 25% miles but (woo-hoo) six segments for (say) GLA-AMS-AUH-SYD/SYD-KUL-AMS-GLA and four for GLA-AMS-EZE r/t: 17% of qualification.

Using Star Alliance, I get 50% tier miles ("K" or "W" booking class) for UA: GLA-EWR-LAX-SYD r/t (13K miles) and 50% ("Q," or maybe even 100%miles for "H") for GLA-EWR-EZE (8K miles), which gives me 21K miles = GOLD status just like that! And it's for life, too, AFAIK! ^

Anyone know what A3 redemptions are like on *A carriers?

-- Henry