It depends. If you need to also include your Y flying into earning status, then obviously ULTI is "easier" because more flights are included. And ULTI also includes flights not operated by AFKL, as long as booked on AFKL flight number.

Of course every traveler is dfifferent, but here is an example for myself: typically over 2-3 weeks I would take a "pack" of 3 Euro returns in J + 1 Euro-USA returns in J + 1 Euro-USA in P.

• On AFKL, that would yield 90+60+100=250 UXP. Over two years I'd need seven such "packs" and some extra flights, the equivalent of my flying of about 20 weeks plus some leisure trips here or there, and the 1,800 UXP are attained.
• Doing the same on LHLXOS, where I typically wouldn't be on the highest J fare for the Euro flihts, would yield approx. 9,500+17,000+ 25,000 HON Miles=51,500 HON miles. Over the two years I'd need almost twelves such "packs", or the equivalent of about 36 weeks of flying to attain the 600,000 miles.

But the difference is much smaller if for example you fly to Brazil, and only in First/Premiere, with a change in a hub (e.g. MUC-ZRH-GRU or MUC-CDG-GRU just to take a completely random example inspired by a forum buddy ), then

• AFKL: 150 UXP per roundtrip = 12 round trips to attain qualification threshold
• LHLXOS: 44,000 HON miles per roundtrip = 13 round trips to attain qualification threshold

And if your earning is on Euro trips, flying always in full earning fares, then HON takes *twice* the number of flights, in higher fare classes

• AFKL: 30 UXP per roundtrip = 60 roundtrips to attain qualification
• LHLXOS: 5,000 HON miles per roundtrip = 120 roundtrips to attain qualification

So, yes, HON takes more flying, depending on where you fly that may be a little more or a lot lot more. How much money you need to spend is a different topic. Easier to find lower-priced First Class fares on LHLX, but in Business class lower fares also don't give full earnings, and Eco doesn't earn anything. Mileage runs exist for both HON and ULTI, and I have read reports of people claiming to achieve HON with only 30,000 EUR.

But then my point would be: instead of setting a lower threshold and providing mediocre services from time to time, I'd prefer them to put the bar higher and provide real services, consistently. Will that eliminate some people that currently are ULTI? Sure, it would, probably including myself (if I remember correctly, my first real ULTI qualification was with about 2,000-2,100 UXP at the end of the qualification period I think). On the other hand, if there were more material benefits delivered consistently, then the incentive to select them instead of another airline would be bigger. Personally I consider myself an "ULTI by accident", as I never targeted that status, just not worth it. It's a "nice to have".

EDIT: I was slower than matmalr, sorry, but I hope my calculations are merely enriching his.
EDIT 2: I realise that my earnings calculations for HON already include the 25% bonus of base miles. Which one doesn't get when one isn't SEN or HON yet. matmalr's calculations do not include them if I understands his numbers correctly.