To round this off from my side. I was fully aware that Star had regrettably binned any guest while SkyTeam and OneWorld have kept the benefit, in the case of BA they've added further benefits to guesting for top-tier.

For the fact that HON is supposed to be so "unrivalled" is why I was surprised that different flight guesting was binned even if was only for HON and not F pax, same way that HON can use FCL on any Star flight. It's laughable to consider it so unrivalled on that element of guesting that they did nothing to protect the right. They can spend all that money on catering, picking up, but they can't let you guest a business partner or spouse on a different flight. I need my clown emoji 🤡.

Womxn are the least likely to have status compared to men, just like they're less likely to earn the same money and have the same opportunities as men. Boomers naturally protect their interests and those are ones complaining lounges are not quiet enough or too busy. LHG's top pax are boomers. I think Boomers are a bigger part of their revenue than for some other EU carriers which fits German demographics overall. I reckon it's even the reason why DE has kept the mask.

Crowded lounges is an entirely different issue not solved by limiting guesting randoms. Are only LH lounges rammed? In DACH have very little choice because of the monopoly position they enjoy, fully supported by their protectionist governments. They are price makers on so many routes which means no matter how limited the guesting was, no matter how crap they made the lounges they'd still be full at peak times and FTL lounges full of holidaymakers in the summer.

And yes @theKrafty1tar WRO-BOS is a very specific and under-served route with next to no choices without many stops, plus it must feel premium to get the car cos you have to suffer with so many RJ's. But don't kid yourself, those apron pick-ups are offered precisely because FRA is awful and it was then rolled out across other airports with RJ's, and that's why the FCT exists to provide high-fare pax with an alternative cos LH know the airport is absolutely terrible. If the airport was better they wouldn't need to do it and it would be a faff, not a benefit. And who needs a pickup if you can walk off the plane via an airbridge with short walking distances. The only reason WAW has the apparatchik Limo and HON Car is because of the use of the buses.

Btw, its not just about compensation for EC261, it's the fact they don't respect the rules for rebooking and duty of care. Your experience is completely skewed with HON status and because you're highly informed. Just think about those poor Babcia's flying from WRO-ORD and what they have to endure when things go wrong? Read the rebooking thread.