BlueNordicSky, the whole program was very different when it started and I would say it was brilliant until like 2012, then it started deteriorating and getting "enhanced" slowly but deeply.
During the good days there were just a lot less HON's in the first place and that itself allowed for more time for at the time also more dedicated staff to look after you. At all outstations they had an arrival service and organized for you to be escorted and really fast tracked, something that hardly exists anymore, only AF is doing this still very well for their LP passengers (and somersetting I highly appreciate at for example Sao Paulo). That saved me many missed connection flights and meetings etc. Just great if you don't lose time. The same for the departure, where I have many examples of amazing people shuttling me from a late connecting flight at some airport to the LH/Swiss flight. At the time you could bank on them making sure you were taking care of. And if you missed it someone was waiting for you with a solution. Today in LH/Swiss nobody cares, even if you are HON on an F bucket ticket. You make your own way today. Even at FRA or ZRH you cannot 100% be sure anymore that they move things for you to get your connection. There is just not enough staff and those they have are not empowered to do anything for you. They are like helpless Minions.
My luggage was precious, there were people making sure HON luggage was first out and placed in a place and handed to you quickly. At that time I had zero (!) misconnected bags, even on impossible connections. This does not work anymore and I don't understand why. LH has even lost bags of mine in the past two years (three times to be exact). One being my Golf bag. They just lost it. Sorry Sir, its gone. It says a lot about where we are in LH Group today - they would not have lost my bag ever in the good years. There was the operational pride not to lose a HON bag.
I don't care much about lounges, but there were no LH Group flights were a HON did not have a Lounge or was not personally taking care of. Today with Eurowings and Discover etc. And even if it is mainline there are many outstations that don't care anymore.
The LH HON Hotline was amazing. People knew what they were doing and their aim was to help you get from A to B. Booking Guarantee meant booking guarantee, flexible fares were flexible. Waiting lists got cleared in an instant. Today there are 1000 of exceptions to the rules and fares, millions of reasons why the "system" cant do things - "Yes sir, if you buy a new ticket you can have that seat, but if you re-book the system will not give me that seat" - all that ........ and hassle did not exist. And I feel the HON line should be empowered to deal with these situations. Charge me additional fare no problem. but don't make me refund this and then reissue that and now you have to wait hours and no its too late to re-book even the flight you want to book upon is two hours delayed and there is ample time etc. The attitude of the call centre was "I get you where you want to be and I make it hassle free for you to get there" - today its "I can only do whatever the system tells me and please start queuing so you don't miss your flight that leaves in two hours".
On board of the plane the attendants took care of you and there was nothing too much. Additional blanket, sure. You don't like the coffee, I make you a better one. Espresso and a coffee just before landing on the morning of an overnight flight - no problem. Today some care. But it is not encouraged by Management anymore. You eat when we say - you get the same coffee sir. Especially on Eurowings. That airline is a hassle, not a breathe!
HON made it better to travel. It made things more seamless and easy.
Hope this gives you an idea.