Originally Posted by
SenSCL
At the same time today, after two and half years with zero activity, my own Executive status was relentlessly downgraded to Smart, even before the end of February - definitely no soft landing in place.
Funny to see that the gifted status carries on, while the giver is now up for the full cattle class treatment!
You would have received an email offer in December, whereby your Executive status was prolonged for another year if you booked and flew with ITA before the end of January.
This was discussed in another thread -
Status renewal - FlyerTalk Forums - and those of us who observed the terms of the offer had status extended for another year yesterday when they updated everyone's status (including your downgrade)
Did you miss the offer in the Christmas rush, or did you see it but fail to realise the implications of the message - that, without finally taking a flight, you would lose your status?
Originally Posted by
SenSCL
Does anyone know, if, given the recently published approach with LH and Miles & More, ITA status is of any advantage flying with LH in terms of preferred check-in and lounge access? I know that you can accrue and redeem points, but have not read about any other benefits.
No; as per the press releases, up until at least the end of March there are no reciprocal benefits at all. Currently, Volare members can only earn (and burn) on LH Group airlines. Starting from the end of March, this will begin to change (though the information put out by Lufthansa speaks only of reciprocal lounge access, and only from "Summer 2025", which introduces some ambiguity - whether "Summer 2025" means the start of the IATA summer season on March 30, or whether it will be gradually introduced at some later time)
There's at least the possibility that Volare status will only gradually - meaning in a long, drawn-out, stepwise manner - be viewed as equivalent to LH Group status. I wouldn't expect Volare status to be viewed as equivalent to Miles and More status immediately as of March 30, 2025, so it may just be that lounge access is the only new benefit that is available as of that date, with the further "perks" only being gradually granted later on.
