Originally Posted by Aisle Seat H
a) cos I would like the benefits the first time I book and fly, not a few months later after I have 'earned' it !
the whole point of trying to get comp'ed is that i have done the 'hard work' to get status in other airlines/networks and am trying to use this to 'jump the queue' on other airlines !
This is such a common practice that there is a Thread on the subject on this site that now runs for more than 18 pages !
......
You have "earned" it with your current programs but not with SkyTeam.
And the whole point of any SkyTeam carriers giving you a comp match only up to Gold Level because they want to see some "hard work" from you on their airlines. You did your hard work on other networks, how could you expect to not do anything at all and get the same benefits? Even when moving from SkyTeam to StarAlliance (for example, myself getting comp match from United, I only got Premier Executive instead of 1K while I am a DL Platinum who needed 100K miles to reach that status), they do the same by giving one tier below the top tier. This is so common !!! You jump from nothing to Gold, that is generous enough. Remember that SkyTeam Gold gives you min of 100% mileage bonus (except AF non-US account gets 50%) on ALL SKYTEAM operated flights. I don't see any other StarAlliance airlines doing this. Most airlines only offers 100% bonus on their own operated flights, but not on their partners, e.g. United Premier Executive gives 100% bonus only on UA and LH flights.
Challenge or comp match is offered for you to show only "some or no" work by giving you the quickest way to get one level below the highest tier. If you don't like the idea, don't bother. Stay where you are with your own networks and at the end, you get nothing from SkyTeam.
You said you fly half in Economy and half in business, therefore, you will only suffer half of the time for not getting lounge access while earning 100% bonus miles ALL the time you fly. To me, that makes up for it. If lounge access matters so much, spend your few hundred dollars to get club membership. It should not cost much comparing to NO WORK you have done for SkyTeam and already got Gold Level.