Feb 23, 2015, 6:35 am
Last edit by: NWIFlyer
With the evolution of the Miles&Bonus program, there are a number of threads on this forum that contain outdated information, plus a further set that - whilst describing the new program - contain conflicting information that has only been crystallised as we all discover how certain aspects of the program either work or are interpreted.
It is perhaps therefore unsurprising that many new members find searching through this myriad of threads a little daunting, and consequently they post a question in one of the FAQ threads.
This tends to irk those who've been around for a while who expect the new posters to at least do some basic searching before posting a question that has probably been asked many times before. This also causes the forums to become very congested and less easy to read through with the same question being asked and answered many times.
I am therefore creating a thread, which will be stickied, for anyone to ask any question they like about the M&B program where they are unsure or it's not obvious where they should be posting it.
There is no such thing in this thread as a stupid question, no issue with asking a repeat question, and any answers should be 100% flame-free. I will take a dim view of anyone that abuses a member or provides a less than helpful answer (such as 'do a search') to any question asked in here, because this is being created to benefit all of us so the other threads flow more cleanly. Thank you for your co-operation on this.
It might be that I move questions to more appropriate threads so they receive an answer more quickly, but if I do so I will always add a note to indicate where they originated, and ask that the flame-free answer principle be respected.
NWIFlyer
Moderator
Aegean M&B
It is perhaps therefore unsurprising that many new members find searching through this myriad of threads a little daunting, and consequently they post a question in one of the FAQ threads.
This tends to irk those who've been around for a while who expect the new posters to at least do some basic searching before posting a question that has probably been asked many times before. This also causes the forums to become very congested and less easy to read through with the same question being asked and answered many times.
I am therefore creating a thread, which will be stickied, for anyone to ask any question they like about the M&B program where they are unsure or it's not obvious where they should be posting it.
There is no such thing in this thread as a stupid question, no issue with asking a repeat question, and any answers should be 100% flame-free. I will take a dim view of anyone that abuses a member or provides a less than helpful answer (such as 'do a search') to any question asked in here, because this is being created to benefit all of us so the other threads flow more cleanly. Thank you for your co-operation on this.
It might be that I move questions to more appropriate threads so they receive an answer more quickly, but if I do so I will always add a note to indicate where they originated, and ask that the flame-free answer principle be respected.
NWIFlyer
Moderator
Aegean M&B
Flame-Free Questions on A3 - ask your newbie (and not so newbie) questions here
Nov 2, 2016, 5:45 am
#976
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Netherlands
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 132
Not sure what is the best place to ask, but I am trying to get four A3 segments before ~ Nov 22 to achieve gold status before my TATL flight end of November (I only need the segments). I am based around AMS, but could fly from DUS or BRU as well. The cheapest fares could find on Matrix were around 170 EUR (BRU-SKG-ATH-SKG-ATH), but all required two nights.. If possible, I would prefer a same day turn instead. As I am sure some of you are more adept at finding good deals than I am, I would greatly appreciate your help!
Nov 2, 2016, 6:39 am
#977
Community Director
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,477
As a principle, FT is not a travel agency and so we can't really choc this thread up with lots of suggestions on mileage runs. As a piece of general advice, however, very often it's considerably cheaper to split the domestic flights out from the international ones, and there certainly won't be any stay restrictions on the domestic flights (and I doubt the international ones either).
Nov 2, 2016, 7:32 am
#978
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 27
I'm wondering if I can use the lounge by my next trip(to Beirut). So I have 12k miles in my A3.
it is said "To reach the Silver Tier, all you need to do is fly Aegean or Olympic Air at least twice and earn 12,000 Tier Miles within 12 months"
I will have a return flights from Athens to Beirut (flying with my mom), and hopefully reach Silver Tier.
About the access to the Lounges, it is also written: This benefit is provided on a coupon basis upon upgrade or tier renewal and can be used within the period that the tier is valid.
So my question is can I use the lounge already when flying to Beirut? Or it's only possible during my next trip?
it is said "To reach the Silver Tier, all you need to do is fly Aegean or Olympic Air at least twice and earn 12,000 Tier Miles within 12 months"
I will have a return flights from Athens to Beirut (flying with my mom), and hopefully reach Silver Tier.
About the access to the Lounges, it is also written: This benefit is provided on a coupon basis upon upgrade or tier renewal and can be used within the period that the tier is valid.
So my question is can I use the lounge already when flying to Beirut? Or it's only possible during my next trip?
Nov 2, 2016, 8:33 am
#979
Community Director
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,477
I'm wondering if I can use the lounge by my next trip(to Beirut). So I have 12k miles in my A3.
it is said "To reach the Silver Tier, all you need to do is fly Aegean or Olympic Air at least twice and earn 12,000 Tier Miles within 12 months"
I will have a return flights from Athens to Beirut (flying with my mom), and hopefully reach Silver Tier.
About the access to the Lounges, it is also written: This benefit is provided on a coupon basis upon upgrade or tier renewal and can be used within the period that the tier is valid.
So my question is can I use the lounge already when flying to Beirut? Or it's only possible during my next trip?
it is said "To reach the Silver Tier, all you need to do is fly Aegean or Olympic Air at least twice and earn 12,000 Tier Miles within 12 months"
I will have a return flights from Athens to Beirut (flying with my mom), and hopefully reach Silver Tier.
About the access to the Lounges, it is also written: This benefit is provided on a coupon basis upon upgrade or tier renewal and can be used within the period that the tier is valid.
So my question is can I use the lounge already when flying to Beirut? Or it's only possible during my next trip?
Nov 7, 2016, 10:13 am
#980
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
Am I right in saying that because this flight is operated by Cityjet it wouldn't earn anything with Miles&Bonus?
Nov 7, 2016, 2:34 pm
#981
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 234
Quick question regarding the requalification for A3 gold:
I have to requalify until 02/12/2016 according to my A3 account. Does a flight (departing and arriving on that date) still count towards the requalification?
I have to requalify until 02/12/2016 according to my A3 account. Does a flight (departing and arriving on that date) still count towards the requalification?
Last edited by mrgreen; Nov 7, 2016 at 7:57 pm
Nov 7, 2016, 2:49 pm
#982
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,372
No, actually it does earn. SAS seem pretty good at treating their subsidiary flights in the same way as mainline. Last month I flew ARN-HEL on a CitiJet CRJ900 and it credited two days later.
EDIT: Actually, thinking about it, I also flew on SK2647 ARN-HAM and then SK1648 HAM-CPH a couple of years ago, both operated by CRJ900s and they also credited right away, so you should be fine.
Last edited by Knobbgb; Nov 7, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Nov 11, 2016, 10:40 pm
#986
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,372
Nov 14, 2016, 4:28 am
#988
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 38
A3*G and no access to fast track in WAW
L&G,
I have A3*G, and was recently flying with LH from WAW to FRA and back. I was denied fast track (a.k.a Gold track). I am sure, A3*G was assigned to my BP, it was showing "priority boarding", and I could use fast track on my way back in FRA.
(besides there is big mess with fast track in WAW: e.g. it allows M&M FTL's, even if it's not documented or announced anywhere, then it does not allow it, then again)
I was curious whose fault it is (airline or airport?) and I found BP specification by IATA here: https://web.archive.org/web/20161009...v4_jun2009.pdf
in chapter 6.4.2 (page 75) it says:
A fast track is a service offered to selected passengers to bypass the queue at a security checkpoint. An agent controlling the passenger’s boarding pass decides whether to grant the access to the fast track. The BCBP enables to automate the control, and consequently to make it self-service. Recommendation:
The following items should be used to control a boarding pass and grant access to the fast track:
•Operating carrier designator
•Compartment code
There is no specific item in the bar code such as ‘access to fast track’
well, this recommendation seems not enough, as it is needed to know at least passenger status on top of mentioned info, to determine access to fast track.
BUT, after reading it, to me: it does not seem as airline problem (passengers flying SAS to CPH reporting exactly the same issues as myself with LH). It seems an airport's problem to determine access properly.
Am I right or not?
I posted a question to Polish forum (similiar to flyertalk), but no one there is able to answer my questions...
Thanks,
Rafa
I have A3*G, and was recently flying with LH from WAW to FRA and back. I was denied fast track (a.k.a Gold track). I am sure, A3*G was assigned to my BP, it was showing "priority boarding", and I could use fast track on my way back in FRA.
(besides there is big mess with fast track in WAW: e.g. it allows M&M FTL's, even if it's not documented or announced anywhere, then it does not allow it, then again)
I was curious whose fault it is (airline or airport?) and I found BP specification by IATA here: https://web.archive.org/web/20161009...v4_jun2009.pdf
in chapter 6.4.2 (page 75) it says:
A fast track is a service offered to selected passengers to bypass the queue at a security checkpoint. An agent controlling the passenger’s boarding pass decides whether to grant the access to the fast track. The BCBP enables to automate the control, and consequently to make it self-service. Recommendation:
The following items should be used to control a boarding pass and grant access to the fast track:
•Operating carrier designator
•Compartment code
There is no specific item in the bar code such as ‘access to fast track’
well, this recommendation seems not enough, as it is needed to know at least passenger status on top of mentioned info, to determine access to fast track.
BUT, after reading it, to me: it does not seem as airline problem (passengers flying SAS to CPH reporting exactly the same issues as myself with LH). It seems an airport's problem to determine access properly.
Am I right or not?
I posted a question to Polish forum (similiar to flyertalk), but no one there is able to answer my questions...
Thanks,
Rafa
Nov 14, 2016, 5:57 am
#989
Community Director
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,477
Priority boarding, as noted on your boarding pass, is a guaranteed *G benefit. Priority security is something entirely different and is not.
However, that said one of the airports with Gold Track is indeed WAW, so you should have been entitled to access. Unfortunately, as you identify, this is controlled by the airport and not the airlines - and indeed is not well understood or implemented outside dedicated or near-dedicated *A terminals such as LHR T2. I recently passed through BUD and there was no signage for Gold Track so knowing no different given I hadn't travelled there for well over a year I went through the standard queue - which hardly held me up at all, frankly.
This service failure is not anything to do with A3, and if you want to complain you'd need to address it to WAW airport and/or the Star Alliance office.
However, that said one of the airports with Gold Track is indeed WAW, so you should have been entitled to access. Unfortunately, as you identify, this is controlled by the airport and not the airlines - and indeed is not well understood or implemented outside dedicated or near-dedicated *A terminals such as LHR T2. I recently passed through BUD and there was no signage for Gold Track so knowing no different given I hadn't travelled there for well over a year I went through the standard queue - which hardly held me up at all, frankly.
This service failure is not anything to do with A3, and if you want to complain you'd need to address it to WAW airport and/or the Star Alliance office.
Nov 14, 2016, 6:49 am
#990
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 38
problem #1: there is no contact data on star alliance website - there are only links to airlines, and instruction to contact respective FF programme for customer service.
problem #2: senior forum members from Polish forum (and egon.olsen - one of contributors here) took the side of WAW airport, saying it is NOT airport's problem, but rather than that - it is LH problem which could not generate proper BP. When asked, they could not give any rational arguments to support that thesis, but only told me to stop complaining and shut up. I have proven my point and was even able to find BP spec from IATA (above) which backs my argumentation. Is there any specialist here who could tell us how fast track access is being implemented in practice?