Insolvency: What happens with our miles and reward tickets?
Aug 16, 2017, 8:57 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Interesting. So it seems AB is blocking all mileage redemptions, whether it's airline tickets or using miles in the Topbonus Shop.
Is there any remaining option to use AB miles?
Is there any remaining option to use AB miles?
Aug 16, 2017, 8:58 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Zurich
Programs: BA GGL, TK*G EL, KL P ELPL, ex AB P, ex LH/LX Sen, HHonors D4L, Bonvoy P
Posts: 1,647
Aug 16, 2017, 10:30 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
People with existing reservations (not tickets) have received e-mails that those reservations would not be ticketed, but cancelled.
Aug 17, 2017, 2:21 am
#19
Moderator, SkyTeam and Germany
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: FRA/STR/NUE
Programs: BA, LH, KL, EY, IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Radisson
Posts: 5,946
I guess it will take a few more days to see where topbonus regarding usage of miles / issuing of award tix on AB stock will be headed. This is probably not on the list of top priority points to be ruled on in association with the insolvency procurator deployed by the insolvency court.
I'm holding a 6 figure amount of topbonus miles but I'm not too concerned right now. Topbonus is an asset and EY will be very interested to keep its value as high as possible. If they will be able to sell topbonus into something new associated with Lufthansa or if they will fold it into Etihad guest, miles might keep their value...
I'm holding a 6 figure amount of topbonus miles but I'm not too concerned right now. Topbonus is an asset and EY will be very interested to keep its value as high as possible. If they will be able to sell topbonus into something new associated with Lufthansa or if they will fold it into Etihad guest, miles might keep their value...
Aug 17, 2017, 3:08 am
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Officially you should retain lounge access for oneworld flights as an AB elite if AB is still operating and is still a member of oneworld. Be sure that you follow all rules, including crediting the flight to your AB account if oneworld requires this for lounge access as a partner elite.
However, much could depend on how and when lounge fees are paid. If it's your FF program or its associated carrier that pays fees either to the carrier operating/marketing your flight or to the carrier operating the lounge, there could be problems if it's perceived that AB cannot pay its bills.
However, much could depend on how and when lounge fees are paid. If it's your FF program or its associated carrier that pays fees either to the carrier operating/marketing your flight or to the carrier operating the lounge, there could be problems if it's perceived that AB cannot pay its bills.
Aug 17, 2017, 9:39 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat
Posts: 862
I do not think that you need to credit the flight to AB to have lounge access. You can just show your plastic card.
Aug 17, 2017, 11:18 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
Aug 17, 2017, 11:23 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,120
I under stand that the 60 day period is waived in these cases as the service was never provided.
Aug 17, 2017, 12:28 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 9
If I may digress from the thread topic...
I called Topbonus Silver (German) yesterday and was told the Topbonus Shop is genuinely down for maintenance and has nothing to do with the insolvency. I was also told that the miles would not be lost.
I'd love to get my hands on one of their scripts.
I called Topbonus Silver (German) yesterday and was told the Topbonus Shop is genuinely down for maintenance and has nothing to do with the insolvency. I was also told that the miles would not be lost.
I'd love to get my hands on one of their scripts.
Aug 18, 2017, 8:21 am
#28
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Great Britain
Programs: Air: QR Silver. BA Silver Emirates, Hotels: CC Gold, IHG Spire AMB, Hilton Diamond.
Posts: 1,487
mid Aug to mid Nov is the 3 month period and my flights are 2nd Nov & 16th Nov DUS-CUR (books about a week ago).
I am also sceptical that €150m will last three full months. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
If cancelled I’m wondering if TopBonus will reinstate my points. I don’t expect so but it depends how TopBonus actually pays AirBerlin; in terms of how and at what time / date. TopBonus may actually still have my points, not AirBerlin (or the cash value they’d pay AirBerlin).
The other complication I have (and others I expect) is that IF points are reimbursed, how will they be treated if they are reinstated after the expiration date of the original points !!
ANY IDEA IF THE TRANSFR OF POINTS BETWEEN TOPBONUS AND AIRBERLIN CAN BE STOPPED ????????
Those who have paid in cash might be in a slightly better position if flights are cancelled as whilst AB won’t give you a penny you might find credit card or travel insurance will compensate you.
The issue with using points which complicates my booking is that it’s nothing to do with a credit card and I expect most (if not all) travel insurance companies won’t cover loss of points.
Therefore if I do manage to get Credit Card to refund me or Travel Insurance compensation it would only be for the taxes & fees paid (about £400) and not the true value of two business class flights to Curacao
There goes my gift to my Mum for her 70th Birthday of 2weeks in Curacao :-(
I am also sceptical that €150m will last three full months. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
If cancelled I’m wondering if TopBonus will reinstate my points. I don’t expect so but it depends how TopBonus actually pays AirBerlin; in terms of how and at what time / date. TopBonus may actually still have my points, not AirBerlin (or the cash value they’d pay AirBerlin).
The other complication I have (and others I expect) is that IF points are reimbursed, how will they be treated if they are reinstated after the expiration date of the original points !!
ANY IDEA IF THE TRANSFR OF POINTS BETWEEN TOPBONUS AND AIRBERLIN CAN BE STOPPED ????????
Those who have paid in cash might be in a slightly better position if flights are cancelled as whilst AB won’t give you a penny you might find credit card or travel insurance will compensate you.
The issue with using points which complicates my booking is that it’s nothing to do with a credit card and I expect most (if not all) travel insurance companies won’t cover loss of points.
Therefore if I do manage to get Credit Card to refund me or Travel Insurance compensation it would only be for the taxes & fees paid (about £400) and not the true value of two business class flights to Curacao
There goes my gift to my Mum for her 70th Birthday of 2weeks in Curacao :-(
Aug 18, 2017, 8:45 am
#29
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 2
I have a confirmed Topbonus award ticket on one world partner LATAM for March 2018. After reading this, I realize there is little to no chance that the ticket will be honored by LATAM. Correct?
so what are my options:
(1) as by top bonus fare rules there is no refund if I cancel the ticket (other than fees and taxes) => not an option
(2) I can change the date of departure to some time in the next two month for a fee of 70-something Euro. I can change the route as well but it needs to be in the same region (in my case North to South America)
(3) wait and see. Q: In case LATAM does not honor my award ticket and provided that topbonus does not file for bankruptcy as well, will I get my miles back? Or are they lost for good?
so what are my options:
(1) as by top bonus fare rules there is no refund if I cancel the ticket (other than fees and taxes) => not an option
(2) I can change the date of departure to some time in the next two month for a fee of 70-something Euro. I can change the route as well but it needs to be in the same region (in my case North to South America)
(3) wait and see. Q: In case LATAM does not honor my award ticket and provided that topbonus does not file for bankruptcy as well, will I get my miles back? Or are they lost for good?
Aug 18, 2017, 10:28 am
#30
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Great Britain
Programs: Air: QR Silver. BA Silver Emirates, Hotels: CC Gold, IHG Spire AMB, Hilton Diamond.
Posts: 1,487
Not expecting the flights to run to be honest but they might (or perhaps the outbound will but inbound won't !!!!!!! ) and if I do get some TopBonus points refunded when they are cancelled then who knows what you'll be able to book with them by then OR if they will automatically expire due to original expiry date
:-(