dba/Air Berlin - Strategy for Frequent Flyers
Aug 17, 2006, 12:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 598
dba/Air Berlin - Strategy for Frequent Flyers
While it is to early for speculation, I´m very sure that Air Berlin and dba need to create a frequent flyer programm that will have to be competitive to Miles & More. Air Berlin already has a very nice and popular program (Top Bonus) in place while dba, despite planning it for some time now, has nothing. It might be a good idea to get Status (Silver or Gold) on Air Berlin very soon, especially since it is possible to get even gold without ever flying.
Aug 17, 2006, 1:00 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: MUC/LAX/SMV
Programs: LH, UA, BD, AA, NW, FB, NH, AC, Sixt, Hertz, Avis, *W, HH, Marriott, PC, Leaders Club, AMEX
Posts: 12,406
Originally Posted by Meilensammler
It might be a good idea to get Status (Silver or Gold) on Air Berlin very soon, especially since it is possible to get even gold without ever flying.
Aug 17, 2006, 1:07 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 598
Originally Posted by flysurfer
IIRC, I think I get Gold automatically as a journalist, so the perks can't be that amazing.
- special hotline for Gold Member
- more luggage allowance
- rebooking without fee
- more miles
- award availibilty up to the last seat
- no taxes and surcharges for award ticket (which can save quite some money nowadays)
- awards can be booked up until the last minute
- perks from partners like free gold status from Radisson SAS hotels
....
Aug 17, 2006, 2:00 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
Originally Posted by Meilensammler
- no taxes and surcharges for award ticket (which can save quite some money nowadays)
Aug 17, 2006, 2:02 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: MUC/LAX/SMV
Programs: LH, UA, BD, AA, NW, FB, NH, AC, Sixt, Hertz, Avis, *W, HH, Marriott, PC, Leaders Club, AMEX
Posts: 12,406
Originally Posted by Meilensammler
- award availibilty up to the last seat
- no taxes and surcharges for award ticket (which can save quite some money nowadays)
- awards can be booked up until the last minute
- no taxes and surcharges for award ticket (which can save quite some money nowadays)
- awards can be booked up until the last minute
Aug 17, 2006, 2:36 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Belgium
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 5
Hi guys,
I do have a press-card with AirBerlin and it has just been great all the time.
You can reserve seats, bring more luggage, cue in preferred lines etc.
I do not need to earn air miles if the service is that great.
You pay 50% less during shoulder season and you still get 25% off during holidays.
Happy Landings.
I do have a press-card with AirBerlin and it has just been great all the time.
You can reserve seats, bring more luggage, cue in preferred lines etc.
I do not need to earn air miles if the service is that great.
You pay 50% less during shoulder season and you still get 25% off during holidays.
Happy Landings.
Aug 17, 2006, 3:13 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
The concept of AB is pretty amazing:
Free catering
Fixed miles for all public fares
Low redemption thresholds
One way awards
All seats available for rewards
NO TAXES OR FEES for award travel (not to speak of those dreadful fuel charges LH charges for instance)
Silver status for just 50€
etc etc
How is it possible the legacy airlines don't do anything to improve?
Free catering
Fixed miles for all public fares
Low redemption thresholds
One way awards
All seats available for rewards
NO TAXES OR FEES for award travel (not to speak of those dreadful fuel charges LH charges for instance)
Silver status for just 50€
etc etc
How is it possible the legacy airlines don't do anything to improve?
Aug 17, 2006, 3:57 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Berlin
Programs: LH FTL
Posts: 546
I don't even worry about any status with them for the reasons:
- I have always use the Preferred Check In (Doing mostly early morning fligts to Stansted in a Suit since it is business and have NEVER had an issue in DUS!)
- Free drink and snack on board
- Free newspaper and Magazines (Bunte, Focus, etc) which I only get in C-Class on LH
- Always had an emergency exit seat or bulkhead row!
- WONDERFUL Check In Staff and Cabin crew
- Prices around € 100,- for same day return flight DUS-STN - LH in Eco is around 600,-!!!!
So basically I love AirBerlin on that route (which is my most often used route with them) and think I am being treated better then with LH!!
However, never tried other routes but can amagine the Tourist-Routes might be very different!
- I have always use the Preferred Check In (Doing mostly early morning fligts to Stansted in a Suit since it is business and have NEVER had an issue in DUS!)
- Free drink and snack on board
- Free newspaper and Magazines (Bunte, Focus, etc) which I only get in C-Class on LH
- Always had an emergency exit seat or bulkhead row!
- WONDERFUL Check In Staff and Cabin crew
- Prices around € 100,- for same day return flight DUS-STN - LH in Eco is around 600,-!!!!
So basically I love AirBerlin on that route (which is my most often used route with them) and think I am being treated better then with LH!!
However, never tried other routes but can amagine the Tourist-Routes might be very different!
Aug 17, 2006, 4:26 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: May 2001
Location: DUS
Posts: 4,004
Originally Posted by captainiglo
- Always had an emergency exit seat or bulkhead row!
- WONDERFUL Check In Staff and Cabin crew
- Prices around € 100,- for same day return flight DUS-STN - LH in Eco is around 600,-!!!!
So basically I love AirBerlin on that route (which is my most often used route with them) and think I am being treated better then with LH!!
However, never tried other routes but can amagine the Tourist-Routes might be very different!
- WONDERFUL Check In Staff and Cabin crew
- Prices around € 100,- for same day return flight DUS-STN - LH in Eco is around 600,-!!!!
So basically I love AirBerlin on that route (which is my most often used route with them) and think I am being treated better then with LH!!
However, never tried other routes but can amagine the Tourist-Routes might be very different!
Agree a 100 % though, that Air Berlin beats LH easily from an inflight service perspective, I guess the Wolf saw it the same way and added the Mini Twix as his ultimate weapon...
Aug 17, 2006, 4:30 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: MUC
Programs: black is magic
Posts: 879
Originally Posted by flo-e
A year ago I got a voucher for 1 year free Air Berlin Silver Card. Used it and loving it! So I'm thinking about paying the 50 Euro to keep my "status". How do I get the Gold Card without flying?
The Top Bonus Card Gold means that you are one of Air Berlin’s most frequent flyers – and it is certainly worth having. Once you have collected 30,000 Miles, you are one of our preferred passengers. This Card cannot be purchased.
Aug 17, 2006, 11:23 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: MUC/LAX/SMV
Programs: LH, UA, BD, AA, NW, FB, NH, AC, Sixt, Hertz, Avis, *W, HH, Marriott, PC, Leaders Club, AMEX
Posts: 12,406
Originally Posted by flo-e
Thats what I thought too, and it seems as if the only difference between Silver and Gold ist the Gold Hotline and the 25% mileage bonus.
Actually, the new carrier looks very interesting for me as a journalist flying ex MUC. I might switch over some of my domestic travel (which doesn't generate any M&M miles, anyway, forget about the 125 miles per segment).