Enhancement: No more op-ups from cheaper fare buckets
#46
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,516
#47
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: LH SEN, FB Plat., HH D.
Posts: 5,050
The point is that life is made out of expectancies. We keep flying LH for convenience but also hoping to be op-uped.
Also even if our last free upgrade was 2 or 3 years ago, we still remember it with pleasure, and we do not take in consideration that in the last 40/50 segments we flew in the COS we had booked.
#48
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA, NJ
Programs: LH SEN, AA EXP, UA 1K
Posts: 430
#49
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA, NJ
Programs: LH SEN, AA EXP, UA 1K
Posts: 430
I think you are right.
#50
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: EDI, CGN, NYC
Programs: LH-SEN, DL-Platinum
Posts: 973
No one is saying they have an obligation. And if they have have to do op-ups, it's their business how they allocate them. Just like it's my EUR 20K per year spent on crossing the Atlantic on one of the most competitive routes in the world...and I can allocate it like I want...
Odd that you should get so defensive about LH.
#51
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: MNL, GRQ, NYC
Programs: LH SEN; CX DM; DL PM; Hyatt GL
Posts: 156
But then, since op-ups started decreasing last year, I've been UAing anyway and use SWUs from V. So once I'm out of vouchers, I guess now I might sometimes be the *G Q who 'bumps' a HON L from his/her op-up
#54
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: LH, BA, Hilton
Posts: 1,409
#55
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: EDI, CGN, NYC
Programs: LH-SEN, DL-Platinum
Posts: 973
a) I had a good chance of being upgraded (even on S, W, and L fares)
b) the SEN lounge at JFK and, since it opened, the Welcome Lounge at FRA
c) I can reliably get an exit row seat.
I rarely book a flight (only out of necessity) in a class higher than V. So now it sounds like one of my three primary reasons for staying with LH will no longer be there.
Like I said above, I'm probably in a small minority of people who is adversely affected by this change in any significant way. But it is a *significant* change in the incentives for me to fly LH.
#57
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dubai
Programs: EK Gold, FB Silver
Posts: 318
I'm really disappointed and shocked! Maybe I don't know LH well enough (SEN for 2 years) but this seems crazy! My company's policy is to book the cheapest eco ticket available (through internet or travel agent, doesn't matter... Whatever is cheaper). They look up the flights themselves (I just tell them when and where I need to be) so there's no possibility for me to book a more expensive class in eco...
Even with those cheap tickets, I'm upgraded quiet often (just today from PRG to FRA on an E ticket or last week from BEG to FRA also on E). I'm moving to Dubai as expat in Jan 2012 so I won't make it to SEN anymore next year. Now I suddenly don't feel that sad about this anymore! Emirates Gold... I'm on my way.
This is really disappointing...
PS. Any idea if SN, OS, LX will follow this stupid 'enhancement' soon?
Even with those cheap tickets, I'm upgraded quiet often (just today from PRG to FRA on an E ticket or last week from BEG to FRA also on E). I'm moving to Dubai as expat in Jan 2012 so I won't make it to SEN anymore next year. Now I suddenly don't feel that sad about this anymore! Emirates Gold... I'm on my way.
This is really disappointing...
PS. Any idea if SN, OS, LX will follow this stupid 'enhancement' soon?
#58
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
One has to keep in mind that most people will still buy V fares as they give 100% miles and they can use upgrade instruments. There will be no official information though that V is no longer on the grading list - meaning that a lot of people will hope for the best when they go to the airport but will still be disappointed...
#59
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 56
Add me to that putatively small minority. As I mentioned somewhere else, 50% of my most recent opups came on a (TATL) V fare. Also, my experience certainly does not confirm a reduced OpUp chance, neither after I became SEN nor after the peak of the economic downturn.
#60
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: LH, BA, Hilton
Posts: 1,409
This enhancement is disapointing for me