Rumour [confirmed]: Major changes to Miles & More
May 24, 2012, 6:48 am
#527
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Geneva
Programs: LX SEN, AFKL Platinum, BA Bronze,
Posts: 5,642
And still they claim victory at the Freddies
http://www.miles-and-more.com/online...l=en&cid=18003
Dated 1 June so perhaps an early release?
http://www.miles-and-more.com/online...l=en&cid=18003
Dated 1 June so perhaps an early release?
May 24, 2012, 6:55 am
#528
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
And still they claim victory at the Freddies
http://www.miles-and-more.com/online...l=en&cid=18003
Dated 1 June so perhaps an early release?
http://www.miles-and-more.com/online...l=en&cid=18003
Dated 1 June so perhaps an early release?
I would think the Freddies would want to announce this prior to the competitors?
Strange.
May 24, 2012, 6:59 am
#529
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
The Freakies were handed to the winners in late April, gala ceremony, press releases etc followed accordingly.
May 24, 2012, 12:25 pm
#530
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,170
Let me be a bit provocative: What is so bad about the changes? The typical business high margin flyer does not care at all. F, C and D are not touched. however, the cost sensitive flyer might care. P and Z are affected. But this is only a small part of the full story.
Lets look back at bit.
Once upon a time M&M was a frequent flyer program and it gave you 1250 miles of a domestic flight in discounted economy. It took you one economy return a week to gain Senator statues. Than they changed this to 156 miles for discounted economy and everybody complained. However, as clever as we are we found workarounds: Swiss Saver or Cheap Z and A promotion fares.
And now they reacted to that and made this workarounds less attractive. On the other hand, discounted economy is back to 625 miles and SEN is down to 100.000 miles. So it takes you 80 annual returns in discounted economy to gain Senator Status. Not bad at all.....
Lets look back at bit.
Once upon a time M&M was a frequent flyer program and it gave you 1250 miles of a domestic flight in discounted economy. It took you one economy return a week to gain Senator statues. Than they changed this to 156 miles for discounted economy and everybody complained. However, as clever as we are we found workarounds: Swiss Saver or Cheap Z and A promotion fares.
And now they reacted to that and made this workarounds less attractive. On the other hand, discounted economy is back to 625 miles and SEN is down to 100.000 miles. So it takes you 80 annual returns in discounted economy to gain Senator Status. Not bad at all.....
May 24, 2012, 12:45 pm
#531
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: 29,517
May 24, 2012, 1:44 pm
#532
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, AA, SQ, UA, AC, WS, MR TIT
Posts: 8,659
May 24, 2012, 3:06 pm
#533
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BSL/FRA or PHL
Programs: LH Miles and More, DL SkyMiles, Bonvoy, Hilton
Posts: 2,335
I came to LH M&M about five years ago because:
1.) *A and LH fly conveniently to places I need to go from New York, particularly FRA, DUS, (and occasionally SIN).
2.) I generally like LH on-board service.
3.) LH change fees were very reasonable for discounted C tickets.
4.) M&M was one of the best earning values for people who fly long-haul in discount C.
While 1.) is still true, I am now undecided about 2.), 3.) has become less true, and 4.) has become much less true.
May 24, 2012, 11:08 pm
#534
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
I fly quite frequently on Z fare tickets.
Why anyone would pay a C fare when a Z fare is available boggles my mind.
I have calculated that to make the difference between a Z fare and a C fare I would need to change the flight 14 times. I cannot recall a flight I changed 14 times.
Why anyone would pay a C fare when a Z fare is available boggles my mind.
I have calculated that to make the difference between a Z fare and a C fare I would need to change the flight 14 times. I cannot recall a flight I changed 14 times.
May 25, 2012, 4:15 am
#535
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: LH SEN, FB Plat., HH D.
Posts: 5,050
I only fly on Z fares.
If there are no Z fares available, I look for other alternatives.
I understand that managers from some companies cannot move their schedules easily and/or do not mind paying top fares, as it is not from their pockets, but it is not my case.
If there are no Z fares available, I look for other alternatives.
I understand that managers from some companies cannot move their schedules easily and/or do not mind paying top fares, as it is not from their pockets, but it is not my case.
May 29, 2012, 8:03 am
#536
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: UA 1K Premier, LH Senator
Posts: 36
I can't imagine how I would explain to the bean counters booking a class other than the lowest eligible fare in the class I am eligible to fly (business) and I change my flights often and pay a lot of change fees, it's still way cheaper to book Z...
Jun 25, 2012, 3:33 am
#537
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Madrid
Programs: IB+ Emerald (Platino), M&M Senator (Gold), Meliá Rewards Platino, NH Platinum
Posts: 436
After 2.5 months and aprox 10 mails, at least I´vo got a positive answer
Dear Mr Marcin83
Thank you for your enquiry.
From 01 September 2012 onwards new mileage valuations will apply to the seating class Z on flights with Adria Airways, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Luxair and SWISS. As to your booking under the reservation code XXX, you are entitled to the mileage entitlement valid at the time of your booking made in March before the changes were announced. Kindly contact us again in September after the flights have been registered, so that we can correct the mileage credit accordingly. Please also mention in your query that you booked your flights in March and refer to our correspondence.
Thank you for your enquiry.
From 01 September 2012 onwards new mileage valuations will apply to the seating class Z on flights with Adria Airways, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Luxair and SWISS. As to your booking under the reservation code XXX, you are entitled to the mileage entitlement valid at the time of your booking made in March before the changes were announced. Kindly contact us again in September after the flights have been registered, so that we can correct the mileage credit accordingly. Please also mention in your query that you booked your flights in March and refer to our correspondence.
Jun 26, 2012, 1:24 am
#539
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
M&M had promised such exception sometime back, see post #11 in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...2-changes.html
It may have not sounded right due to my translation.
It may have not sounded right due to my translation.
Jul 15, 2012, 7:00 am
#540
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
New Strategy?
Like many others, my company policy is to book the lowest fare in economy for short haul, and the lowest fare in business for long haul. Period. No way to book Y, B, M or C, D, respectively. Never ever. Flying E, L, T and Z I made roughly 110k miles a year.
I currently consider the following strategy options:
a) Accept relegation to FTL (although I'll still earn about 75k miles a year)?
b) Earn all my *A miles to TK (which I only used in alternate years, previously)?
c) Open up another alternative *A FFP for the LH years?
d) ???
Any views?