Status and respect? [for LH FTL*S flying SQ]
Sep 8, 2012, 3:28 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, AA, SQ, UA, AC, WS, MR TIT
Posts: 8,659
Sep 9, 2012, 1:21 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Entirely agree. While both LX and LH are terrible airlines in longhaul coach, the incremental benefits for *G go well beyond the published benefits for the alliance.
With no priority boarding in many cities and no Biz lounges at the home fortress, SQ may indeed be the trailing end of the *A.
With no priority boarding in many cities and no Biz lounges at the home fortress, SQ may indeed be the trailing end of the *A.
Sep 9, 2012, 1:41 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
And I just had the experience of a UA*G being pampered behind me by the purser on LH metal while SEN was ignored for a refill on the wine...!
Another incident: As SEN in F I was also recognized and greeted instead of a HON sitting right next to me...
So LH has it's priorities all wrong, for some reason!
And their own, even base PPS members - which is why I switched to flying LH long ago...
However, I would now consider carriers other than LH, due to all the diminished benefits.
Another incident: As SEN in F I was also recognized and greeted instead of a HON sitting right next to me...
So LH has it's priorities all wrong, for some reason!
However, I would now consider carriers other than LH, due to all the diminished benefits.
Sep 9, 2012, 1:42 am
#22
formerly known as 2lovelife
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: ORF : UA_Premier_Gold4Life, Bonvoy_titanium, Accor_Plat
Posts: 6,952
The issue here is whether Star Silver benefits will apply on the SQ flight.
The answer is YES.
But Star Silver doesn't get you much these days...
*Priority Reservations Waitlisting
*Priority Airport Standby
and that's about it.
You will likely not get access to better economy seats, if they have any. Extra baggage, not any more. Priority check-in & boarding, not unless it's your own airline, if they offer it (LH in this case) .
And upgrades.... very, very unlikely (based on fare type may be a better factor)
I'd say that UA ranks pretty low in this regard as well. 
The answer is YES.
But Star Silver doesn't get you much these days...
*Priority Reservations Waitlisting
*Priority Airport Standby
and that's about it.
You will likely not get access to better economy seats, if they have any. Extra baggage, not any more. Priority check-in & boarding, not unless it's your own airline, if they offer it (LH in this case) .
And upgrades.... very, very unlikely (based on fare type may be a better factor)
Last edited by seanthepilot; Sep 9, 2012 at 4:26 am
Sep 9, 2012, 2:52 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
Don't bash an airline alliance when you are just a "lowly" *S but in your mind you are *G or even better
Expect the benefits that are published, but nothing more...
Sep 10, 2012, 1:33 am
#24
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
I remember flying SQ in full fare Y on a 772 regional in Asia LH*S in the booking, but SK*G card in hand. At checkin I wanted to use the *G counter in Changi, the agent tried to send me away to the regular economy desk. 'computer says no' kind of situation. When I asked for a supervisor I was graciously allowed. Then I asked for a priority tag, which led to a second 'computer says you *S' discussion. My singlish wasn't good enough to ask for a FQTS setting so I let that discussion end quickly. Again, a priority tag was attached, but as I walked away I though I saw her tear off the tag before letting it proceed on the belt.
At the designated *G lounge the status on BP vs *G card in hand gave some head scratching but no discussion.
On arrival, C pax were given a separate bus on the apron and the priority tagged luggage was already off the belt and sorted by the time we got thru immigration. My luggage came very very late among the rest of the pleb.
At the designated *G lounge the status on BP vs *G card in hand gave some head scratching but no discussion.
On arrival, C pax were given a separate bus on the apron and the priority tagged luggage was already off the belt and sorted by the time we got thru immigration. My luggage came very very late among the rest of the pleb.
Sep 10, 2012, 2:46 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, AA, SQ, UA, AC, WS, MR TIT
Posts: 8,659
Sep 10, 2012, 4:10 am
#26
formerly known as 2lovelife
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: ORF : UA_Premier_Gold4Life, Bonvoy_titanium, Accor_Plat
Posts: 6,952
...but you can't access the Economy Plus seats they give their own gold members, even on a high fare class (B,Y,C,D,F,A) ticket, IIRC
...but you can't board the aircraft with their Star Gold's, only with the economy line IIRC
...and no internet in their lounges, despite the signs that it's free, IIRC.
I don't care how nice they talk
They don't seem to TREAT all gold's equal.
Or at least that has been my experience.
Sep 10, 2012, 4:18 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
I'm fascinated by complaints of "not getting E+" made by (or on behalf of) elites from airlines that don't even have an equivalent...
What are you missing out on there... as your OWN airline doesn't give it to you either?
On UA IIRC *G boards right after UA's own top elites...
Does LH board "foreign" *Golds at the same time as HON and SEN? If not, again one must ask, why the complaint?
As an NZ *G who flies mostly on Asian and US *A carriers I have to say I rarely have to even prompt check in staff for the standard (published!!!) benefits...
What are you missing out on there... as your OWN airline doesn't give it to you either?
On UA IIRC *G boards right after UA's own top elites...
Does LH board "foreign" *Golds at the same time as HON and SEN? If not, again one must ask, why the complaint?
As an NZ *G who flies mostly on Asian and US *A carriers I have to say I rarely have to even prompt check in staff for the standard (published!!!) benefits...
Sep 10, 2012, 4:25 am
#28
formerly known as 2lovelife
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: ORF : UA_Premier_Gold4Life, Bonvoy_titanium, Accor_Plat
Posts: 6,952
But nevertheless, I think there is another piece of advice for the Original Poster.
SwissFirst, you say you are Frequent Traveler with LH. Depending on your flying patterns, you may be collecting miles in the wrong program.
EVEN IF YOU FLY THE SAME FLIGHTS, and only changing the airline you credit your miles to....
you could qualify for Star Gold, instead of Star Silver on LH!
The benefits are clearly better when flying, as a star gold member!
Just an idea... @:-) @:-) @:-)
SwissFirst, you say you are Frequent Traveler with LH. Depending on your flying patterns, you may be collecting miles in the wrong program.
EVEN IF YOU FLY THE SAME FLIGHTS, and only changing the airline you credit your miles to....
you could qualify for Star Gold, instead of Star Silver on LH!
The benefits are clearly better when flying, as a star gold member!
Just an idea... @:-) @:-) @:-)
Sep 10, 2012, 4:36 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
All FFP's have their own good and bad things, the *S and *G status only cover a few of those.... And it really depends on your personal situation what's best for you. And that could well be FTL on M&M, even with the low mileage earnings and the ridiculous taxes/fees on awards.
I have held that status for a few years and since I nearly always flew LH/LX I benefited from that by having lounge access and an extra bag. And for a few long hauls in discounted economy I was able to select seats that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise, such as 76A/K on the A380. A few times with a whole row to myself. Not a single op-up, but having such an expectation just isn't realistic.
Sep 11, 2012, 8:13 am
#30
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: M&M FTL; BAEC Bronze
Posts: 1,043
Just out of curiosity, I am about to travel on a SQ flight LHR-SIN-MEL and hold the status of FQT (S). How likely are LH*S passengers ' to be upgraded ' , do they hold any sort of status with SQ and what would be the chances of changing seats at check-in for 'bulkhead' or 'preferred seats' Baiscally does LH(S) have any leverage on SQ flights?
Also how would the mileage work out for me?
Also how would the mileage work out for me?
When I travelled on SQ as *G (SK at the time) a couple of years ago I was speaking to one of the checkin agents in FRA and they told me that SQ never upgrade *G customers as it's against their policy. So I would say as *S then you have less of a chance.
But I did get priority boarding in SIN.
SQ charge (80 USD per sector?) for 'preferred' seats, including emergency and bulkhead. You can choose to do this when you checkin online (48 hours prior to departure). But this means that status does not help you get these seats, only cold hard cash (or credit card!).