yurtripper

I agree that LO is an outlier for the reasons you describe, and that it is constrained within *A owing to its lack of clout, but if it really wanted to exit *A then the time to do this would have been before year-end 2015, when it had the option of leaving without paying hefty exit fees. During the time when other airlines were concentrating on JVs, LO was busy firefighting and sorting out critical internal restructuring and by the time it got back on its feet there were fewer options left on the menu. They tried to get a codeshare with NH on the WAW-NRT route but, surprise, surprise, LH vetoed that using its provision in the LH-ANA JV, which allows parties to veto codeshares with other carriers. It could look for alternative JVs outside *A, but *A could still object to these. LO's problem is that the alliances are still effectively controlled by a few large carriers, which limits options for smaller carriers like LO. Jumping ship to OW wouldn't change this dynamic. What's interesting is that IAG was widely seen as the most likely private equity investor during LO's moment(s) of crisis, but this was before the change of government when many people thought that the ruling PO party would either let it go to the wall or be sold off to Lufty (that relentless devourer of nearby carriers). Now there is a nationalist government which is highly unlikely to allow the flag carrier to fall into foreign hands. Not only that, they intend to build a massive new hub outside of WAW for LO. There's a large amount of pork barrel involved in this project, but it's not entirely unjustified when you consider that WAW is already saturated for Non-Schengen and LO is unlikely to object to such grandiose plans on its behalf.

Also, you say that LH is dumping in the PL market but then say that domestic prices in this market are cheap (ie in comparison to LH's own sphere of control). But this is more likely about the fact that LH is not a price setter in PL in the same way it is in LH countries, so it could be argued that LH is merely recognising this fact by pricing to market. LO offer their own mileage bargains (Y only) which are essentially zero YQ so there is no way that LH could compete with this if they kept a fat YQ for their corresponding offering on the same routes. 7K RT for short-haul Y is exactly what LO offers and so you'd be nuts to pay more for an LH award with equally restrictive fare conditions.

I'm not sure what LO could realistically do in the German market. Kinda like a chihuahua drooling over a bone that an enormous German Shepherd dog has. It can salivate all it wants but any attempt to snatch the bone away is not likely to end well for the chihuahua!

Lack

They already do retaliate with PPB promos etc. One of the reason that Polish members can't use miles in the worldshop or pay taxes with miles are those 'cultural differences'.

LH&Co have the 10k bargains ever often and the YQ is equally low now.

I do. But that ship has sailed.

San Gottardo

I am really in a "strange" place, but actually for me there are hardly any disadvantages ("strange" as in: it looks as if this is actually good for me):

1. my usual flying pattern allows me to re-qualify for status, because there are no changes there.
2. Earning miles on light fares, with a fare component around 50-75 EUR for a return flight: that yields 300-450 miles, where currently I'd only get 250 miles
3. Earning miles for my business class fares which are very often expensive (leaving on LX from SUI or on LH from GER) as I typically end up in D or above, for instance I have paid 5,600 EUR (fare component only) for a ZRH-JFK: that gives me 5,600 * 6 = 33,600 miles, whereas previously I'd get a little less than 18,000 miles. Or on a EUR >1,000 Business Class return ZRH-LHR, that yields 6,000 miles instead of the 5,000 under the old scheme

There are fares and routes where I'd lose out - for instance on discounted First Class flights in A class - but two thirds of my flying is in either scenario 2 or 3, so it works OK for me.

Actually, seeing how many miles I get on the longhaul Business flights, I'd be delighted if they also calculated status with that new earnings method.


.... or do I get the maths wrong??? I just cannot fathom that anyone could actually be better off by "enhancements"

Lack

Well, if they wanted to hurt everyone they just could have slashed earnings across the board.
The question the thought leaders in blogs were making is why reward extra people like you if you'd spend the money anyway, and if they think that a prospect of losing some miles would persuade Rambuster for example to spend more money on higher fares? If the status element stays the same, I highly doubt that.

worldclubber

There could be some, probably a few people. For most fliers the change will most likely mean a reduction in miles earned and those fliers would not want LH to change the status miles system in the same way.

Nic33

For LH, it makes sense to increase the amounts of miles credited for such a fare (and decrease the award miles on cheaper tickets). As far as I am concerned, I never purchase C class tickets at this price for my private flights, but only for my work trips made on short notice (which are paid by third parties). This raises even more the agency issue that higher mileage rewards go to persons who are not supporting the economic costs of the fares.

rcs85551

Just use a knowledgeable travel agent. It's as easy as that.

Lack

It might make sense it it drove some extra revenue to LH. Does it? I doubt they've been loosing a bookings because someone was feeling that 200% mileage earning wasn't generous enough. Who awarded more? Only the American programs - and under the new scheme they still do!

TomMM

And depending on the route, be prepared for sticker shock! Example: DUS-FRA roundtrip booked via UA, $1100. Same flights booked via LH,177 EUR

hfly

I wonder what the implications will be for TK flights?

ToddSpam

Please let me know if my analysis is correct on how this WOULD have effected my award miles if this ticket were booked after the transition date:

Frequent Traveler status
P ticket
Ticket cost (without taxes and fees) = $4581
Miles = 8062

Old System gives me 8062 award miles
New System gives me (4581)*6 = 27486

That is difficult for me to believe that I would get 3x more award miles with this change, but if I correctly understand the rules, that would be the case. Does it look correct to you?

NA-Flyer

It looks like your calculation is 100% correct

GUWonder

GUWonder

more4less

It is very bad for european flights ex Bcn in P. Booking 1 or 2 months in advance you can get these for less than 250€ and, a few times, I have managed to pay less than 200€ if there is a black friday bonus or similar available.
These flights yielded 3000 miles + executive bonus = 3750 status/award miles, and not it will be around 1000 award miles and sometimes even less