Significant changes in 2021 for Status (re-)qualification criteria
Oct 19, 2019, 5:03 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,731
The difference between the LH lounges would not be enough to make me get SEN. But the extra benefits of getting access to all *Gold lounges globally, the companion award, seat blocking, the eVouchers, etc. make SEN worthwhile for me. FTL is certainly helpful for pax who travel predominantly between airports with LH lounges, but of next to no value for pax who frequently go further afield.
Oct 19, 2019, 5:15 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,583
It depends how close you are to it and your needs. I gifted FTL (select benefit) to a friend based in Poland who has to fly a number of times a year to China for work in cheapest available economy. It has completely transformed his travel experience (seat selection, lounge access, even op-ups) and he’s as grateful for FTL as I am for HON. It’s all relative.
Oct 19, 2019, 5:21 am
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,583
^
The difference between the LH lounges would not be enough to make me get SEN. But the extra benefits of getting access to all *Gold lounges globally, the companion award, seat blocking, the eVouchers, etc. make SEN worthwhile for me. FTL is certainly helpful for pax who travel predominantly between airports with LH lounges, but of next to no value for pax who frequently go further afield.
The difference between the LH lounges would not be enough to make me get SEN. But the extra benefits of getting access to all *Gold lounges globally, the companion award, seat blocking, the eVouchers, etc. make SEN worthwhile for me. FTL is certainly helpful for pax who travel predominantly between airports with LH lounges, but of next to no value for pax who frequently go further afield.
The cost of the vouchers is very high vs Star Gold on another carrier vs BArbs F for example which is very cheap.
I was recently privileged to play about with the DCS and see bookings from a test pax perspective to see how Gold and even FTL have seat blocking.
In Polska a difference is that SEN get ASR on LO Saver (Light) but FTL and Gold get an extra bag anyway.
From the posts of the so-called informed Helga should be falling over herself with love of Star Gold because the lounge fees are billed back to the issuing Star carrier. By that logic, SEN is better to LH than SEN!
Oct 19, 2019, 5:23 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,583
You must be on those Eurowings fares bought through OTAs for about €6 from CGN to TXL. Would take a bit of running and I would rather just get there through necessary travel, which is quite easy for me. However, reaching SEN is not possible for me without a lot of extra outlay, And I really think the incremental increase in benefits is not really worth. Now, AF KL Platinum.. that's a different story!
Oct 19, 2019, 7:33 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
I disagree. The delta experience (and savings if you take advantage of stuff as extra bags) are probably the highest between no one and FTL then the higher tiers (especially given the incremental costs).
Oct 19, 2019, 7:37 am
#37
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
Lack of lounge access outside of LH group makes (and made) FTL a pretty solidly worthless status level for me.
Oct 19, 2019, 8:10 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,731
For me, SEN/*Gold is of a much higher value.
Oct 19, 2019, 8:40 am
#39
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Wrocław, Poland
Programs: SK *S, LH *S; Accor ALL Gold
Posts: 231
Of course SEN is of more value than FTL.
But FTL isn’t worthless compared to other *A silvers. LH group lounges, LOT lounges, C check-in, underadvertised fast track in some airports (WAW and WRO worked for me). SK Eurobonus Silver gives what, C check-in, but lounges and fast tracks only on some almost completely useless dates.
But FTL isn’t worthless compared to other *A silvers. LH group lounges, LOT lounges, C check-in, underadvertised fast track in some airports (WAW and WRO worked for me). SK Eurobonus Silver gives what, C check-in, but lounges and fast tracks only on some almost completely useless dates.
Oct 19, 2019, 8:59 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,583
If you easily reach SEN then I would be asking what secondary status you could be earning
.Let me kindly remind you of BArb. Undisputed most Premium Cabins in the Sky from a 100 year old airline, founded 1974.
Oct 19, 2019, 10:17 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,731
To me the delta between SEN and another *Gold is significant: companion awards on M&M, LH Group lounge use on arrival (which I often need to wait for the train or pick-up), LX F awards, LH Group lounge use with my whole family (as opposed to one guest as *G), free ASR (with exceptions), etc. -- enough that I don't even think about getting status with another *A airline.
Oct 19, 2019, 11:16 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,583
Everyone has their own reasons for one status or another, it’s like arguing whether you prefer trans or pan sexual womon and what matters is what it costs you, at least that is my consideration. Unless one is part of the political class like a Polish MP I’m looking at right now.
On the routes that many of us fly, arrivals lounge access for SEN is reduced to a plastic card to scratch the ice of one’s Skoda.
At least we are in agreement of the most premium carrier in the skies. BArb.
On the routes that many of us fly, arrivals lounge access for SEN is reduced to a plastic card to scratch the ice of one’s Skoda.
At least we are in agreement of the most premium carrier in the skies. BArb.
Oct 19, 2019, 12:19 pm
#43
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,731
That's exactly it, there is probably no best status for everybody. Depends a lot on home base and destinations.
If somebody had told me half a year ago I would be DL Plat by now, I would have told them to quit the booze ...
If somebody had told me half a year ago I would be DL Plat by now, I would have told them to quit the booze ...
Oct 19, 2019, 1:20 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: LH SEN, TK Elite, FB Silver
Posts: 205
Any rumours about if changing to revenue based Eco / PrEco will also be considered?
If HON is going to go revenue based, so will be FTL and SEN most probably?!
If HON is going to go revenue based, so will be FTL and SEN most probably?!
Oct 19, 2019, 2:15 pm
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,481
This thread was moved out of another thread about HON. That is the reason why the title is about HON only. The rumours are about all M&M status levels.