Raul_R

Will see.
I think, that after this all is over, _climate emergency_ will be one of the last things to what states and companies will find funds.
Those planes will not stay on ground for sure. And aviation itself is far not too bad as some people would like to promote. Until there will be same CO2 and other bad things to air in China, India etc etc, no sense to ground planes. Effect is not worth of the damage.

But I do agree with you, that ultra-cheap airtickets may go away. And I also think, that this is not a bad thing.

behuman

And a MUCH appreciated one on this board. A big thank you for everything oliver2002 over those years !

mevr

I'm totally fine with the end of budget travel. Budget travelers have ruined so many destinations that once had unique shops and eateries, and were driven out of business due to the demand of cheap tourists who won't spend more than 5€ on a meal. I know many places in Italy that once had charming little restaurants and crafting shops that employed locals, and now they're characterless kebab shops.

Concerto

I really know what you mean. Last year I went back to some places in Italy which I had not visited in 15 years and all the nice places had disappeared, replaced by the usual faceless stuff. What I am hoping is that some compromise can be made going forward, so that tourism can be enjoyed (and it brings in valuable money for many places) but not so destructive. And similarly for M&M, I hope some compromise can be found between keeping the FFP going with being able to enjoy redeeming for awards and it being something that can help Lufthansa and pals get back on their feet (i.e. a bit of devaluation, somehow, is to be expected I fear).

behuman

Appears easyjet joined LX in asking government subsidies , eliminating LCC would lead to less destructive quality tourism. Hope they will not get the money.

Concerto

Are you referring to easyJet Switzerland SA asking for help from the Swiss confederation? Or the main, British easyJet?

It's a tricky one, this. There's some weird stuff going on at easyJet at the moment. Has to be said, that haven't behaved brilliantly recently, but to be fair, which airline has? Also, they don't have an expensive (in their words, years ago) frequent flyer program to fund. I am no easyJet fan, due to some shenanigans years ago, and I never will be. But I think they are quite well placed to come through this.

behuman

https://www.cash.ch/news/politik/cor...shilfe-1514472 easyjet Switzerland which claim to be a Swiss airline like LX . They were the first to stop flying completely and ruined the market in GVA. At least LX is continuing and really useful now.

Ironically the socialist party is against helping easyjet even their clientele possibly most using the cheap weekend shopping/partying flights. Only the greens are totally against unless kerosene is taxed and the whole airline sector becoming smaller.

prefers1a

My apologies, if this is redundant, but I could not find a more recent thread on the following topic: What I really wonder, is what is going to happen to M&M?

Given that the German government will likely take a stake in the airline and that the primary concern will be to preserve the it, M&M could be (partially) sacrificed. This is something that many of you may have wondered as well: What is going to happen to the value of your miles (in my case just under 1m) and before M&M gets sacrificed to save the airline, I wonder if I should go ahead and buy myself 5 ipads to at least get something for my miles (I have done this for my flyingblue miles already, and am going ahead on BA as well - in the latter case, it is a long-term car rental...)... I certainly do not see flights on the horizon in the nearterm, am already scrambling to recover >5k EUR in paid tickets for cancelled flights and am shooting my SEN requalification into outer space... Any thoughts?

andywaw

M&M in post Covid 19 world

Raul_R

I do not think it may reduce M&M.
FFP is not made for expense, it is made for profit!
It is very expensive to make it work from start, but when it works, it is very good marketing tool.
For myself -- other carriers may offer me tickets with half price, I still choose LH. Because M&M and benefits it give me.
OK, I am HON and basicly none of airlines around here in Europe also are able to offer me even similar comfort.
But I usually took LH also, when I was SEN. Because flying with LH did generate me miles and some benefits.

Miles&More is one of biggest Frequent Flyer Programs and it I am sure it works as good marketing tool for LH for sure and also for other participiant airlines.

But of course, nothing else than death and taxes can be 100% sure in this world.

hugolover

I would not rule out some prolific status match campaigns over the next year. There will be a number of carriers who go to the wall when the dust settles and the bounce back is no where near what they expected.

Comatose.Captain

It is a bit off-topic but I will bite...

It remains to be seen how many insolvencies there will be here in Europe. Let us not forget it is not a free market. National pride is involved. Subsidies flow freely. If they did not, FR and W6 would have won even bigger market shares.

I do agree, though, that status matches may come to the help of those who do not make it past the finish line in the requalification race. It is widely expected corporate travel will remain depressed throughout 2021 and perhaps longer. That can be a rationale for programmes to come out with status matches. Of course, only to the extent those are viewed as creating incremental business/profits. The smarter loyalty programme managers (M&M does not seem to have those) might come out with status match challenges, for-pay status matches, etc.

oliver2002

They have indicated that that requilification targets in 2021 may be adjusted with status challenges or extra (2-3x) status credit promos in H2/21, but it all depends on how the market/demand recovers in Q2/Q3 2021. Right now even with a vaccine approved it doesn't look like it is available for the purpose of preventive leisure/business travel immunization till late summer 2021.

Also a number of airlines have been getting bad press for actively encouraging consumers to travel more in a pandemic against the advice of authorities to stay home.

LXA350

The most feasible solution also in light of showing for once some loyality to it's customers would be to extend the status until 02/2023 to all members and as of 2022 the regular requirements for thequalification should apply again. In one way or the other eariest during the coruse of H2 things will go to a half ways normal rythm at best and since demand will not go from 0 -100% from one day to the other the choice of destinations and offering will likely not significantly grow before Winter schedule 2021/2022 period.

FlyerLX

I agree that this would be a great solution for many. But the problem with extending status for a year from the airline's standpoint is that it removes any motivation for pax to book any flights at all on them for a year...

I would also find it very useful to know if the new status structure will, finally, enter into force on 01/01/23, or if in reality it has now been scrapped. If it has been scrapped, will they just keep the old (clunky) status system? Or bring in something totally different instead? Or abolish their FFP altogether...?

I know the only real answer in the current situation is "Nobody knows, least of all LH", but I wonder if anyone cares to speculate??