skyteamelite

I have been flying SkyTeam airlines for the past few years and am Gold on both AF/KL Flying Blue (Elite +) and CO OnePass (Elite). I was not 100% happy with them, so I got a status match to LH Miles and More Senator a couple of months ago.

Because CO is moving to Star Alliance, and (I presume) CO/OnePass Gold will be comparable to M&M SEN in terms of benefits and privileges (will it?), which FF Programme should I be using next year, to make sure I keep my Gold/SEN status in following years?

For the time being, it seems to me easier to maintain Gold status with CO than SEN status with LH � but will this change?

In terms of flight patterns, I fly mainly in paid Y (always hoping for op-up�s, which CO has been particularly good at!), many segments a year, but not necessarily very long ones (many intra-Europe, intra-North America or intra-South America), and a few transatlantic.

cesco.g

With Senator status still good for 2 years (IIRC), you could go for CO on the off year and this way profit from both FFPs.

skyteamelite

My SEN status on M&M is currently only valid until FEB 2011.

I'm re-qualifing Gold with CO OnePass again for next year, but I suspect that too will only be valid until FEB 2011 (unless OnePass changes its rules with the transition to *A, but I doubt it...)

So unfortunately I think I will have to pick either OP or M&M next year... any suggestions on which one I should stick to?

DownUnderFlyer

LH gave you a status match from CO Gold to LH SEN?

Wow. You must have been lucky. CO Gold is the equivalent to LH FTL. The equivalent to LH SEN is CO Platinum. CO Gold will not get you into lounges once they join *A. My guess is that this will become their Star Alliance Silver status

The program to chose depends on many things: What do you want from a program? Where do you fly? How often? Which class?

LH is great if you fly a lot in paid C and F and take flights within Europe. It is good for two years and gives you lounge access even when flying in the US. CO is better when you want upgrades on US domestic flights and often fly Economy.

FT Lurker

CO Gold will be Star Gold.

DownUnderFlyer

I stand corrected then. And I am speechless. So a status which didn't give any lounge access on Skyteam will now have full access on *A? Luckily LH increased their lounge space dramatically in the last 12 month.

skyteamelite

Thought so. So I'm guessing sticking to CO/OP will probably be an easier way for me to make sure I keep qualifying for *A Gold...

Especially considering I tend to fly mainly in paid Economy... always welcome any op-ups, and complementary lounge access helps a lot!

NewbieRunner

Not their SEN (*G) lounge space at FRA.

FT Lurker

New alliance, new rules.

As a frequent poster on the CO board would say, Change has come to Continental.

^

DownUnderFlyer

I hope CO is expanding their lounge space now with tons of CO Golds being able to use them on int itineraries.

sharmaintl

Not to mention all the UA and US *G who can also access the CO lounges on their intl itens. With 3 US (of A that is, not the airline) based airlines in *A, I think lounge space is going to be a big issue in the US.

skyteamelite

Something I haven't been able to figure out is whether Lufthansa and Swiss offer any benefits/perks/advantages to M&M SEN which are NOT available to other *A GOLD FFs flying on them...

Anyone know this? (Benefits exclusive to SEN passengers and NOT other *A GOLD members)?

slashd0t

If all you are really after is Star Gold, then Air Canada's Aeroplan Elite I think is the easiest (35,000 miles or 50 segments).

DownUnderFlyer

- Anytime lounge access (canceled on 1 Oct)
- Priority waitlist
- eVouchers
- Companion Award
- SEN Premium Awards
- Waitlist for award tickets
- Free credit card (depending on country).
- Reservation of exit rows

There might be more but that's by list for the day.

DownUnderFlyer

Generally TK and OZ are considered to be even easier than that.