I am wondering about the importance of holding a "local" Star alliance membership with the Star alliance airline where you have your own country of residence (e.g. M&M when you live in Germany) as opposed to having any Star alliance membership?

For example, if you happen to relocate from Denmark to Germany, is it advisable to switch from SAS Eurobonus to M&M? Are the extra benefits big enough to make this shift or does it only add complexity over time? Of course, if you relocate once more in a few years (to a third location), then you will end up yet again in the same situation carrying multiple Star alliance membership cards with a dissolved miles status! The alternative would of course be to hold on to in this case either the Eurobonus or the M&M throughout future relocations (with the risk of building a miles status with an Star alliance airline not having its hub at your own location).

Thanks for any advice on this question, which must be a topic for many people frequently relocating in- or outside Europe.

As far as I can see if you mainly value the FFP for redemptions and the *A benefits like lounge access, and/or you don't mind connecting to use your preferred don't switch program. Also if you will only just qualify for *G or whatever then switching frequently isn't a good idea. If you mainly use benefits tied to the airline (like upgrades), you like direct flights, and you fly enough miles to easily qualify after switching programs then switch...

Welcome to FT Hugge!

With the relocation, will your flying pattern change significantly? Do you have status with SK? What airlines will you fly in the future? What do you look for in a FF program? Redemption for free flights, status, lounge access, luggage allowance?

If you can make a rough estimation of your flights for this year, you can look up on the earning tables of M&M and EB and see which one would "pay more".

As far as M&M goes, if you will fly LH a lot it's worth at least reaching FTL (*S) status, which gives you lounge access (LH group business lounges) and an extra bag. However, the main drawback of M&M is that upon redemption the surcharges are relatively high, so it only makes sense to use miles to get long-haul, premium cabin awards.

There are no official programs in place to convert status in one *A airline to another *A airline. Thus, I would not recommend switching from one program to another; any incremental benefits are likely not to be worth it. Most *A airlines also will not status match from other *A airlines.

What is the reason for this? Do people abuse it?

I've relocated from YYZ to MCO and am AC*G but will be flying UA in 2015 and flew them a lot in 2014 but earning on AC Altitude program to ensure I wouldn't orphan miles. I wrote MP to ask about a status match and they said, "we do not include Star Alliance airlines in the Premier Status Match promotion." I'm struggling to see why they wouldn't be motivated to try and get my business provided I can demonstrate loyalty in the beginning of 2015. I really only care about extra bag allowance and lounge access.

From other threads it seems the only option is to earn miles with your new program (MP for me) and hope they accept your gold status card in your previous program (AC*G for me) for bags and lounges.
See: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...s-another.html

Because it would be viewed as poaching business from their partners. Although there are obviously situations (like yours) where this would not be the case.

Reserve using your AC number, then change to your UA MP number after check-in.

Thanks Kacee. Will try this and let everyone know how it goes.