Star - FF program update ????
 

Has anyone heard any more on the Star FF program ?????

It would be great, if they could come to a
common set of qualifying rules.
Like 35000 status miles for Silver
50' for gold

At the moment gold is between (28' or 35') and 150'.

Due to the new LH M&M rules starting Sept. 1st 2000, german members still need 150,000 status miles to qualify for *Gold, but they achieve this by flying "only" 120,000 status miles ( 120K + 25% FTL/SEN bonus = 150K ).

AC members need less miles for *Gold, but become only 500 miles for short coach flights, when LH basic members get 1,000 minimum miles (FTL and SEN get 1,000 + 25% = 1,250 miles) also for discounted rates !
Note that AC members flying LH metal don't get so much miles...

Some programs give only +50% for Business, LH gives +100% (FTL and SEN bonus not included!).

It's very difficult to find out which StarAlliance program is the best to reach/maintain *Gold status.
LH was worth than other * programs, so they introduced this FTL/SEN bonus last year.

I think it's correct that *Alliance programs remain different, because the "profile" of the domestic flights are different. Germany is a small country, all domestic flights are "short haul" flights, and they are expensive.
Canadians and Americans usually fly long distances for cheaper rates !

Flight rates depend on booking restrictions,
you can fly fra-txl for 209 DM + TAX.

The 120' for SEN are true only, if you collect them after the qualifying for FTL (which than makes a total of 170'),
or if you go all way in one years it is
50' + 80' (+25%) which is 130'.

Since I fly 98% in Economy, the F and C
bonuses do not help.

The focus wrote, that you need only 28' for
Gold on BD, can anybody confirm this.

The second problem with M&M are the high levels you need for bonus travel, like
70' (which is roughly 10 roundtrips FRA-NYC in Y) for an ticket Germany-US or 35' (5 RT FRA-NYC in Y) for an oneway upgrade
D-US.

M&M is better for North American member with
the reduced milage levels.