Merry, I see your point, but... lets see the following situation.

If an airline were to give in writing a statement that granted a certain super-elite tier fflyer a guaranteed seat in first, then there's the potential that another revenue pax (who also paid F but doesnt happen to carry that elite tier) would have to be bumped down to C. Im not sure this would work.

Thoughts?

I agree, but in that case what is the advantage of a FFP to a 'best-available-class' passenger?

I just don't see the advantage anymore.

If I really want a favour, my agent phone's the airline and reminds them how much revenue I give them - not what colour card I have...


Nick

I agree with Merry.

If you routinely fly paid F, then the only value is spending the miles. Effectively, a rebate on your ticket price. But given accumulation amounts and redemption levels for F, the rebate probably does not come close to what could be negotiated on a corporate deal with the carrier (with or without FF accumulation).

I would be happy with F Lounge access for * Platinum.

I don't think you'd see F lounge access even if there was a *Platinum. UA doesn't let anyone but F pax in the F lounges, not even 1Ks. And I can understand why, even when I'd greatly benefit from the perk.

F lounges just couldn't accomodate (that many) elite-members

The LH Sen Lounges in Europe (LHR,FRA and MUC) already can not accomodate the *Golds. With complete novices at LH being able to attain SEN status with one smart RTW flight in F, the product has been so devalued that a complete new approach is needed.

I agree with Zorro's comment that even a novice could get SEN with one rtw in F. However that statement itself eliminates a great majority of the population. On my LH flights (outside of or not originating in Germany) there are still very few SEN's.

I would still argue that a level above *Gold is needed. One of the definite perks should be F lounge access.

one other difficulty to get all Star-carriers itno an agreement for reciprocal access rights to first class lounges is, that many of them don't even offer first-class flights, others offering first-class flights don't still don't have (real) first-class lounges.

some that come to my mind without offering first-class-flights: Air Canada, Ansett, Austrian, British Midland, Lauda, SAS, Tyrolian (how about Mexicana?).

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MikeFly:
[B]I agree with Zorro's comment that even a novice could get SEN with one rtw in F. However that statement itself eliminates a great majority of the population. On my LH flights (outside of or not originating in Germany) there are still very few SEN's.

Then, the great majority of the population is obviously not great enough yet.

Either the reciprocal access rights are not fair (which I doubt, given LH´ status as founder of *A), or LH hands out Sen Cards like candy at Fasching. I have been refused access as SEN to the TG F/C lounge in BKK, flying B/C on TG, on the grounds that *G are only allowed into the B/C Lounge. Same for the SQ Lounges in SIN. The 100,000 limit for non German residents is too low, given the generous Bonus miles for premium travel on LH.

Zorro

Regarding F class lounge access, AC, MX, AN, BD, SK, and the Austrian Group don't even have F service, and would thus have no amenities (eg. F class check-in or lounge access) to give to * Platinums.

Moreover, NZ only offers a few flights with F class, and I believe only has one F class lounge at AKL.

As a Star Gold, I have access to most of LH's Senator Lounges, as well as most of RG's and NH's First Lounges. Thus, this only leaves TG, SQ, and UA as the only carriers that would really offer something special to * Platinums.

I totally agree with Merry. All my travel now is in paid J, making ff status irrelevant to me. The only marginal benefit I get is priority waitlisting as LHR-JFK tends to be heavily booked on the days I travel.

What I would like would be a guaranteed seat in J whenever I need it. Neither BA Gold/VS Gold offer that currently.