I want to start up this thread because I'm still wondering what the real effort of *S is!
My questions are the following:

1. do I have a priority line for check in?
2. lounge access? (LH's FTL card has an access?)
3. excess luggage?

Would be great if we could sort this out!

Markus

The general answer is it really depends on the carrier and programme. It tends to vary markedly, even within the same region, compare say LH and SK.

I think you are also missing the fact that you ARE recognised as a status passenger - even if a lowly *S. Helps when a full intercontinental flight goes tech and they need to find new seats for 300 odd people. *S goes a helluva long way, not as far as *G but far enough.

I thought about the following:

LH
FTL gives C class check in and Lounge access at c-class lounges as well as excess luggage.

Wolud be interesting to hear something about bmi, SK where you can get the status muc easier.

Maybe there are some unofficial check in or lounge or luggage things...

Markus

Silver status benefits tend to be more specific to the actual airline you hold the FF with, for example bmi give Silver:

• Lounge access to bmi lounges
• 25% bonus
• Hertz upgrade voucher
• use of the business check-in desk
• priority on standby
• 20kg additional baggage allowance
• dedicated enquiry line

You have to distinguish between:
1) *S benefits
2) airline specific benefits given to their own elite members having achieved *S equivalent status
3) airline specific benefits given to elite members of other *A FFPs having achieved *S equivalent status

As to 1), benefits are described on *A website and are minimal:
As to 2), varies widely among carriers. some carriers give you access to their own lounges (eg LH, BD). Those that have elite seating on the a/c will usually extend that benefit to their own *S equivalent (eg; e+ on UA).

As to 3), again: varies among carriers. However, many carriers will let *S check-in at premium desks and possibly give you extra luggage allowance or (informally) tolerance. Some might allow priority boarding too.

With SAS all you get as *S is business class check-in and 10 kg extra luggage. That's about it!

But of course, as already mentioned, *S is a status level after all. Your chances for an op-up increase significantly when you're moved from basic level to *S.
I'm sure *S status also comes handy in case of delays, cancellations, strikes etc when you need rebooking.

lounge, priority and 20kg is just on a bmi flight, right?

Markus

3) airline specific benefits given to elite members of other *A FFPs having achieved *S equivalent status

As to 1), benefits are described on *A website and are minimal:


......As to 2), varies widely among carriers. some carriers give you access to their own lounges (eg LH, BD). Those that have elite seating on the a/c will usually extend that benefit to their own *S equivalent (eg; e+ on UA)....

does this mean I will get lounge access with my DC *S card?

That's the reason why I wanted to start this thread. I wanted to put all efforts for *S together. Maybe we can create a list with every *S account and put together what you can expect at different airline desks (like excess luggage, lounges etc.).

Or does something like this exist?

Markus

BD*S lounge access is only to BD lounges, when flying BD.

^ for starting this thread. Can I suggest you create a table in the OP summarising the *S alliance-wide benefits as well as extra *S benefits offered by specific FFPs/airlines, in order to make the information more readily accessible?

I've always worked on the assumption that *S status will only really be a benefit when you are flying on the airline with which you hold the status. There may well be exceptions to this but I would doubt that there are very many (although I realise that this is what you are trying to establish.)

I agree this would be very useful ^
You've probably already come across Blonde Bomber's *Gold comparison chart that is linked in the sticky.

Something similar to this would be good, although I get the impression that you are also trying to find some slightly different information. If I understand correctly you are also trying to determine what benefits (if any) *A airlines give to * Silver card holders from other airlines in the alliance, over and above the basic * Silver benefits listed on the Star Alliance website. Is that correct?

@Markmat:
That's the thing I want to do! Bomber's chart is great but I missed it for *S. How can we put all the inofficial informations together? I'm pretty new in this kind of "thread" work. Don't know how we can put all the info's in one thread?!
Would be good to get some help for that.

Markus

ygpm.

i have never heard of lounge access or excess baggage for *S in Asia/Oceanic. I don't think UA gives lounges access either.

Please follow to this post:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=698032

Markus