Is Star Gold card required?
Nov 4, 2016, 2:45 am
#62
Join Date: May 2015
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I am an LX FTL (Swiss resident). But I am mostly flying LH for practical reasons resulting from my usual flight itinary. This would mean that LX is billed each time I enter a LH lounge, although I am practically never flying with LX. That sounds weird.
Also, what happens when I am flying on C with LH. Does LX still get billed when I access a LH lounge?
Also, what happens when I am flying on C with LH. Does LX still get billed when I access a LH lounge?
But if in LH C accessing the LH C lounge then it will it will be billed to LH, if in LX C then LX billed.
Nov 4, 2016, 2:48 am
#63
Join Date: Sep 2015
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I am an LX FTL (Swiss resident). But I am mostly flying LH for practical reasons resulting from my usual flight itinary. This would mean that LX is billed each time I enter a LH lounge, although I am practically never flying with LX. That sounds weird.
Also, what happens when I am flying on C with LH. Does LX still get billed when I access a LH lounge?
Also, what happens when I am flying on C with LH. Does LX still get billed when I access a LH lounge?
From what I've heard, at least if you are a United MP member: Sen lounge access is perhaps $5 more than Business lounge access. So my understanding if you're flying C, Business lounge access is already in the ticket (and presumably billed to the operating carrier), and UA get billed $5 for the Sen access. Whereas if you're flying Y, UA get billed the full cost ($25 + $5)? I'm guessing they'd be doing something similar for M&M too.
Nov 4, 2016, 5:42 am
#64
Join Date: Aug 2000
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No - there is no "status earning with LX" or any specific carrier. Miles earned go into your M&M account, with the operating carrier paying M&M for them.
Correct on all counts.
So my understanding if you're flying C, Business lounge access is already in the ticket (and presumably billed to the operating carrier), and UA get billed $5 for the Sen access. Whereas if you're flying Y, UA get billed the full cost ($25 + $5)? I'm guessing they'd be doing something similar for M&M too.
Nov 4, 2016, 6:37 am
#65
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
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I am an LX FTL (Swiss resident). But I am mostly flying LH for practical reasons resulting from my usual flight itinary. This would mean that LX is billed each time I enter a LH lounge, although I am practically never flying with LX. That sounds weird.
Also, what happens when I am flying on C with LH. Does LX still get billed when I access a LH lounge?
Also, what happens when I am flying on C with LH. Does LX still get billed when I access a LH lounge?
Earlier days the LH group lounges just kept count and billed the FFPs via Starnet who then insisted correct accounting was done. So now LH group lounges have the scanning system where the exact details of the lounge visit are captured so it can pass any audit by *A partners.
Nov 6, 2016, 9:07 pm
#68
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Jan 10, 2017, 5:21 am
#70
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If you are flying in Y and theoretically have no lounge access, the FFP issuing the *G gets billed for the lounge visit.
If the FFP is billed with the complete cost, TK and A3 would have gotten into financial trouble in the last years. Moreover, at most airports without a Star Alliance Lounge, *G in Y can also access the dedicated third party lounge. If the third party lounge at a small airport (with only one Star Alliance carrier serving it) has to establish a billing agreement with all Star carriers, its not practical. Hence, I very much assume the operating carrier is on the hook for the costs.
One more example: Why can UA*G not access the UA lounge at LHR, when departing on Eurowing?. However, access is granted to the Lufthansa lounge.
My thesis is that the Lufthansa lounge is billing Eurowings - as operating carrier - for the access (there is an agreement in place, because BEST customers can access the lounge, as well). Through a bilateral agreement United refunds Eurowings part of the costs.
Another one: At SIN many Star Alliance carriers (one is United) is proactively sending its premium and *G pax to the SATS-branded lounge (plaza premium). While access to the relevant SQ lounges (SilverKris for C, and KrisFlyer Gold for *G) is granted, as well, the operating carrier United may have a better bilateral deal on costs with the SATS branded lounge than with the SQ lounges. Why would the operating carrier care for the costs, if the FFP must pay? Hence, its clear to me that the operating carrier is on the hook for the costs.
Yet another one:
Premium Pax (incl. *G), departing MUC with TK, are not allowed to access the Lufthansa Lounges at MUC. Technically, its against the rules.
LH was quoting that TK is not reimbursing them for access, because TK claims that they fly from Terminal 1, while LH lounges are in Terminal 2. Again, this confirms my thesis that the operating carrier pays.
Last edited by warakorn; Jan 10, 2017 at 5:27 am
Jan 10, 2017, 6:06 am
#71
Join Date: May 2015
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I don't think so. The bulk of the cost of the lounge access is covered by the operating carrier.
If the FFP is billed with the complete cost, TK and A3 would have gotten into financial trouble in the last years. Moreover, at most airports without a Star Alliance Lounge, *G in Y can also access the dedicated third party lounge. If the third party lounge at a small airport (with only one Star Alliance carrier serving it) has to establish a billing agreement with all Star carriers, its not practical. Hence, I very much assume the operating carrier is on the hook for the costs.
One more example: Why can UA*G not access the UA lounge at LHR, when departing on Eurowing?. However, access is granted to the Lufthansa lounge.
My thesis is that the Lufthansa lounge is billing Eurowings - as operating carrier - for the access (there is an agreement in place, because BEST customers can access the lounge, as well). Through a bilateral agreement United refunds Eurowings part of the costs.
Another one: At SIN many Star Alliance carriers (one is United) is proactively sending its premium and *G pax to the SATS-branded lounge (plaza premium). While access to the relevant SQ lounges (SilverKris for C, and KrisFlyer Gold for *G) is granted, as well, the operating carrier United may have a better bilateral deal on costs with the SATS branded lounge than with the SQ lounges. Why would the operating carrier care for the costs, if the FFP must pay? Hence, its clear to me that the operating carrier is on the hook for the costs.
Yet another one:
Premium Pax (incl. *G), departing MUC with TK, are not allowed to access the Lufthansa Lounges at MUC. Technically, its against the rules.
LH was quoting that TK is not reimbursing them for access, because TK claims that they fly from Terminal 1, while LH lounges are in Terminal 2. Again, this confirms my thesis that the operating carrier pays.
If the FFP is billed with the complete cost, TK and A3 would have gotten into financial trouble in the last years. Moreover, at most airports without a Star Alliance Lounge, *G in Y can also access the dedicated third party lounge. If the third party lounge at a small airport (with only one Star Alliance carrier serving it) has to establish a billing agreement with all Star carriers, its not practical. Hence, I very much assume the operating carrier is on the hook for the costs.
One more example: Why can UA*G not access the UA lounge at LHR, when departing on Eurowing?. However, access is granted to the Lufthansa lounge.
My thesis is that the Lufthansa lounge is billing Eurowings - as operating carrier - for the access (there is an agreement in place, because BEST customers can access the lounge, as well). Through a bilateral agreement United refunds Eurowings part of the costs.
Another one: At SIN many Star Alliance carriers (one is United) is proactively sending its premium and *G pax to the SATS-branded lounge (plaza premium). While access to the relevant SQ lounges (SilverKris for C, and KrisFlyer Gold for *G) is granted, as well, the operating carrier United may have a better bilateral deal on costs with the SATS branded lounge than with the SQ lounges. Why would the operating carrier care for the costs, if the FFP must pay? Hence, its clear to me that the operating carrier is on the hook for the costs.
Yet another one:
Premium Pax (incl. *G), departing MUC with TK, are not allowed to access the Lufthansa Lounges at MUC. Technically, its against the rules.
LH was quoting that TK is not reimbursing them for access, because TK claims that they fly from Terminal 1, while LH lounges are in Terminal 2. Again, this confirms my thesis that the operating carrier pays.
Jan 10, 2017, 7:02 am
#72
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For small airports with contract lounges, the lounge bills the sole Star carrier operating there but notes the *G FFP that granted access. The operating carrier then passes on the cost to the relevant FFP.
miamiflyer8 explained EuroWings LHR.
In SIN, UA directs pax to the cheapest lounge because the large majority of eligible pax departing on UA are UA FFP members or are travelling in C/F (in which case UA pays). It makes no sense to establish a different proceedure exclusively for other FFP *G travelling in UA Y. Also, think of the message: "Oh, you're a UA *G travelling in Y, please go to SATS. And you, Mr. LH *G, you can go to any of the nicer lounges...."
The TK / LH issue in MUC is entirely political and due to the poor relations between those carriers. TK insisted on a separate ground handling company, which only operates in T1, and refused to pay for any of LH's high, monopolistic handling charges in T2.
Jan 11, 2017, 2:31 am
#73
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miamiflyer8 explained EuroWings LHR.
Well, Eurowings isn't a part of Star Alliance so that's why no UA lounge access, LH invites UA and ANA Elites to their lounges as a courtesy.
To add: Its not merely a courtesy by the LH Lounge. They dont' do it for free. There is a bilateral agreement in place between UA/NH and EW about the lounge costs. It was even published that there is a bilateral. Why would it need a bilateral when the LH lounge bill directly the FFP (UA, NH), when a EW passenger accesses its lounge?
The TK / LH issue in MUC is entirely political and due to the poor relations between those carriers. TK insisted on a separate ground handling company, which only operates in T1, and refused to pay for any of LH's high, monopolistic handling charges in T2.
If the FFP is billed (and UA even departing from MUC), why is LH making a fuzz not granting access? Again, the mess at MUC is an indication that the operating carrier is on the hook for the costs as first party.
In SIN, UA directs pax to the cheapest lounge because the large majority of eligible pax departing on UA are UA FFP members or are travelling in C/F (in which case UA pays). It makes no sense to establish a different proceedure exclusively for other FFP *G travelling in UA Y. Also, think of the message: "Oh, you're a UA *G travelling in Y, please go to SATS. And you, Mr. LH *G, you can go to any of the nicer lounges...."
UA tries to send its eligible pax to the cheapest SATS lounge (which is not the SQ KrisFlyer Gold lounge).
*G pax may elect to go to the SQ KrisFlyer Gold lounge, based on Star Alliance rules. C pax may elect to go to the SQ SilverKris lounge, based on Star Alliance rules.
Last edited by warakorn; Jan 11, 2017 at 2:50 am
Jan 11, 2017, 3:15 am
#74
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Jan 11, 2017, 5:49 am
#75
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Because the agent is a dumb and thinks airoli's reason applies to lounge access as well.