Apr 5, 2014, 2:03 am
Last edit by: LH4116
Starting 1 June 2014 Miles&Smiles earning/burning rates are changing.
Here are some of the key changes:
Earning:
- TK earning rates depend on the fare class
- All TK fares will earn, including promotions
- Classic plus members earn more on Comfort and Business class fares
- Elite and elite plus members earn less on business class (175% for C & D or 160% for K & J, previously 200% regardless of booking class) and less on A comfort class booking class (125% instead of 150%) and more on U,O comfort class booking class (160% instead of 150%)
- Domestic flights earn more
Burning:
- High/low seasons have been abandoned
- Burning rates are the same for TK and Star Alliance carriers
- TK promise more capacity controlled award tickets
- One way tickets available at half the rate
- Regions have been revised
- Companion award is now 75% the cost of a regular award, previously 50%
- Miles needed for awards slightly increased (e.g. Europe2 to Far East in Business return: old: 70,000 now 90,000 miles)
Upgrades:
- All TK economy/comfort fares can be now be used for upgrades
- Economy > Business upgrades require half the miles of a full award
Award table has been updated and revised (no changes in some regions, significant changes in others).
What we don't know:
- Will status qualification levels change?
- Will Star Alliance earning rates change?
More info: http://www.new-milesandsmiles.com/
Here are some of the key changes:
Earning:
- TK earning rates depend on the fare class
- All TK fares will earn, including promotions
- Classic plus members earn more on Comfort and Business class fares
- Elite and elite plus members earn less on business class (175% for C & D or 160% for K & J, previously 200% regardless of booking class) and less on A comfort class booking class (125% instead of 150%) and more on U,O comfort class booking class (160% instead of 150%)
- Domestic flights earn more
Burning:
- High/low seasons have been abandoned
- Burning rates are the same for TK and Star Alliance carriers
- TK promise more capacity controlled award tickets
- One way tickets available at half the rate
- Regions have been revised
- Companion award is now 75% the cost of a regular award, previously 50%
- Miles needed for awards slightly increased (e.g. Europe2 to Far East in Business return: old: 70,000 now 90,000 miles)
Upgrades:
- All TK economy/comfort fares can be now be used for upgrades
- Economy > Business upgrades require half the miles of a full award
Award table has been updated and revised (no changes in some regions, significant changes in others).
What we don't know:
- Will status qualification levels change?
- Will Star Alliance earning rates change?
More info: http://www.new-milesandsmiles.com/
Significant updates to the M&S programme starting 1 June, good or bad?
Apr 13, 2014, 7:08 am
#166
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: IST - NYC
Posts: 776
This makes Miles&Smiles completely worthless. Not even the two upgrade vouchers a year are worth staying with M&S.
I was unhappy about the new UA award chart. However one gets 100% bonus on UA and joint venture partners, so getting the miles is much easier.
Very sad as I enjoyed flying with TK.
I was unhappy about the new UA award chart. However one gets 100% bonus on UA and joint venture partners, so getting the miles is much easier.
Very sad as I enjoyed flying with TK.
Apr 13, 2014, 7:20 am
#167
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: TK E+
Posts: 602
Overall TK is an airline littered with flaws, but their [at the time] generous FFP, good prices, excellent onboard products have been worth the tradeoffs. However if they now chose to pursue with these changes there isn't really much incentive left to fly this seemingly dysfunctional airline.
The interesting part here is what lies behind their decision? This seems so far off, even by TK standard and they got to understand that they will lose a lot of business on this. The question is if they believe it's better business to fly non-frequent travelers from the third world, instead of pleasing their high-revenue customers. They will obviously cut costs tremendously on their FF program, which they might use for dumping prices to destinations in "emerging markets"
Apr 13, 2014, 7:41 am
#168
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 30
First time they published the new spending chart they did not have the "seat guaranteed" or "limited capacity" tabs. So I thought that they "only" doubled the needed miles for EU-Africa business award tickets, 47.000 vs 25.000 return. But no, 47.000 is now a one-way business ticket for limited capacity 
. So it's actually 4 times more expensive. Yes, the availability for limited capacity tickets will be better for sure, because there will be no redemptions ).
This is a kamikaze move, I mean why bother with status matching, etc when every sane person will kiss them goodbye now? I mean come on, did they have a brainstorming meeting one morning and they reached the consensus that for a business class ticket EU-Far East in limited capacity (180.000 miles) one needs to travel that route in paid business class for about 14-15 times??
One thing is certain: their Istanbul CIP lounge will not be so crowded this time next year. I don't know why they bothered with the extension...the "New" Miles & Smiles would have solved the problem for free...
. So it's actually 4 times more expensive. Yes, the availability for limited capacity tickets will be better for sure, because there will be no redemptions ).This is a kamikaze move, I mean why bother with status matching, etc when every sane person will kiss them goodbye now? I mean come on, did they have a brainstorming meeting one morning and they reached the consensus that for a business class ticket EU-Far East in limited capacity (180.000 miles) one needs to travel that route in paid business class for about 14-15 times??
One thing is certain: their Istanbul CIP lounge will not be so crowded this time next year. I don't know why they bothered with the extension...the "New" Miles & Smiles would have solved the problem for free...
Apr 13, 2014, 7:42 am
#169
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,611
I couldn't agree more. TK's FF program is what have kept me loyal to them for the last 2-3 years, but like many others I'm taking my business elsewhere now.
The interesting part here is what lies behind their decision? This seems so far off, even by TK standard and they got to understand that they will lose a lot of business on this. The question is if they believe it's better business to fly non-frequent travelers from the third world, instead of pleasing their high-revenue customers. They will obviously cut costs tremendously on their FF program, which they might use for dumping prices to destinations in "emerging markets"
The interesting part here is what lies behind their decision? This seems so far off, even by TK standard and they got to understand that they will lose a lot of business on this. The question is if they believe it's better business to fly non-frequent travelers from the third world, instead of pleasing their high-revenue customers. They will obviously cut costs tremendously on their FF program, which they might use for dumping prices to destinations in "emerging markets"
Apr 13, 2014, 8:47 am
#174
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DSS
Posts: 827
I couldn't agree more. TK's FF program is what have kept me loyal to them for the last 2-3 years, but like many others I'm taking my business elsewhere now.
The interesting part here is what lies behind their decision? This seems so far off, even by TK standard and they got to understand that they will lose a lot of business on this. The question is if they believe it's better business to fly non-frequent travelers from the third world, instead of pleasing their high-revenue customers. They will obviously cut costs tremendously on their FF program, which they might use for dumping prices to destinations in "emerging markets"
The interesting part here is what lies behind their decision? This seems so far off, even by TK standard and they got to understand that they will lose a lot of business on this. The question is if they believe it's better business to fly non-frequent travelers from the third world, instead of pleasing their high-revenue customers. They will obviously cut costs tremendously on their FF program, which they might use for dumping prices to destinations in "emerging markets"
Instead C,D are getting 175%.I can't believe it.
This makes Miles&Smiles completely worthless. Not even the two upgrade vouchers a year are worth staying with M&S.
I was unhappy about the new UA award chart. However one gets 100% bonus on UA and joint venture partners, so getting the miles is much easier.
Very sad as I enjoyed flying with TK.
I was unhappy about the new UA award chart. However one gets 100% bonus on UA and joint venture partners, so getting the miles is much easier.
Very sad as I enjoyed flying with TK.
I have my doubts though.
+1
Apr 13, 2014, 8:51 am
#175
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS
Programs: TK Elite (*G), DL Gold (MM)
Posts: 121
Typical of the right hand being unaware of what the left hand plans to do.
Apr 13, 2014, 10:30 am
#178
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: London, Dubai
Programs: TK E+, BA G, SPG Plat, PC G, MR Plat, HH G
Posts: 58
How can they spin that the new " Miles but no more Smiles "programme will bring more advantages...
Be More generous when Eco tickets earning reduced by 50-75% anc C tickets 20% less
Say that no more high season difference will be applied when they apply the current seat guaranteed miles for limited capacity award
Yes the programme will be
More dynamic (ywe will change the programme while we are changing...)
More seats available as nobody will accrue enough to claim
You can spend 50% on one way as this is the most you will earn in the 3 years before they expire.
The only advantage i see is that my E+ new year starts at the end if the year so I will have 4,5 years *G to have lounge access while I join a new programme.
The E+ upgrade voucher should still tempt me the next 2 years to fly with TK once but not almost every month like has been the case for the last years. Only when the price is much more attractive to justify no miles, transfer in IST.
But if you are looknmg for price, Pegasus must be a better option...
It is strange to me to spend money to double the lounge in istanbul when you make your airline totally unattractive for many frequent flyers so that they either wont earn enough miles to requalify or choose another airline /route.
Spend money on advertising with Man Utd, Messi,... when you make your FF programme /airline only attractive for travellers from regions in Russia, ..stans or people flying to Asmara, Noukchott or Kabul. People who dont really have much choice...
Be More generous when Eco tickets earning reduced by 50-75% anc C tickets 20% less
Say that no more high season difference will be applied when they apply the current seat guaranteed miles for limited capacity award
Yes the programme will be
More dynamic (ywe will change the programme while we are changing...)
More seats available as nobody will accrue enough to claim
You can spend 50% on one way as this is the most you will earn in the 3 years before they expire.
The only advantage i see is that my E+ new year starts at the end if the year so I will have 4,5 years *G to have lounge access while I join a new programme.
The E+ upgrade voucher should still tempt me the next 2 years to fly with TK once but not almost every month like has been the case for the last years. Only when the price is much more attractive to justify no miles, transfer in IST.
But if you are looknmg for price, Pegasus must be a better option...
It is strange to me to spend money to double the lounge in istanbul when you make your airline totally unattractive for many frequent flyers so that they either wont earn enough miles to requalify or choose another airline /route.
Spend money on advertising with Man Utd, Messi,... when you make your FF programme /airline only attractive for travellers from regions in Russia, ..stans or people flying to Asmara, Noukchott or Kabul. People who dont really have much choice...
Apr 13, 2014, 10:51 am
#179
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: IST - NYC
Posts: 776
Apr 13, 2014, 12:49 pm
#180
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: TK Elite+
Posts: 80
Could we perhaps contact Star Alliance? One could argue that we put our faith into TKs programme given that they are a Star Alliance member, and as such, highly regarded. While changes can be expected, they should not completely change the programme. Surely *A should listen?