Debating between Miles and Smiles and Eurobonus
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 6
Debating between Miles and Smiles and Eurobonus
I am based in Belgium and fly 3-4 time a month mainly European routes (I work part of my time in the Nordics) and mostly premium economy. I typically fly a mix of SAS and Brussels Airlines/Lufthansa. Until now I have been putting my miles into Miles and More (or less rather), but I realise now that if I switch to M&S or Eurobonus, I should be able to hit gold. On the one hand Eurobonus is a natural choice as i can probably fly SAS most of the time, but the global nature of TK attracts me. I only have a couple of concerns:
- I see posts stating other SA airlines do not respect the Elite status of M&S as gold (I saw specifically a post on SAS which worry me)
- It is not clear to me if Elite gives you Star alliance gold lounge access globally which is a crucial point for me.
First flight is thisThursday so need to choose. Any advice insight will help :-)
- I see posts stating other SA airlines do not respect the Elite status of M&S as gold (I saw specifically a post on SAS which worry me)
- It is not clear to me if Elite gives you Star alliance gold lounge access globally which is a crucial point for me.
First flight is thisThursday so need to choose. Any advice insight will help :-)
#2
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,578
If you fly premium tickets, M&S is my bet. SK Plus tickets earn well on M&S and redemptions will be better for you after all SK enhancements
Elite with MS is star gold, accepted all places like any other gold card.
Elite with MS is star gold, accepted all places like any other gold card.
#3
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: YTO/DEL/BOM/GAU
Programs: A few airlines, hotel programs and car rentals
Posts: 1,235
If you do decide to go with TK M&S, just be warned though that TK is plagued with numerous 'IT' issues (esp. in their FF program), and it seems to have gotten worse after their IT 'upgrade'. There are various thread in this forum related to that.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,948
Don't forget Aegean as an option for easy *G, although you do have to visit Greece occasionally.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 6
thx will check this. I am really hesitating
#7
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: * Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald, Marriott Bonvoy LT TE, HHonors Diamond, WoH Globalist
Posts: 2,097
M&S membership period is two years, Eurobonus is one year. M&S Elite requires 40k miles during last 12 months to obtain,25k in first membership year and 37,5k in two years to maintain. Eurobonus Gold requires 45k miles per calendar year to obtain first and then maintain.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: YTO/DEL/BOM/GAU
Programs: A few airlines, hotel programs and car rentals
Posts: 1,235
When starting out from Base / Classic, you need 40k miles in the FIRST year to get Elite. That is valid for 2 years. To renew, you can EITHER fly 25k miles (during your renewal year) OR 37.5k miles during the 2 year period. Each time you renew, your validity of your status extends by 2 more years!
P.S.: Assuming you a non-Turkish resident!
Last edited by AvidFlyer1990; Jan 7, 2019 at 11:30 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: * Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald, Marriott Bonvoy LT TE, HHonors Diamond, WoH Globalist
Posts: 2,097
Maybe I am interpreting it wrong, but, this is how M&S Elite works (per my understanding):
When starting out from Base / Classic, you need 40k miles in the FIRST year to get Elite. That is valid for 2 years. To renew, you can EITHER fly 25k miles (during your renewal year) OR 37.5k miles during the 2 year period. Each time you renew, your validity of your status extends by 2 more years!
P.S.: Assuming you a non-Turkish resident!
When starting out from Base / Classic, you need 40k miles in the FIRST year to get Elite. That is valid for 2 years. To renew, you can EITHER fly 25k miles (during your renewal year) OR 37.5k miles during the 2 year period. Each time you renew, your validity of your status extends by 2 more years!
P.S.: Assuming you a non-Turkish resident!
#10
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: YTO/DEL/BOM/GAU
Programs: A few airlines, hotel programs and car rentals
Posts: 1,235
AFAIK, it should be 2 years since your status got upgraded to ELPL! And yes, soft-landing is good, but the ELPL vouchers are better!!
#11
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: * Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald, Marriott Bonvoy LT TE, HHonors Diamond, WoH Globalist
Posts: 2,097
It is two years, but my Elite membership year started in October,Elite+ started in August because I qualified first time in end of July or beginning of August, do not remember exactly. Elite+ vouchers are main reason to be Elite+, then comes the direct lounge access with immigration stand in IST.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 6
Thanks for the feedback. Am indeed leaning towards M&S
Just one last one I asked and nobody answered. Can anyone confirm Elite allows access to *A lounges (so in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Brussels and Frankfurt which are my main airports)?
Just one last one I asked and nobody answered. Can anyone confirm Elite allows access to *A lounges (so in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Brussels and Frankfurt which are my main airports)?
#14
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
Definitely. You even get the LH Senator lounges. As long as its a *A lounge, you have access as *G. At airports that only have contract lounges you usually get a voucher for lounge access at check-in (I can only think of LJU at the moment), but sometimes that isnt the case, CTG was my most recent experience.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 246
So, no worries, you will have access.