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Miles & More, the frequent flyer program of the Lufthansa Group, which includes Switzerland, is becoming obsolete. The program has 1.9 million members across Switzerland. But only a few actually use the miles they collect. Despite the many generous discounts and mileage promotions hitting mailboxes over the last few days to celebrate Miles & More’s 30th anniversary.
“Mileage programs are often not transparent and not very valuable,” says Ravindra Bhagwanani (54) from Zug. He is managing director of (F) Global Flight in Toulouse, which advises private individuals and companies on how to make the most of frequent flyer programs.
Points instead of miles
That is why the program is currently undergoing modernization. The status program has so far been particularly opaque. Miles & More has frequent flyer status levels: Frequent Traveler, Senator, and HON Circle. Status miles help you earn status under a frequent flyer program and are not to be confused with reward miles (see box).
Almost every airline has a frequent flyer program. In the Lufthansa Group, to which Switzerland also belongs, it is called Miles & More. Anyone registered as a member here can collect miles for booked flights as well as other daily activities (like shopping with the relevant credit card, car rentals, magazine subscriptions, or more). The mile credits you collect can be used for reward flights or other benefits. Reward miles are used to obtain rewards, while status miles are used to obtain frequent flyer status and related benefits under the frequent flyer program. Requirements and benefits vary by airline and program.
Almost every airline has a frequent flyer program. In the Lufthansa Group, to which Switzerland also belongs, it is called Miles & More. Anyone registered as a member here can collect miles for booked flights as well as other daily activities (like shopping with the relevant credit card, car rentals, magazine subscriptions, or more). The mile credits you collect can be used for reward flights or other benefits. Reward miles are used to obtain rewards, while status miles are used to obtain frequent flyer status and related benefits under the frequent flyer program. Requirements and benefits vary by airline and program.
The status program will change from January 2024. “Achieving status using status miles is not always easy and transparent for everyone,” a spokesperson for Europe’s largest frequent flyer program, with 36 million members, admitted to Blick. So in the future there will only be points rather than many different types of miles.
What changes?
How many points are earned on a flight will depend on only two criteria: the class of travel and whether it is continental or intercontinental. Like status miles, points can be collected from all airlines. To achieve frequent flyer status in the new program, you will need to travel at least half of your time with Lufthansa Group airlines.
Once the required points are reached, members receive the relevant status, including certain bonuses and benefits for at least one year. For example, lounge access or privileged check-in. There has been no change in the awarding of Miles & More award miles.
The expert wasn’t impressed.
Bhagwanani classifies the latest changes as follows: “In general, it makes sense not to calculate award miles and status points on the same basis.” But this is no mean feat: “With the introduction of status points, Miles & More is catching up with airlines such as British Airways or Air France-KLM, which have been operating this way for years.”
The new system represents a clear disruption for members who mostly fly with partner airlines like United or Turkish Airlines; because now, as explained, they have to collect 50 percent of the required points from airlines in the Lufthansa Group.
According to Bhagwanani, nothing will change because earning status with Miles & More is the least attractive within the Star Alliance, an airline group that also includes Lufthansa and Swiss. “If you’re flying back and forth on fewer than five long-haul flights a year in business class, you’ll definitely do better with other programs.”
Bhagwanani sees a trend where frequent flyer programs are less attractive than they used to be. “At the same time, many programs are trying to become more accommodating to infrequent travelers.”
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
