In November 2019, Lufthansa introduced main modifications to its Miles & Extra frequent flyer program. The modifications have been initially alleged to kick in as of 2021, although logically sufficient they have been postponed indefinitely as a result of pandemic.
We now have an replace on this — Lufthansa intends to implement Miles & Extra program modifications as of January 1, 2024, and it’s anticipated that this shall be communicated to members as of December 2022. Whereas there’s not but a public replace in regards to the modifications, I needed to recap what was communicated to members again in late 2019, as I think about the plan remains to be comparable.
All of that is along with Lufthansa Miles & Extra going income based mostly in 2018, and likewise devaluing its award chart in 2019.
Lufthansa’s letter to Miles & Extra members
To start out, let me share the letter that Lufthansa despatched to Miles & Extra members in November 2019, describing the modifications:
As our visitor you’re on the coronary heart of our ideas and actions. We need to make touring as private, easy and nice as doable for you, so each one in all your journeys turns into a optimistic expertise. That’s our aspiration for our new, fashionable premium idea.
Our standing programme solely met this requirement to a restricted extent in recent times. Your needs for simplification additionally reached us increasingly more often. Now we have due to this fact got down to revise our frequent flyer programme for you. In future, you’ll not have to spend so much of time determining guidelines or asking your self learn how to obtain your standing. It is possible for you to to pay attention solely on what’s necessary to you and revel in your journey.
At this time, we wish to take this chance to share the preliminary particulars about our frequent flyer programme with you. Listed here are an important new options you possibly can count on:
* Learn how to obtain standing will turn into extra clear – a understandable factors system will substitute the standing miles.
* Your belief in us will repay – standing will primarily be achieved via flights with our airways.
* Loyalty shall be rewarded – there shall be lifetime Frequent Traveller and Senator standing for loyalty over a few years.
* The interval of validity shall be modified – your standing shall be energetic for not less than one yr in future.
* The construction will turn into clearer – we’ll say goodbye to sophisticated components reminiscent of Standing Stars.We sit up for touring with you once more quickly.
There’s some ridiculous spin on this letter — “you’ll not have to spend so much of time determining guidelines or asking your self learn how to obtain standing,” however somewhat “it is possible for you to to pay attention solely on what’s necessary to you and revel in your journey.”
The brand new Lufthansa Miles & Extra program
As you possibly can most likely inform, the above doesn’t truly inform us a lot about what’s altering. Happily Lufthansa has revealed all the particulars of the brand new program. Lufthansa’s head of selling has made two guarantees in regards to the new program:
- It is going to be lots simpler for everybody
- Anybody flying with Lufthansa Group’s airways shall be rewarded extra
These positive are some guarantees…
Lufthansa will award standing factors somewhat than miles
As of January 1, 2024, you’ll not earn standing based mostly on a multiplier of the gap flown, however somewhat you’ll earn standing based mostly on incomes a sure variety of factors. Word that this doesn’t change the way you earn award miles, however somewhat this solely impacts incomes standing.
The factors earned will fluctuate based mostly on the cabin you’re flying, and whether or not you’re flying a continental or intercontinental flight:
- In financial system you’ll earn 5 factors for continental and 15 factors for intercontinental
- In premium financial system you’ll earn 5 factors for continental and 20 factors for intercontinental
- In enterprise class you’ll earn 10 factors continental and 50 factors for intercontinental
- In firstclass you’ll earn 10 factors for continental and 70 factors for intercontinental
It’s fairly shocking that probably the most discounted fare in a cabin will earn the identical variety of factors as the most costly fare. This presents some fascinating potential mileage run alternatives.
Continental vs. intercontinental flights
The definition of continental and intercontinental is as simple as you’d count on:
- A continental flight is a phase for which the arrival and departure airport are on the identical continent
- An intercontinental flight is a phase for which the arrival and departure airport are on completely different continents
Factors vs. qualifying factors
Below the brand new program, Miles & Extra could have each “factors” and “qualifying factors.”
When you’re flying one of many following airways you’ll earn “qualifying factors” (these are both Lufthansa Group airways, or airways that use Miles & Extra as their frequent flyer program):
- Austrian Airways
- Lufthansa
- SWISS
- Brussels Airways
- Eurowings
- Air Dolomiti
- Croatia Airways
- LOT Polish Airways
- Luxair
In the meantime journey on different airways will simply accrue factors (and never “qualifying factors”). Whereas “common” factors can nonetheless rely towards standing, you want to earn a minimal variety of qualifying factors to earn standing.
See, this system is really easy? 😉
New Miles & Extra standing necessities
With the brand new program:
- Frequent Traveler standing would require 160 factors, and half of these should be qualifying factors
- Senator standing would require 480 factors, and half of these should be qualifying factors
- HON Circle standing would require 1,500 factors, all of which should be qualifying factors
One optimistic change is that traditionally you couldn’t earn HON Circle standing based mostly on journey in financial system on Lufthansa. That received’t be the case going ahead anymore, as financial system journey will qualify.
Standing will solely be legitimate for a yr
Traditionally Lufthansa standing has been legitimate for 2 years, although with the brand new program it would solely be legitimate for one yr. I’d say that’s a fairly large devaluation.
Lufthansa introducing lifetime standing
Lufthansa shall be introducing lifetime standing for the primary time:
- Lifetime Frequent Traveler standing will be achieved with 7,500 qualifying factors
- Lifetime Senator standing will be achieved with 10,000 qualifying factors plus 10 years of Senator or HON Circle standing
In each circumstances, solely qualifying factors will rely towards lifetime standing, so journey on most Star Alliance airways wouldn’t qualify. When you’ve been loyal to Miles & Extra up till now, you possibly can earn lifetime standing based mostly in your previous exercise.
Backside line
Main modifications have been introduced to the Lufthansa Miles & Extra program again in November 2019. As a result of pandemic they’ve been postponed indefinitely, however there’s now an replace. The modifications will lastly kick in as of January 1, 2024, and it’s anticipated that this shall be communicated to members as of December 2022.
Some individuals could also be shocked to listen to this, however I don’t truly suppose the brand new program is essentially destructive. Each program has professionals and cons, and this after all represents a big change.
I’d say it’s very unhealthy information that standing is now solely legitimate for a yr, whereas the excellent news is that lifetime standing is being launched. Apart from that, I’d say the modifications aren’t essentially unhealthy. In fact everybody has completely different journey patterns and preferences.
What I’m shocked by with the brand new program is how good it’s for these seeking to get good worth, somewhat than simply these flying full fare tickets:
- The excellence between continental and intercontinental flights leaves a number of alternatives
- Probably the most discounted fare in a cabin counts the identical towards standing as the most costly fare in a cabin
- It’s good that journey in financial system will rely towards HON Circle standing
What do you make of those Lufthansa Miles & Extra modifications?
