Lufthansa’s Miles and more loyalty program It is changing from fixed prices to dynamics, with more and more miles necessary for award tickets from June 3. While the program has announced these changes to its members as “exciting“Reality is anything but.
The loyalty program of a dozen airlines, including Lufthansa, SwissAustria Airlines, Eurowings and Lot Polacy Airlines: They will discontinue their reasonable prices in the awards table and, on the other hand, the price set refunds will begin based on the cost of cash rates.
Related: On board Lufthansa Allegris’s first flight, was the new cabin worth?
More dynamic miles and prices
Instead of a single prize rate for each service class (Lufthansa and Swiss, for example, they offer economy, premium economy, business and first class), the loyalty program will offer three different types of awards for short -distance flights within Europe (Light, Classic and Flexible) and four different types of awards on long -distance flights (Light, Basic, Basic Plus and Flex) operated by Lufthansa, Lufthansa City, Swiss and Austrian Airlines as of June 3.
According to the new system, each rate will have different equipment, seats, cancellation and reimbursement of rules and rates. Light rates, for example, will not include invoiced luggage, seating or reimbursement reservations, even for miles and more elite members, which makes this one of the most restrictive awards than any airline loyalty program offers.
This complexity reflects the lufthansa 14 different types of seats installed in its new Allegris A350 plane.
While other loyalty programs, such as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club -That recently changed fixed price awards graphics at dynamic prices, have promised that each seat will be available for reimbursements under a new system, Lufthansa will continue to restrict awards availability.
The program has not yet informed which rate refunds will be linked to cash rates; Other programs, such as Delta Air Lines Skymileslargely use a rate of 1 cent per mile. If Lufthansa chooses this rate, you could see first class flights to Europe with a price of 1 million miles in each direction.
Related: Dynamic prices versus fuel surcharges: which is the least of 2 evils for your next redemption?
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Partner redisters
The Miles & More program will also adjust the cost of many flights operated by Star Alliance Partners (excluding Lufthansa, city of Lufthansa, Austrian and Switzerland) as of June 3.
For example, flights operated by United Airlines will change as follows (per person, in each sense):
- Economy: 25,000 miles (below 30,000 miles)
- Premium economy: 42,500 miles (compared to 40,000 miles)
- Executive class: 62,500 miles (compared to 56,000 miles)
North America flights to South America will change as follows:
- Economy: 25,000 miles (below 30,000 miles)
- Executive class: 62,500 miles (compared to 56,000 miles)
- First class: 107,500 miles (compared to 91,000 miles)
The program has promised a decrease in the cost of awards within Europe. For example, if you want to fly to Brussels airlines from Heathrow (LHR) airport to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) through the Brussels Airport (BRU), the price will fall from 17,500 miles to 14,000 miles by person from June 3.
Miles & More is not a transfer partner of any important credit card program with a transferable currencySo winning miles in the program has been traditionally difficult. But Lufthansa has been generous by launching premium awards, even in first class, to associated programs such as Air Canada AeroplanAnd hopefully, that will not change with the new price system.
End
While an important loyalty program of the airline that moves at the dynamic price is nothing new, the Lufthansa approach seems complex and restrictive. Unless you want to exchange miles for economic class flights on peak dates, as of June 3, you are likely to need more miles for reservations and advanced knowledge of the inclusions and restrictions of the 22 new types of awards rates.
The Miles & More program has shown little respect for its members in the communication of these changes, trying to pretend that this devaluation is somehow a general improvement of the program for members who could soon face prize seats of millions of miles.
Due to the difficulty of winning miles, the Miles & More program has been of limited interest for many travelers. And once these changes enter into force, it is likely to be of less interest and value.
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