The Lufthansa Group has announced that its frequent flyer status programme will be moving to a points-based system rather than miles.
Starting 1 January 2021, achieving and maintaining Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle levels will be based on points, which will be awarded depending on two criteria: the class of travel and whether the flight is intercontinental or intracontinental.
Flights within Europe will be worth between five and ten status points depending on class of travel, while intercontinental services will be worth between 15 and 70 points.
As before, points can be earned on all Star Alliance airlines, including status miles, but in order to achieve Frequent Traveller or Senator level, at least half of the required points must be earned with Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and Swiss, or Miles & More partners Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines and Luxair.
To achieve Frequent Traveller status, a passenger must accrue 160 points in one calendar year, 80 of which must be “qualifying” points with the above-mentioned airlines. Senator will be reached with 480 points in one calendar year, 240 of which must be qualifying, and HON Circle membership will require 1,500 qualifying points, but it will be possible to collect qualifying points in economy and premium economy.
Along with the changes, the group announced that it will grant Frequent Traveller and Senator status for life to recognise passengers’ long-standing loyalty. The basis for this will be the sum of all points collected on Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss and Miles & More airline partners. Lifetime Senator status will also require the passenger to have been a Senator of HON Circle member for ten calendar years.
Markus Binkert, CCO Hub Munich and SVP of marketing at Lufthansa Group, commented: “We want to value the loyalty of our frequent flyers even more. In the future, we will be offering the most attractive and simplest frequent flyer programme ever. Our loyalty programme also reflects our new, modern understanding of premium travel.”
Last week, Lufthansa Group announced it would begin offsetting the carbon emissions of all European corporate fares from 2020 at no extra cost to passengers.
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