Lufthansa postpones (sine die) new Miles&More and changes lounge access policy

The program revolution Lufthansa's Miles&More was to take place on January 1, 2021. In the new year, the frequent flyer program of the German airline and all its subsidiaries would be completely overhauled.

This summer, the company's management had informed all M&M users that the introduction of the new system had been postponed by one year, namely to January 1, 2022. Now instead comes the note that actually freezes the change indefinitely.

Due to the current situation, initially the normal state program will continue to be applied
... The year 2020 is drawing to a close and we can look back on extraordinary months. As a frequent flyer and loyal guest, you know the difficult situation in our industry and are familiar with the dynamics of the current situation, which repeatedly requires adjustments to our offerings.
A few months ago we unveiled our new state program, which is scheduled to take effect from January 2022. Today we regret to inform you that we will not be able to launch the new frequent flyer program as scheduled.
For you, this means that the conditions of the current program remain valid. If you have further questions, you will find the most important answers here.
We ask for your understanding and of course will inform you in time as soon as there is any news....

This is the text of the email that was sent to program members.

Because it is good news

The restyling of the loyalty program would have involved many aspects: from the way points are earned for achieving status to the duration of the card. One of the worst changes would have involved the status, which would last no longer two years, but one.

Here are the main changes in the program

• Status would be obtained through a points system based on flights and no longer on qualifying miles, A mode similar to the XP of Air France/KLM and to the British Airways level points
• Flights operated by LH Group airlines would have earned more points than those operated by other Star Alliance airlines
• The validity period of the status would be reduced from two years to only one year
• There will be no introduction of "Status Stars" as they were apparently confusing customers

The novelty of lounge access

Today, however, there is more than just good news from Lufthansa. In fact, starting May 3, 2021, the rules for access to the company's lounges will change.

While today elite users of Lufthansa's loyalty program, were free to enter lounges with a companion without special restrictions, starting next May it will be necessary to have a ticket for the same flight.

So goodbye to continuing a conversation with a client or colleague/friend, perhaps at the end of the business meeting, while waiting to take two different flights.

In this case, all that will remain is to take advantage of free Priority Pass thanks to American Express Platinum and choose an independent lounge, probably less refined than a Lufthansa Senator Lounge, but more affordable and at no cost.