Miles & More Vs Volare, what are the key differences between Lufthansa and ITA Airways' loyalty programs
The marriage between ITA Airways and Lufthansa has been sanctioned, as of now, until Lufthansa [...]
Lufthansa
ITA Airways
The marriage between ITA Airways and Lufthansa. Has been enshrined, from this moment on, Until Lufthansa completes the takeover complete with the Italian company there will be a long process of integration.
In this article:
To talk about all of this, and much more, we will also have a live webcast in which I will try to answer travelers' questions. See you on YT or FB on Wednesday, the 29th at 7:30 pm.
A necessary premise
The various journalistic sources I have consulted in recent weeks seem to agree on one point: Lufthansa does not seem intent on buying the remaining stake held by the MEF in the short term, this means that coexistence between the Ministry and Lufthansa could last well beyond 2030.
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In light of this uncertainty in my opinion pt might be a gamble to close the Flying program to move all frequent flyers into Miles&More, what would happen in the event of a step back by LH? AZ would again find itself without a loyalty program, almost like with the failed Etihad project.
It may therefore be a conservative move to keep the two programs separate but collaborative, as in the case of SAS Eurobonus and Flying Blue, with ITA joining Star Alliance.
How the status is obtained
The metrics used by Volare are the classic metrics of qualifying points, points calculated based on the expenditure incurred with bonuses that vary according to the type of route, cabin and fare and the level held.
In contrast Miles&More, which Totally changed the rules in early 2024, uses a metric that assigns A fixed number of points based on route type (Continental/Intercontinental) and cabin. In addition to this those who want to obtain M&M status have to deal with three different types of points: points, Q Points and HON Circle Points.
At Lufthansa to obtain the status at least 50% of the required points must be accumulated by flying group aircraft, while Volare status can be obtained even without ever setting foot aboard an AZ flight.
The statuses
For ITA it is very simple, You only need to be Premium to have access to lounges, priority and fast track. There is no distinction when flying Skyteam, because everyone gets the Skyteam Elite Plus level.
At Lufthansa, however, there are three different levels of "premium" users.
- FrequentTraveller, abbreviated to FQTV, is pampered if he flies in group airlines, but does not have great privileges when he flies Star Alliance
- Senator which is equivalent to the Gold Star Alliance level, this status opens the door to dedicated lounges and benefits for all Star Alliance carriers
- HON Circle, this is the holy grail of European loyalty levels. The most powerful of all, the few who rise to this level are treated totally differently from any other card in the global landscape. Becoming one is not easy since points are earned only by flying business and first and only with group carriers.
Needless to say, here will be the first major challenge for those running the frequent flyer, Who will become what?
It goes without saying that no Volare user will end up with a HON Circle card in his or her pocket, it will be interesting to see what kind of status match will be made, also because becoming a Lufthansa Senator requires much more commitment than Executive Volare, indeed Even an FQTV has to fly a lot more than an Executive Flying.
There is also the Forever question, what will happen to those who have the lifetime level in AZ? also because getting it in the Miles&More house is a real epic, and 10 years of seniority with Top Tier is not enough.
The mirage of points with no more deadline
One of the reasons why the average Italian has never been fond of loyalty program points is, As I have explained many times, blame the Italian companies' interpretation of the law That regulates prize contests and point collections.
If a merger, or at any rate a migration of Volare to German soil, were to occur, we could almost completely forget about the bogeyman of points expiration.
While today Volare points have an expiration date of December 31, 2025, which also corresponds to the end of the Volare point collection, in Miles&More points don't expire if you have status, and they don't expire even if you are a cardholder co-branded.
Lounge
In the ITA house, but generally in the Skyteam house, there are no differences in lounge, very different situation at Star Alliance. Almost all the major carriers have two types of lounges: those for those flying business and those for those with Gold status.
Within Star Alliance there are those who reward those who fly business (Singapore Airlines, United) Than those who instead reward loyalty (Lufthansa), but what is certain is that the lounge treatment will be different. As things stand, however, it is likely that ITA as is the case with TAP Portugal, ANA, Thai Airways will not have this differentiation.
Credit cards
Lufthansa has an exclusive agreement with Mastercard, in fact even in Italy there is a Mastercard Gold Miles&More, however, there is a huge difference in the German loyalty program that extends, of course, to all the markets of the different companies: no credit card gives away status or has, among its benefits, that of accelerating the attainment of elite level.
On the contrary ITA Airways has an exclusive agreement with American Express and the various co-branded Cards in the market give away status and have an accelerator that makes it easier for Holders to renew elite status.
