The Milesa nd More Frequent Traveller Programme of the Star Alliance Airlines Group

I suggested to Miles and More that it was unnecessary, and embarrassing for members of their frequent flyer programme, to have the experience of being turned away, as I was, at the SAS Lounge in Copenhagen, because of differences in the rules applied by Lounges belonging to different members of the Star Alliance. In other words, according to the rules, I am to be admitted to Lounges run by Austrian, Lufthansa, and Swiss but I am NOT to be admitted to Lounges run by other members of the same Star Alliance, such as SAS.


The following is the response that I received:

Dear Professor Guptara,

Thank you for your email.

As a Miles & More Frequent Traveller card holder you have access to the Lufthansa Business Lounges on production of a valid boarding pass issued on Lufthansa, a Star Alliance partner or a Lufthansa airline partner for the same date and airport of departure.

For SWISS Business Class Lounges and Austrian Airways Business Lounges you need to produce a valid boarding pass issued by our Star Alliance partners for the same date and airport of departure.

However, please understand that we have no influence on the rules and regulations set by other airlines, e.g Scandinavian Airlines, regarding the access to their lounges.

The latest information concerning the benefits of the Miles & More Frequent Traveller status can be found on our website www.miles-and-more.com > The programme > Status and Privileges > Miles & More status levels > The main benefits in brief.

Sincerely,
Your Miles & More Service Team


Here is the response that I have sent to them:

Dear Members of the Miles and More Service Team

Many thanks for your message.

However, I had not asked for information regarding the rules for the use of Lufthansa and Swiss Business Lounges.

What I asked was that you take action to harmonise the different rules and regulations set by your so-called "Partner Airlines", as these differences lead to embarrassment to your passengers. If you have no influence on the rules and regulations set by "other" airlines, why do you have them as Partners in the Star Alliance system? Clearly, the "Alli ance" is meaningless if everyone is free to set their own rules, regulations and standards!

I understand that the Miles and More Service feels unable to do anything about this because this is a matter that is beyond the competence of the Service Team.

However, it is not beyond the competence of the Service Team to raise this matter with the top management of the Alliance.

So my question is: have you, as the Service Team, raised this matter with the top management of the Star Alliance?

Yours sincerely

Prabhu Guptara Sphere: Related Content