TravelCommentator

Tagged: Star Alliance

Loyalty / Opinion

Miles+Bonus Status Retention/Upgrade Changes

Elite status to become much harder in 2023 for Aegean Airlines’ flyers Aegean Airlines informed its frequent flyers and status holders on the 1st of February there will be changes to the tier retention and upgrade rules. Gaining status will be more difficult, especially for those not living in Greece and not able to fly on Aegean metal. The decision by Aegean is disappointing but understandable. They have good reasons and it has all to do with economics, which I will not delve upon here. Personally as a member of Miles+Bonus, the Aegean frequent flyer programme, I will find it much harder to obtain Gold status. I’ve already lost this status during 2022 being demoted to Silver. Aegean have been generous in the retention...

Loyalty / Opinion

Star Alliance Gold Status by Credit Card

With the launching last week of the HSBC Star Alliance credit card in Australia travellers now wanting gold status with a select group of Star Alliance airlines has become easier, well at least they have been given the option of spending their way to Star Alliance Gold, which for many may be the best or only way they’ll achieve this status. This is the first credit card of this kind awarding status with one of the airline alliances. It also seems Australia is the only country so far where this card has been issued, perhaps being used as a testing ground for future releases elsewhere. Is this just another card to add to your wallet and another dent in your credit rating? Now the...

* Review / Transport

Aegean Airlines A3 651/A3 650

Excellent Service on Europe’s Best Regional Airline Although they were only short flights Rome-Athens and Athens-Rome, they were enough to know I flew with a great little airline. Well, little in the sense of the number of aircraft and destinations they fly to. They can’t be compared to Turkish Airlines, their closest neighbour and Star Alliance partner, but they do punch above their weight when it comes to quality and service. That’s why they’ve been voted the Best Regional Airline in Europe by Skytrax for many years. Greek hospitality is well known and I couldn’t wait to try out Aegean since also I had gained Star Alliance Gold through them a year or so earlier. So when the chance came I decided to book...