Lufthansa’s Miles & More will be reducing miles earned in economy starting in 2014.

[T]he mileage levels in the lower-priced Economy Class booking classes will be reduced, thereby reflecting the actual value of the airline ticket.

So far the changes apply to flights operated by Miles & More’s own participating airlines Adria, Air Dolomiti, Austrian, Brussels, Croatia, Germanwings, LOT Polish, Lufthansa and Swiss. We will likely see additional changes in mileage earning on Star Alliance partner airlines as well, based on the timing of their contracts with those airlines.

Meanwhile, elites are going to get ‘status stars’ on their membership cards reflecting how long they’ve been elites (that and a euro might buy you a Coke). And they promise new rewards for elites based on number of flights taken starting next year but are not yet offering any details of what that will look like.

Flyertalk Senior Moderator oliver2002 has known about these changes for quite some time, and interviewed Lufthansa about them, but he wasn’t permitted to disclose earlier offering that Lufthansa wanted to communicate directly with its members — which of course they could have done months ago had they so chosen.

It’s a good interview, including bits like there will be the ability on specific request to earn under the old rate for tickets purchased prior to the September 19 announcement — this won’t happen automatically, and will be available only to those who know to ask. He also learns that there’s not currently an intention to limit Lufthansa first class redemption to elites the way such redemptions have been limited on Swiss.

No doubt we’re learning the bad news now – in advance – because Lufthansa has been slapped in court in the past for devaluing without notice. Meanwhile there is promised good news for Miles & More elites but we don’t officially get to know what it is yet.

(HT: Miles from Blighty)

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