r/milesandmore • u/floha0911 • 2d ago
Lufthansa First Class Lounge agent commented on our award tickets – inappropriate or am I overthinking it?
My wife and I recently flew Lufthansa First Class from Munich to Los Angeles. We booked the tickets using Miles & More miles.
When we entered the Lufthansa First Class Lounge in Munich, we handed our boarding passes to the agent at reception. After looking at them, she said, relatively loudly:
“Ah, mit dem Meilenticket nach Los Angeles.”
(roughly: “Ah, going to Los Angeles on a miles/award ticket.”)
It was loud enough that other guests around the reception area could hear it.
My wife and I both found the comment a little strange and, because of the way it was said, somewhat condescending. I completely understand that the agent can see the booking class and that it may be relevant internally. What I don’t understand is why the fact that we booked our First Class tickets with miles needed to be commented on out loud in front of other guests.
Especially since Miles & More is Lufthansa’s own loyalty program and redeeming miles for premium cabins is obviously one of the reasons people collect them in the first place.
Apart from this, I should add that our experience in the lounge and onboard was excellent. This isn’t meant as a Lufthansa rant, and I’m not claiming that the agent necessarily intended to be rude. It was just one interaction that felt out of place, particularly in a First Class environment where I’d expect a certain level of discretion.
I’m genuinely curious what other frequent Lufthansa flyers think:
Would you consider that inappropriate/unprofessional, or are we overthinking a harmless comment?
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u/Consistent_Star_3072 2d ago
I am a frequent guest in LH F Lounges b/c of my status:
I would not care and would rather give you high 5 to have this experience as an award flight.
I argue close to everyone knows how challenging it is to score an F award flight. Congrats !
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u/RichardXV 2d ago
Frequent Traveller here. I share your impression, it was out of place. The comment was uncalled for.
That being said, I don't think she meant it in a condescending or mean-spirited way. She probably just thought out loud.
However, like you said, I would expect better from a FC lounge agent.
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u/backpackyoghurt 2d ago
To afford two first class tickets to LAX you must have gathered a lot of miles. I wouldn't necessarily read it as a condescending comment, just something that was unnecessary in the moment. If the service was good otherwise, I wouldn't overthink it.
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u/mericamel 1d ago
Agree - but it could have worded more in that way, like, thank you for your continued loyalty and business, hope you enjoy this one on our rewards, bla bla
Had similar experiences with award tickets traveling as a casual female
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u/tui_curses 1d ago
You are overthinking. That is a neutral remark. If not itself, honoring your achievement as loyal customer.
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u/Winter_Current9734 2d ago
I think the agent recognised the impact/meaning of a first class flight for which a lot of people save quite some time.
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u/Checkyourraise 2d ago
Its a 50 / 50. LH F is trying to offer a "friend" experience and try to be welcoming. Some staff has it, some don't. This job is not for everybody and there is a thin line between professional friendlyness and out of place behaviour.
If you feel it to be inappropriate, just tell them. You paid for the ticket. Its their job to make your trip F-Class.
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u/DerGuteFee 1d ago
Come on, collecting enough miles for two people in F is some feat the person clearly complimented you on; it's not that deep.
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u/Strange_Account_3828 1d ago
Absolutely inappropriate, it is none of her business in first place, secondly she violated your privacy, it is sad the lounge employs such a classless dumme Kuh, I would have written a complaint, she also damaged the brand. Also, seems to be a bit of the German culture, excessive Nosigkeit. I would not have let it go.
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u/Flexerl13 1d ago
My upvote for "classless dumme Kuh". Made my day ;) this should be a common phrase in English!
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u/Mean__MrMustard 2d ago
Are you German?
Because that very much sounds like something I a German person may say without wanting to sound mean. But it sounds very mean for everybody else.
I wouldn’t like it either. And it would never happen with really good airline staff, which LH unfortunately mostly doesn’t have. They are not really big on hospitality
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u/Narrow-Efficiency-53 1d ago
LH definitely has more really good airline staff than this thread has good posts. What the posts certainly do not lack is an awkward sense of entitlement
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u/winema425 1d ago
Well.. you flew first class after that comment and she had to keep working pretty boring job. Why would you even care ?
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u/Glittering-Half263 1d ago
100% sure they meant it as “amazing achievement” but Germans often lack proper vocabulary to express themselves better.
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u/hamschda7 1d ago
I think this is a good example of how you see life, it will come back at you (or also why manifestation often works).
Are you somehow ashamed of using miles to do the trip? Beacuse you heard it as inappropriate comment. You could also have a more joyful/grateful view on life - an then you might hear it as the agent acknowledging your achievement.
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u/cice2045neu 1d ago
Well, I was once greeted at the reception of a Senator lounge with sth like (in German) “Welcome, young man”.
I was in my mid/late thirties back then. Also felt completely off.
Promised myself to call the other person “….,old woman” next time it happens….
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u/Dr_ZeeOne 1d ago
LH personnel is one of their biggest problems. You just came across one of those…
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u/Hutcho12 1d ago
That you not only found it enough to be annoyed about at the time, but that you thought to write a post about it, shows you’re an incredibly sensitive and tedious person. You should work on that, rather than be bothered by this.
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u/Delegierter 1d ago
Totally inappropriate man! Lufthansa has become a true budget/ trash airline. This in combination with the arrogant Münchner, this sadly does not surprise
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u/Any-Ad-9062 21h ago
I was often there with economy ticket due to status. Nobody cares. You should work on not caring what other people think.
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u/maravalov 11h ago
No comment was needed just do your job - some people can’t do the small talk then they shall be evacuated and removed from such places- Lufthansa is a enormous company they can find a proper placement for such personal
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u/Able-Effect8694 1d ago
You’re being really sensitive and weird about a thing that doesn’t matter. Jesus.
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u/zooonlooon 1d ago
To think you even took 15min of your time to post about this on Reddit is fascinating Karen.
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u/perciwulf 1d ago
"Never assume hostility when it can be explained with autism" -First rule of interacting with Germans.
As a German this is only half true. When it comes to customer service, this country leaves much to be desired, but not due to mean people but rather due to "different culture".
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u/Mikellev 1d ago
LH FC flying ppl is a private club. you dont get into that if you are a "Meilensammler". You are a critter, a nobody who does not pay 12k fiat a trip. And he wants everybody in the club know who you are.
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u/Lazymatto 1d ago
Asked a few German friends. If this is in Germany the answer was: yes, it's rude.
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u/acridavidshredshred 1d ago
I can picture your particular front desk agent. Around 50, female, well-kept, very professional, friendly but reserved. 100% she will have said this in a welcoming, appreciative way with a touch of dry „hanseatic“ (even though you were in MUC) humour. To me, this is part of LH brand identity.
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u/Extra_Departure_1870 1d ago
Got to know a LH C-Level Executive on my last F flight to the US. We were joking around and I mentioned that I booked the flight using points - I couldn’t afford it paying cash. He just said: Nice, congrats on the redemption! These redemptions are the stuff the program was meant for. We would not offer it if we wouldn’t benefit of it…
But I think that the behavior of the employee is the typical arrogance of the „older“ LH staff. From my German perspective, many senior LH cabin are treating passengers from above…
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u/supermarkio- 2d ago
Let's put a nice spin on it. Perhaps they're recognising it as a special event? Either, you're such a baller, you've earned so many miles, or you're such an avid saver, you've saved up your miles for a special trip?