Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Some ex-customers of the now defunct Air Berlin who received money back through credit card chargebacks might receive a nasty surprise these days as the insolvency administrator is now asking for the money back. What might sound like a bad joke is actually founded in Germany’s insolvency law which considers clawing back your funds through […]
Category: Airberlin – Topbonus
Topbonus Closes For Good – No Investor Found
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Topbonus sent out an email late on Friday night that the program would be closed for good and the website would be taken offline in the next few days as the investor that had promised to purchase the program was unable to come up with the cash. The program folded after Airberlin collapsed and Etihad […]
Topbonus Insolvency Update & Get Your Claims In By April 24, 2018
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Topbonus today emailed their latest update why members of this insolvent programs are not able to log into their accounts today per previous guidance. The company is still looking for a buyer and this process is apparently going well. Members that have Topbonus miles in their accounts may be able to get cash payment valuing […]
Airberlin Topbonus Award Tickets Not Yet Flown No Longer Valid Per Email Sent
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Topbonus program assured at the time it filed for administration that already issued award tickets would be honored. Also, Oneworld issued a statement on this website confirming this. Last week, I wrote about a reader’s case (read more here) where Bangkok Airways had denied boarding on Airberlin issued award ticket in Bangkok. Apparently, Topbonus has […]
Airberlin Topbonus Award Tickets On Bangkok Airways Potentially Invalid
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Airberlin ended its operations on Friday last week but Topbonus loyalty program continues to operate albeit still in administration. Topbonus is 70% owned by Etihad Airways and thus should have a way out of the current mess. Oneworld made a statement that award tickets issued before Airberlin went into administration back in August would be […]
Topbonus Loyalty Now Allows Transfer Of Miles Between Accounts, Making It Easier To Reach Higher Balance For Award Redemption
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
If you’re still in the possession of some Topbonus miles yet those are not enough to redeem an award it’s now possible to pool miles between account (officially for family bot no checks in place). Topbonus customers can currently use their miles only for Economy Class flights on Etihad Airways apart from some (useless) merchandise […]
EasyJet Expands To Berlin’s Tegel By Acquiring Some Airberlin Assets
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
EasyJet made an announcement on Friday night after last Airberlin flight had landed at the Berlin’s Tegel airport from Munich that it had reached an agreement with the liquidator to take over leases for 25 planes and hire roughly 1,000 employees. The airline currently operates from the other airport in Berlin Schönefeld but plans to […]
Latest Topbonus Email About “Restructuring”
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Airberlin will operate its last flights today and its loyalty program Topbonus that is actually 70% owned by Etihad also filed for insolvency at the same time with the airline (not winding down yet – at least not today). Topbonus is truing to put their best foot forward on their latest email just sent out […]
Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss & Eurowings Offer 50% Discount For Air Berlin Customers With Canceled Bookings For October 28 – November 15, 2017 (Booked Before August 15)
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Lufthansa group of airlines (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss and Eurowings) have extended an offer to Airberlin ticket holders who have purchased their tickets before the the airline filed for liquidation on August 15, 2017, and who are scheduled to fly “back home” from Europe between October 28 – November 15. Affected passengers can purchase ticket operated […]
Air Berlin Insolvency Administrator Seeks Multi Million Euro Damages From Etihad For Causing Bankruptcy
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Air Berlin’s insolvency administration came forward this week with a bizarre claim that they consider Etihad being responsible for the German carriers sudden insolvency and now seek for a multi million Euro settlement. Air Berlin will shut their doors this coming week and in search for extra money they are now going after Etihad Airways […]
Oneworld Status Match Opportunities For Airberlin Topbonus Members
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Airberlin as an airline will close the shop this week. The last flight should operate this coming Friday. NIKI, the Austrian arm, will continue fly. There are now several official matches from number of Oneworld airlines that are trying to get Topbonus elite members to match their status. Topbonus as a program may continue to […]
S7 Airlines Now Matching Airberlin Topbonus Status
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
S7 Airlines, officially Siberia Airlines, has now joined other Oneworld airlines that are offering status matches to Airberlin Topbonus members but with a twist. S7 Airlines matches the equivalent status on their own programs + if you have credited S7 flights to Topbonus between October 1 – September 30, 2017, they will credit the miles […]
Air Berlin Topbonus Returns With Redemption Option For Etihad Flights In Economy Class (Limited Time Option)
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Shattered (ex) frequent flyer program Air Berlin Topbonus has come through with a new redemption option making it possible again to book award flights, however only on Etihad Airways in Economy. The option is currently limited for booking until 17th November 2017 with travel periods until 28th March 2018 so it’s recommended to act fast […]
British Airways Executive Club Airberlin Status Match Offer + Bonus Avios For Germany Sign Up By November 30, 2017
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
British Airways has now launched a new offer to get Airberlin Topbonus members to sign up for their Executive Club and start collecting Avios. Topbonus elite members will get Bronze status and 4,500 bonus Avios for sign up. Seems that members can get 9,000 additional Avios by flying 4 British Airways coded and operated segments […]
Airberlin & NIKI Exit Oneworld On October 27, 2017
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Oneworld finally made an announcement regarding the Airberlin yesterday confirming the exit of both Airberlin and NIKI out of the alliance as of October 27, 2017. British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Royal Jordanian have all extended status match offers for Airberlin Topbonus members to keep them flying on Oneworld. Here’s the announcement from Oneworld (access […]
Lufthansa & Air Berlin Sign Agreement To Take Over 81 Aircraft And 3000 Staff, Operations End October 28th
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
An important day in the row about insolvent carrier Air Berlin’s assets as them and Lufthansa signed a contract today which will see the lion share of the company taken over by the German flag carrier. Lufthansa will take over 81 aircraft and 3000 staff (roughly a third) from the defunct carrier just 2 weeks […]
Airberlin To End All Flying By October 28, 2017
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Airberlin today announced its employees that all the flying will wind up by October 28, 2017. The long-haul flying will end by October 15 as already announced previously. This announcement doesn’t affect NIKI, LG Walter and planes/crews flying for Lufthansa’s Eurowing. The liquidator is expected to have the final deal done by Thursday with probably […]
Crazy Email Of The Week: Collect Airberlin Topbonus Miles! (DON’T DO!)
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Couldn’t believe my eyes couple of hours ago when this email from Airberlin Topbonus made it to by inbox! An airline frequent flier program, majority owned by Etihad, that has basically cease to exists because Airberlin is in bankruptcy and soon to be divided by Lufthansa and other airlines, is trying to get members to […]
Air France – KLM Flying Blue Now Matching Airberlin Topbonus Members
Written by John Ollila @ LoyaltyLobby
Airberlin, an airline that is still barely flying and waiting to be divided by Lufthansa and other airlines, has quite a few anxious Topbonus elite members waiting for a new home. Finnair started offering status matches last month (read more here) and now apparently Air France – KLM’s Flying Blue has extended an offer for […]
Confirmed: Air Berlin Ends All Long Haul Operations By 15th October 2017 (Some Much Earlier)
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
According to the Air Berlin website the carrier has now confirmed that it will cease operation of all long haul flights effective 15th of October 2017, however many destination shut down much earlier than that. The airline is compelled to close down their long haul operations as the leasing companies are asking for their A330 […]