NEWS & OFFERS: Lufthansa Star Alliance status match, Singapore reveal new Monica Galetti meals and Hyatt 25% discount

Lufthansa Star Alliance status match

Miles & More, the frequent flyer programme of the Lufthansa Group, is excited to launch an exclusive status match offer for British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus status holders worldwide.

The offer will allow eligible customers to enjoy unique elite benefits until 28 February 2026 such as priority check-in, priority boarding, increased baggage allowance, and lounge access throughout the Star Alliance network.

Here are how the tiers match up:

To apply, visit www.lufthansa.statusmatch.com to submit your application. Like most status matches now there is a fee which is €99. You will need to join Miles & More first if you are not already a member. They will require proof of your status and you may be requested to complete an identity check, including your passport or driver’s licence.

You will be informed within three days after submitting the requested information, whether your status match has been approved. Once approved, it may take up to 10 business days until your frequent flyer status is upgraded in your Miles & More customer account.

The Status Match offer is available for a limited time only.

The bad news is that yesterday, Lufthansa announced a raft of mainly negative changes for its frequent flyer program, which you can read about in our article. The gist of the changes are that Lufthansa will go revenue-based for redemptions from 3 June. These will mirror the cash ticket fare classes so some will not include things like seat reservations, even for Elite members. The price for redemptions will also mirror cash prices directly and has risen by a substantial amount for longer flights such as South East Asia. However, there were no changes to status requirements. 

You can find out more about Miles & More here and sign up as a member if you need to.

Singapore Airlines reveal new Monica Galetti meals

I have long been a fan of Singapore Airlines and have always enjoyed their onboard meals in business class. However, recently they have really been stepping it up a notch. I attended a dinner with the airline and Monica Galetti herself to sample some of the food and wines and was very impressed. The airline has been serving vintage champagne in business class with Piper Heidseck 2018, which I very much enjoyed a glass or three of at the event. It is great to see an airline serving such an elegant champagne in business class versus others where I actually turn it down as I find it so unpleasant. 

Here is the menu we sampled from their Autumn/Winter meals. Obviously the food was cooked on the ground from fresh but I have to say I was extremely impressed with the food which I would say was well above most other airline business class food.

Here is the starter:

Singapore Airlines’ guest chef Monica Galetti has now unveiled her new spring and summer collection of dishes, available on flights departing from the UK between March and August 2025. The renowned chef and TV personality has created a menu with an emphasis on locally sourced produce, Chef Monica’s fine dining background and classical French training, with a nod to her South Pacific roots. They will be available on flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Manchester, with a gourmet four-course menu in Suites and First Class, and a three-course menu in Business Class.

Available between 1 March and 31 May, the spring menu leans heavily into seasonal ingredients, with asparagus, watercress, lamb, and rhubarb, celebrating the best in British produce. In Suites and First Class, customers can look forward to dishes such as Slow Roasted Lamb Cutlet with Gremolata and Rosemary Jus, and Blackberry Treacle Tart with Mascarpone Ripple. While in Business Class, the Rhubarb Cake with Vanilla and Ginger Crème Fraiche, is just one of the desserts.

 From 1 June through 31 August, the summer menu features Slow Cooked Iberico Pork, Grilled Leeks, Potato Puree, Shallot and Nasturtium in First class. While in Business Class, there’s a Raspberry Pistachio mousse in a sweet pastry tartlet.

Monica Galetti, Singapore Airlines Guest Chef, said: “For my spring and summer collection for Singapore Airlines, I wanted to capture the essence of the seasons using high-quality ingredients that are in natural abundance. I’ve included some of my favourite dishes, like the chilled almond soup topped with grapes, elevated classics such as slow-cooked lamb cutlet, and a refreshing strawberry and lime sherbet dessert. As a frequent flier with Singapore Airlines, I was inspired to create a refined menu that offers comfort and indulgence at 35,000ft, to complement its world-class service.”

From the end of March, Singapore Airlines will operate 40 weekly flights between the UK and Singapore – more than any other carrier. This includes an increased daily service from London Gatwick.

 Mohamed Rafi Mar, Singapore Airlines General Manager UK and Ireland, said: “We’ve had an overwhelming positive response from customers on Chef Monica’s menus, many comparing them to ‘restaurant quality’ cuisine. Her spring and summer menus are a continuation of this success, bringing a burst of fresh flavours and ingredients to gourmet in-flight dining. We are very proud of our partnership with Monica and delighted to bring her talent to our loyal customers.”

Along with Chef Monica’s menu, Singapore Airlines Suites, First Class, and Business Class customers can select a European or Asian menu for their onboard dining experience. For a wider selection of meals, they may also opt for the Airline’s ‘Book the Cook’ service at least 24 hours prior to their flight departure. The selection of ‘Book the Cook’ meal options features dishes created by the Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel, including globally recognised chefs Matt Moran and Georges Blanc.

You can view Monica’s autumn and winter menus here:

World of Hyatt 25% discount

World of Hyatt is offering a 25% discount when you buy 3,000 points or more. This is a lower threshold than they sometimes have so perfect if you need a small top-up. 25% is the standard bonus for points so a reduction is pretty much the same thing and better if you only need a small amount of Hyatt points. So if you need some points, now is as good a time as any to buy them. This time however they have not have increased the annual purchase limit from 55,000 points. This offer runs until 14 April 2025.

I always say it is rarely worth buying speculatively as points can be devalued with little to no notice. However, it is always worth comparing the cash price versus the points price. At higher-end hotels like Park Hyatt, in pricey destinations, there is often a decent saving to be made by buying points. If you purchase the full amount of 55,000 it would cost you $1,072.50.

You can buy World of Hyatt points here.

You must be a member for at least 60 days to purchase or receive Bonus Points.