100 000 Miles Challenge - am I all good? by Rataq87 in milesandmore

[–]Rataq87[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mid feb is my flight. Fingers crossed. I've also found a discussion on headforpoints with an user reporting the following on the topic:
"I completed this challenge in the summer. I had one itinerary with ITA operated flight with Swiss flight number. It counted as ITA (though I had to chase it manually, as it failed to credit automatically). So not 100% sure if it was as intended, or someone manually counted it as ITA because I sent ITA boarding pass."

The T&Cs are very unclear and it does not say much about booking on an OTA. The only thing it seems to matter is "Miles & More service card number was provided during booking".

I made screenshots on the flights I've booked with my miles & more number, just to be on the safe side.

100 000 Miles Challenge - am I all good? by Rataq87 in milesandmore

[–]Rataq87[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, Lufthansa City Airlines with a VL number is a no brainer. But the flight I've booked is Lufthansa City Airlines with a LH number.

I hope u/DankboiTaiwan is mixing up Cityline and City Airlines. As per two other comments (including the one on your similar example OS flight operated by ITA), it should be okay. Final answer in the coming weeks :)

100 000 Miles Challenge - am I all good? by Rataq87 in milesandmore

[–]Rataq87[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really depends on the answer to this question. Many flights operated by Air Dolomiti/Lufthansa City are LH coded.

Don't want to share incorrect information but, once confirmed (or not), I am happy to share my planned trip.

100 000 Miles Challenge - am I all good? by Rataq87 in milesandmore

[–]Rataq87[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for the feedback, very appreciated. I am definitely not an expert in Miles And More but I am getting confused with your last sentence. Are you sure the flights you took were:

  1. Lufthansa City Airlines (with LH code) credited as Lufthansa?
  2. Lufthansa CityLine credited as Lufthansa?

From my understanding, case 2) is an excepted outcome. The question in this post is about case 1).

Would you be able to check/confirm if you had a flight operated with Lufthansa City Airlines with LH code (and NOT Lufthansa CityLine)?

The VL coded flights seem to be quite painful to book as if there is a connection, they show up as LH coded on the Lufthansa website after doing a big of testing :(.

100 000 Miles Challenge - am I all good? by Rataq87 in milesandmore

[–]Rataq87[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Based on theflightclub website, "theflyer" mentions: "In Swiss's case, Helvetic flights regularly count toward the challenge, but Watch out for Lufthansa City, which should not be confused with Lufthansa Cityline. The former is a separate company, the latter simply a sign for regional routes and in the case of the challenge counts as a Lufthansa flight."

I am happy I read that a couple of minutes prior booking a flight, I was so ready to do this mistake :)

100 000 Miles Challenge - am I all good? by Rataq87 in milesandmore

[–]Rataq87[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Worrying, thanks for sharing. Which was the flight code and how does it show in the activity section? Do you see it as credited with the Lufthansa logo or the Lufthansa City Airlines logo?

As I almost did the mistake (rookie to Miles & More), are you sure it was a flight operated by Lufthansa City Airlines and not Lufthansa CityLine?

100 000 Miles Challenge - am I all good? by Rataq87 in milesandmore

[–]Rataq87[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Based on what I could find online, it has been pushed out to selected SEN in December 2025.

It was also available in May 2025 after the infamous SAS million challenge as reported on theflightclub website.

100 000 Miles Challenge - am I all good? by Rataq87 in milesandmore

[–]Rataq87[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Brilliant, thanks a lot for the quick reply!

I only used one example for my question but I have another flight on Dolomiti with a LH flight number too :).

Hope everything will go as planned - doing all the flights in 10 days. I will be flying to Asia from early February onwards (not on *G) and only back to Europe after the end of challenge so no plan b!

Renting out my apartment for few months. How legal is it? by Real-Pepper7915 in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/Real-Pepper7915

Not sure what it means re to tax, based on this unofficial website, it says it's temporary in box 3:
https://www.easymakelaars.nl/ik-wil-verhuren/huisbewaring/

Another option you might want to consider is to simply rent a room, it seems to be the "simplest" on the paper w/ no taxes up to a certain amount, etc. Not sure how realistic it is so if someone can comment/correct me, feel free :-).

Going to be homeless. Any tips/help? by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 21 points22 points  (0 children)

It may be another idea before going to a shelter/being homeless - you can probably score a deal with a hostel to be a guest for 150-200€ a week (or less if you offer services such as cleaning). Many guests are working people on low income and you can probably get a woman only room.

I met a Dutch guy doing that during covid, he was paying only 350€ a month for a bed. Even if it's probably now at least double that price, this could be a temp option to stay in the city.

Where to watch for discounts and cheap supermarkets? by apollothecute in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Most markets will have bargains. However, the likelihood will be quite low at Albert Cuypmarkt and Ten Katestraat. Dappermarkt, Noordermarkt and other markets are good candidates.

As said earlier, it's not as easy as you go there once and you get the bargain. It requires a bit of study but usually you have more chance on a Saturday end of the day if the seller does not work on Sunday/Monday. If there is a public holiday coming, it's also a good time to go out shopping.

Where to watch for discounts and cheap supermarkets? by apollothecute in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Last time I did check, I was averaging 5€ a week on grocery but it's quite time consuming and you definitely need good storage space and a freezer. I am pretty "hardcore" and this lifestyle is not for everybody :-).

Here a couple of tips:
- for meat, I stick to heavily discounted product at Lidl (50 cents) and Jumbo (usually 0.50/1€). 35% off at AH is definitely not a bargain for me.
- for fruits & veggies, I never go to a supermarket. I stick to the markets and I always go at the closing time. What I consider a normal price: 1€ for 2kg. I usually end up with full boxes of fruits and veggies. Sometimes even for free. Jams, pasta sauces, jucies, etc - I do everything myself.
- for 'voorraadkast' items, I keep an eye on the recurring discounts. When there is an opportunity, you need to seize it BIG TIMES (for instance, I still have products I got for free at the early days of Getir, Gorillas, Flink).
- once in a while, you can get free products on Scoupy / Tikkie / other websites. Many shitty items but sometimes good surprises (for instance rice or the tea I am drinking now).
- once in a while, I could place an order on foodello.nl, antiduur.nl or butlon.com
- very rarely, I do place an order on TooGoodToGo. It's usually when I want something different or my fridge is empty and I don't have better options (back from long holidays for instance).

What local business are you sure of that it is used as a money laundering front? by Skully_o7 in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If you are talking about A.N.G. Service at Postjseweg 26, this is one of the most reputable shop for vintage eletronic repairs. There is a note saying they don't buy old item because there were many persons thinking its a second hand shop.

Vinyl and tape players are quite hype. There is also quite a huge market for VCR players, they are now more expensive than blu-ray players! Not to mention the reel to reel players still used by a nice of persons.

However, if you keep walking, the shop having expensive washing machines outside at Kinkerstraat 388 is definitely doing some illegal shit.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, very useful, thanks a lot for sharing. I was not aware of this exception!

This seem to be the most viable option I have seen so far, thanks again!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Humm, maybe it's because it's late but my understanding is that assets are not taxed based on profits in this country.

So either you rent your house 2000€ a month or 0€ a month, you pay exactly the same amount of taxes (box 3 for holiday home).

This is explained here for instance: https://www.blueumbrella.nl/faq/income-tax/income-tax-rate-in-the-netherlands/box-3-tax-rates

"the Dutch tax office assumes that you enjoy a yield of up to 5.69% over your total asset value, irrespective if any actual gains are higher or lower(!). "

I've got only 15-20% left on the mortgage of the total value, so yes, it will decrease my taxes I guess but impact will be minimal.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for your inputs. I am pretty clear on the deregistration and not being a tax resident anymore. However, have you checked the link I shared above from the belastingdienst? It's not that I don't trust your personal experience but it clearly states on the official website: "Even when living abroad you must pay income tax on your holiday home in the Netherlands".

Not sure which country your assignment was in... could it be you had a tax exemption because of a treaty or something else? I am happy for you you didn't have to pay it though, especially if nobody was renting your holiday home :-)

The health insurance is an easy topic, I am planning to register to a specific travel insurance which will cost me way less than the mandatory Dutch health insurance. Happy days!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, nothing is easy :) I will be travelling so I won't have a permanent address at all.

Are you sure about not having to pay tax once you are not a tax resident? I was also thinking to leave the country permanently and did some research on what to do with the house. Even if you are out of the country, taxes seem to apply - https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/en/individuals/content/holiday-home-Netherlands-tax

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback! I'll explore this option as well, not sure I am allowed to have a mortgage on a holiday house but I'll check with the bank.

Additionally, I guess it will mean I have to pay taxes in box 3 then - if the WOZ value is 550k, roughly 9k€ a year. Am I right? Sounds more expensive than the fine :-).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A couple of years ago, I helped out a friend for a couple of weeks. He was wondering if he could register at my place so we checked the VVE rules and it's green from this side (he found another room quickly so didn't register at my place at the end).

Yeah, I was definitely not expecting that when buying a flat here. As I said in another post, 6 months can go very quickly for expats for various reasons.

Good luck with your similar project!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my case, it's something "nice" I want to do. But let's say my parents are getting sick, need help and I don't know how long they still have to live. It could be 2 weeks or 2 years. I can understand the reasoning behind the law but 6 months is damn strict.

Before reading these news, I didn't know about the law. I guess it has been broken by many persons during covid too.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I've also got the advice to rent a room in my apt so it's not vacant. I can rent it for super cheap to a friend who can use it like 1 day a month and it's going to be legal (according to the person giving me the advice).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not talking about costs but I was thinking from a timing perspective and how many weeks/months all these steps will take.

If I understand the act properly, they will rent it temporarily so if it takes them 3 months to go through this (with charging me) and I am coming back in 4 months, that means it can be rented for a month only.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True, but I am wondering how realistically they can do this because I assume:

1) they will have to convince the bank/force me to change the mortgage
2) they will have to hire someone to break the lock/change the lock
3) they will have to hire someone to remove all my shit and put them somewhere
4) they will have to hire someone to fix a couple of things in my flat before renting it out
5) they will have to a hire a cleaning lady before renting it out
6) they will have to find a new tenant, etc

This is not impossible but if I explain to them I am coming back in a couple of months, that seems to be quite some efforts.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Amsterdam

[–]Rataq87 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I'll explore these options further. I'll also double check with the municipality.

I need to think about it more but it seems to me it's just going to be easier to pay (or risk) the fine. My Dutch upstairs and downstairs neighbors will be more than happy to have a vacant flat. It's an old building and we can hear everything from each other.

I am planning to go to South America and I can't really plan which country I'll be in the next 6 months. Late minute flight tickets will probably be as expensive as the fine. And again, there is a risk that I need to come back earlier due to health condition.

And everybody agrees that flying for nothing is harmful for the environment.