Most frequent travellers enjoy comfort as much as earning miles. There are many choices and benefits in each FFP and it’s best to understand the difference beforehand:

1. It all begins with location and destination: You need to find an airline that meets your basic travel needs
2. Decide what you want (eg elite status, upgrade awards, free tickets to South Africa)
3. Take a closer look into FFPs your favourite carrier participates and choose this FFP that will serve you best.

Randy outlined five questions you should answer before you choose your FFP:

• What is the minimum mileage your program offers?
• Does the program complement its minimum mileage or actual mileage earnings with COS bonuses?
• Does your program offer promotions throughout the year?
• Are the partners affiliated with your program convenient and beneficial for you to use?
• What are the rules & rates of earning with partners (it’s evident, that a lot of us earning miles without flying like using CCs, telecommunication, miles for clicking, etc)?

Four other questions you also may consider to answer:

• How important are criteria like price, schedule, safety feelings, ground & on board service, FFP to select an airline?
• How many upgrade certificates to you receive as an add on?
• What kind of flight awards (eg upgrades, awards on long haul flights) on which airline do you like to use?
• What is generally more important to you with Frequent Flyer Programs, to reach as many awards as possible or the elite membership with its benefits?

I recommend that you decide step by step or in other words: Choose your favourite airline first and then let’s talk about which FFP fits best for you.