HELP! United Mileage Plus VS Ana Mileage Club

[aquarius17]

I JUST noticed that I've been collecting miles from

All Nippon Airways Mileage Club miles (approx 3,000 miles)

AND

United Mileage Club (approx. 45,000 miles)

This is clearly not beneficial especially if I want to save up effectively.

So.. what are my options?

- stick to United? (if so why)
- stick to ANA? (if so why)
- convert ANA miles to United? (is this possible?)
- convert United miles to ANA? (is this possible?)
- other

What do you guys suggest I do?

I have a ANA credit card so.. converting ANA miles to United might be a hassle to do every time =S hmmm...

Which mileage program has a better deal?

(longer mileage expiration year, easier to earn/redeem miles etc)

And what should I do to earn miles efficiently from now on?


Thank you

[aquarius17]

I fly from Canada to Japan A LOT so...

Air Canada AeroPlan might be beneficial too esp since apparently, it can get people to Elite faster. So.. converting the ANA and United miles to AeroPlan might be an option too. If thats even possible. Is it?

[ctflyer3000]

That all depends on where you are flying the most. ANA doesn't operate anything from Canada to Japan on their metal, so you may want to just get an AC card, not sure if switching miles is an option. If you're flying the most domestically in the US, then UA etc.

[Jalinth]

If you fly more than 35K BIS and mostly on AC metal anyways, then AC might be the better option. You get the ability to upgrade via certs - how valuable these are depends on whether you normally fly economy, refundable economy (Y/M/U), or exec first, bonuses on AC metal as one option, lounge access, etc... all for only 35K miles per year vs UAs 50K. If you fly to Japan very often (once per month or more), then you could hit Super Elite which has more benefits, lets you wrack up award miles more quickly (on AC metal), and makes using those miles easier on AC metal even where the standard awards are already gone.

If you are flying business class anyways, then the equation changes. I'm not sure of ANA's earn and burn ratio but ACs is mediocre - better than some, worse than others and they have significant fuel surcharges on their own award flights. UA was better (assuming you could find non-UA award flights as they tend to screen out many of them) but they are increasing the mileage rates. BMI was one of the best ones but they are being taken over by LH and will likely become part of LH's stingier program.

Your points are basically stuck where they are barring an informal and against the rules "swap" or trade of some type. Your UA miles might be enough for an award flight within North America.