Air France Frequence Plus - Flying Blue segment run UK/Europe

Since qualification by miles is so difficult these days, I'm sure a lot of FB members will look to qualification by segment (if they are bothering to requalify at all).

In the United States it is easy to mop up lots of segments with cheap runs but this is much less enjoyable since the automatic upgrades to F on NW disappeared with the Delta merger.

At the same time, segment runs out of the UK have become easier with the spread of one-way pricing at CityJet and the addition of ex-VLM routes to the AF web offers here (http://www.airfrance.co.uk/GB/en/local/resainfovol/meilleuresoffres/promo_lcy.htm?BV_SessionID=02S_UyLQBYQ4712GCduyWiO&BV_EngineID=140ufoft8).

Czech Airlines has some great fares ex-UK to destinations such as KRK and KBP but with only two or three flights a day to LHR the timings are not always great.

Alitalia used to have great cheap fares ex-UK that could be forced through both FCO and LIN/MXP but I have seen few of these recently and certainly not at a price that would overcome a whole day dealing with AZ.

Anyone else have any end-of-year segment tips? I'm inclined to rattle through a series of LCY-JER/LCY-EDI trips but these are awfully dull.

Thanks :)

I also decided to do a couple of sector runs to retain plat status for the purpose of a soft landing to gold (while i move more custom to other airlines ).LCY-EDI/JER at 60 ish quid day return makes this endeavour quite cost effective.If you're turning around as quickly as possible surely it doesn't really matter where you fly to :i guess it depends on how long the layover is and how much /little one wants to spend whilst achieving 'the run'.

Yes, I suppose it shouldn't matter too much about the destination if one is able to turn around immediately. Some days VLM has two flights to JER which gets you a day there for a look around if you can be bothered, likewise also EDI and DUB.

It is just a pity about the demise of NWA; it used to be good for pottering around the US between various random places. For $250 you could have a night in New Orleans, six segments on the clock and free drinks in F all the way. Visiting the Isle of Man twice in one day in a turboprop with one biscuit per flight doesn't quite have the same appeal :D

OK, so NW is no more (and they were excellent for quick US segments, I agree) but, whenever I find myself in the NY area (or Boston, etc), I try to get in a day return trip to Atlanta, which Delta still do for a decent fare (if booked ahead). In the winter, this is an excellent way to get a warm day, and the Atlanta Underground (a couple of really good drinking venues :)) is just a short train ride from the airport!

As for quick/cheap segments in UK/Europe (I think VLM have dropped IOM), how about trying a KLM flight UK - BRU: you get 4 segments for pretty much the same price as UK-AMS.

-- Henry

As for quick/cheap segments in UK/Europe (I think VLM have dropped IOM), how about trying a KLM flight UK - BRU: you get 4 segments for pretty much the same price as UK-AMS.
Good point about the price, and a nice idea. However, the minimum stay problem applies with KLM if you want the cheapest fares, and there are no one-ways. So in the case of LHR-AMS-BRU you'd need to nest a pair of four-segment trips at £169 each (£338 total) which slightly cheaper but much less flexible than doing eight CityJet one-ways.

I quite like Delta, too. Especially the aircraft fitted with AVOD. A lot of their cheaper fares tend to be transcontinental deals, though - great for miles, useless for segments.

What a timely thread!

I just Googled 'flying blue segment run' and hey presto here I am.

Do those Cityjet flights definitely post as qualifying segments for FB? How about 'operated by VLM'?

Only need 1 segment, so I'll probably just plump for an EDI-LCY.

All of them now credit, I can confirm, although in the cheapest fare buckets of course you get 187 miles :rolleyes:

I think I'll end up doing the same. That'll make it all 30 segments on CityJet, then :eek: