India-based Airlines - What to do with Air India miles

I will be flying Air India jfk-Delhi Mumbai Jfk in business class. I will probably not have the opportunity to fly Air India again. What is the best way for me to use those miles somewere? I am a member of Delta, American, United as well as starwood, marriott, and hilton. Do I need to join Air India club to accrue miles and then move them (if possible) or can I join a partner and accrue miles as a partner? I would hate to waste over 20,000 air miles. Any help would be appreciated.

I will be flying Air India jfk-Delhi Mumbai Jfk in business class. I will probably not have the opportunity to fly Air India again. What is the best way for me to use those miles somewere? I am a member of Delta, American, United as well as starwood, marriott, and hilton. Do I need to join Air India club to accrue miles and then move them (if possible) or can I join a partner and accrue miles as a partner? I would hate to waste over 20,000 air miles. Any help would be appreciated.

AI is partner with SQ and LH as well, you can accrue in those two programs as well if you deem that better than banking in the AI program

AI isn't a partner of any of the programs you mentioned.. You're probably best off crediting to AI - that way, if another trip on AI comes up, you'll have Silver status.

You can redeem AI miles on AI, LH, and SQ.

The sign-up process for Flying Returns borders on ridiculous (http://aeroblogger.com/home/blog/air-india-flying-returns-ffp-ridiculous-sign-up-page/), but it's fun too. I'm a Lion :cool:

AI isn't a partner of any of the programs you mentioned.. You're probably best off crediting to AI - that way, if another trip on AI comes up, you'll have Silver status.



How would this help the OP. he is asking about utilisation of miles, not about status.

Welcome to FT, esny21. ^

AI is partner with SQ and LH as well, you can accrue in those two programs as well if you deem that better than banking in the AI program
I agree here. Personally, I think LH (as first choice or SQ as the second choice) would be the better programs to bank your miles in. You can then use these miles on any Star carrier, including US/UA/CO for domestic flights in the US...

How would this help the OP. he is asking about utilisation of miles, not about status.

If OP credits to SQ or LH, the miles are only award miles, not status miles.

If OP credits to SQ or LH, the miles are only award miles, not status miles.

And Air India status will help him because....? :confused:

I will probably not have the opportunity to fly Air India again

How should I know whether AI status will help OP? It doesn't hurt to provide additional info...

Also, OP, you can use miles to buy products through AirBazaar. Occasionally, you can find a good deal...

How should I know whether AI status will help OP? It doesn't hurt to provide additional info...

Also, OP, you can use miles to buy products through AirBazaar. Occasionally, you can find a good deal...

Slow clap!:rolleyes:

How should I know whether AI status will help OP? It doesn't hurt to provide additional info... So you suggested it without looking into whether it would actually be helpful to the OP...? Additional info is great, but if it is also relevant that helps.

Also, OP, you can use miles to buy products through AirBazaar. Occasionally, you can find a good deal... So how good is AirBazaar for US based residents? And I assume, the pax or their representative do not need to go to the "City Office" with FFP card, forms, ID etc to redeem miles for this "AirBazaar", like you need to do with AI award tickets....?

So you suggested it without looking into whether it would actually be helpful to the OP...? Additional info is great, but if it is also relevant that helps.
fair enough

So how good is AirBazaar for US based residents? And I assume, the pax or their representative do not need to go to the "City Office" with FFP card, forms, ID etc to redeem miles for this "AirBazaar", like you need to do with AI award tickets....?
Nope.. It all happens at the airport.

Nope.. It all happens at the airport.
Great! So for this US based OP upon return to JFK, after the miles credit, they would be able to go to JFK and get the AirBazaar items...? Or is another trip needed to an Indian airport!?

Nope.. It all happens at the airport.

and OP will have his miles credited as soon as he gets out of the plane, right?

and OP will have his miles credited as soon as he gets out of the plane, right?

Yep. AI credits miles to Flying Returns at the end of the day of departure... So for a longhaul flight like JFK-DEL, the miles would be credited before arrival.

Yep. AI credits miles to Flying Returns at the end of the day of departure... So for a longhaul flight like JFK-DEL, the miles would be credited before arrival.

so why don't you showcase these great deals on Air Bazaar to us? Oral-B Toothbrush for 40 Air India miles?

This is fun ! Pateti Mubarak !

You're probably best off crediting to AI - that way, if another trip on AI comes up, you'll have Silver status.
We know already that everything about Air India is best, but please do read before repeating that everything about Air India is best.

"I will probably not have the opportunity to fly Air India again"

Oh god!!!!!

I'd respond, but I'm too busy with the RGN deal...

LOL. This is one of the funniest threads!

Anyway, as already suggested, credit to one of the airline partners
https://www.flyingreturns.co.in/html/ap_airline.php

AI is partner with SQ and LH as well, you can accrue in those two programs as well if you deem that better than banking in the AI program

So do I join the Lufthansa club and assign the miles at checkin or do I join Air India and hope they transfer?

So do I join the Lufthansa club and assign the miles at checkin or do I join Air India and hope they transfer?
Join Lufthansa Miles and More now. You can do that at www.miles-and-more.com and generate a frequent flyer number from LH.

Then call the airline (AI) and advise them of the above FFP number. If they say they cannot add it, which knowing AI's level of competence they just might, then hang up and get it added at check-in. Keep your boarding passes safe, and worst case, after the journey if the miles still don't credit then you can mail the BP's to LH M&M for retroactive credit.

Join Lufthansa Miles and More now. You can do that at www.miles-and-more.com and generate a frequent flyer number from LH.

Then call the airline (AI) and advise them of the above FFP number. If they say they cannot add it, which knowing AI's level of competence they just might, then hang up and get it added at check-in. Keep your boarding passes safe, and worst case, after the journey if the miles still don't credit then you can mail the BP's to LH M&M for retroactive credit.

+1. ^

I'd respond, but I'm too busy with the RGN deal...

still booking tickets from RGN?

Join Lufthansa Miles and More now. You can do that at www.miles-and-more.com and generate a frequent flyer number from LH.

Then call the airline (AI) and advise them of the above FFP number. If they say they cannot add it, which knowing AI's level of competence they just might, then hang up and get it added at check-in. Keep your boarding passes safe, and worst case, after the journey if the miles still don't credit then you can mail the BP's to LH M&M for retroactive credit.

What he said.

Unless you expect to be a regular AI flyer, there is absolutely zero benefit from or need to join Flying Return.

Hell, even if you fly AI regularly, you might be better off crediting to LH or SQ, especially if you don't live within a few kilometres of an AI ticket office.

The sign-up process for Flying Returns borders on ridiculous (http://aeroblogger.com/home/blog/air-india-flying-returns-ffp-ridiculous-sign-up-page/), but it's fun too. I'm a Lion :cool:

I'm a Squadron Leader. A check-in agent addressed me as 'Squadron Leader Bean'. I was also about 20 years old then. Have you gotten addressed as 'Lion PVDtoDEL' yet? :p

I'm a Squadron Leader. A check-in agent addressed me as 'Squadron Leader Bean'. I was also about 20 years old then. Have you gotten addressed as 'Lion PVDtoDEL' yet? :p

No, but I've gotten a lot of funny stares when they notice that the prefix is Lion :)

Yep. AI credits miles to Flying Returns at the end of the day of departure... So for a longhaul flight like JFK-DEL, the miles would be credited before arrival.

i seriously doubt that....i have had to wait a number of days, usually around 3, for the miles to credit....

Personally, I think LH (as first choice or SQ as the second choice) would be the better programs to bank your miles in. You can then use these miles on any Star carrier, including US/UA/CO for domestic flights in the US...

i think this is good advice....joining flying returns would be a waste of time if you don't plan on flying them again....

No, but I've gotten a lot of funny stares when they notice that the prefix is Lion :)
I wonder how they would react to someone named Singh that has the prefix Lion.

I wonder how they would react to someone named Singh that has the prefix Lion.
Sher Singh? ;)

Or Lion Sher Singh!

i think this is good advice....joining flying returns would be a waste of time if you don't plan on flying them again....

I thought so. I've joined Lufthansa and have a number already. Thanks all.
Hope the miles transfer for me.