MilesBuzz! - Confession: I voluntarily passed up some miles!

(I don't know if this really belongs in Milesbuzz, but it's about a mileage opportunity -- if not appropriate here, please move to wherever it belongs.)

Yes, I violated the first rule of FT which is "Join every free FF program you find." I had four opportunities to join the China Eastern FF program by flying from Beijing-Xi'an-Dunhuang and return, and I didn't do it.

China Eastern has the most unusual way of implementing their program I have ever seen. Once each flight, an FA passes through the cabin -- once -- with a handheld computer and if you have a China Eastern club membership card, she scans it. Otherwise, she'll give you an application form where you can send in copies of tickets and boarding passes and (I guess) get a card with those flights credited -- hard to tell exactly, it was mostly in Chinese. But it was pretty clear that the application form made no mention of what you got for being a member.

China Eastern boarding passes come with two stubs. One is collected at the gate, the second at the entrance to the plane (even if it is a jetway and the entrance is only a few feet away). Evidentally, there is a concern that people will sneak in between the gate and the plane, although I don't see how with all those guys in uniforms standing around.

China Eastern serves hot meals at mealtimes even on 80 minute flights. The choice in economy is "rice or noodles." EITHER choice beats an AA "bistro bag" by a lot!

Has anyone in FT actually JOINED this program? What does it get you?

It is ok to pass miles that you will never use.

I fly Southwest airlines 2 or 3 times a year. Due to their 12 month expiration of miles and I would have to travel at least 2 times that amount before accruing anything, I have never signed up for their program. True you never know - I may suddenly have to take a bunch of trips on them, butthat is seriously doubtful. And no, I do not have Membership Rewards that I could bump up the stranded credits.

Could you have used thier miles to order magazines??? :)

Was offered membership of the China Southern Pearl FFP. Also passed.... :p
However on MU you can earn Asiamiles. So they are my preferred choice in China. The food is quite average, but the tickets are not very expensive.

Asiamiles now has 18 members, recently Royal Brunei joined. Asiamiles is good because some airlines are in here that are not alliance members. ^ LX. VN, SA, MU and KA are not in any major alliance AFAIK.

Could you have used thier miles to order magazines??? :)

I dunno, I never found anything that told what the miles would be good for! However, I can't imagine a Chinese airline would let you buy any magazine that I would want -- remember that the press is heavily censored in China!

Was offered membership of the China Southern Pearl FFP. Also passed.... :p
However on MU you can earn Asiamiles. So they are my preferred choice in China. The food is quite average, but the tickets are not very expensive.


MU is China Eastern, if I remember right. OTOH, on China Southern (CZ) you can earn KLM/NW miles

There is one advantage of joining programs that you don't use - your security checks clear better. For example, I fly JetBlue insufficiently to get major awards but sufficiently to not be flagged for secondary security checks. My colleague who flies as often as me on Jetblue but does not have a Trueblue number gets flagged for secondary security check all the time (we fly on business and book tickets last minute and one way often times). You also get enticements and promotional offers that are often targeted to those who fly infrequently but could be enticed.

Indeed, I think if it was a carrier I would ever expect to fly again in my life, I'd probably join up, given that I could figure out the application! Certainly that would be the case if it was a domestic U.S. carrier, although I must admit it seems silly to make that a factor in determining whether to do a secondary security check -- kind of assumes that terrorists are REALLY stupid!

MU is China Eastern, if I remember right. OTOH, on China Southern (CZ) you can earn KLM/NW miles

It should indeed be possible to get FD or WP miles on CZ. However I have not succeeded yet in getting them. Maybe it only works for international CZ flight (which i avoid) or when you transfer from a NW or KL flight (but I live in Hong kong)

It is ok to pass miles that you will never use.

I fly Southwest airlines 2 or 3 times a year. Due to their 12 month expiration of miles and I would have to travel at least 2 times that amount before accruing anything, I have never signed up for their program. True you never know - I may suddenly have to take a bunch of trips on them, butthat is seriously doubtful. And no, I do not have Membership Rewards that I could bump up the stranded credits.

I was like you flying SW a few times a year. But recently I joined Rapid Rewards because they have very good partner credit, 1 credit with Marriott and 0.5 credit with car rentals and other hotels, even if you fly other airlines. This way you can get 16 credits within 12 monthts.

(I don't know if this really belongs in Milesbuzz, but it's about a mileage opportunity -- if not appropriate here, please move to wherever it belongs.)

Yes, I violated the first rule of FT which is "Join every free FF program you find." I had four opportunities to join the China Eastern FF program by flying from Beijing-Xi'an-Dunhuang and return, and I didn't do it.

China Eastern has the most unusual way of implementing their program I have ever seen. Once each flight, an FA passes through the cabin -- once -- with a handheld computer and if you have a China Eastern club membership card, she scans it. Otherwise, she'll give you an application form where you can send in copies of tickets and boarding passes and (I guess) get a card with those flights credited -- hard to tell exactly, it was mostly in Chinese. But it was pretty clear that the application form made no mention of what you got for being a member.

China Eastern boarding passes come with two stubs. One is collected at the gate, the second at the entrance to the plane (even if it is a jetway and the entrance is only a few feet away). Evidentally, there is a concern that people will sneak in between the gate and the plane, although I don't see how with all those guys in uniforms standing around.

China Eastern serves hot meals at mealtimes even on 80 minute flights. The choice in economy is "rice or noodles." EITHER choice beats an AA "bistro bag" by a lot!

Has anyone in FT actually JOINED this program? What does it get you?

You should be ashamed of yourself. Get down and pray to the Frequent Flier gods! ;)