MilesBuzz! - newbie hoping to limit orphan miles--plz help us choose FFPs and max bennies

I have been reading posts and posting questions, but i feel i am still missing something. we need help planning and maximizing miles and ffp bennies. can you help us plan?? here is our story. thanks.

hubby travels about once a month, to either europe, asia, or to the US. it is often to a different destination, which makes choosing one FFP difficult. (this year india, next year could be sweden). we are based in TLV. He is silver on elal and has about 20,000 continental points.

His travel is done by inhouse travel dept, and he has little voice in requesting or stating preferences. tickets are usually purchased with cheapest fare codes, which might preclude upgrading.

hubby would like upgrades and more comfy travel (airport club entrances, for example.) premiere status wouldn't be bad either.

I would like to burn his miles going to europe or US or to occassionally travel with him.

Since he travels a fair bit and we put too many bucks on a credit card (now affiliated with USAIR, tho we haven't flown USAIR in ages he has over 100,000 points), we think there is probably a better way to maximize points and bennies to get him his upgrades and get me home to see mum.

thanks!!

Well, chances are pretty good that his travel will be on one of the major alliances (oneworld, STAR, or SkyTeam). I would recommend joining one airline affiliated with each alliance, and concentrate your mileage earning into only those three accounts.

For example, I belong to American (oneworld), United (STAR), and Northwest (SkyTeam). With those three accounts, I can generally accumulate mileage from MOST international or U.S. carriers into one of those three. I would look at whichever carrier that he flies the most in each alliance, and join that particular program (e.g. BA, Lufthansa, Air France, etc.).

However, he may find that taking advantage of other programs offered by different members of each alliance might offer other benefits. For example, American Airlines offers the Platinum Challenge, which gets you Platinum status with only 10,000 miles or less of flying (depending on class of service) within 3 months. Platinum status is equal to mid-range oneworld international status (Sapphire?), which will get him international lounge access.

I'm sure other FlyerTalkers more experienced than I can give you the best program to join for each alliance - but I would recommend that he focus on three programs - that way he's covered no matter what airline his company makes him fly.

As for USAir, I would consider burning those points however you can. Not sure how much longer that airline will be around.

- Sameer

p.s. not sure if it's been mentioned already, but Welcome to FlyerTalk!

hopper,
i really appreciate your time.
it sounds like a good idea, choosing one carrier in each alliance. but could you or someone else explain to me how the alliances work? i spoke to someone at air france and thought i was getting it, but now i am not sure agian. for ex, he is a memeber of CO. so if he flies an ally, he gives them his CO number and builds CO points? Then he can burn them on an ally too, or only CO?
thanks!

However, he may find that taking advantage of other programs offered by different members of each alliance might offer other benefits. For example, American Airlines offers the Platinum Challenge, which gets you Platinum status with only 10,000 miles or less of flying (depending on class of service) within 3 months. Platinum status is equal to mid-range oneworld international status (Sapphire?), which will get him international lounge access.[/i]

I realize you qualified your suggestion regarding the Platinum Challenge, but it should be pointed out that the challenge is for 10,000 POINTS -- not miles -- in a 3-month period. For discount air fares, this amounts to 20,000 miles.