MilesBuzz! - May need a new preferred airline/alliance & miles accumulation strategy

Sadly, I am going to lose my BAEC Gold status later this year (dropping either to Silver for a year if I don't need BA qualifying flights or all the way to lowly Blue). I'll hold onto my gold Flying Blue status until next spring, and I've got no status with Star Alliance.

In my new job, I'm based in NYC and expect to travel 3-5 times a year for business and 3-6 times a year for leisure. Mr Canuck is not travelling at all for work. Business trips are likely to be to Canada (Y class only) and Latin America (probably J). Leisure trips are likely to consist of a few trips each year either to YVR or YYZ to see family, 1-2 trips a year in the US, maybe a Caribbean trip and/or a Mexico trip, and then something exotic (Mr Canuck and I like to dive) at least once a year. I'll be flying Co to the UK next month and then probably Skyteam to France in May (in each case in J for work).

I'm sitting on a decent stash of BA miles (about 350,000), 125,000 Flying Blue miles and 70,000 Aeroplan miles. We've been accumulating Hilton points in the past 6 months and have about 200,000.

The company's preferred airlines are Continental, Delta, United/Star Alliance, Virgin and EOS for the UK, and JAL.

When it comes to airline travel, the first priority for me is having Elite check-in privileges, a close second is lounge access and the third priority is being able to use miles for upgrades (and decent award availability). I can buy elite check-in and lounge status for Air Canada for a relatively low fee on top of my Visa Aerogold card (which I've kept, despite relocating to the US), which has me covered for trips in Y to Canada (business and leisure). If we're flexible about travel dates, our stash of BA miles should enable us either to buy WT+ and upgrade to J or book J seats with miles on BA, which should facilitate some exotic trips in the next few years.

My principal question is whether I should: (1) start accumulating miles with a US-based FFP (e.g. Continental, Delta, United or American); or (2) continue accumulating miles with foreign-based airlines (e.g. Aeroplan, BA and Flying Blue) - and possibly purchase lounge access (either with a single airline or through Priority Pass). When you buy lounge access with certain airlines, do you get elite check-in (and/or security clearance), too, with any of them? One other factor to consider is that our company seems to have some kind of policy with certain airlines that enables us to get a status match fairly easily; perhaps it would make sense to do this based on my BAEC status before it expires - and if so, who should I seek to get a status match with (given that I've got Gold status with Flying Blue through next spring)?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

BD has great awards

AF seems best for skyteam, except for perhaps KE

i havent flown much oneworld, and am kind of wondering whether BA(better expiration policy) or CX(upgrades on CX and AA in addition to BA) would be better.

I think your best bet is OnePass given your expected travel described, give 'em a call and try and get them to recognize you. The worst part of this suggestion is that EWR and CLE are their East Coast hubs.

I think your best bet is OnePass given your expected travel described, give 'em a call and try and get them to recognize you. The worst part of this suggestion is that EWR and CLE are their East Coast hubs.

What would be the benefit of being recognized by OnePass now? I already have Gold status on Skyteam through Mar 2009. (It doesn't get me lounge access, but it does get me elite check-in.) One of the issues I'm trying to sort out is whether I should have my next two, trans-Atlantic trips (one with Co, the other one probably with Co or Air France) credited to my OnePass account (which has a near zero balance) or to my FB account (which exceeds 120,000 points). With FB, I'd get the 75% bonus on top of miles flown and a 50% bonus for J class (i.e. about 32000 miles). With OnePass I'd accumulate almost 22,000 EQMs for the two trips (not far off Silver status at 25,000 EQMs). It would be nice to have at least Silver status (for Y flights) through 2009, but I might be able to get that through a status match based on BAEC Gold prior to expiry of that status in the fall. So the question remains, why should I (or shouldn't I) switch to a US-based FFP (from Flying Blue, BA or Aeroplan) and, if I should switch, when should I switch?

I think your best bet is OnePass given your expected travel described, give 'em a call and try and get them to recognize you. The worst part of this suggestion is that EWR and CLE are their East Coast hubs.

I respectfully disagree. Unless the OP wants access to the CO/Onepass elite phone line for bookings/irregular ops or the opportunity to upgrade domestically using 15,000 CO miles, I see no reason to start earning on another Skyteam airline. They'll lose out on the elite bonus they currently get on FB, have miles scattered in yet program, and have little to no shot at an elite upgrade as well as a smaller elite bonus once they earn Silver elite.

I didn't see in the post how long the OP is expecting to stay in the States, but that could obviously affect this decision. If the plan is to stay here for just a few years, my opinion is to stick with your "native" programs and work the alliance partners. If this is a more long-term arrangement and the potential to earn mid-level elite on a US carrier exists, I'd consider that more carefully.

In short, I'd recommend continuing to credit flights to FB in order to keep earning the 75% elite bonus as well as re-secure elite status with them going forward. I'd also continue earning on Aeroplan for a few reasons - you already have some miles there, a lot of your travel will be to Canada, and (I think) you get lounge access in the U.S. as an Aeroplan *G (which incidentally is also earned at a relatively low threshold - 35,000 miles?). When possible, I'd credit the odd AA flight to BAEC when fare class allows but try to minimize flying AA in Y.

If you are concerned about lounge access, the combination of Aeroplan *G (assuming one gets U.S. lounge access with this) and an AMEX Plat ($450 annually) will just about cover you domestically in North America. Between those, you would have access to DL/CO/NW/AA/US/UA lounges when flying on that airlines metal. If Aeroplan *G does not give lounge access when flying US/UA, then some sort of lounge membership or Priority Pass should be considered.

If you are concerned about lounge access, the combination of Aeroplan *G (assuming one gets U.S. lounge access with this) and an AMEX Plat ($450 annually) will just about cover you domestically in North America.

Alas, I don't have Star Alliance Gold. I've got Maple Leaf Club access by paying a premium on top of my Aeroplan Visa: that gets me elite check-in privileges at AC check-in desks and access to Maple Leaf lounges (and some of United's lounges, e.g. at LGA). (I do have BAEC Gold for another 4-5 months, and FB Gold, which equals E with Skyteam, until Mar 09.)

Alas, I don't have Star Alliance Gold.

Maybe not yet, but it may be something worth aiming for. Perhaps after your BAEC Gold and Maple Leaf premium expire. Credit just a couple of your Latin America flights and your flights to Canada to Aeroplan and you'd be set. Just something extra to consider.

and FB Gold, which equals E with Skyteam, until Mar 09.

FB Gold is E+ everywhere apart from México, USA, and Canada. Why any FB Golds would choose to "live" in one of these three countries is beyond me. ;)

maybe this would work:

use the BA miles up on AA flights.
AA flies with ease of redemption to islands --at least they work for me.

Fly DL and CO and put all your miles on NWA> When you need to travel, use NWA and buy on them or redeem what you have to fly on them. We have good luck with NWA awards in the east coast USA especially when traveling to Europe, if you ever need to go there. Gain your status on NWA if doable.

Just some thoughts.
:)MM

use the BA miles up on AA flights.
AA flies with ease of redemption to islands --at least they work for me.

This makes sense, along with the OP's idea to use their BA miles to upgrade from WT+ to Club World. There's always pretty good availability on AA, even to the Caribbean/Mexico.

Fly DL and CO and put all your miles on NWA> When you need to travel, use NWA and buy on them or redeem what you have to fly on them. We have good luck with NWA awards in the east coast USA especially when traveling to Europe, if you ever need to go there. Gain your status on NWA if doable.

Please do not take offense to this, but I'm not sure why the OP would want to take that recommendation. Maybe I am missing something, but why would they spread their miles out to another Sky Team carrier when they already have elite status and a bunch of miles on another Sky Team carrier? Especially considering your recommendation to use Worldperks but not fly NW, where they won't even be able to reap any benefits from having status on the carrier they are flying. How is this different than continuing to credit to FB and possibly becoming E+ by changing country of residency (as suggested by another poster)? If anything, unless they status match over to NW, they'll actually lose miles by not earning the elite bonus they currently get on FB (ignoring any fare class/bonus earning intricacies that I'm not aware of - and I'm not totally familiar with the mileage programs on either FB or NW).

Once again though, this depends heavily on whether the OP's move to the States is long or short term.

This makes sense, along with the OP's idea to use their BA miles to upgrade from WT+ to Club World. There's always pretty good availability on AA, even to the Caribbean/Mexico.



Please do not take offense to this, but I'm not sure why the OP would want to take that recommendation. Maybe I am missing something, but why would they spread their miles out to another Sky Team carrier when they already have elite status and a bunch of miles on another Sky Team carrier? Especially considering your recommendation to use Worldperks but not fly NW, where they won't even be able to reap any benefits from having status on the carrier they are flying. How is this different than continuing to credit to FB and possibly becoming E+ by changing country of residency (as suggested by another poster)? If anything, unless they status match over to NW, they'll actually lose miles by not earning the elite bonus they currently get on FB (ignoring any fare class/bonus earning intricacies that I'm not aware of - and I'm not totally familiar with the mileage programs on either FB or NW).

Once again though, this depends heavily on whether the OP's move to the States is long or short term.


true. I keep forgetting about the status... Too bad there's no way to get some by using other partner carriers. But cant the OP also try to write in to get some before forfeiting the other?? I have no idea.

dear god, using AF and BA miles for US carriers? :eek: :D

on another note - i might fly E0 to LON and VS back, considering JFK security escort and EK lounge on this end, and VS upper class wing and clubhouse on that end. although i do find E0's seats more appealing, and not sure if your VS fares include limo.

true. I keep forgetting about the status... Too bad there's no way to get some by using other partner carriers. But cant the OP also try to write in to get some before forfeiting the other?? I have no idea.

Sure, you can do a status match, but why? With no plans to actually NW, why bother with their mileage program when you already have a nice chunk of miles on FB? I'm not sure if NW opens up some additional seats for redemption to their own elites, but if the OP isn't planning on flying NW I see no reason to bother with another mileage account and set of rules. Just my opinion though.

Wirelessly posted (probably driving while typing: BlackBerry8130/4.3.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

NWA allows one to move all their mileage and status to fb as a one time courtesy. I can't remember if fb has this same courtesy in return, but a quick search in the NWA forum should get you an answer.

As for your *a flying, bd would be a decent option especially with a status match from your fb status.

am definitely viewing it from my own personal experience, but AA and NWA have the stronger redemption possibilities especially in the east coast USA if you try to fly to europe and other destinations mentioned... that is, if you live and fly in the US.

I would think redemption is key here.

AA can not be used for TATL BA J/F
AF can be used for AF/KE/JL/MH F

OTOH AA can be used for GF/9W F now

Join NWA's program. This will give you the benefit of getting automatically upgraded once elite on NW or CO (EWR hub btw) and the ability to earn elite and redemption miles on NW, CO, DL, AS and any of the SkyTeam partners. You can also get upgraded when flying AS. The NW lounges give you free drinks and wifi. Your AF status will let you get to priority check in. That said, why not check in at home. The real benefit will be priority security lineup.

"Please do not take offense to this, but I'm not sure why the OP would want to take that recommendation. Maybe I am missing something, but why would they spread their miles out to another Sky Team carrier when they already have elite status and a bunch of miles on another Sky Team carrier? Especially considering your recommendation to use Worldperks but not fly NW, where they won't even be able to reap any benefits from having status on the carrier they are flying."

Essentially because as a WorldPerks member she'll have a lot more benefits domestically. Her lounge membership will work with AS lounges and she will get upgraded on both CO and NW. She can reap the benefits of her NW status while flying on CO.

In terms of the AC miles, try to trade them to someone for something. AC's redemption policy is pretty much the worst in the business and why would you really want to fly them anyways? Perhaps you can trade the points for something in the coupon forum.

AC miles can be used for any *A, and AC has a number of flatbed J routes now

Join NWA's program. This will give you the benefit of getting automatically upgraded once elite on NW or CO (EWR hub btw) and the ability to earn elite and redemption miles on NW, CO, DL, AS and any of the SkyTeam partners. You can also get upgraded when flying AS. The NW lounges give you free drinks and wifi. Your AF status will let you get to priority check in. That said, why not check in at home. The real benefit will be priority security lineup.

"Please do not take offense to this, but I'm not sure why the OP would want to take that recommendation. Maybe I am missing something, but why would they spread their miles out to another Sky Team carrier when they already have elite status and a bunch of miles on another Sky Team carrier? Especially considering your recommendation to use Worldperks but not fly NW, where they won't even be able to reap any benefits from having status on the carrier they are flying."

Essentially because as a WorldPerks member she'll have a lot more benefits domestically. Her lounge membership will work with AS lounges and she will get upgraded on both CO and NW. She can reap the benefits of her NW status while flying on CO.

In terms of the AC miles, try to trade them to someone for something. AC's redemption policy is pretty much the worst in the business and why would you really want to fly them anyways? Perhaps you can trade the points for something in the coupon forum.

I still respectfully disagree, NW and AS weren't even listed as the OP's preferred airlines. Further, unless they earn Platinum status on NW, they can't count on any upgrades on CO. I'm not sure of the details, but I was told by a Dutch colleague that FB members are eligible for NW upgrades. Unless they actually fly NW, the OP will actually lose out by switching to Worldperks with regards to reduced mileage earning until they earn Gold status

As far as lounge access, re-earning Flying Blue Gold and changing their location to another country will earn them E+ and a decent amount of lounge access on Sky Team. Air Canada *G will set them up for good lounge access on Star Alliance. If they feel that they need non-status related lounge access, a Priority Pass would get them into most (maybe all?) DL and CO lounges and I believe quite a few UA and NW lounges as well (don't have the booklet in front of me).

With regards to AC, I don't find their redemption policy to be any worse than the competition. In fact, I've found that their redemption rates are in line with other Star Alliance carriers (100k in J to Asia, 80k to Europe, etc.). More importantly, this is a program that the OP is already familiar with and they appear to be Canadian. They plan to travel home on a regular basis - what carrier will have more flights to Canada than Air Canada?

While my proposal may not eek out every last mile and benefit, I believe it is a solid compromise between spreading miles out over same-alliance accounts, learning new program rules, and not abandoning programs that the OP may return to in the future. Of course, my previous thought stands, which is this recommendation will depend on the length of time the OP plans to spend in the States.

Thanks to everyone for their advice. Overall, it looks like it will make sense to stick with the non-US airline programs I'm already signed up for (AC, FB, BA), at least for the rest of 2008, but maybe shift my preference from BA-Oneworld to FB-Skyteam (actually flying on Co, though). I was just checking balances and realized that my next two business trips (on Co to the UK and France in J) should get my FB level miles to within a few hundred miles of FB's Silver threshold (securing me priority check-in for 2009). I can easily rack up the necessary few hundred miles to meet that threshold by using my FB Amex while I'm in France and Spain in May. I don't have much of a chance of getting to *Alliance Silver or Gold this year (unless my work travel patterns change dramatically), but I'll still fly AC or United for the upcoming summer trips home to Canada because my Maple Leaf Lounge Club membership gets me priority check-in and lounge access. Like troyb, I've generally found AC's redemption policies to be adequate for my needs - I particularly like the fact that J seats in North America are only 40,000 miles (instead of the 50,000 that many other programs call for).

As for BA, in light of the T5 fiasco and BA's lousy seating policy for non-elites, I think I'll just start burning those miles and otherwise take my business elsewhere.

By the way, Mr Canuck and I expect to be in the US for the next few years but plan to move back to Canada.

I do have one question remaining, though. Can any FB members comment on their success at redeeming FB miles on partner airlines (or Air France for that matter) for J seats?

Don't forget to look at AC's myriad of flight passes as part of your overall strategy. The latitude passes can be a good value on some routes and get you complimentary upgrades. AC also often has decent fares ex-US (through Canada) to Asia and Europe that allow stopovers in Canada. As I'm sure you're aware, AC's taxes and "fees" are pretty high for award redemptions.

"I still respectfully disagree, NW and AS weren't even listed as the OP's preferred airlines. Further, unless they earn Platinum status on NW, they can't count on any upgrades on CO. I'm not sure of the details, but I was told by a Dutch colleague that FB members are eligible for NW upgrades. Unless they actually fly NW, the OP will actually lose out by switching to Worldperks with regards to reduced mileage earning until they earn Gold status"

It doesn't matter. NW's program gives plenty of benefits on CO and as an NW elite, I can vouch for upgrades on CO. The upgrades on CO are harder to come by no matter what your status, but the OP will be in line for upgrades and unlike Star Alliance carriers, he won't be sitting in the back with open seats available up front. True, switching ANY plan will lead to lost mileage, but changing plans now will give him the best result in the long run.

"As far as lounge access, re-earning Flying Blue Gold and changing their location to another country will earn them E+ and a decent amount of lounge access on Sky Team. Air Canada *G will set them up for good lounge access on Star Alliance. If they feel that they need non-status related lounge access, a Priority Pass would get them into most (maybe all?) DL and CO lounges and I believe quite a few UA and NW lounges as well (don't have the booklet in front of me)."

E+? That's on United is it not? A priority pass is nice, but rather spendy.

"With regards to AC, I don't find their redemption policy to be any worse than the competition. In fact, I've found that their redemption rates are in line with other Star Alliance carriers (100k in J to Asia, 80k to Europe, etc.). More importantly, this is a program that the OP is already familiar with and they appear to be Canadian. They plan to travel home on a regular basis - what carrier will have more flights to Canada than Air Canada?"

Sorry, it's absolute garbage. Years ago it used to be fine. You could commonly find normal priced (25k miles) tickets and also regular business awards (40k miles). Then they started reducing the number of seats available at these rates and made all inventory available via astronomical rates. This led to the average joe snapping up all of the 25k and 40k inventory quickly, thus leaving everyone else with 75k mile tickets from, say YYT to YHZ. What a bargain. It's much the same for international. The listed rates that you quoted are great, but they're not available. With the exception of their rather excellent lounges, AC is just garbage.

"While my proposal may not eek out every last mile and benefit, I believe it is a solid compromise between spreading miles out over same-alliance accounts, learning new program rules, and not abandoning programs that the OP may return to in the future. Of course, my previous thought stands, which is this recommendation will depend on the length of time the OP plans to spend in the States."

The OP needs one program, not the 3 currently being used. This is losing the OP a ton of miles already and there's no reason to stay that way.

Thanks to everyone for their advice. Overall, it looks like it will make sense to stick with the non-US airline programs I'm already signed up for (AC, FB, BA), at least for the rest of 2008, but maybe shift my preference from BA-Oneworld to FB-Skyteam (actually flying on Co, though). I was just checking balances and realized that my next two business trips (on Co to the UK and France in J) should get my FB level miles to within a few hundred miles of FB's Silver threshold (securing me priority check-in for 2009). I can easily rack up the necessary few hundred miles to meet that threshold by using my FB Amex while I'm in France and Spain in May. I don't have much of a chance of getting to *Alliance Silver or Gold this year (unless my work travel patterns change dramatically), but I'll still fly AC or United for the upcoming summer trips home to Canada because my Maple Leaf Lounge Club membership gets me priority check-in and lounge access. Like troyb, I've generally found AC's redemption policies to be adequate for my needs - I particularly like the fact that J seats in North America are only 40,000 miles (instead of the 50,000 that many other programs call for).

As for BA, in light of the T5 fiasco and BA's lousy seating policy for non-elites, I think I'll just start burning those miles and otherwise take my business elsewhere.

By the way, Mr Canuck and I expect to be in the US for the next few years but plan to move back to Canada.

I do have one question remaining, though. Can any FB members comment on their success at redeeming FB miles on partner airlines (or Air France for that matter) for J seats?

Consider using a family's address for your flying Blue account which, contrary to what has been said in this thread, is Elite Plus in Canada.
If I understood right, you have the French Flying Blue AMEX?
FB also has soft landing in place, so with a since SkyTeam flight this year you will have silver until March, 2010. The European and Canadian FB Gold gets you domestic lounge access when flying NW.

As for redemption, I have contemplated redeeming several times, and have found availability adequate as an elite member. I found HKG-OSL in F one way for 90,000 miles. SEA-OSL one way 2 weeks from now in C for 45,000 miles. Not sure if it's on NW or AF.

If you don't mind connecting flights, CO will book you in a high enough fare class on any carrier within Europe for the same fare as to the destination on CO. You can book on any website without suffering any EQM loss since you're not a OnePass member.
For example: SEA-EWR-OSL-EWR-SEA is available for $800 for me giving about 6200 miles each way. I will rather fly SEA-IAH-CDG on CO and CDG-OSL on SK giving 7000 FB miles and 1800 SK basic points (qualifying) each way for $810. This way you can earn status on more than one carrier.