oneworld - Finnair flights to which FFP?

Hi everyone.

First post at this side of the fence (usually at *A).

Trying to decide which OW FFP to go for. My circumstances:

- Based in Europe (mainly in the UK)
- Will be doing 3 to 5 rtn flights to Asia over the next few months
- All flights using AY in Y (company rules...)

R is the booking class that seems to come up.

Main objective is to start working towards *Gold equivalent in OW.

Any kind soul capable/willing to help?

Many thanks.

American Airlines? R should give 100% Mileage Accrual and 1.50 Elite Qualifying Points Per Base Mile Earned (http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/AAdvantage/partners/airlines/finnair.jsp), but only 50% in Finnair Plus (http://www.finnair.fi/finnaircom/wps/portal/finnair/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLD423MHYBSYGYLj76kW hCzp5oQq7xbiEIIV-P_NxU_aC0zHg3T31v_QD9gtzQ0IhyR0UA4a3LVQ!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvd0ZNQUFzQUMvNElVRS82X1RfMVNJ#)

The equivalent to *G is OW Sapphire, the middle status within oneworld.

Just one program comes to mind for me: AA

For AA you need 50,000 EQM or EQP. 4 Return trips LHR-HKG will get you to this level and get you AA Platinum because R class gets 1.5 EQP per EQM. The advantage is that AA has a great earn/burn ratio, low taxes. But if you ever come to the US you will not have lounge access there.

In theory QF would have been good, too (you just need 3.5 return flights for QF Gold) but QF enforces the rule that you need to fly 4 segments on their planes per year to get status. So unless you are willing to fly 4 segments on Jetstar Aisia or something you can't get QF status.

In theory QF would have been good, too (you just need 3.5 return flights for QF Gold) but QF enforces the rule that you need to fly 4 segments on their planes per year to get status. So unless you are willing to fly 4 segments on Jetstar Aisia or something you can't get QF status.

Doesn't the AA now have this rule as well?

Doesn't the AA now have this rule as well?Yes, but at least until now they have not enforced it.

- Based in Europe (mainly in the UK)
This combined with the '4 flights on our own metal' rule would make BA the most logical choice in my book. Unfortunately qualifying flights are not the cheap economy stock, but rather more expensive tickets. This however will be covered by your business travel. Gold status is very nice, but very, very hard to get. I find that their silver level offers quite a lot too. It is not about the color of the card, but what the card will do for you.

OW is a tough alliance.

I am also Skyteam Gold and the greatest benefit there is that 2 return flights to Asia will get/keep you status and they have WebAwards. The best value for miles there is. AMS-DXB return in C for 30000 miles. Beat that! Flying through AMS is not bad either. So if your aim is 'cheap free flights' go SkyTeam.