kaayla

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: good redemption rates

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: <25000 (approx. 10000)

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: business

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: I can choose my own airlines, since I fly for pleasure.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: U.S. domestic and Mexico; sometimes transatlantic

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: PHX

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: No notable status. I have almost 187,000 miles banked in my American Express Rewards program.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Southwest, Aloha Airlines

RTLS

I live in Canada and have, for a long time, collected Avion points thru RBC and transferred twice a year to BAEC getting the 50% bonus at that time. It's worked pretty well for me except for the terrible costs that BA seems to charge for redemptions. I have recently booked flights to Asia using my Avios points in J Class and this has left me pretty low. We normally use our points for long haul flights in J and pay for economy on shorter ones.

My question is should I continue to transfer to Avios or should I consider transferring to AA instead. Transferring to AA I would get a 25% bonus. The next major trip we will be planning is to Europee.

I just tried a dummy booking on AA for next year to Europe and couldn't find anything in J although there seemed to be availability in First .I found their system a bit difficult to follow but I suppose I'd get used to it.

Below are your questions and my answers.



What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: Good award redemption rates & better award access


2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply:
6 flights (2 long haul)

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply:
Economy (J for long haul redemptions)


4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Pleasure, any airline can be considered


5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: US, Europe, Mexico and Canada


6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: YVR

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: No status.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply:Non

Also, I mainly earn points with my credit card
Thanks for any help!

ajudy

PKNPatrickN

Hi,

I'm VERY new to this forum (first post), and I joined primarily to seek for some help. I'm not even sure if this is the right place to post, and if it isn't I'm hoping someone can guide me to the right direction. I've pretty much already chosen an airline I want to be dedicated to, and I'm trying to get advice from people who have a lot of experience with the specific airline I have chosen. I want to be able to achieve "status" and having business/first upgrades, lounge access, discounted airfare, etc. to be a normal thing. I don't mind applying for a card, flying often, etc. I would just like to have that status. One thing I should tell you guys is I don't fly for business, and I do use my own personal money to travel. I plan to travel most of the time with my significant other and a pet (carry-on pet). While I'm not rich and can't afford to buy upgrades outright, I do save a lot of my money to try and go on short 3-5 day vacations every couple months. It's safe to assume that I'm willing to fly 5-6 times a year domestically, and once a year internationally (to Thailand from US). So if anyone can help me get on the right track to get me eligible for upgrades, cheap airfare, etc. I'd be willing to do what you tell me to do. I figured some of you might know some easy ways to achieve status, like go on certain flights often, etc. Certain cards to apply for, certain deals to take advantage of that give bonus miles, etc. The airline I have chosen is Delta. I will fill out the questionnaire below.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: Upgrades, upgrades, upgrades, GUARANTEED upgrades, not last minute counter asking upgrades. I have no problem paying for tickets (reasonable priced) if I'm some premium member getting guaranteed complimentary upgrades. I'm not looking for a program to get free tickets, I'll pay, I just want the free upgrades since I'm going to try and fly often :P

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: <25,000 miles, 4-6 flights, would be a lot more if flying out of my airport domestically was under $200 round trip lol, but I have to pay for me and my wife, so in my eyes the airfare doubles :P

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: premium economy for international, economy for domestic

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: I choose Delta, and I travel for pleasure.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: US domestic, but I do go to Asia (Thailand) once a year.

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: SGF (Springfield-Branson Regional Airport)

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: No status, I want status lol.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Delta preferred because of friendly international pet policy. We refuse to board if our pet can't board with us.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help out!! I really would love to make more trips, but I can't afford it because flying out of SGF is expensive. If Delta gave me $200-400 round-trip prices + upgrades to any airport domestically I would fly so much more often!! but being an average customer, paying average prices all the time I can't fly as often I want to know the tricks everyone uses for their cheap airfare and upgrades! I've talked to a few people that tell me they don't even fly that often and get the hook-ups! someone show me the ways!

thanks!!

leahng

Hello fellow frequent flyers,

I'm planning for my 6 month long RTW trip starting next Feb. My friend referred me to our forum upon hearing about my plan (which I am so thankful that he did). I do fly internationally at least once a year (US - ASIA). Since I am going to spend a fair amount of money on airline tickets next year, I am looking for a suitable frequent flyer program. I appreciate your help!!

What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Reply: Good award redemption rates & better award access

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
Reply:<25000 miles, <25 flights

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Reply: Economy

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: I travel for pleasure

5. Which routes do you fly most often
Reply: US - Asia.

6. What is your home airport?
Reply: Boston Logan

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
Reply: No status.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Japan Airlines.

Thank you!!

sweetumz

Hi everyone,

I usually travel twice a year with my spouse to vacation destinations and wanted to know if we could reap any travel benefits like collecting travel rewards/air miles/upgrade class/lounge access etc. I also wanted to know if there are any good frequent flyer programs that I can be a part of to avail benefits.

Questionnaire

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: Upgrades

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply:25,000 miles. 2 flights.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: Economy

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes. Travel for pleasure.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: Transatlantic.

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: YYZ

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: No. Not a part of any FFP currently.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: No preference but prefer to avoid US based airlines.

SOORBraves

As a young professional who combines his travel for work and pleasure and all over the US usually on the west coast I’ve gone with United. With all of my friends on the west coast especially in Oregon and California I’ve found no problems finding flights to them. I also have a sister in NYC and have had good experiences on the PS flights on United. And with my father over in Hong Kong the San Francisco direct flight on UA has met my needs. Also UA has flown everywhere I’ve needed to move to for work. Problem is UA no longer flies into my hometown and I’m getting tired of the regional jets. I’m currently Oregon based, but going to move to HKG it looks like splitting my time between both there and the USA. I've built up over 100,000 lifetime UA miles and just in early 20's.


1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
1. Extra legroom seats availability for members of that airlines FFP
2. Baggage allowance
3. Priority Services
4. Upgrades
5. Award redemption rates
6. Lounge access


2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
It varies from 25,000 to at least 50,000 with the possibility for more. Usually less than 25 flights (I take the UA nonstop from SFO-HKG/HKG-SFO multiple times a year)

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: Economy


4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: I am able to choose my airlines factoring price and flight schedules. I travel for both.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: Mostly domestic, few transcons, and the UA SFO-HKG nonstop

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: Use to be LMT, but now will be PDX/HKG mostly. Occasionally Medford/Eugene.

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: UA Silver for now, but will getting at least Gold this year.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
UA

For me I would like to find one airline to handle the bulk of my travel and maintain some status, but keep other airlines open based upon price and flight schedules.

Ugilad

Hi,

I am a professional currently based in London. Soon enough I will be to the US, and my home airport will move from LHR to SFO. Wondering if it makes sense to move from BA (where you cannot do anything with the "avios" to a different FFP where I may get upgrades).

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Reply: Upgrades.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: 50,000 miles, about 20 round trip flights a year.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Reply: economy

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Able to choose, travel for work and for pleasure

5. Which routes do you fly most often
Reply: Now: Domestic Europe, Once I move - SFO->JFK at least 4xyear and international (Singapore, South America, etc)

6. What is your home airport?
Reply: Now: LHR, Soon:SFO

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
Reply:BA Silver

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Would appreciate your recommendations

michaeltchuang

New FlyerTalk member here...I will be flying weekly roundtrip between NY and LA soon (with 1-2 trips a year to Hong Kong thrown in too) and was wondering which airline elite program would be good for me. The only amenity i would care about is good wifi since that makes the flight pass by quicker.

I was checking out Virgin America, Jetblue Mint, and AA Platinum Challenge (since it's oneworld with Cathay Pacific)...any other ones I should look into?

I could use any advice on what airline loyalty program is best for me. Soon, I will be flying between NYC and LA weekly with the occasional trip to Hong Kong

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply:

Has fast wifi on board, seat is comfortable to work, minimal change fee...think office in the sky. I prefer non stop if possible.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply:

~5,000 (LA/NYC roundtrip) x 50 weeks = ~250,000+

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply:

premium economy

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply:

both...i try to save money by not choosing first class but i still like amenities such as wifi

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply:

Between NYC and LA/BUR...occasional to SJC/SFO, LAS, and HKG

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply:

JFK/EWR

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply:

Been flying Virgin America because of wifi but was looking into others (like Jetblue Mint). I usually fly cathay pacific to HKG.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply:

Virgin America, Jetblue, or Cathay Pacific

globalentry57

Questions
For members asking for information, to help people to assist you, can you please provide:
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Quality of flight experience, lounges and earning award travel at a good rate that isn't difficult to book online.
(upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, extra baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, free - discounted lounge access, etc.)
Reply:
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
(<25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles - <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: Between 125K and 175K, sometimes a bit more, over the last few years. Usually minimum 4 long haul flights from Asia to North America and many other shorter ones within Asia or USA.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Premium Econ, sometimes business, and economy
Reply:
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply:I can choose my airline and I can choose prem. economy for long flights. Otherwise I can but I'm middle class and don't spend too much to upgrade. I've flown Malaysia and Philippines long haul biz class as they're markedly cheaper (and not the same level as other asian airlines). Flew Korean biz for work a few years back, and EVA business and BA business a few times over the last 24 months.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often - short haul from HKG, and LAS-NYC and 4 times a year, HKG/SFO or LAX.
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply:
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply:HKG
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
(AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply: BAEC Bronze.
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: Cathay, Korean

ConorW

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Reply: Lounge Access, Priority Services & Upgrades. Good award redemption is something I think everyone wants. I imagine I would be redeeming miles mainly on leisure transatlantic travel in coach, or on European short-haul trips (again for leisure and in coach).

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: 50000+ miles.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Reply: Economy.

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: A mix of both business and pleasure, usually able to choose airline within reason but class of service will almost always be economy.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
Reply: Significant transatlantic travel with US domestic connections to secondary cities, some European short-haul with mileage-accrual eligible airlines (and some on Ryanair ) and very occasional Ireland-Australasia travel (MH, EK, EY).

6. What is your home airport?
Reply: DUB/BFS/BHD (all are convenient).

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
Reply: Negligible (<10k) miles banked with AAdvantage. I have never seriously considered mileage programmes before now as I have always taken whatever flight is booked for me without requesting an alternative, leading to high churn.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: On TATL routes I have no preference but would like to avoid AC Rouge.
As there is little other choice from Ireland, I fly EI quite a lot both to the rest of Europe (UK and continent) and across the Atlantic. Occasionally this involves B6/UA codeshares within the US.
After the merger, AA will be the largest American legacy operating from Dublin too which is important.
To Australasia EY, EK and MH are all excellent (but the former two can get me there with only 1 stop).

globalentry57

Definitely have a look at banking BAEC avios for the Aer Lingus Ireland to Boston redemptions. The award costs are very low, and since you do short haul around Europe, I think Avios would be very effective for award travel for you as well in that arena.

CanRulez

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: lounge access, good redemption rates, baggage allowance, upgrades, priority services

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: This year and next year I will be travelling quite extensively. This year over 50K, next year over 100K. However, after next year, I imagine my travel will drop to 25-50K.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: business for transatlantic flights, and economy for flights to the US

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: I can choose my own airlines. Both business and pleasure.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: U.S. domestic, YYZ-LHR-HYD

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: YYZ

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: My travel schedule has really just started ramping up. I am currently just a BA Bronze and have no current status with Air Canada. However, I expect to take 2 business class tickets from YYZ to HYD and one economy ticket from YYZ to SFO this year.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Air Canada, British Airways

Other notes:
My travel schedule for 2014 and 2015 will ramp up significantly. If I fly my remaining flights this year, I should be able to reach Elite50K easily on AC. However, I'm puzzled as to whether I should direct all my flights to *A or with OneWorld. Because of my extensive travel from YYZ to HYD scheduled for this year and next year, should I consolidate with one alliance or split? In other words, many reasonable options to fly AC from YYZ-LHR, and then BA from LHR-HYD, but I can also stick with *A and fly with Air India, Lufthansa.

I welcome your thoughts. Sorry, I'm a true newbie. I've never really followed FFP until a few months ago and now I'm trying to understand mileage runs...LOL.

Bateau

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply:Lounge access, baggage allowance, priority boarding/TSA PreCheck, good award redemption rates

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: <25,000 in economy.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Reply: Economy.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Leisure travel. Can choose airlines. Class of service is budget limited.

(5) Which routes do you fly most often
Reply: Couple times SEA->PHL/EWR, SEA-EUR, SEA-ICN

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: SEA

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
Reply: *G with Aegean, 160k miles in United, 100k miles in Delta. Wife is *G with Asiana.

(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: Due to our *G status, we used to stick to Star Alliance. Since US Airways left *A (for PHL flights) and United went to revenue-based FFP we're trying to figure out which FFP to stick with.

shawarma

Hello,
I’m moving my family from SLC to DMM. Future travel will be two or three family vacations a year. We’ll do DMM-SLC or IND and connect between them every year. For the others we’re planning to do europe and south Asia. Right about 20-25k miles.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply:
(In order of importance)Miles usable within the US. Prefer to be able to continue with the same FFP when we move back to the US someday. Good redemption rates/availability. CC program(Putting $20k to $25k annually on a card shouldn't be a problem with at least $10k going to airfare). It would be nice to be able to consolidate qual. miles to one family member for better status.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
(<25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles - <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply:
The move this year is one-way business class purchased by employer(9,300 miles+BClass multiplier)
Starting next year: 25000-50000, <25 each. Probably all economy.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply:
Economy, rarely Business, not cheapest if it means 3+ stops and multiple long layovers. Tough on the kids..
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply:
Yes and yes. Primarily pleasure.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply:
Transatlantic most often and a US domestic between SLC and IND annually. We will also do europe and South Aisa
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply:
DMM will be home
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
(AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply:
DAL and UA Silver until this year. No banked miles left at the moment.
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply:
Emirates, Etihad, perhaps KLM or Lufthansa. Trying to avoid less comfortable US carriers especially for the long transatlantic flights. Traveling with small kids, one long leg with short connections on either end (DMM-DXB-LAX-SLC) is preferred to multiple long legs such as stopping in Europe or the US East coast.
I can't ignore DAL because of direct flights to SLC from AMS and CDG allowing us to exit customs at SLC and the trip duration is a little shorter. DAL also flies direct between family in SLC and IND.


AS recently boosted their service to SLC and using them to bank Emirates miles and to book domestic flights on DAL is attractive, however it seams that originating and terminating your travel in the Middle East disqualifies you from much of the EK/AS benefits.

Thank you for your help!

kezt17

Hi all,

I currently feel like I have too many FF programs and am looking to consolidate into the best program for my needs. I'm currently taking a year off to travel, so I want to try and use this time to attain points and status before needing to rejoin the real world at the end of next year!

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- upgrades
- extra baggage
- good redemption rates
- lounge access

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
- normally once a year
- but this year it's been close to 15 flights, 50,000 miles

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
- cheapest or business on sale

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
- I choose the flights
- pleasure

(5) Which routes do you fly most often
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
- MEL-HKG

(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
- MEL

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
- too many!
QF: silver, 60,000
AA: none, 85,000 (considering platinum challenge for bonus points)
AS: none, 56,000
CX Asia miles: none, 32,000
A3: blue, 11,000

(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply:Any

I should probably put this in the OW forum too as my main concern is which OW airline should I stick with! In regards to status, should I chase qantas gold or simply do the AA challenge to obtain OW sapphire and receive bonus points? I think I can reach both QF gold and AA platinum this year to be valid til next year but I'm not sure it's the right move. There's also the problem of flying CX a lot and not earning many points on AA!

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Kerry