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Need advice on which *A FF scheme to join? - please post here

Old Jan 20, 2016, 10:53 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: jtet
A number of threads have been started with members asking for guidance on which mileage programme they should join. In order to help users I have started this thread to allow people to post their requests for information here and to allow people to offer assistance.

For members asking for information please help people to assist you, can you provide:

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Silver, M&M Senator etc)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
(7) Preferred Airlines
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)


GENERAL INFORMATION:


If you fly less than 50k miles per year: it is almost guaranteed that your choice will be between Aegean Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Asiana Airlines. Please look up these airlines' frequent flier programs, and make a decision as to which best suits your needs.

Some considerations to take into account:

Airlines tend to treat members of their own frequent flier program better than members of other frequent flier programs. If you fly one of these airlines, it is recommended that you choose that airline.

Some airlines have better earning/redemption charts for your pattern. For example, if you fly on cheap fares on a certain airline often, Turkish might give you miles for it, while Aegean might not. However, Turkish Airlines might charge much more for the redemption that you want to make than Aegean.

Asiana Airlines offers lifetime Star Alliance Gold for 500k miles over life. The other 2 airlines do not offer this benefit.

Asiana Airlines has a credit card in the USA and some other countries. If you are interested in credit cards, check to make sure that the program that you join has a credit card in your country.
If you still aren't sure which frequent flyer program is for you after looking these up, feel free to ask on this thread.
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Need advice on which *A FF scheme to join? - please post here

Old Nov 24, 2010, 10:57 pm
  #46  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Richmond, ky
Posts: 53
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.) LEX, CVG, SDF
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.) Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k) 10K but increasing
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc) NADA
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
Good Award Redemption Rates and availability
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) Mostly leisure, so none
(7) Preferred Airlines- None but have 75K on AA and 68K on Continental
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) 90% Pleasure Travel
chiefmbh is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2010, 11:11 pm
  #47  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1
Question Montreal (YUL)

Can somebody help me? I'm a complete Noob at Frequent Flying, I've only recently been fortunate to start travelling with work, so I'd like to take advantage of it. FYI I have already booked tickets home to the UK for Christmas, it's YUL-ORD-LHR-IAD-YUL on a mixture of Air Canada for the Montreal flights and United for the Transatlantic Legs (I booked a package which gave me Code W flights, which I believe go towards miles).

I registered for United Mileage Plus and A/C Aeroplan and when I booked the flights above I had to enter both mileage numbers. I don't know where my miles are going! Are they going to be split up amongst the different plans based on the mileage? Or do I choose when I check in or board at the gate??? (Like I said, NOOB!)

I'm also travelling to NYC with American this Sunday, I also registered for AAdvantage to get these miles. In terms of business stays, I am usually fortunate enough to be able to choose hotels such as Hilton Garden, Marriotts etc which are partners of pretty much all the big airlines. Unfortunately as I booked through Orbitz I don't think I can link my HHonors points to any of them as they're classed as special rates. From now on I'm only going to book packages if they are available on aa.com or united.com or aircanada.com (unless you advise against it).

(1) What is your home airport? Montreal YUL
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y,Q,W (the cheapies)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? Less than 25k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? No status
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Probably Upgrades, it would be a bonus if I could fly premium economy or business when flying to London and back
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Montreal to U.S probably once a month on business, but also do YUL-LHR twice yearly, to visit family. I may accrue over 25k next year, but to be safe I put less than 25k miles on.
(7) Preferred Airlines. Well I kinda always like the service on American, but their flights are always more expensive and their alliance is small and therefore doesn't give me many options. Plus, my employer usually wants me to go for the cheapest option when travelling so I can't usually choose american, unless it's to NYC, in which case bizarrely it usually works out to be cheapest.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both. Travel on a monthly basis from Montreal to the Eastern half of U.S, mostly NYC, Boston etc, usually short hops. Also travel to London twice a year to visit family.

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated. I'm firing in the dark at the moment
petepete99 is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2010, 11:21 pm
  #48  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: FSPP, Impresario, Prive, Virtuoso
Posts: 697
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)

Singapore

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)

Economy class with element of flexibility. Depending on fare, Business as well, but sometimes I buy from Manila as it's cheaper in Business. This is all to Vancouver.

To Delhi my only other destination is Business (cheapest in any airline, so never SQ, AI or TG)

To other destination depends on duration and fare available on the cheapest Business Class unless its overly priced where then we take economy. Last year it was Bangkok with Cathay, this year who knows

Since the US Airways promotion, I am using that, but I am still purchasing one ticket in J from Manila - YVR with SIN-MNL in Y on my own pocket. So need to credit those miles somewhere. In the future if same fare remains, it's likely to happen again

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)

Singapore - Vancouver - SIngapore 2x year (34,000)
Singapore - Delhi - Singapore 1x year (5,000)
(Singapore - XXX - Singapore 1x year 1600 - XXX)

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)

No

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)

Upgrades when purchasing Economy or Business award redemption. All on INTL flights, and more important to Vancouver than anything else

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)

Singapore - Vancouver

(7) Preferred Airlines

In Economy, any airline with power ports
In Business, no preference.

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
I can choose all airlines and cos, but it all depends on the fare. Right now these are our limits

1,200 for Business to Delhi - we generally get it discounted from TA
5,000 for Business to Vancouver
aviationp is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2010, 11:42 pm
  #49  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Originally Posted by kire
(1) What is your home airport? SYD
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? full fare economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 40k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Qantas gold/ OneWorld Sapphire.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access, expedited check in, extra baggage, upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: Australia - NZ, internal flights in Australia, Australia - Europe or US.
(7) Preferred Airlines: nothing preferred
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? about 50/50 work/leisure.

I'm planning a RTW trip business class where a large number of the flights will be on Lufthansa. I'm looking for a FF scheme that will status match my One World Sapphire and be useful for being at the bottom end of the world.
Getting a status match isnt easy with most *A carriers. You could try to match to BMI Gold status (= *G), their FFP will be integrated into M&M sometime next year, so you could hope that you become a SEN as part of the transition.

Regarding which FFP to choose:
The great advantage of BMI DC and and LH M&M is that you earn 200% miles on business class fares and 150% miles on full-fare economy class fares. (at least most of the time)

You should be able to make SEN status with your RTW in C and a few other flights, also SEN status would be valid for the year you qualify in + 2 years +Jan./Feb. of the year after (whereas status with most FFPs is only valid for one year).

Another interesting program may be UA MP:
- 50k miles for 1P status (= *G status)
- if you earn more like 100k status miles, youll get 6 SWUs which you can use for your flights from SYD to the US or Europe: upgrades on UA metal (e.g. SYD-LAX/SFO-LHR/FRA) can be confirmed at time of booking, SWUs can also be used standby at the airport on LH operated flights
- you get a 100% mileage bonus (award miles, not status miles) on UA/CO/AC operated flights
- bonus for full fare economy and business class is not as generous as DC/M&M

Alternatively AC Aeroplan always is a good program to easily earn *G status (35k status miles), youd get all the privileges associated with *G status and a bunch of upgrade certs which can be confirmed on AC operated flights at time of booking if you book full fare tickets.
Jasper2009 is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2010, 12:09 am
  #50  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Originally Posted by e-aviation
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)

Singapore

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)

Economy class with element of flexibility. Depending on fare, Business as well, but sometimes I buy from Manila as it's cheaper in Business. This is all to Vancouver.

To Delhi my only other destination is Business (cheapest in any airline, so never SQ, AI or TG)

To other destination depends on duration and fare available on the cheapest Business Class unless its overly priced where then we take economy. Last year it was Bangkok with Cathay, this year who knows

Since the US Airways promotion, I am using that, but I am still purchasing one ticket in J from Manila - YVR with SIN-MNL in Y on my own pocket. So need to credit those miles somewhere. In the future if same fare remains, it's likely to happen again

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)

Singapore - Vancouver - SIngapore 2x year (34,000)
Singapore - Delhi - Singapore 1x year (5,000)
(Singapore - XXX - Singapore 1x year 1600 - XXX)

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)

No

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)

Upgrades when purchasing Economy or Business award redemption. All on INTL flights, and more important to Vancouver than anything else

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)

Singapore - Vancouver

(7) Preferred Airlines

In Economy, any airline with power ports
In Business, no preference.

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
I can choose all airlines and cos, but it all depends on the fare. Right now these are our limits

1,200 for Business to Delhi - we generally get it discounted from TA
5,000 for Business to Vancouver
UA would be a good choice for upgrades if you were able to earn 100k miles as youd be able to use the SWUs for upgrades on the SIN-NRT-LAX/SFO flight (operated by UA), but with 40k+ miles youd only be able to upgrade using miles.

I guess your choice will mostly depend on what sort of fares you can get from SIN to YVR.

IMO your best choice would be to try to book flights that connect to a TPAC flight operated by AC in NRT/HKG/PEK/any other Asian gateway. You could earn AC Elite status (35k miles required, Elite status = *G status)

AC has a pretty generous upgrade program (most beneficial if you can book the more expensive economy fares, as you can upgrade at time of booking while discounted economy fares can only be upgraded a few days before the flight), their award redemption chart is excellent and their Y product is pretty good (IFE, in-seat power, free beverages)
Jasper2009 is offline  
Old Nov 26, 2010, 4:44 pm
  #51  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1
Best *AA to join?

Hello,

I've been collecting miles on Krisflyer and have come to realise that it is quite useless for getting upgrades on the flights that matter to me which tend to be KUL or SIN to somewhere in the US. Starting to feel that I should have collected miles on UA instead, however, I'm already on Krisflyer silver and will probably hit Gold this year.

Would appreciate any input at all so that I can decide before my next long flight which is in mid December.

(1) What is your home airport?
KUL which is not great, so I don't mind using SIN as an alternative

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
mostly discounted business (>4 hours) and economy (<4 hours) fares due to firm policy to always try and get the cheapest fare.

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
about 50k

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
Krisflyer Silver, though this has been quite crappy. Kinda wish I had gone United instead. Seems like I would have gotten quite a few upgrades to First class and easily upgraded to Business on the personal trip I'm currently on - XF, NF and XC seats available on United.com are not always available to Krisflyer

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good redemption rates (which are actually available.. unlike SQ's very limited upgrade/redemption availability) and lounge access are most important.

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
a lot within South East Asia
1-2x a year KUL or SIN to the US
1x a year KUL or SIN to Europe

(7) Preferred Airlines
Not particular, but lowest fare tends to be MH (probably not relevant to this discussion)

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
Both. For business travel, I have to pick the cheapest fare that is reasonable (+/- 2 hours of desired travel time). For personal travel, I don't mind paying a bit more if there is possibility of an upgrade (say 20% more?)

I've searched through the forums and currently think that it may be better to bear with it and keep collecting on Krisflyer then try and get upgrades at time of booking for personal travel. This way, I get lounge access easily and can still get upgrades, but not as easily.

The alternative is to bite the bullet and start collecting on Mileage Plus which means I probably won't get gold for awhile (or not at all), but at least it will be easier to redeem upgrades but I will only have lounge access for those flights.

Do you guys think I should change my mind and bite the bullet?
bambazoon is offline  
Old Nov 27, 2010, 7:23 am
  #52  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1
What would you advise

Hi,
first off all thanks for this helpful thread...really like it.

(1) What is your home airport? Heathrow

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Not sure as my travel agancy does this but always the cheapest

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? about 30K

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? M&M Silver

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? free lounge access

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) Normally I only fly in europe. Most commen routes are Heathrow- Munich or Gothenburg. Once or twice a year I fly Transpacific for holiday

(7) Preferred Airlines Lufthansa

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work and can't choose. need to book the cheapest fare

I am just upgraded to sliver with lufthansa, so will have this status for 2 years. But as I only fly in europe and the cheapest rates I will never manage 100K for gold with M&M. I have approx 50 to 70 flights per year and would really like to get gold to be able to use all Lounges.

I was looking for BMI or SAS and not sure what I should do. If I read correct SAS gives you silver after 20 and gold after 40 flights-but does this only apply for SAS flights or all SA flights?

Would be great to get some advise with which program I get quickest to gold.
Thanks a lot
Effeldy is offline  
Old Nov 27, 2010, 5:08 pm
  #53  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sydney
Programs: QF (Plat)
Posts: 30
I have just accepted a new job and will be moving from Sydney to Washington, DC. I am currently a Qantas FF with good status. However, travel with my new job is unlikely to be OneWorld focused so I thought I ought to sign up to a Star Alliance program. The answers given below are guesses because, as I mentioned, I haven't yet started there. Broadly speaking, when I travel it will be for work and will be international business class. There may be two trips per year covering multiple countries in either Asia or Europe - but I might warm up slowly and there could be more if I'm not careful. At least initially, I'll be aiming to minimise travel while I establish my new home. Now on to the stock questions:

(1) What is your home airport?
IAD

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Business

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
First guess, 25k-50k but possibly >50k (in a couple of international tours per year). (My new work place can involve a lot of travel - at least for some staff members - there is even a million milers club so I hear.)

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
Qantas Platinum (this is unlikely to be maintained at my new job given it isn't Australia based any more).

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
Good award redemption rates for family travel.

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific

(7) Preferred Airlines
Anyone but United (so far I have been OneWorld focused so there is not much point listing those in this thread)

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Work. Airlines may not be easily chosen but the class should always be business.

Thanks
Skippy_kangaroo is offline  
Old Nov 27, 2010, 5:22 pm
  #54  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Originally Posted by Effeldy
Hi,
first off all thanks for this helpful thread...really like it.

(1) What is your home airport? Heathrow

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Not sure as my travel agancy does this but always the cheapest

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? about 30K

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? M&M Silver

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? free lounge access

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) Normally I only fly in europe. Most commen routes are Heathrow- Munich or Gothenburg. Once or twice a year I fly Transpacific for holiday

(7) Preferred Airlines Lufthansa

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work and can't choose. need to book the cheapest fare

I am just upgraded to sliver with lufthansa, so will have this status for 2 years. But as I only fly in europe and the cheapest rates I will never manage 100K for gold with M&M. I have approx 50 to 70 flights per year and would really like to get gold to be able to use all Lounges.

I was looking for BMI or SAS and not sure what I should do. If I read correct SAS gives you silver after 20 and gold after 40 flights-but does this only apply for SAS flights or all SA flights?

Would be great to get some advise with which program I get quickest to gold.
Thanks a lot
unless you're going to amass 56k miles in the next few months (which doesnt sound like it from your travel pattern), I wouldnt recommend BMI since they'll be merged (based on current info) into mm sometime next year. If you can pull it off, then BD gold MAY transfer to LH senator upon ff plan merger
LufthansaFlyer is offline  
Old Nov 27, 2010, 8:41 pm
  #55  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, HH Gold, PC Plat, lots of miles but no status w/ usual *A, OW & ST suspects
Posts: 101
Question

Would really appreciate others' more-expert advice:

(1) What is your home airport? EWR (though I could fly out of LGA and JFK as well)
(2) Do you currently have any status? No status - most of my miles would come through Starpoints transfers
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy? Economy fares
(4) Which airlines/routes do you usually fly? In terms of airlines, I typically fly Continental, US Airways, AA, United and Delta (in that order) when it comes to domestic routes. However, my flights are usually Transpacific, in which case, I'd much prefer flying Asian (or any other non-American) airlines.
(5) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 20k (though most of these tend to come from award flights)
(6) Do you mainly fly for work or for leisure? / Do you have any flexibility in choosing the airline/fare bucket etc.? Leisure - lots of flexibility
(7) What is most important to you in a FFP? Award redemption (especially for international flights) -- I'm okay with flying in Y (usually don't have enough miles to redeem C)
gster78 is offline  
Old Nov 28, 2010, 7:04 pm
  #56  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,298
NW exile wants *A program to try, possibly for secondary program

I'm a DL Diamond and have almost earned Diamond through February 2013 thanks to rollover; in a couple years, I should reach 2MM and hence "lifetime" Gold on DL. Based on my travel patterns, I assume any program doing status matches would want me, but I don't want to waste a lifetime match without careful consideration and I don't see myself being stuck in domestic coach while earning status. I think I'd be willing to purchase domestic DL connections for international *A (award or purchased but upgraded) tickets if necessary. Based on my spend, if I were to transfer all of my travel to *A and plan carefully the metal I fly, I could probably make CO PP but not UA GS.

Many of the *Gold perks are unimportant to me as I normally get at least biz class check-in/security lines and lounge access anyway (international travel in at least biz, DL SkyClub membership, and Priority Pass at about US$30 per visit as insurance).

I don't think I want to switch my domestic flights to UA/CO at this time, until all of the merger mess is over, having just suffered through the NW/DL "merger." However, several DL FC award tickets on SQ have whetted my appetite again (I used to fly TWA and NW in international first before it was discontinued) for international FC (or business class travel on an excellent foreign carrier). Also, DL is increasingly forcing me to connect through ATL or JFK for TATL and the West Coast for TPAC (rather than MSP nonstop to NRT or AMS--or worse, CDG, but there's still also a nonstop that terminates in LHR--then connections to my foreign destination, or at least connections through DTW), which makes me willing to consider most carriers and connections, especially since I now have Global Entry.

(1) MSP

(2) about 100K BIS on average, with over 200K EQM this year, counting class of service percentages and a few DEQM

(3) domestic: generally mid-range coach, a few deep discount, and some strategic purchases of full Y or discount FC to ensure that I get the upgrade

(3') international: combination of very expensive (US$2500-4000 per RT) coach plus SWUs or miles to upgrade or discounted biz fares

(4) DL Diamond and "lifetime" DL Silver; some old FF accounts with expired orphan miles, but my only other significant accumulation toward MM (about 1.4MM) status was lost when AA took over TWA

(5) I never want to risk sitting in coach (so I don't want to commit to a ticket and play the upgrade waitlist game) and I prefer to avoid old UA C seats or aircraft with 2-3-2 seating in biz (have tried and like 1-2-1, 2-2-2 is OK if I can get a seat in the center section). I envision purchasing either discounted biz or coach, with upgrade (certs, miles, reasonable co-pay OK) at time of ticketing, willing to consider booking in premium economy if reasonable upgrade chances. I want to sometimes be able to find reasonably-priced award tickets in biz or FC; I have a lot but not total flexibility and am willing to get award tickets at almost the last minute. For purchased tickets, I buy them anywhere from about a half year in advance to within 48 hours of the first flight, the latter for purely optional leisure travel when I can get a good last minute ticket.

Of course I'd like a good call center/website and FC lounge access when ticketed in biz as well as elite security lines.

(6) I do a mixture of domestic (DL offers nonstops with FC to most places I go--I'm willing to fly new RJs that are large enough to have FC) and international (at least 5-6 long haul purchased international per year, roughly half TATL to a variety of destinations and half TPAC, but increasing, to a variety of places, Canada, Australia and IST/TLV every few years)

(7) I never want to deal with US and I'm not sure I want LX (had a very bad experience with them on a paid biz/FC ticket connecting to TLV). I vaguely have a good impression of CO, less so of UA. I've had a few good experiences on SAS and TK but I haven't been on LH in many years. I like SQ (and QF and CX), but I've never tried NZ, ANA, or OZ.

(8) combination; for work trips, I can pick airline and fare class, but I'm reluctant to submit full business class or worse for reimbursement, and for leisure, I'm willing to purchase discounted biz or an expensive coach ticket that I can upgrade.

Assuming that I don't switch all of my flying from DL to *A, I would envision purchasing several international trips per year in coach, premium coach, or discounted biz and upgrading at time of purchase into biz from coach but willing to try/risk premium economy, and wanting to use miles for upgrades and/or free biz/FC international travel. I have absolutely no interest in coach award tickets!

I've been thinking about asking CO for a status match (when to time this? I've already acquired tickets for my anticipated long-haul travel through about mid-March, but there's at least one domestic trip to Denver that I haven't yet purchased) and if they would give me their top tier, it would seal the deal (as would AA's giving me Executive Plat except for their little RJs out of MSP; UA has some mainline service to its hubs while CO is primarily long RJ trips to hubs currently), but I'm not sure which FF program I would want to use for crediting miles and redemptions or when I should start my *A experiment. I've been top tier (earned, not comped) every year on NW/DL for about fifteen years.

Last edited by MSPeconomist; Nov 28, 2010 at 7:24 pm Reason: correct a few typos
MSPeconomist is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2010, 7:24 am
  #57  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Singapore
Programs: FB Plat / SPG Plat / Hilton Silver
Posts: 53
What would you advise between Krysflyer and Aeroplan

Hi,

I would be very keen to receive your feedback and advises.
I just immigrated to Singapore.
In France where I used to live, I was Platinum with Flying Blue.
Since I'm now based in Singapore, I will fly much more with Singapore Airlines. I'm hesitating between:
- continue using my Aeroplan card
- subscribing to Krysflyer
- I'm opened to any other options (M&M....)

The reason why I'm contemplating the avenue to stay with Aeroplan although I will rarely fly Air Canada, is that the status levels seem rather low, and you got a couple of hard advantages every year.

Could you please share with me any of your feedack/experience/advises...
As I mentioned, I'm opened to any suggestion.
I tried to have a status match with Singapore Airlines, that they refuse...

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
Singapore

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Coach if < 8 hours, and Business if > 8 hours
So coach most of time

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Around 50k on Star Alliance flights

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
I am Platinum with Flying Blue
I will likely continue spending 70k with Skyteam (to achieve Platinum for life in a few years) + 50k with Star Alliance

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
upgrades, redemptions, lounge access

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Inter-Asia
A couple of flights to Europe

(7) Preferred Airlines
My company has a plan with Singapore Airlines

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Mostly for work.
My company has an agreement with Singapore Airlines

I have a few additional questions:
- I guess I have more chance to be upgraded on Singapore Airlines, if I have a status with Kryslflyer (versus Aeroplan), right ?
- what about the redemptions chart : do you have access to the same number of seats/destinations if you are Krysflyer or any other card from Star alliance, or is there a diffrent rule. Typically, there is zero seat available in business from Paris to Singapore on Singapore Airlines with my Aeroplan miles. I'm wondering if it would be the same if I would have Krysfyer card and miles instead.

Thanks !!
Pwrzecio is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2010, 3:00 pm
  #58  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Bump...help?

Originally Posted by efactor
(1) What is your home airport? BWI
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y and C
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? USAir Silver (nearly to gold)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel and priority services when flying the airline
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? US Domestic
(7) Preferred Airlines? Anything with most routes from BWI
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work and pleasure. I am aloowed to select my airlines
efactor is offline  
Old Nov 30, 2010, 11:49 pm
  #59  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Originally Posted by efactor
Bump...help?
Do you connect through a hub when you leave BWI or are most flights direct from BWI? I ask because of segments and minimum segment miles.
LufthansaFlyer is offline  
Old Nov 30, 2010, 11:55 pm
  #60  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Originally Posted by Pwrzecio
Hi,

I would be very keen to receive your feedback and advises.
I just immigrated to Singapore.
In France where I used to live, I was Platinum with Flying Blue.
Since I'm now based in Singapore, I will fly much more with Singapore Airlines. I'm hesitating between:
- continue using my Aeroplan card
- subscribing to Krysflyer
- I'm opened to any other options (M&M....)

The reason why I'm contemplating the avenue to stay with Aeroplan although I will rarely fly Air Canada, is that the status levels seem rather low, and you got a couple of hard advantages every year.

Could you please share with me any of your feedack/experience/advises...
As I mentioned, I'm opened to any suggestion.
I tried to have a status match with Singapore Airlines, that they refuse...

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
Singapore

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Coach if < 8 hours, and Business if > 8 hours
So coach most of time

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Around 50k on Star Alliance flights

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
I am Platinum with Flying Blue
I will likely continue spending 70k with Skyteam (to achieve Platinum for life in a few years) + 50k with Star Alliance

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
upgrades, redemptions, lounge access

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Inter-Asia
A couple of flights to Europe

(7) Preferred Airlines
My company has a plan with Singapore Airlines

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Mostly for work.
My company has an agreement with Singapore Airlines

I have a few additional questions:
- I guess I have more chance to be upgraded on Singapore Airlines, if I have a status with Kryslflyer (versus Aeroplan), right ?
- what about the redemptions chart : do you have access to the same number of seats/destinations if you are Krysflyer or any other card from Star alliance, or is there a diffrent rule. Typically, there is zero seat available in business from Paris to Singapore on Singapore Airlines with my Aeroplan miles. I'm wondering if it would be the same if I would have Krysfyer card and miles instead.

Thanks !!

As far as upgrades go, you have much more potential for an upgrade if your a member of the carriers ff program. Singapore airlines isnt going to be that impressed with your aeroplan account when it comes to upgrades and if they entertain it, your priority will be behind krisflyers. If your after upgrades as a primary benefit stick with kf.

MM is bumping up redemption requirements so that may not be the most attractive, unless you're going to be on LH metal from the orient to europe. I suspect 3 or so Z fares from asia to europe would get you close to senator. But if you dont think that will be the case, stick with the krisflyer. Just my opinion, others may have a different spin.
LufthansaFlyer is offline  

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