[Newbie Question] Stick with Miles&More or swap?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: Marriott, Virgin Atlantic, BA
Posts: 187
[Newbie Question] Stick with Miles&More or swap?
Hi
I'm relatively new to the airlines programmes, am much more familiar with hotel programmes. Wondered if anyone would be able to help with the following:
Any advice as to what to do?
Thanks
I'm relatively new to the airlines programmes, am much more familiar with hotel programmes. Wondered if anyone would be able to help with the following:
- I have a relatively small balance in the Lufthansa Miles and More scheme (4,000)
- I have long distance flights from UK --> Kenya coming up with *A partners (Swiss Air and Brussels Airlines)
- I realised I have complimentary United Airlines Silver status (as I'm a Marriott platinum member).
Any advice as to what to do?
Thanks
#2
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: homeless 2.0
Programs: A3 Gold, LH FTL
Posts: 1,065
Hi
I'm relatively new to the airlines programmes, am much more familiar with hotel programmes. Wondered if anyone would be able to help with the following:
Any advice as to what to do?
Thanks
I'm relatively new to the airlines programmes, am much more familiar with hotel programmes. Wondered if anyone would be able to help with the following:
- I have a relatively small balance in the Lufthansa Miles and More scheme (4,000)
- I have long distance flights from UK --> Kenya coming up with *A partners (Swiss Air and Brussels Airlines)
- I realised I have complimentary United Airlines Silver status (as I'm a Marriott platinum member).
Any advice as to what to do?
Thanks
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: Marriott, Virgin Atlantic, BA
Posts: 187
Thanks for the quick response.
I am based in the UK, so will probably fly with Lufthansa / Swiss more than United.
I guess my question, is Silver worth anything to me on those flights, to make it worth essentially 'losing' those 4,000 miles in Miles&More, e.g. will it give me any chance of an upgrade.
I am based in the UK, so will probably fly with Lufthansa / Swiss more than United.
I guess my question, is Silver worth anything to me on those flights, to make it worth essentially 'losing' those 4,000 miles in Miles&More, e.g. will it give me any chance of an upgrade.
#4
You really don't seem like anything that comes close to a frequent flyer.
Without an additional source of miles (eg a credit card) or some business class fares in your near future you won't get anywhere with any of the programs.
Without an additional source of miles (eg a credit card) or some business class fares in your near future you won't get anywhere with any of the programs.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: Marriott, Virgin Atlantic, BA
Posts: 187
I'm not really (got Bronze membership with BA, and 100k miles), but if I earn a lot from these flights, I might change some of my flights to *A.
So is silver likely to net me anything, or should I stick with the Miles&More, as I will be more likely to fly them in future?
Cheers for the help.
Edit: From this page ( https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ralliance.aspx ), it seems like Silver is pretty worthless for someone with my travel pattern, so not worth 'losing' the Miles&More miles..
So is silver likely to net me anything, or should I stick with the Miles&More, as I will be more likely to fly them in future?
Cheers for the help.
Edit: From this page ( https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ralliance.aspx ), it seems like Silver is pretty worthless for someone with my travel pattern, so not worth 'losing' the Miles&More miles..
#6
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AMS/RTM
Posts: 2,827
Write down all your planned flights for 2014 and using Webflyer try to calculate how many miles you will get. Just consider 100% earning without bonuses (you don't mention whether you'll fly business or economy, so let's go for 100%).
If the total miles is above 30k/35k then you can start shopping around various FFP to see who will get you the best reward. Otherwise just credit to M&M and then use those miles for a short city trip in Europe (mind the fuel surcharges).
Having *S with M&M is not too bad if you fly LH/LX/SN often and have access to a LH/LX/SN business lounge. On the other hand, having *S won't be much use if you fly with other carriers.
If the total miles is above 30k/35k then you can start shopping around various FFP to see who will get you the best reward. Otherwise just credit to M&M and then use those miles for a short city trip in Europe (mind the fuel surcharges).
Having *S with M&M is not too bad if you fly LH/LX/SN often and have access to a LH/LX/SN business lounge. On the other hand, having *S won't be much use if you fly with other carriers.
#7
Sorry... but that is really bad advice. Have you looked at the M&M earning charts lately? Nothing but (full priced) business will get you 100%.
If I see that 4.000 miles I'm willing to bet that was one long-haul in economy. It will now take about 8-10 of those to even get to FTL/*S level.
And spending miles on an intra-Europe trip is equally bad advice, you are better of (95& of the routes) simply buying a ticket, taxes/fees on M&M awards are higher than what you pay for a revenue ticket.
If I see that 4.000 miles I'm willing to bet that was one long-haul in economy. It will now take about 8-10 of those to even get to FTL/*S level.
And spending miles on an intra-Europe trip is equally bad advice, you are better of (95& of the routes) simply buying a ticket, taxes/fees on M&M awards are higher than what you pay for a revenue ticket.
#8
I'm not really (got Bronze membership with BA, and 100k miles), but if I earn a lot from these flights, I might change some of my flights to *A.
So is silver likely to net me anything, or should I stick with the Miles&More, as I will be more likely to fly them in future?
So is silver likely to net me anything, or should I stick with the Miles&More, as I will be more likely to fly them in future?
#9
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AMS/RTM
Posts: 2,827
Sorry... but that is really bad advice. Have you looked at the M&M earning charts lately? Nothing but (full priced) business will get you 100%.
If I see that 4.000 miles I'm willing to bet that was one long-haul in economy. It will now take about 8-10 of those to even get to FTL/*S level.
If I see that 4.000 miles I'm willing to bet that was one long-haul in economy. It will now take about 8-10 of those to even get to FTL/*S level.
What I did not look at was UA's earning chart, which is actually quite interesting, and seems to pay 100% for most Y fares on LX/LH/SN.
So it actually might be worth chasing status with UA and forget the M&M miles altogether.
Bottom line, as you said, is that OP doesn't seem to be a frequent flyer by any stretch of the imagination, so wherever those miles end up will have to be used relatively quickly.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: Marriott, Virgin Atlantic, BA
Posts: 187
Been doing some investigating as to what I'll earn with fare codes etc, using webflyer.com's mileage calculator, and it looks as if:
Flight 1: London -> Zurich (Swiss) , Q , 489 miles
Flight 2: Zurich -> Nairobi (Swiss) , Q , 3,780 miles
Flight 3: Nairobi -> Brussels (Brussels) , E , 4,080 miles
Flight 4: Brussels -> London (Brussels) , E , 217 miles
Using Miles&More:
Flight 1: 750 miles (fixed)
Flight 2: 1,890 (0.5 * miles flown)
Flight 3: 1,020 (0.25 * miles flown)
Flight 4: 125 miles (fixed)
Total: 3,785
Using United:
Flight 1: 489 (100% miles flown)
Flight 2: 3,780 (100% miles flown)
Flight 3: 0 (E not listed in chart)
Flight 4: 0 (E not listed in chart)
Total: 4,269 miles
Does this look right? I earn more with a partner scheme than I do with the actual scheme member?
On this basis, bearing in mind Silver seems to net me very little, I'll probably stick with Miles&More... I have 200K Virgin Atlantic miles, and 90K BA miles, so I do fly, just haven't with *A...
Flight 1: London -> Zurich (Swiss) , Q , 489 miles
Flight 2: Zurich -> Nairobi (Swiss) , Q , 3,780 miles
Flight 3: Nairobi -> Brussels (Brussels) , E , 4,080 miles
Flight 4: Brussels -> London (Brussels) , E , 217 miles
Using Miles&More:
Flight 1: 750 miles (fixed)
Flight 2: 1,890 (0.5 * miles flown)
Flight 3: 1,020 (0.25 * miles flown)
Flight 4: 125 miles (fixed)
Total: 3,785
Using United:
Flight 1: 489 (100% miles flown)
Flight 2: 3,780 (100% miles flown)
Flight 3: 0 (E not listed in chart)
Flight 4: 0 (E not listed in chart)
Total: 4,269 miles
Does this look right? I earn more with a partner scheme than I do with the actual scheme member?
On this basis, bearing in mind Silver seems to net me very little, I'll probably stick with Miles&More... I have 200K Virgin Atlantic miles, and 90K BA miles, so I do fly, just haven't with *A...
#12
Every program has different thresholds for reaching elite levels and for awards. So they should be valued based on what the program is offering, and even better what your personal benefits are. And then the reality is that such a flight in economy (and the return in discounted economy) isn't worth much, if anything at all. Having 4k miles in M&M is totally useless, you cannot even give them away :-).
#13
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,184
SWISS E earns 100% on United: http://www.united.com/cms/en-US/mark...spx?itemid=297
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: Marriott, Virgin Atlantic, BA
Posts: 187
Yeah, Brussels Airlines for flights 3 and 4, which according to United don't earn on E.
The summary from this thread, is essentially, don't worry about it
Good to know
The summary from this thread, is essentially, don't worry about it
Good to know