Trying to achieve Star Gold: Air Canada, BMI or something else...

[mikeef]

Hi all,

I'm trying to choose a Star program as my "backup" airline program (AA is my primary carrier.). I'm based in Boston. Most of my flying would be on the US Airways shuttle and United. Thanks Bomber for the great chart!

The most important feature for me is lounge access, since I have all but given up on upgrades without top-tier in the carrier that I'm actually flying. Award availability and all of the other goodies are nice, but the real focus is hitting *G as easily as possible.

It appears that AC gets me *G at 35k miles BMI at 38k, after the first year at 55K. Each has interesting side benefits, but I'm leaning toward AC at this point, simply for the ease of earning.

Does anyone have any suggestions or alternatives that might be useful?

Thanks!
Mike

[BlondeBomber]

Don't forget Turkish program--just make sure points earning is OK on fares you buy since they have recently become stricter . . .

But if you don't travel that much, you can buy worldwide lounge access via Air Canada for $599 CAD

http://www.mapleleafloungeclub.ieg-a...stomerNWW.aspx

or for $425 get access to only these N. America and Europe Lounges:


Calgary (YYC) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Domestic/International-Conc. A)
Edmonton (YEG) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Domestic/International -South Terminal)
Halifax (YHZ) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
Montreal (YUL) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge - Domestic
Montreal (YUL) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge - Transborder
Montreal (YUL) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge - International
Ottawa (YOW) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Domestic/International)
Quebec City (YQB) - Salon V.I.P Lounge
Regina (YQR) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
St-John's Newfoundland (YYT) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
Toronto (YYZ) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge - Domestic/Terminal 1
Toronto (YYZ) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge - Transborder/Terminal 1
Toronto (YYZ) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge - International / Terminal 1
Vancouver (YVR) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Domestic-Pier C)
Vancouver (YVR) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Transborder-Pier E)
Vancouver (YVR) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (International-Pier D)
Winnipeg (YWG) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
Los Angeles (LAX) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Terminal 2)
London (LHR) - Joint SAS/Air Canada London Lounge (Terminal 3)
Paris (CDG) - Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Terminal 2A)
London (LHR) - Air Canada Arrivals Lounge (Arrivals Terminal)
Lufthansa
Frankfurt (FRA) - Lufthansa Business Lounge,Terminal 1, Concourse A
Frankfurt (FRA) - Lufthansa Business Lounge, Terminal 1, Concourse B
Munich (MUC) - Lufthansa Business Lounge,Terminal 2 (Schengen)
Munich (MUC) - Lufthansa Business Lounge,Terminal 2 (Non-Schengen)
Scandinavian Airlines
London (LHR) - SAS Business Lounge-Terminal 3
United Airlines
Atlanta (ATL) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal T
Baltimore (BWI) - United Red Carpet Club-Pier D
Boston (BOS) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal C
Chicago (ORD) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal 1, Concourse B18
Chicago (ORD) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal 1, Councourse B6
Chicago (ORD) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal 1, Concourse C16
Chicago (ORD) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal 1, Concourse F3
Dallas Fort Worth) - DFW) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal B
Denver (DEN) - United Red Carpet Club-Midfield Terminal B East
Denver (DEN) - United Red Carpet Club-Midfield Terminal B West
Honololu (HNL) - United Red Carpet Club-Diamond Head Concourse
Los Angeles (LAX) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal 7
Minneapolis (MSP) - United Red Carpet Club-Lindberg Terminal, Conc E
New York (JFK) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal 7
New York (LGA) - United Red Carpet Club-Central Terminal , Conc B
Newark (EWR) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal A
Orlando (MCO) - United Red Carpet Club-Concourse B
Philadelphia (PHL) - United Red Carpet Club-Between Conc C & D
Phoenix (PHX) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal 2
Portland (PDX) - United Red Carpet Club-Concourse E
San Diego (SAN) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal 1
San Francisco (SFO) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal 3, Concourse F
San Francisco (SFO) - United Red Carpet Club, Terminal 3, International, Conc G
Santa Ana (SNA) - United Red Carpet Club, Terminal B
Seattle (SEA) - United Red Carpet Club-North Satellite
Washington (IAD) - United Red Carpet Club, Terminal C
Washington (IAD) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal C
Washington (IAD) - United Red Carpet Club-Terminal D
Washington (DCA) - United Red Carpet Club-Concourse C

[jedikiah]

You don't say what status you may have on AA, but a status match at bmi of whatever you have is straight forward in most cases.

[mikeef]

Great, thanks. I'll look into those options.

Mike

[mikeef]

After long, sleepless nights of deliberation, I went with BMI and asked for a status match to my AA Exec Plat. Air Canada's program looked too complicated and the website was crap. If BMI doesn't status match me, though, I reserve the right to change my mind.

Mike

[Traveloguy]

Just as long as you realise that BD offers possibly some of the worst discount economy earning in Star Alliance even on it's own metal. Where BD shines is it's earning in premium classes (i.e. F & J). That said, most UA/US fare buckets earn a full 1 x earning rates although equally Z class on UA also earns 1 x.

You have been warned!

[24.05.2004]

Originally Posted by mikeef

[snip] Air Canada's program looked too complicated and the website was crap. If BMI doesn't status match me, though, I reserve the right to change my mind.

Mike

Sir, nothing can be as bad as the BMI site! Heck, what site? At least 50% of the time it doesn't even load!

I too have gone the BMI route since CO is leaving SkyTeam. Haven't heard a word about status match yet (2+ weeks tic-tok tic-tok).

But the mileage earning is impressive -- my RTW in C (29k miles) nets over 100k miles even without a status match!

[Traveloguy]

Originally Posted by 24.05.2004

Sir, nothing can be as bad as the BMI site! Heck, what site? At least 50% of the time it doesn't even load!

I too have gone the BMI route since CO is leaving SkyTeam. Haven't heard a word about status match yet (2+ weeks tic-tok tic-tok).

But the mileage earning is impressive -- my RTW in C (29k miles) nets over 100k miles even without a status match!

LH and SK also earn in a similar way to BD (i.e. 2xJ, 3xF), its just Y where the issue is as LH and SK are more generous down the back whereas BD is miserly.

The 55K bonus however is fantastic.

[sharmaintl]

Originally Posted by 24.05.2004

I too have gone the BMI route since CO is leaving SkyTeam. Haven't heard a word about status match yet (2+ weeks tic-tok tic-tok).

Is it true that BD qualifications run on a rolling 12 month cycle and not 12 month calendar year? So, if you get a status match now, do you start earning EQM towards re-qualification (only 38k for *G) right away? For UA/US, everyone starts at 0 Jan. 1...

[RAPC]

Originally Posted by sharmaintl

Is it true that BD qualifications run on a rolling 12 month cycle and not 12 month calendar year? So, if you get a status match now, do you start earning EQM towards re-qualification (only 38k for *G) right away? For UA/US, everyone starts at 0 Jan. 1...

Correct. Your year runs from your date of qualification, whether it be the qualifying flight to push you to Gold, or the date of a status match.

[mobilebucky]

OZ might not be bad if all you want is to retain your *G status. You get 100% on pretty much all UA flight miles. Redeeming miles OTOH might not be great.

[DownUnderFlyer]

Originally Posted by mobilebucky

OZ might not be bad if all you want is to retain your *G status. You get 100% on pretty much all UA flight miles. Redeeming miles OTOH might not be great.

OZ is an excellent program for easy *G especially after the changes on 1st October. Earn/burn rate is not good at all (other than for multi stop tickets) but the OP wants lounge access and OZ gives this.

[mikeef]

Originally Posted by 24.05.2004

Sir, nothing can be as bad as the BMI site! Heck, what site? At least 50% of the time it doesn't even load!

I'm discovering that now. But I eventually find what I want.

Originally Posted by DownUnderFlyer

OZ is an excellent program for easy *G especially after the changes on 1st October. Earn/burn rate is not good at all (other than for multi stop tickets) but the OP wants lounge access and OZ gives this.

I'm having a little trouble understanding the requirements. 100K miles to qualify for *G? Is that in a year, or annualized? Then, it looks like I have to earn 40K miles annually to requalify? Sigh, I'm not that bright.

Mike

Edited to add: OZ is a really confusing program and there is no FAQ sticky on the Asiana thread.

[mobilebucky]

Originally Posted by mikeef

I'm having a little trouble understanding the requirements. 100K miles to qualify for *G? Is that in a year, or annualized? Then, it looks like I have to earn 40K miles annually to requalify? Sigh, I'm not that bright.

Mike

Edited to add: OZ is a really confusing program and there is no FAQ sticky on the Asiana thread.

As for now, you can take as long as you need to get 100K miles.

After Oct 1st, all you need is to get 40K every 2 years to reach Diamond Level (*G). One nice thing about OZ is unlike UA all *A metal count towards (Platinum = lifetime *G) MillionMiles Flyer.

Here is the link to the new program

http://us.flyasiana.com/Global/pop/n...a_rules_en.pdf

and the link discuss Asiana Program changes
Change in Asiana Club policy(*A G requalification)

[mikeef]

Done! Loyalty has been switched to OZ.

Mike