<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by zvezda:
If you were buying Y tickets, the answer would be easy: M+ is much more generous to low fare customers. If you were buying F tickets, the answer would also be easy, M&M is much more generous to high fare customers.
If you were going to be flying only UA and (transAtlantic only) LH, then it would be a tough choice. However, because M&M will give you 250% of actual flight miles for paid C when you fly beyond FRA or on *A partners and M+ would give you only 125% of actual flight miles in such cases, M&M is the better choice for you.
If you'll be flying on SQ (which I recommend doing), be aware that you can credit PPS segments to SQ's program while crediting miles to another *A program.
It wouldn't hurt to have a look at: BlondeBomber's Star Alliance Comparison Chart
[Edited for spelling.]
[This message has been edited by zvezda (edited 05-18-2003).]</font>
Thanks very much. It is indeed a tough choice. Things sort of point toward choosing M&M.
BUT, something else made me hesitate--currently I am a BA Executive Club Gold member and plan to leave them because of the 7/1/03 changes to EC). So I asked both M&M and M+ whether they will/can comp me to an equivalent *A gold. M&M said "sorry, no". M+ said we will be glad to give you Premier Executive.
So, M&M is probably the better choice for miles earning capabilities, but M+ will comp me to *A gold. Perhaps I should not care about the comp--I'll earn higher status with M&M pretty soon anyway, am I right? My next trip is in July on UA in First IAD-ORD-NRT-BKK (roundtrip).
Probably the most important factor for me is the amount of miles needed for an award from North America to South Africa. On M&M's website, it looks like it is 180000 miles for business class. On M+ website, it says 120000 miles (on *A members). It's a bit strange that they are different, I think, or is that correct. (BA is going to ask 180000 from 7/1/03 too--up from 110000--which is one of the reasons I am leaving. If M&M is also asking 180000, what's the point of leaving, I wonder?)
As you can see, I have no clue what to decide. Advice would be most welcome. Thanks!