Originally Posted by
Gilmour
Hi everyone. My family (wife and three kids) and I fly to Canada from UK at least once a year, usually on the lowest fair we can find on a decent carrier (mainly BA or Air Canada). I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on whether I should be collecting miles. I already collect Airmiles (only 4000 or so), but is it worth me collecting either BA miles or Aeroplan (Air Canada) instead, or none as I only go once a year or so. Thanks
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If you want to earn maximum miles from your flights when traveling UK-Canada on cheapest available tickets, Air Canada gives 100% miles on the international segments (and 25% miles on the domestic segments if you have any). But with one trip per year or so it would take you several years to get enough miles to be able to use. Air Canada miles expire after 7 years. Living in the UK it would be hard to earn Aeroplan miles except when flying.
BA will only give you 25% miles for flying, but you can get a household account to pool them. There are also credit cards and shopping partners in the UK that you could use to earn more miles when not flying. BA offers upgrade awards that can be a very good use of miles. I'm not a BA expert. Check out the guide in the BA forum for details.
If you were really interested in collecting miles I'd have to lean towards BA because of the household account and the 3rd party miles earning opportunities with BA for UK residents.