FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Need advice on which *A FF scheme to join?

Nov 10, 2010 | 10:50 pm

#8

Jasper2009

In Memoriam

Join Date: May 2009

Location: FRA / YEG

Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum

Posts: 11,873

Quote:

Originally Posted by YuropFlyer

(1) What is your home airport?
ZRH

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Y, mostly in S booking class, unfortunately on SQ can't collect miles

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
Approx 40k per year in S Economy, much more in non-milage classes (thank you SQ)

(4) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge access, upgrades

More information: I'm already FTL with LH and do like it, but with my amount of travel which is unfortunately split in between LH/LX (in S economy) at around 40k/yearly, 25k on EK, and around 100k in non-milage SQ, I would absolutely love to make *G so I could access the *G lounges.

I don't need to requalify on LH for the next 2 years, so I could easily use any program which has a 2-year qualification period.

I looked into TK and Asiana, which seems to have the lowest needed amount of miles, especially Asiana with only 40k during a 2 year period seems extremely low.

I've around 16 European flights (8 R/T on LX, giving me around 1000 miles with exec bonus there each) and a couple of intercontinentals. The intercontinentals will net me the same amount of miles with Asiana (minus the 25% exec bonus) but how about the European ones? With LX/LH, you get a fixed amount of miles (750) no matter how far the distance was for European flights, how would that be with Asiana?

I could hit *G with Asiana over 2 years apparently, when I just drop the intercontinental flights there..

How is the award scheme with Asiana, is it bad? I mean, getting *G seems so easy with them.. there must be something bad about it, no?

Or would any other *airline be better in my case?

Thanks for your help

If I understand you correctly, you are always booked into deep discount economy fare buckets which don´t earn any miles or 50% miles. Personally I would stick with M&M as their mileage redemption chart is reasonable (but not great), you get *S privileges at your home airport and you likely earn quite a few award miles through your CC etc.

If I were you I´d probably become a member of the Maple Leaf Club Worldwide which gives you access to all *A business class lounges and contracted lounges where there´s no *A business class lounge. Alternatively I´d check out Priority Club, although their lounges aren´t as good as most *A lounges.

Regarding upgrades, you´re unfortunately out of luck. Discounted economy fares on SQ/LH/LX are not upgradable, you´d have to spend about twice the amount of money for your tix in order to be eligible for an upgrade (which again would be pretty expensive).

Another option to check out is AC Aeroplan. You need 35k status miles per year in order to earn Elite status (=*G status). Long-haul discounted Y on LH/LX earns 50%, all long-haul flights on UA/CO/US/AC earn 100% miles (in case you´re willing to add one TATL roundtrip to NA per year for leisure) Redemption rates are excellent, but their program obviously is much more beneficial (upgrades on AC operated flights) if you actually fly to NA on a regular basis.

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