Originally Posted by
joer1212
If this cannot be done, it will put a significant damper on my ability to earn flights, as I will have miles scattered in different programs, none of which will be redeemable for an international business class flight, because I won't have enough miles in any one program. And, earning additional miles to make up the difference in the conventional manner (2X miles, 5X miles for purchases) will take forever. My miles will probably expire before I actually achieve this.
By the way, if in fact miles from different programs cannot be combined, how on earth does anyone ever earn a business class flight (let alone first class!)?
Keep in mind that in most programs, earning miles, even 1 mile, keeps all your miles active. There are exceptions (Aeroplan is one), but they're few and far between. And, it's one of the reasons that many FTers with good credit do several app sprees per year. When I joined FT two years ago, I had no miles with UA or US. I had about 20K with AA. I had none with BA. Now, I have 125K with UA, 165K with US, 270K with AA, and 250K with BA--having flown one flight on UA, none with US, four with AA, and four with BA.
It's also why certain cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Bold and the Amex Plat, PRG, and Business Gold cards as well as the Amex SPG card find so much favor: their points are all transferable to several (and in the case of the SPG, numerous) airlines. The SPG has a 25% bonus on transfers of blocks of 20K Starpoints, Membership Rewards has run a number of transfer bonus promos (as high as 50%) to Delta and BA. Chase has not yet had a transfer promo and may never have one, but given their 1:1 transfer ratio to UA, Ultimate Rewards points are the best non-UA currency out there.
In addition, the credit card companies provide some opportunities to increase your mileage totals by allowing personal and business applications (thus, effectively doubling the haul of points in many cases). Techniques, such as the "two browser" method discussed in connection with Citi AA personal applications, also increase your mileage earning potential.
And, as others have mentioned, it's why airline alliances can be critical. No, you can't combine UA miles with US miles. There are generally soft spots in each partner program, though, and one of the best benefits of FT is that many of those soft spots get uncovered. For instance, the use of Avios to fly business class on Aer Lingus from BOS-DUB for 50K plus relatively low taxes, fees, and surcharges is just one of those soft spots, but there are others in each of the three alliances.
Finally, don't dismiss the power of earning points through purchasing. Yes, if you're only earning at a 1:1 ratio for all your purchases, you're not earning miles very quickly. But, the Chase UR mall gives you a chance to increase that earning ratio with many merchants, and there are other shopping malls that can occasionally offer even better earning ratios with specific merchants. For instance, I was in on the 36 Avios/dollar earning ratio offered early this year through the BA eStore for purchases made at Nordstrom.com. In many circumstances, you can purchase through an online mall and still pick up the item in a local store, such as I was able to do with my Nordstrom purchases, so I try to remember to check my purchasing options before just walking into a store and earning 1 mile per dollar.
Dining programs offer the same opportunities. I've earned about 15K UA miles this year by charging dines to the MileagePlus dining program, aided by a current promo where for every $250 spent, I get an extra 1500 miles--effectively earning 11 miles per dollar spent plus whatever I earn through the credit card I use (with the Sapphire Preferred's 2x dining bonus, I have the potential to earn
13 UA miles per dollar spent dining).
It's some work to keep track of all the promos, and if you're finances or credit do not allow the spending or the numerous credit card applications, then yes, you're at somewhat of a disadvantage in this game. Those opportunities, however, eventually do come, especially as you earn more money and become more credit worthy.