Hi, I would really appreciate some opinions on the best FFP for me. I have read a lot today and it is looking like AA is easiest for achieving status because I always have to travel on the cheapest fare available but do mainly TATL.

I got AA PLT by completing the challenge just over a year ago and started pumping miles into my AA FFP, but then (stupidly) decided to try and achieve BAEC Silver as I'm based in the UK and thought I'd find it easier to accumulate status. I work for a US company who is constantly pulling me over there to cover US projects as the UK market is a bit quiet. I have just got BAEC Bronze but think I'll struggle to make Silver before the end of my membership year in June'13.

Questions answered below and happy to provide any more information needed.

I REALLY appreciate the benefit of other people's knowledge/wisdom, so thank you for taking the time.

[MaccA]


(1) home airport?
Reply: MAN (Manchester, UK) but can easily connect through LHR

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
Reply: 50K-60K Economy

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? ( First, Business, Economy etc.)
Reply: Cheapest available unfortunately (Economy, non-flexible)

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes I can choose airline. Class of service has to be cheapest available, even non-flexible tickets. The majority of travel is for business with a couple of vacations per year. I book most of my business travel with only a week or twos notice.

(5) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Transatlantic, MAN-ORD, MAN-JFK, LHR-JFK, LHR-SFO (at least once per year)

(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present? What is it? (AA Executive Platinum, QF Gold, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply: AA PLT expiring end of Jan, obtained using the AA PLT Challenge. Just achieved BAEC Bronze this month, with membership year running until June'13.

(7) What is most important to you in a FFP? (upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, extra baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, free - discounted lounge access, etc.)
Reply: Most important is BA lounge access, priority boarding (massive carry-on) and express security. I would love free TATL upgrades but have read that they don't really happen on BA and I only occasionally fly AA metal TATL because AA55 doesn't have ICE.

(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: Prefer BA but often end up on AA or AEagle for the second segment of my US travel.