Moving to the Middle East
Hello,
I’m moving my family from SLC to DMM. Future travel will be two or three family vacations a year. We’ll do DMM-SLC or IND and connect between them every year. For the others we’re planning to do europe and south Asia. Right about 20-25k miles.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply:
(In order of importance)Miles usable within the US. Prefer to be able to continue with the same FFP when we move back to the US someday. Good redemption rates/availability. CC program(Putting $20k to $25k annually on a card shouldn't be a problem with at least $10k going to airfare). It would be nice to be able to consolidate qual. miles to one family member for better status.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
(<25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles - <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply:
The move this year is one-way business class purchased by employer(9,300 miles+BClass multiplier)
Starting next year: 25000-50000, <25 each. Probably all economy.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply:
Economy, rarely Business, not cheapest if it means 3+ stops and multiple long layovers. Tough on the kids..
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply:
Yes and yes. Primarily pleasure.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply:
Transatlantic most often and a US domestic between SLC and IND annually. We will also do europe and South Aisa
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply:
DMM will be home
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
(AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply:
DAL and UA Silver until this year. No banked miles left at the moment.
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply:
Emirates, Etihad, perhaps KLM or Lufthansa. Trying to avoid less comfortable US carriers especially for the long transatlantic flights. Traveling with small kids, one long leg with short connections on either end (DMM-DXB-LAX-SLC) is preferred to multiple long legs such as stopping in Europe or the US East coast.
I can't ignore DAL because of direct flights to SLC from AMS and CDG allowing us to exit customs at SLC and the trip duration is a little shorter. DAL also flies direct between family in SLC and IND.
AS recently boosted their service to SLC and using them to bank Emirates miles and to book domestic flights on DAL is attractive, however it seams that originating and terminating your travel in the Middle East disqualifies you from much of the EK/AS benefits.
Thank you for your help!