First post, thanks to anyone who can help with advice:
First off, the facts:
(1) 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:I want upgrades and baggage allowance in my FFP, lounge access
(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: I am looking at right now 2 trips per year Brussels to Shainghi, two trips per year Brussels to Austin, two or more US domestic trips. Other EU based travel is possible, but with the price of Ryan Air it's sometimes hard to choose loyalty.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Usually Economy/Cheapest, but will buy Premium Economy when the cost difference is not so much (sometimes on BA's Shanghai flights)
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Living in Brussels Belgium area, but have am a US citizen with EU residence. So I can use my US address for frequent flyer programs. I am flying for work for at least 4 international legs, but as I own the business and we are starting off, the flights are the cheapest/ near cheapest at the moment. As we grow, buying premium economy flights are desirable. I also have family in Canada and the US that we see on an annual basis, so family flight tickets also happen.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Currently I really would like to stick to London as BA can get me to many places I need to travel in a short time, quick trip from BRU to LON, then I can fly direct to Toronto, Austin (LOVE THIS OPTION) and Shainghi, which are three of my most common flights. I also have to planned travel on an annual basis of Las Vegas, Boston (east coast) for most years. As my business grows there are possibly three to four US based trips each year.
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: Brussels BRU, with AUS Austin Texas my second "Home". most flight will originate from BRU
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
(AA Executive Platinum, QF Gold, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply: I have some miles banked in an about to merged US Airways account, but no status, been flying the cheapest option for all my international travel on non banking tickets, but as the business grows I want to build some status to make my travel more enjoyable and give me something back for logging air miles.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: I prefer BA for my international travel via London, but otherwise, I am not set as of this moment, hence this post.
To expand on the above, I live in the Brussels area, fly from BRU almost always as my starting airport, but will also have AUS in Texas as my "second" home as that is where our US office is located. I run my own clothing company which has our factory in Shanghai China, which I travel to at least twice a year. There is/will be around three plus trips to the US/Canada a year, both personal and business.
I am trying to decide between the AA Advantage verse the BA program. My thoughts are that at first glance the BA FFP program with the BA CC to help earn miles is the logical choice. I can take out a company CC which will help with earning non flying miles.
But I think the ability to earn miles and status will be easier with the AA program. I can still bank miles on the major BA routes when I fly, but I'm not sure if the cheaper rates, especially for Premium Economy are available on the AA site when booking BA flights.
So given these two options, which is the better choice for me? I can be either EU (Belgium) registered or Austin, Texas USA based for my account, either works for me.
Thanks for the help. Gregg