Dear knowledgeable frequent flyers,

I have been reading tonnes of threads and websites to figure out which program would be best for me. After weeks of reading pros and cons, I am probably more confused now than I was in the beginning.

A lot of people say ANA's program is the best (low milage needed for award flights, possibility to have stops on the way to your destination, and great search engine), but I'm not happy with the YQ they charge on their tickets.

They do offer award flights with Vanilla Air without YQ, but these tickets are fairly cheap and the award flight availability is bad.

Are there any better options for me, living in Japan?
I am collecting ANA miles through my credit card as well (approx 10,000 miles per year)



1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: Cheap award tickets, flights to remote countries/cities I wouldn't normally travel to, and status if possible.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: 50000 miles, 10 sectors

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: Cheapest ticket available

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: I travel for work and book tickets myself. However, I think my company wants me to book the cheapest option.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: Tokyo-Europe

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: Tokyo HND, NRT

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply:
Aegean Airlines (Miles & Bonus) - 1000 miles
All Nippon Airways (ANA Mileage Club) - 9380 miles
Finnair Plus - 4280 miles
Qatar Airways (Qmiles) - 8016 miles
Scandinavian Airlines System (EuroBonus) - 325 miles
Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club) - 12440 miles

I also have 2 flights with unregistered points that I have to bank somewhere.
Oct 2014, NRT-PDX on UA (economy class)
Jan 2015, NRT-IST on Turkish Airlines (economy class)

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: No preference