Hello everyone!

I don't know much but I'm really excited to learn and begin my FFP life. I would appreciate some guidance to start on the right foot.

Here is some background information about me that I think will be useful in helping me choose an alliance:

I am a single 26 year old male from Chicago that just started a new job in Rome, where I will be located working for 6 months out of the year. I will be making transatlantic flights 4-6 times a year. Work-related we fly a lot within Europe, and occasionally other projects in different parts of the world (Istanabul, Dubai, Nigeria, and South Africa).


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: Upgrades but I don't have enough experience to know what is most important to me in a FFP.

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: Conservative guess is 45,000 miles and 40 flights

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

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: The majority of the time I fly for work and I am able to choose most of my airlines and class of service. I also fly for pleasure/vacation but only 4-8 of my flights per year.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: I will be flying transatlantic 4-6 times per year. When I am working in Rome I fly a lot within Europe.

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: Chicago ORD and Rome FCO

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: No I do not have any status anywhere, I signed up to become an United Mileage Plus member but I have not used it yet.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: I don't have a preferred airlines because I do not have enough experience flying on the different variety of companies. I know a couple of my seniors are part of SkyTeam but Oneworld and Star Alliance intrigue me more because of their members.

I was thinking of signing a company of each alliance (United, American, Delta) and choosing which one I prefer the most.

Please let me know what you think and if there is any other information I can provide, I would to get some assistance and where to start and what to do!

Thanks!