Looks like now it's a for sure thing that I'll be moving overseas and was curious about which FF program makes the most sense. I'll be based in Luxembourg but will be spending a lot of time in the UK and Germany with other, likely more infrequent, trips to Spain, France, Italy, and Poland.
Questions
For members asking for information, to help people to assist you, can you please provide:
(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: Primarily the ease and cost of redeeming an intl ticket. I'd want my EU travel to help fund trips back to the states with my wife and I (and our soon to be born daughter).
(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: Currently around 40, all shorter flights (less than 1k each). Over there, not sure. I expect to be traveling at leas 25% of the time, but again these flights will be shorter as they will mainly be continental EU. Initially I will be flying back and forth between the UK/Lux and Seattle, probably a good 6 times, during the rest of this year. So far I've only booked one flight and it was through Air Canada as they had the cheapest fair. I wanted that direct Delta flight but it was over 30% more expensive.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: My company pays for the cheapest, sadly.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Airline most flown? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: I have some leeway in airline selection. All our bookings are done through CWT and we are usually told to pick the cheapest, though the schedule is the more important piece at times.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: I think it will be LUX - London (any airport) as the main route, plus some routes to Germany with a few LUX - SEA thrown in for good measure. Honestly I'm not sure yet.
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: SEA now, LUX then.
(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: I'm currently AS Gold, no status in any other airline.
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: Really not sure. With Lux Air being the main airline of the country it seems like going with them and using Miles and more from Lufthansa makes the most sense, but I've heard that program is not the best. Though it does look like I could get credit with LH (is that Lufthansa?) on my Air Canada flights so that is something. Plus they have a direct FRA to SEA flight that would be a good one to spend my accrued miles on to bring the family home
So all that being said, I guess I'm leaning towards LH as the airline I join up with and credit my travel to. I guess that would be Star Alliance then? If thats the recommendation, do I first sign up for LH and then use that airlines M&M number for my air canada flight? Or is there a separate sign up and number for the star alliance itself?
Thanks for your help!