Hi all!

I'm just getting started in the whole mileage/points game and am looking for some guidance on where I can get started.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc.

>>> Reply: I think the most important thing for me would be finding award flights at low prices. I mostly just want to be able to use miles to fly home from Istanbul to LA as much as possible.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc.
>>> Reply: I would estimate round trip to and from Istanbul two times a year so roughly 25,000 - 30,000 miles a year. My wife is Thai so we will probably also be flying from Istanbul to Bangkok every couple of years.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
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: I can choose the airline.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: I expect most of our flights will be transatlantic but a few flights from Istanbul to Bangkok as I mentioned before.

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: Although I live near LA, I think my home airport would actually be Istanbul mainly because we will be flying from their to Bangkok as well. Plus my work books a one way ticket for me from LA to Istanbul at the start of my two year contract.

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: Don't have any miles banked at the moment although I have started looking into ways to gain some more miles by paying off student loans using credit cards. If anybody has any info on the best award cards for flights to and from Europe that would also be greatly appreciated!

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: I'm pretty easy-going as far as airlines are concerned. Comfort and amenities aren't really my main priority as I'm just trying to figure out how to get to LA and Bangkok from Istanbul without breaking the bank every year.


Thanks in advance everybody! I have spent so many hours trying to figure this out and the fact that this forum allows people to just throw their queries to this collection of great traveling minds is just really amazing! Thanks again!

Jeff