I plan to commute from Houston to San Jose for the next year. I will travel every two weeks, so somewhere around 26 trips. I want to reduce the total cost of travel over the year. I can travel from either IAH or HOU. IAH is about 30 minutes closer to my house.

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: better award access, good award redemption rates

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: 26 flights, 6000 miles each (150,000+ miles)

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 my airline. Traveling for work.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: domestic USA - IAH or HOU to SJC

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: IAH preferred, HOU possible.

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: United Mileage Plus; 4 of 30 segments, 6500 of 25K miles to get to silver; 40,684 banked.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: United in the past, willing to change.