Originally Posted by
Magnus Nordlander
Hi,
I've been having some trouble deciding on which FFP to use. My home airport is ARN, and most people here choose Star Alliance, since ARN is a SK hub and there are earning credit cards available, but I refuse to fly with SK unless absolutely necessary because they do not offer business class within Europe. Thus, I'm usually flying OneWorld instead.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
My main goal is getting award flights. I don't mind paying cash for miles, but of course, the point is to fly for cheap
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
<25000 miles - <25 flights, mainly within Europe, with a few transatlantic flights.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Business
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes. I travel mostly for work.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
There's not really any route that I fly more often than others. I fly mostly in Western Europe.
(6) What is your home airport?
ARN
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
I am a member of Finnair Plus, and have some miles there.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
BA and IB.
In addition, I do use American Express Membership Rewards, so being able to transfer MR points (preferably at a good rate) into my FFP would be good.
with that little travel, you'd need to choose a program with generous expiration rules first and foremost. With Finnair Plus and all programs except BA, IB and AA your miles will expire before you have enough for any meaningful redemption.
I would open accounts with both BA and IB and transfer Avios points between them as needed (that is possible; both airlines share the same Avios 'currency').
Earn rates for business class are decent on BA. Also, BAEC is an Amex MR transfer partner. Transfer over when they have a bonus 'sale', which happens infrequently.