Originally Posted by
jasong83
It looks like I'll be moving from NY to Singapore, and am having some trouble figuring which OW FFP would be the best for status for me. I'll probably be flying back home 2-3 times per year, but since it's on my own dime I'll be looking for economy flights. Really appreciate any suggestions.
I've been looking at CX, BA and AA, but all of them seem to be quite difficult to earn status on cheap flights and I'd rather not fly on AA metal.
Thanks!
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Upgrades, lounge access
(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: Figure 8 sectors, 40k miles. - estimating at least 2-3 round trips each year, each way is about 10k miles and 2 sectors (JFK-HKG-SIN)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Cheapest, but would pay a little extra in economy to earn status
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes (pleasure)
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Transpacific
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: JFK/SIN
(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?
(AA Executive Platinum, QF Gold, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply: No status, under 100k miles at CX
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: CX
If you can plan your trips well in advance and are willing to pay a premium over discounted economy, I`d go with CX and fly them in premium economy - they have (infrequent) sales where these seats go for very affordable prices. I paid under 1,000 USD for an E fare on ZRH-HKG-BKK and back last month, which is significantly cheaper than a YBHK fare yet would earn more elite qualifying points and redeemable miles than those high Y fare classes.
Other than that, if you want to keep flights as cheap as possible while earning a significant number of miles, your only option is going with AA and buying AA codeshares on CX flights.
That is valid as long as AA keeps its current elite qualifying scheme, where even the cheapest fares earn 1 EQM per mile flown. Which may stay or be devalued come 2017 or beyond - they are pretty much the last holdout among major airlines' FFPs to award 1 EQM per mile flown even on the cheapest fares now.
BTW, the AA 773 between DFW and HKG isn't that bad - especially when you have mid-tier and above status which will let you select MCE seats for free.