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: Award access is probably the most important one for me, but not by much.
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: 15-20k, 20+ segments/year
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply: 95% coach 5% B or F
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: I nearly always get to choose for business travel. I also travel for leisure but it's an odd case there, read on.
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: PHL-LAX heaviest, though I want to find a better way to do ABE-BUR. Mostly domestic USA with maybe 2-3 int'l/year.
6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: PHL or ABE
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: All expired at this time, thinking about starting over.
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: I love Alaska, but I'm nearly never on routes they serve.
I used to save miles on American and USairways. I wasn't really banking enough miles to make any real use of them, plus I hated all the spam so I dropped out and let everything expire a few years back. Enjoyed the freedom of always picking the best itinerary for the destination.
Meanwhile I married a flight attendant, and we take full advantage of non-rev benefit travel for leisure trips. (~20k miles since 1/1/16)
My business travel still isn't enough to consistently get me any useful status or frequent rewards. For various reasons it is also time to shop for a new credit card, so I want to consider the combined effect. Standby seats for non-rev travel have been getting harder to snag, and I wouldn't mind having a better back-up plan for getting home when loads are high.
Suggestions?