I recently got a promotion and expect to be traveling a lot more in the coming year. I'd like some help trying to figure out what airline to fly and what ffp to join to get the most bang for the buck with regards to status and miles.

(1) What is your home airport? San Diego

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.) What ever our travel agency, egencia, books. I really don't know.


(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Currently not many but this is what I've been told to expect moving forward.

SAN - BOS: 3 times per year

SAN - BOS: train to NYC then NYC to SAN: 2 times per year

SAN - NYC: 1 - 2 times per year

SAN - SJC: 3 times per year

SAN - SFO: 2 times per year

SAN - AMS 1 time per year

SAN - SEA 1 time per year

I will likely have 1 additional international trip to either Tokyo, London or Paris


(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? No


(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)

The most important feature is upgrades but only when that is my only option for getting extra leg space, I am 6'6. For example I know some airlines require you to have status to get the exit rows. If I pick an airline where that is the case then status is my top priority. However we are allowed to purchase extra leg room if that doesn't mean purchasing premium economy. for example I can buy an exit row on Jet Blue or American without a problem.


(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)

See above.


(7) Preferred Airlines

Right now I typically fly jet blue because I can buy exit rows and go direct from SD to BOS and NYC. That said I am not happy with their rewards program.


(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Most of the travel above is for work.

Domestic: Economy but can buy seats with more leg room.
International: Premium Economy


(9) Other: While my home base is San Diego, I'd consider flying from LAX for trips to NYC, BOS and International

(10) What options have I looked at:

1. Flying Delta and banking points with SkyMiles. I'd use Alaska for my San - SJC flights.

2. Flying Delta / Alaska and Banking points with Alaska (my concern here is getting exit rows)

3. flying Jet Blue, that it does nothing to help me on international flights and their rewards routes don't really take me anywhere I want to go.

Thanks for the help