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.
Lounge access (desiring *A Gold) - rarely travel with more than one checked bag.
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: maybe 15-20k a year if lucky.
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply: economy and sometimes First class depending on if the fare is being paid for.
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: I am a classical pianist, so when i travel for performances, sometimes I need to pay for the travel and sometimes it's paid for. I book all of my own - have most miles with UA and like *A a lot.
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: domestic USA and USA-Europe
6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: NYC (EWR,LGA,JFK)
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: No status, but will have soon around 200k miles in UA and about 15k in Delta.
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: I like United - really looking for the best way to fly on United and other *A airlines and get *A Gold...
How is Asiana in 2016 for getting *A Gold? 40k miles over 2 years? That could be doable depending on their miles redemption for UA flights.