I'm an NYC-based academic who has started ramping up work travel. No program looks particularly appealing to me at the moment, so I've been booking on the most convenient routes on any carrier. My travel volume is slated to increase quite a bit this coming year, so I thought it might be a good time to re-evaluate.
I'm primarily looking to get upgrades on paid non-full-fare economy TATL and TCON redeye flights. This might be a bit difficult, so I'm open to other benefits as well, e.g. better boarding to never gate check a bag.
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:
* Upgrades for international long-haul and redeyes from SFO to NYC if possible
* Good award redemption / access.
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:
* ~1 RT to Asia (personal, on award miles)
* 2-3 RT to Europe (work, booked in cheapest economy)
* 3-4 RT to SFO (work, booked in cheapest economy)
* 5-6 shorter domestic RT (work, booked in cheapest economy)
* 2-3 shorter domestic RT (personal, paid)
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply:
* work: cheapest economy
* personal: international business on points, otherwise economy or premium economy paid
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply:
* For work, I can choose airlines and routes but must buy the lowest fare class in economy. I also must buy US carriers or codeshares with the exception of Europe, where I can buy European carriers.
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply:
* TCON domestic, TATL, domestic USA
6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply:
* EWR, JFK, LGA
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, currently 400K UR, 120K MR, 40K SPG, 30K UA, 30K DL, 60K B6, 25K AS
* I get 100-200K transferrable points each year through credit card spend.
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: Of the ones I've flown:
* TPAC: JL > OZ > UA > CA (heard good things about NH, CX, SQ > KE)
* TATL: AF, LX > LH, OS > UA
* TCON (redeye): B6 > UA, AA
* Domestic: Indifferent