Originally Posted by
Nobby
(1) What is your home airport? SFO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Economy, Economy Plus
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? ~50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Have SAS Gold (formerly Diamond), but dissatisfied because there is always close to zero redemption inventory
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? #1 Good redemption (points cost relative to points earn, availability), #2 upgrades, #3 lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? SFO to SYD, YVR, LHR. Some US domestic, but mostly international
(7) Preferred Airlines Often fly United, Air Canada, Air NZ
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both, more often for work
Credit card: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Hotels: Hyatt
If you mostly fly international, I see no reason to not accrue status with United. Is the goal to redeem points for those SFO-SYD/YVR/LHR flights? Airlines have better award availability for their own flights. Additionally, if you get to high status levels, you get a very good multiplier on points earning.