Originally Posted by
angetenar
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.
SFO-SYD/YVR/LHR is for work, I'd redeem for personal family vacations departing from SFO on a mix on *A carriers (probably skewed towards UA, but not necessarily).
If you're going to redeem *A-wide, what programs tend to work well?
Another wrinkle: I think I may unofficially have lifetime Gold with SAS due to an extreme amount of J flying I did with them in the past. It's been a few years since I flew SAS, my status was progressively downgraded each year until Gold, then stayed at Gold for the past few years, so maybe it's here to stay? I'm dissatisfied that SAS's availability on their own flights is essentially zero, but I could redeem for partner flights. Also dislike that my earn for short UA Y flights is roughly zero with Eurobonus despite status (though I guess they would never amount to much in any program)
So should I stick with SAS, or should I credit to United (or another) carrier, where I'll presumably get some status anyway with ~50K of Y flights?
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
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