Originally Posted by
zephr
I was looking at status to make the domestic transcon flights a bit more palatable. I already have Aeroplan 25K for flying to Canada, but would prefer upgrades to premium economy for the BOS-Bay Area routes. Service out of Logan is best with Delta and JetBlue, while service out of SFO is best with United. Will only have enough spend to qualify for the lowest tier of status, so comparing between B6, AA, DL, UA for options. B6 is the only nonstop BOS-SJC service, but SFO is acceptable.
Further, if flying JetBlue, does it make more sense to go for Mosaic or AAdvantage?
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Upgrades and award redemptions
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
50000 miles, 20 flights
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Economy
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Mostly for pleasure, so can choose airline/class
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
Routes are dominated by domestic transcon: BOS-SFO and BOS-SJC with occasional BOS-YVR transcon
6. What is your home airport?
BOS - Boston Logan
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
Aeroplan 25K, few miles banked (most miles are with credit cards and transferred - 125K MR + 100K UR)
8. What airlines do you prefer flying?
ANYTHING except Southwest. I will easily pay $100 more to not have to fly Southwest.
For flights on AA or B6, AAdvantage status earnings will be based on the pre-tax fare paid, not the number of miles flown. Even on a B6 Blue Basic ticket, low-level status with AAdvantage would get you a free EMS seat on B6 at check-in,
if any such seats still remain; a free checked bag; and priority boarding. It is also possible to spend one's way to AAdvantage status these days, with credit cards, car rentals, hotel stays, AAdvantage Dining, AAdvantage e-shopping, Simply Miles, Rocket Miles, etc.
AAdvantage status would also get you benefits when flying on AS -- which might be useful for BOS-SEA-YVR.
AAdvantage sometimes offers some very low redemption rates for BOS-XXX-SFO, if you were willing to connect on your BOS-SFO award redemptions:
