Hi everyone - new to FlyerTalk! Appreciate any help you can give. I feel like I’ve made a number of missteps this year in not sticking to one airline or hotel program (did not think I’d even come close to traveling enough for status!) so would love to look toward next year with a solid plan!
Note that I would be open to a new cc for perks but I care a little less about accruing miles - I unfortunately opened a CSR in Jan 2020 thinking I’d be traveling a ton… downgraded to CSP to avoid annual fee, so that’s my primary travel spend card now.
Finally, I am looking to travel to Mexico middle of next year and hopefully SE Asia in early 2025. I’d love to work toward finding a way to get upgraded on those flights (presumably by award miles??)
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1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
>>> Reply: upgrades, priority boarding, better seat selection - I’m tired of middle seats!!
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
>>> Reply: Roughly 18,000 miles this year, but 15 round trip flights/30 segments. Hoping for same or more next year.
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
>>> Reply: economy refundable
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: 95% work, any airline in economy
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
>>> Reply: SFO-LAX but occasionally will fly into BUR
6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: SFO (can flex to OAK if truly needed)
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: I don’t think I’ll make United Silver this year unfortunately. I have 60,000 miles banked to redeem but I’m estimating I’ll only have 3100 PQP by EOY. I do have Marriott Silver Elite (11 nights) and am two nights away from Hyatt Discoverist (should have earned it on the last trip but I entrusted the booking to someone else… never again!)
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: United, Alaska, and I do love JetSuiteX (OAK-BUR) but only when it’s convenient for where I’m working in LA.