Originally Posted by
irishguy28
Indeed, it sucks, but XP earning was only possible on non-Skyteam partners between 2019 and 2024, so it was a relatively brief, anomalous blip of less than 5 years, with the pandemic disruptions all falling within that period too.
It is also unusual that the frequent flyer programme of (an) airline(s) based on a different continent and with which you rarely fly would represent your best choice for a frequent flyer programme. If you fly mostly with WS, then perhaps their FFP is now your best bet. (I don't think Flying Blue Gold status would have meant much, or anything, on WS - right?). Or, look beyond wanting to "tie" yourself into the status-chasing game, and use that freedom to seek out the best ticket for each trip you need to take, regardless of which airline/alliance it involves.
SA is the IATA code for South African Airlines - is that the airline you are talking about?
EDIT: you mean *A - Star Alliance
After deleting a bunch of jumbled explanations I gave saying why WS and AM have inferior FFP... I basically find that FB is by far superior and gets better benefits and rewards overall (assuming those XPs are included though). I only left WS in 2020 and began paying full fare then so this is what I know, despite how small of a blip it may seem to others. AC's FFP has had issues although greatly improved in my perspective lately so it all just pushes me further towards being strictly a Star Alliance flier. I really didn't want to be one, having worked for WS for over a decade and being so familiar with AF/KL I feel a bit like a traitor. I've been alternating using my husband's AC FFP and my A3 FFP for reward flights and find together I have access to a good range of flights which is fantastic, I just would rather stay with FB. Oh and yes, *A = Star Alliance, thank you for correcting me! It's been a few years since my ticketing days
