Originally Posted by
Hawaiino
Aloha
Currently UA 1K, will likely drop to Plat end of this year due to travel conflicts. Considering options given the upcoming Alaska/Hawaiian likely merger. I can book 2 US trips and at least 1 trip to BKK before end of year.
What's my best approach to locking in OW status ? CC spend = $250k++ between personal and business.
Questions
For members asking for information, to help people to assist you, can you please provide:
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Award availability, lounge access, family status
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
50,000 +, all in Business or First Fights = 30-50 interisland, 10-12 US, Min. 4 INTL (2 BKK, 1 Europe, 1 GRU) for Business and 1-2 leisure
Reply:
Based on your expected premium-cabin flying, I would look into the Iberia Plus program, as described here:
https://insideflyer.co.uk/2019/03/qa...f-iberia-plus/
("Why Qatar Airways Business Class Regulars Might be Better Off with Iberia Plus")
The benefit of getting status with IB or any
foreign oneworld program is that you would get lounge access when flying AA domestically; the downside is that the Avios you would earn with IB (or BA or AY or QR) will only be redeemable on AA or AS when low-tier award space is available on those carriers. So it's a trade-off: a faster route to status and lounge access, versus the greater AA award availability you would get with AA miles.