ItsHero Welcome to FT
Originally Posted by
ItsHero
ew year! Which means I've been looking into which FFP program to go with from now on, and to clean the slate and take my miles more seriously (compared to doing whichever alliance was cheapest).
Copenhagen-based, which means that the only credit card I believe is available here, are the SAS EuroBonus credit cards (which give 20-25 points per 100 DKK spent, and you have to get the Premium card to get level points).
I believe to have heard that BA Executive Club and Finnair Plus have some decent lifetime point schemes, and that Miles&More is less optimal now? I also wonder when EuroBonus will merge with Flying Blue - basically, just trying to wrap my head around which Alliance (and program) it would make sense to go with.
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc.
>>> Reply: Lounge access, baggage allowance, seat reservations - the passive things that make flying more enjoyable. I believe that having steady progress would be great, like lifetime points to keep status, compared to "x consecutive years", which can be tough if you fail to keep status for a single year.
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc.
>>> Reply: Around 25.000 miles, 15 flights (~4 long-haul), but slowly starting to fly more.
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply: Premium Economy, rarely Business
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: Travel for both, and I can choose airlines and class of service myself (mostly).
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: Mostly short-haul within Europe, with a few long-hauls each year for vacation/work/conferences (US, Asia)
6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: CPH, Denmark
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: Currently no status in any FFP, was putting miles into different programs, and as such was 88 XP away from Silver on Flying Blue last year (with 7.990 miles). Had 40 QP on Miles&More (160 lifetime QP), and 0 tier points on BA (472 lifetime tier points) with 1.805 Avios.
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: SAS, KLM, BRU
With about 10~12 short (cheap?) intra EU flights and 4 long hauls you will struggle to get meaningful status, even if all the flights with 1 airline(alliance). More ffp's are tending to revenue based programs. (~frequent spender programs)
A little off topic from your preferred airlines, but in the oneworld alliance QR, BA, IB IE & AY all use avios as the ff currency. Subject to t&c's (fine print) avios, but not status earnings, can be moved between these ffp's. To get status need to have a ff number in the reservation so all avios & status earning go one ffp (e.g. only BAC)
Lifetime status. Your lifetime or the the life of the ffp as it now is? The ffp rules will change. IMHO unless you can obtain life status in say 5 years, not worth considering when selecting a ffp. FFP's are not for the long term (they change too often).
Be careful about expiry
Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire
BA
FAQ : Best / Cheapest Ways to Save Expiring (after 36 months inactivity) Avios Points