I have been approached by both United and BMI to jump ship and be comped onto the Star Alliance programme.

I have had a good look at what I need out of the FD programme and cant imagine the things that mean the most to me staying when they get into bed with AF.

I cannot be alone on this and am already making plans for trips as far ahead as March 2004.

I dont like the way the AF programme seems to have a rule for everything and basically means you spend a lot of time trying to figure out whether you pay through the nose in order to qualify for benefits, where as FD is simple, you fly and you get miles, with bonus depending on your status.

The partner airline3s to me seem to be 2nd division players and although I have used CSA a few times, the rest I would not use.

The Star programme looks like they are going to target people like me who fly a lot and are prudent on what prices are paid on the flight. Although I own my company I always look very hard at the options to keep a cost down on travelling.

Now if I am thinking like this, so must many other customers and I can see KLM/AF locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

I am waiting for some paperwork to come through on the proposal from Star but I would guess that I will happily jump ship as long as I can earn miles, use these to upgrade on long haul and use the lounges

[This message has been edited by Steve Fenton (edited 10-23-2003).]