Moving to DUB
 

Now in MAD, heading to DUB. Currently Star Gold (with JK) with travel to Asia and North America on LH and US.

Unfortunately, JK doesn't fly to DUB (except for weekly flights to Lanzarote, Las Palmas and Malaga), so I'll have to re-think my Frequent Flyer affiliation.

- OneWorld would have been the obvious choice, but without Aer Lingus, it is no longer that obvious. In any case, I dread connecting in LHR (maybe the situation will improve when T5 is operational). One AA flight to ORD.

- SkyTeam has mumerous AF/KL flights to CDG/AMS to connect to Asia. Also DL and CO flights to USA.

- Star Alliance has best connection for Europe (with BD, LO, LH, LX, SK). No US destinations except PHL during the summer.

I am currently leaning towards Flying Blue.
Do you think you'll comp me over?

As a SkyTeam member living in DUB I used OK or AF for all my intra-European flying. KL has codeshare with EI but no own flights (will probably change soon). AF also flyes with cityjet DUB-LCY which can be useful at times, especially when cashing in your miles and the feeders from DUB are full (DUB-LCY-AMS possible instead for example). West coast fares are often low but also will have restrictions limiting connections in mainland Europe.

I suggest you get yourself a Bank of Ireland Gold visa card - this will get you Aer Lingus lounge access... it's hard to avoid EI exDUB when FR is the major competitor. That's for comfort. Now let's look at status...

If you mostly fly Y...
An AAdvantage card seems like a good idea and some EI fares will continue to earn miles as a partner. But then there's the problem with BA TATL fares. Could be tough to maintain status unless you go to the US a lot.

KL is definitely an option... and AF just serves to increase the possibilities (personally avoid CDG like the plague). However, the rumours of KL's entry to the market with those Avros run by WX seem premature to me. Still AMS is a good place to connect and travelling time is about the same as (and often considerably shorter than) LHR. And KL prices well exDUB.

*A: Just FYI LO is dropping its DUB service in the autumn. And TATL services are non-existant without connecting in LHR/FRA/ZRH/CPH. bmi is a nice airline and good connections are available at LHR. LX also prices very competively and is a super airline. bmi's Diamond Club is very generous in Y - and makes it worth while staying with *A for many in DUB.

We've all suffered in the last few years exDUB, as it is hard to keep one single FF strategy, unless you have a very narrow range of destinations. You have a choice to make: alliance status with good mileage but connections and associated problems OR EI status, direct flights but fewer mileage opportunities and a pi** poor redemption table.

If you travel in premium cabins...
Avoid EI like the plague.
AA still is not stellar given the limitations.
KL/AF still makes some sense.
LH M&M is very generous to the premium flyer, though BD's 55K+ system of doubling miles erodes this quickly for the frequent flyer -you'll need to do the maths to see which might serve you better.

If you travel a mix of cabins, like I do, with some personal expenditure as well as for work, then for my money I'd go with BD's DC, as *G status is easy to retain at 38K and the benefits are useful.

You'll get a comp from most any non*A airline for your JK*G. However, bmi won't typically comp from another *A programme. You could earn you way up to BD*G while running down your JK. Or you could launder your way over by getting a comp with another airline and then comp that over to BD. (beware of this, as comps tend to be a once-off matter, and sometimes the airline wants to see a statement with real activity).

Nonetheless, it never hurts to ask, especially if you point out that you are moving from Spain to DUB, that EI is a load of nonsense - and that BA is the likely winner if bmi doesn't step in... some kind soul with responsibility for Ireland might just see sense (address the letter to Dave Walsh at bmi Dublin ;) )

Thanks for the comments!

US has started flying direct DUB-PHL year round.
You can also always take the short hop on BD to LHR (ugh) and fly UA.

Is this still available? I can't seem to find any info about this on the Bank of Ireland or on the Aer Lingus Internet site. Only lounge access with EI or any flight?

Info on the card here. EI flights only.

If you want general acces then you might consider Priority Pass (also included with the AIB Card).