I'm going to be taking quite a few AC flights in the next year. Does it matter if I use my United mileage number or sign up for an AC number? Would I get status in both programs or only the one that I used miles for? Most likely I'd use the miles in the United program, but would like to have status for my flights.

Thanks,

NW Traveler

Welcome to FT.

While you can sign up for both programs, you can only assign miles to one program.

As for status, AC has a lower threshold for Star Alliance Gold (Aeroplan Elite), but only if the Aeroplan program is going to work for you.

How much flying do you expect to do (both segments and miles) in each of 2010 and 2011 on each AC and UA? Will it even be enough to gain status on either? What kinds of fares are you planning on purchasing? Will you be flying mostly with the US, within Canada, transborder, or international?

If you will fly Tango on AC then you don't have to worry about gaining status on either AC or UA. Please provide more information so that we can advise you better.

BTW, welcome to FT!

It's best to think of them as completely separate programs. The earning tables are different, the value of the points is different, the status thresholds are different, and the redemption tables are different.

That they're in the same alliance means in both cases you can earn on any *A flight and redeem for any *A flight. It also means if you reach status on one then you get certain benefits on any *A carrier. But only certain benefits are alliance-wide (lounge access, priority boarding and checkin, not much else -- notably not upgrades).

So you have to pick one to concentrate all the points on one or the other. But you need to evaluate which program will earn you the most free flights and reach status with your flying to decide which one. And you have to check whether there are benefits you want from one that aren't available on the other.

Thank you for the advice. That makes sense. I expect that I'll hit or come pretty close to hitting the 25K level, and most of those flights will be on AC. Sounds like I need to look at both programs in detail.

If you only plan to hit 25K then stay with UA/MP. You'll earn Premier status as soon as you fly 25K no matter when during the year you cross this mark. With AC/AE you must wait until the following year to get the benefits of status. In Mileage Plus this means earning a 50% bonus of mileage flown on UA, US, CO, LH and even AC. And access to E+ seating on UA flights and maybe an upgrade or two on UA flights with few other MP elites on them. However, if there's any chance of going over 25K then seriously consider AE as you would get Elite/STARGold immediately (if by mid-October) after hitting 35K, much less than the 50K required with MP but most important this includes lounge access even when flying UA, CO or US within the USA, a benefit not included in STARGold benefits offered under the FF programs of the three American carriers (unless you are connecting to an overseas flight).

hey nw_traveler! i'm based in bos and travel a few times a year to china. must of my coworkers fly united with a mileageplus, but i decided to go with aeroplan. why? 1) my in-laws are in toronto, so with the miles i accrue, i can travel with my wife there on aeromiles. 2) i can get r/t tickets for as low as 15K miles to toronto, but the "fees" are high, about $150-200/ticket. 3) the threshold for *A gold status i 35K instead of 50K on united. that means i'll have free *A lounge access, along with other perks. i don't think i'l hit 50k, so using my united # won't get me to gold.

you should also think about how you plan on using your reward miles. i think it costs more aeroplan miles to travel exclusively in the US, so it's a bit hard for me to use miles when i just need to get somewhere here. i plan on saving them instead for longer trips to asia/europe, with a connection in yyz.

good luck!