stick with AP only or split in two programs?
 

Hello,

In my previous job, I rarely had to go outside Canada and when I had to, it was easy to pick star-a partners and get the points on AP so I was able to reach 150+k miles per year. Now, I just accepted a new job that should bring me all over the world (Europe, middle-east, South Africa, South America, Asia, everywhere). My question is, would it be preferable to stick with AC and reach the treshild bonus levels or is it better to split in two and try to reach top levels on both ( let's say Delta and AC)?

Thanks

*A can't get you everywhere. If I were you , I would pick one FFP from each alliance.

Ya...but would Delta be the one??? Not the best airline in NA

If you are expecting to do 150,000+ miles, I would try to reach highest tier in one program (e.g. SE) and then the equvalent of "gold" status in one of the other alliance carriers that you will fly most often that fills the gap of your "prime" alliance (or possibly something like Emirates if you want/need to route through Dubai frequently).

Depending on where you need to go, it doesn't really need to be DL (for ST) or AA (for OW) that you fly on. Given that you expect to fly internationally, on ST you might do a lot of travel on AF, KL or KE, while on OW you might end up flying BA, LA or JL.

So look at the two alliances' coverage (especially relative to your expected travel patterns!) and how their programs look (upgrades on partner airlines? probably not). But the hard product doesn't need to be that of AA or DL, you will have other choices in each alliance.

I split between CO and AC this year. Simple choice - lots of US flying, free upgrades! ^ I have looked into other alliances - however *A flies to 99% of the places I go - and to split would be too much of an effort. Especially since AC offers a reasonable programme as far as upgrades go (used to be better, but still).

you know your trade off would be the RTW redemptions right?

Right now its day 5.... i issued my RTW and my friend who is duplicating my booking (cause we found 2 seats for my whole trip except 1 segment)..... UA (future CO) blocks every single flight operated by another carrier on my itinerary.... 10 calls ending up nowhere!

ex-Canada, BA has the most going to Europe and CX has the most going to Asia in terms of not having to re-route via the U.S.

I'm in Delta ffp.. not by choice.. booked a drop dead low rate Christmas Break YYC to MCO $320 tax in. Now I'm needing to decide if its worth it to keep flying with Delta.

Depending on where you fly and where you live, DL can be a good option as a supplement to *A. My experience is that international business class tickets are often as much as half the cost of AC, and 75% of other *A carriers. That being said, new employer does not allow bus class travel unless using upgrades, so my transition to AC is underway... with rollover miles on DL I will still get silver for 2012 down from gold this year, but most of these miles will be on KLM and Aeroflot within Europe. Broke down and joined OW with Qantas just recently - should have been on it long ago for internal Australian flights, but kept thinking I would not be going back. With S7 on OW now, the access to odd points in Russia just opened up...

Perhaps your best option might be reviewing if AC SE program is your best option.
Either way its nice to have some status when you have to fly other alliances, and you can usually get a comp first year to a status that give you some perks..

I'm not sure where you are based. KLM worked for me out of YYZ. Their gold status gives you access to DL lounges for free when traveling in the US with DL. KLM is pretty good about offering op-ups to AMS from YYZ for their gold and platinum members. I received upgrades to both J (off-season when the loads are lower) and their premium economy (more leg room) in the summer. You do have to watch your fares in the US with DL as often you will only get 25% of your points.