I'm a long-term SE, Ottawa based, flying typically 130-180k per year. My flying is a mix of transcontinental domestic (30%), transborder (20%), transatlantic (50%) and the occasional transpacific. Particularly within Europe, I've found myself recently on random non-StarAlliance flights, and without lounge access . I wonder if there are others in my boat who comfortably make SE, with enough to spare for at least 2nd tier status on another airline, and whether they just bank it all on AC for the bonus miles, or shift over to another alliance, and if so, who and why?

TM

Do you use all your AP miles for family and friends? Are the miles and IKK more important than lounge access when flying non *A?
Answer that, then you will have your answer.

It would depend on how randomly spread over other alliances the non Star flights are. If it's just for lounge access perhaps Priority Pass would suffice.

i would post to UA,so you get E+ seating when flyiinng ua

... and where do you fly in Europe? ST is IMHO stronger in Europe than OW, with AF, KL and AZ, plus some smaller airlines, whereas OW is heavily reliant on BA and thereby (ugh) LHR. I generally fly KL in Europe, but for Asia, *A has a much stronger network than ST.

I don't know yet for certain whether I'll make SE this year, but given that I'll hit 50K next month, it does seem likely. And I expect to be PE on NW as well, so I may have the full benefits on both airlines.

But since you're in Ottawa, I would also suggest evaluating the European connections on the two alliances -- maybe OW will end up being better for you than for me.

Yes. My secondary program is BA, and that works for me due to trips to LGW for work on a regular basis. It really depends where you will be flying to- AF/KL have a strong network- but the FlyingBlue program is not necessarily the best- the answer may be to get a NW worldperks card- although for lounge access you need PL with a NW which requires 75K a year- and if you go for the FB card you only need 50K. As others have mentioned- if it is just lounge access you are looking for go ahead and get a Priority Pass card. Also- STAR is pretty good in Europe- considering you have LH/LX/OS/BD/LO etc giving you great coverage of Europe. One last point- if you are flying business class within Europe definitely credit your miles to MilesandMore- not AC. With AC you get 500 miles plus a bonus for business of 125 miles- total 625. With Milesandmore you get 2000 miles per segment in business- which really adds up quickly.

This thread is really risking going off topic but I'm actually wondering what I should do. I'm at least temporarily based on Beijing now, but will fly to Toronto at least every 2 months or so. I've just about requalified for SE 2009 () and I'm wondering if I should be crediting elsewhere. Lately I've been using RTW fares in C. The threshold gifts are nice and all, but I would rather have upgrades and better treatment on other airlines. I've noticed that many of the other Star airlines just don't give a crap about *G, paid C passengers from other airlines. Not nice. Considering that I have between 150k and 300k of travel to credit elsewhere, which ones will get me better treatment (ie: concierge, priority waitlist, etc), and upgrades? In particular I'm thinking about UA (for E+? I only fly them one route internationally and it's in F anyway), SQ, NH, LH. Which of those are most complementary to AC status?

If you do a lot of C/F flights how about SQ's PPS Club, which is based on $$ spent: http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...outpps/pps.jsp

Since PPS is not mileage based, you would probably be able to park your remaining miles in yet another program.

I tried reading what was on their site and didn't really see much spectacular about it. What does it get me? Also how does it work for RTW fares?

Don't know how it works on RTWs and I don't know much about the program. You'd need to ask YYZPrincess. It seemed like a reasonable way to get better service from an airline, while still leaving some flexibility to get status on another.

Best mileage accural, if you're flying paid Business (or higher), are bmi's Diamond Club, and Lufthansa's Miles & More.

LH offers 2X miles for most business class fares and 3X for first. Taxes on awards are high though.

bmi 2X miles for business (1.5 for AC/SQ/SA), and 3X miles for first. But after gold requalification, bmi's accural can up to 4.25X miles for business and 6.25X miles for first. bmi offers one way awards and a 'cash & points' option. Fuel surcharges and taxes are also high on BD, but if you collect on AC you're already used to that.

UA's program benefits the Economy or Upgraded customer. Mileage accural on UA favours flying only UA metal, offering 100% bonus miles on UA flights and LH codeshares TO USA (similar to AC's bonus on AC only metal)

SQ PPS is not part of their mileage program, but a set of loyalty levels based on paid business and first on SQ flights only. You can collect PPS credit even if you award points to another program. Miles can be collected in any Star Alliance member, and PPS credit can be registered simultaneously. The flight must be a SQ operated and SQ ticketed flight (codeshares do not count).

Until they (hopefully don't) become one program. DC is a pretty great program (one of the best, apparently) for redemption rates (haven't tried booking yet), and some of their promos lately have been pretty amazing. I signed up myself and my girlfriend for it, although now I hear the rumours of a LH buyout... and how that's a little less than promising for the future of DC.