Newbie question - is AA best for me?
Nov 1, 2014, 9:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 9
Newbie question - is AA best for me?
Hello,
As I don't travel that much by air, i'd like to stick to one airline program if possible starting next year. I am based in LAX, and fly about 3-4 times a year to Asia(Shanghai, Tokyo, HK), and another 1-2 times to Europe. Probably 2-3 to east coast, and that's pretty much it. Would AA benefit me the most? I am really trying to choose between AA and UA.
As I don't travel that much by air, i'd like to stick to one airline program if possible starting next year. I am based in LAX, and fly about 3-4 times a year to Asia(Shanghai, Tokyo, HK), and another 1-2 times to Europe. Probably 2-3 to east coast, and that's pretty much it. Would AA benefit me the most? I am really trying to choose between AA and UA.
Nov 1, 2014, 9:23 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Daly City, CA
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat, Turkish Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 186
I think AA could be a good option give UA is going revenue based reward next year but AA is not
Nov 1, 2014, 9:24 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,527
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
In what class of service would you be flying to Asia? Certain fare classes on AA partners CX and JL earn less than 100% of flown miles.
What type of redemptions would you be seeking from your accumulated miles?
In what class of service would you be flying to Asia? Certain fare classes on AA partners CX and JL earn less than 100% of flown miles.
What type of redemptions would you be seeking from your accumulated miles?
Nov 1, 2014, 9:33 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 9
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In what class of service would you be flying to Asia? Certain fare classes on AA partners CX and JL earn less than 100% of flown miles.
What type of redemptions would you be seeking from your accumulated miles?
In what class of service would you be flying to Asia? Certain fare classes on AA partners CX and JL earn less than 100% of flown miles.
What type of redemptions would you be seeking from your accumulated miles?
Nov 1, 2014, 9:42 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,527
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Most of the trips will be economy class as I have to pay all those travels myself as a small business owner.
Google "AAdvantage Cathay" and "AAdvantage JAL" to get an idea of which Economy fare classes do and do not earn 100% flown mileage in AAdvantage.
Originally Posted by Letian Xie
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
In what class of service would you be flying to Asia? Certain fare classes on AA partners CX and JL earn less than 100% of flown miles.
What type of redemptions would you be seeking from your accumulated miles?
In what class of service would you be flying to Asia? Certain fare classes on AA partners CX and JL earn less than 100% of flown miles.
What type of redemptions would you be seeking from your accumulated miles?
Nov 1, 2014, 9:54 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 9
Nov 1, 2014, 9:59 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Newbie question - is AA best for me?
wait ... you don't travel much by air ... only 5-6 trips to Europe or Asia plus some transcons? huh?
Nov 1, 2014, 10:27 pm
#9
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
You might earn no to partial AA miles on JAL and Cathay, but full miles on AA codeshares.
AA flies to your Asia destinations (new DFW-HKG flight) as well as to PEK, PVG, NRT, HND. Doug Parker seems wuite bullish on China.
The AA -US merger means more European destination.
Flying a Platinum challenge (10,000 points, not miles,) earns you a shortcut to AAdvantage Platinum status - double redeemable miles, oneworld lounge access even if you're fling in coach, etc.
AA flies to your Asia destinations (new DFW-HKG flight) as well as to PEK, PVG, NRT, HND. Doug Parker seems wuite bullish on China.
The AA -US merger means more European destination.
Flying a Platinum challenge (10,000 points, not miles,) earns you a shortcut to AAdvantage Platinum status - double redeemable miles, oneworld lounge access even if you're fling in coach, etc.
Nov 1, 2014, 10:32 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,987
That is a reasonable amount of air travel More than some/many others on FT do
Edit
Another post by Letian Xie here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23776864-post280.html
Stay with AA and OneWorld alliance . With AA executive card may already be an AAdvantage member, but not know it
Edit
Another post by Letian Xie here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23776864-post280.html
Stay with AA and OneWorld alliance . With AA executive card may already be an AAdvantage member, but not know it
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Nov 1, 2014 at 10:53 pm
Nov 1, 2014, 10:47 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 9
I forgot to add, I do have the citi AA executive card that gives priority check in and AA lounge access. So my "best" will be more towards upgrades and millage earning..
Nov 1, 2014, 10:59 pm
#12
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
It won't get you lounge access at Beijing, Haneda, Hong Kong, Shanghai or other locations without lounge access, but it will give you two miles per dollar spent on aa.com if I recall.
Nov 2, 2014, 12:01 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,742
And lots of options for the flights, themselves. PVG, NRT, HKG? You're covered.
Nov 2, 2014, 6:58 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
By my reckoning, it's somewhat borderline depending on the cities and routings (and definitely won't happen at the lower end of the OP's range, 3 Asia + 1 Europe + 2 transcons). Even at the high end, OP might need to do a mileage run or two to make 100K.
Nov 2, 2014, 10:59 am
#15
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Yes, AA will be a great choice for you. With that flying, you'll be EXP, OneWorld Emerald. Double BIS miles plus eight SWUs annually. IMO you'll do better on AA than on any competitor because AAdvantage is the only major carrier FFP which awards miles based on BIS miles flown with no factor for spend.
