Which FF program to replace DC for you?
Jan 31, 2012, 10:21 pm
#226
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Programs: AA Plat, Sixt Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis First, Caesars TR Diamond, Mlife Gold
Posts: 4,928
Jan 31, 2012, 10:52 pm
#227
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: BCN-BUE-PSA-GRU
Programs: BA Gold - A3 Gold - FB Gold - IHG Plat - SPG Gold -Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 1,581
Anyway, am I missing something about redemption ammounts? Check here a LH flight in business class: 184.000 miles
https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/use/par/parairluf.aspx
Also Iberia: https://www.lifemiles.com/esp/use/par/parairibe.aspx
Feb 1, 2012, 1:30 am
#228
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Programs: *A "Top 1000 2015", FB Lifetime Plat.; BA Silver; Ma; Hilton Diamond.rriott Gold
Posts: 498
?I don't expect to always succeed in using them on my desired flights, though careful research as to which days/flights have most availability improves chances
. Note one can't book into the very cheapest booking classes though, so if you are constrained to always doing this then it's less useful, but there is still a reasonable range. There are of course also many more possible flights to use them on. You also get CR1s (even as Platinum with a qualification of 75k miles) which can be used within region 1 (North America). They also have unlimited domestic upgrades, but these are relatively scarcer and depend a lot of status, fare class etc, but again I've had reasonably good op-ups on these. CO also has time of purchase auto-upgrades from M fares which I've used at least once.
Feb 1, 2012, 1:49 pm
#229
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Regional Vic, Australia
Programs: BAEC Gold, UA*G, former BD*LG :-(
Posts: 250
Feb 2, 2012, 6:57 pm
#230
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Programs: AA Plat, Sixt Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis First, Caesars TR Diamond, Mlife Gold
Posts: 4,928
Well.... many things. The price of the miles, the absense of Family membership and so on...
Anyway, am I missing something about redemption ammounts? Check here a LH flight in business class: 184.000 miles
https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/use/par/parairluf.aspx
Also Iberia: https://www.lifemiles.com/esp/use/par/parairibe.aspx
Anyway, am I missing something about redemption ammounts? Check here a LH flight in business class: 184.000 miles
https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/use/par/parairluf.aspx
Also Iberia: https://www.lifemiles.com/esp/use/par/parairibe.aspx
Feb 2, 2012, 11:35 pm
#231
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: China
Posts: 817
I re-qualified BD*G for the period Jan 2012 - Jan 2013. I have a flight coming up that will push me over 38,000 miles, thus re-qualifying me for Jan 2013 - Jan 2014.
What is the chance if Diamond Club converts to BA or LH, that my status on those programs will be (1) carried over and (2) valid to Jan 2014?
What is the chance if Diamond Club converts to BA or LH, that my status on those programs will be (1) carried over and (2) valid to Jan 2014?
Feb 3, 2012, 3:32 pm
#232
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: London (UK), Wellington (NZ)
Programs: AirNZ AP *GE, Aegean *G, BMI Gold, BA Exec club Gold, UA MP, QFF
Posts: 303
I re-qualified BD*G for the period Jan 2012 - Jan 2013. I have a flight coming up that will push me over 38,000 miles, thus re-qualifying me for Jan 2013 - Jan 2014.
What is the chance if Diamond Club converts to BA or LH, that my status on those programs will be (1) carried over and (2) valid to Jan 2014?
What is the chance if Diamond Club converts to BA or LH, that my status on those programs will be (1) carried over and (2) valid to Jan 2014?
Feb 4, 2012, 1:58 pm
#233
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 5
As for the LH status match, it sounds unlikely based on post 414 on pg 28 over here.
Finally, one question I've not seen asked/answered (and it may be a really dumb one) -- when will we lose our *A privileges? As soon as the sale goes through? So, presumably, by 31 March? I'm not much of an airline historian -- how quickly does the "divorce process" proceed?
Thanks!
Mike
Feb 5, 2012, 10:37 am
#234
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Paris & HK
Programs: UA MM, CX Diamond, LH Senator, BA Gold, Hyatt Courtesy
Posts: 250
Sorry about that!
I am Star Gold with three carriers (BD, LH, lifetime UA) and OW Emerald with two (CX, MA) so I think I can add my opinion here in terms of comparing the two alliances.
First of all no program out there will beat DC's earn/burn ratio. The program's generosity with M+C is fantastic as is the OW award for half the miles. And if you make it past the 55k threshold to the point you can earn 6x in F and 4x in business, nothing comes close to DC. So sad to see it go but we all knew it was coming sooner or later- I think most of us assumed it would be merged into M&M so the fact that it will probably merge into BAEC, came as a great surprise to me.
One person's ideal program wouldn't necessarily be the best for others depending on the fares paid. I can speak from the perspective of someone paying premium longhaul international fares.
If F and C are your principal fare basis, then M&M is the way to go in Star with 3x and 2x miles respectively. If those flights are on a LH family carrier (eg. Swiss) you earn another 25% executive bonus for a maximum of 3.25x which is the same as DC. However the burn rates in M&M are nowhere close to as low as DC, so make sure to try to take advantage of 50% mileage discounts on companion award tickets and 25% discounts on child tickets to compensate.
US has a decent Star program because the burn rates are quite low, but then again the earn rates are low too. However, US has buy one get one free mileage sales from time to time which make it ridiculously cheap to pick up 100,000 miles. So if you factor in those sales, the earn rates are pretty low overall.
In terms of a comparable program in OW to DC, only Malev would fit the bill since they offer about 3x and 2x for paid travel in F and C respectively. Emerald status (200,000 miles to earn Platinum in Malev's Duna Club) is easily attainable with a few first class long haul tickets and once platinum, you will earn a 25% base mile bonus on all OW flights similar to M&M (except the 25% is only good on LH family flights where as Malev gives the bonus to all OW flights). So a first class CDG-HKG flight nets me 29,500 miles each way.
CX is a terrible program in terms of Earn/Burn ratio. Why do I keep it? Because I mostly fly CX throughout the year and having Diamond status with Marco Polo gives me a lot of benefits in terms of excellent CX service on the ground, in the air, guaranteed seats with 24 hr notice on any CX flight and better award redemption availability. They really look after me as a Diamond member but as soon as I reach my Diamond status, all my remaining OW flights get credited to MA since I can mop up 3.25x miles in first, compared to 1.5x miles in first had I credited the flight to CX.
So for First and Business travelers, I would rate M&M the best after DC in Star and Malev the best in OW.
Second best in Star I would give to US where the earn rate is very good and they don't block star partner flights like UA does. UA's program is ridiculous when it comes to trying to booking premium award space on Star partners, so unless you fly primarily within the United States and you only want to fly UA on your hard earned free tickets, Mileage Plus is probably not for you.
First of all no program out there will beat DC's earn/burn ratio. The program's generosity with M+C is fantastic as is the OW award for half the miles. And if you make it past the 55k threshold to the point you can earn 6x in F and 4x in business, nothing comes close to DC. So sad to see it go but we all knew it was coming sooner or later- I think most of us assumed it would be merged into M&M so the fact that it will probably merge into BAEC, came as a great surprise to me.
One person's ideal program wouldn't necessarily be the best for others depending on the fares paid. I can speak from the perspective of someone paying premium longhaul international fares.
If F and C are your principal fare basis, then M&M is the way to go in Star with 3x and 2x miles respectively. If those flights are on a LH family carrier (eg. Swiss) you earn another 25% executive bonus for a maximum of 3.25x which is the same as DC. However the burn rates in M&M are nowhere close to as low as DC, so make sure to try to take advantage of 50% mileage discounts on companion award tickets and 25% discounts on child tickets to compensate.
US has a decent Star program because the burn rates are quite low, but then again the earn rates are low too. However, US has buy one get one free mileage sales from time to time which make it ridiculously cheap to pick up 100,000 miles. So if you factor in those sales, the earn rates are pretty low overall.
In terms of a comparable program in OW to DC, only Malev would fit the bill since they offer about 3x and 2x for paid travel in F and C respectively. Emerald status (200,000 miles to earn Platinum in Malev's Duna Club) is easily attainable with a few first class long haul tickets and once platinum, you will earn a 25% base mile bonus on all OW flights similar to M&M (except the 25% is only good on LH family flights where as Malev gives the bonus to all OW flights). So a first class CDG-HKG flight nets me 29,500 miles each way.
CX is a terrible program in terms of Earn/Burn ratio. Why do I keep it? Because I mostly fly CX throughout the year and having Diamond status with Marco Polo gives me a lot of benefits in terms of excellent CX service on the ground, in the air, guaranteed seats with 24 hr notice on any CX flight and better award redemption availability. They really look after me as a Diamond member but as soon as I reach my Diamond status, all my remaining OW flights get credited to MA since I can mop up 3.25x miles in first, compared to 1.5x miles in first had I credited the flight to CX.
So for First and Business travelers, I would rate M&M the best after DC in Star and Malev the best in OW.
Second best in Star I would give to US where the earn rate is very good and they don't block star partner flights like UA does. UA's program is ridiculous when it comes to trying to booking premium award space on Star partners, so unless you fly primarily within the United States and you only want to fly UA on your hard earned free tickets, Mileage Plus is probably not for you.
I just wanted to apologize for my absolutely TERRIBLE advice for recommending Malev's Duna Club program. I had no idea that they were on the brink of bankruptcy. That being said, I lost 350,000 miles, and combined with my immediate family members, we're all out about 950,000 miles.
Unless that is another OW airline picks up that program, which I highly, highly doubt.
Sorry for the bad advice regarding that one!
CDG 1K
Feb 6, 2012, 6:52 am
#235
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Platinum; IHG Diamond-Amb.; Meli/HH/Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,500
I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that you have our sympathy.A timely warning to us all not to be excessively squirrel-like (and to be cautious when it comes to FFPs run by airlines we don't know well).
Feb 6, 2012, 7:32 am
#236
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SIN 5 days out of 7
Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb
Posts: 5,505
Feb 6, 2012, 9:39 am
#237
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Programs: *A "Top 1000 2015", FB Lifetime Plat.; BA Silver; Ma; Hilton Diamond.rriott Gold
Posts: 498
I will miss this "cosy backwater" of FT too. S-N ratio here is very good -- in UA, very hard to find what one wants -- though it is often there if one perserveres ...
Feb 8, 2012, 9:17 am
#238
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 2,335
At the business travel show, representatives from Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa seemed to have little idea about next steps.
The Lufthansa rep was confident that Star Alliance would somehow address the hole that bmi leaves.
The Turkish rep said that her manager has been told to use his miles quickly.
The Lufthansa rep was confident that Star Alliance would somehow address the hole that bmi leaves.
The Turkish rep said that her manager has been told to use his miles quickly.
Feb 8, 2012, 9:39 am
#239
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,804
There is lots of useful real-world information on UA forums re. upgrading with SWUs and CR-1s. Some flights are almost impossible - there were 40 GS in economy on a recent SFO-LHR flight I was on. Forget about SFO-FRA and SFO-HKG. NRT flights from SFO very difficult. SYD flights are notoriously hard - plus the W fare that you need for SYD flights is almost $1000 - $1200 more expensive than the cheapest fares. So you pay a large entry fee for the SWU lottery - which you may or may not win.
Feb 8, 2012, 9:48 am
#240
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Europe
Programs: Mucci, BAEC Gold, Aegean Gold
Posts: 2,115
Of course I have a self-motivated reason, namely that I have a number of *A flights booked for March and am still sitting on bmi as my only *A carrier.
TIA.