Which FF program to replace DC for you?
#376
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: zurich
Programs: Miles&Smiles Gold
Posts: 509
#377
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: AMS
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 1,849
While they are basically the same for Europe and N. America, once you start looking at redemptions from Europe to elsewhere in the world, US is much better. On the down side, one-way awards are not half the miles of a return award. I'm still mulling over which *A FFP will replace DC for me - but don't have any flights lined up at the moment so no great rush.
#378
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Platinum; IHG Diamond-Amb.; Meli/HH/Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,500
I use both. US has a cheaper redemption chart for return trips, is good for stopovers and allows outrageous open jaws. They also have some great off-peak redemption rates for TATL C on their own metal (although I've never taken advantage of that). UA's plus point is affordable one way redemptions.
#379
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, ex-BD Gold, SPG Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 2,040
I am deciding between US and UA, as with the demise of the BD/UN partnership (and indeed BD entirely) and other personal changes most of my *A travel in the future is likely to be transatlantic. While the more favorable US redemption rates are appealing, and I have 55,000 legacy miles on US I have been trying [unsuccesfully] to spend, the more favorable treatment of 1W awards and free upgrades to E+ for high-status passengers on UA may be a deciding factor. I have admittedly had good success getting into E+ on recent domestic short-haul flights on UA as a BD *G, but these were on fully-booked domestic US short-haul flights around holiday time. I have historically booked most of my award flights as 1W, for the combination of greater flexibility and the sheer difficulty of finding matching outbound and return flights on the same airline/partners; with enough miles in programs in two-three alliances, it is easier to mix & match with award availability, particularly if trying to book J on specific dates.
#381
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routires, PCR
Posts: 13,609
If you mean the AA/MBNA offer, the link from americanairlines.co.uk is very clearly for the UK. There's a clue in the URL.
Clicking on 'Apply Now' leads to the MBNA application page.
#382
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LHR
Programs: BA OW Silver, Aegean *A Gold, Intercon Ambassador Gold, EY Gold
Posts: 249
No, I meant the Starwood one which can pump points into US dividend miles.
Has anyone looked at ANA - we use the tool a lot - is the points scheme any good as an alternative to DC?
I am coming to the conclusion that BAEC and VS are going to be my focus - just looking at my past earnings - its been through years of weekly domestic BMI travel in Y, CC spend and then most long haul has been to JNB with VS in C.
I am going to miss this game....
Has anyone looked at ANA - we use the tool a lot - is the points scheme any good as an alternative to DC?
I am coming to the conclusion that BAEC and VS are going to be my focus - just looking at my past earnings - its been through years of weekly domestic BMI travel in Y, CC spend and then most long haul has been to JNB with VS in C.
I am going to miss this game....
#383
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SXB
Programs: FB Silver, BA Silver, BD Gold rememberer, IHG Diamond Royal Ambassador, Hilton and Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,584
Awards flights redemptions are calculated according to distance, not zone.
There might be some opportunity, but I am not sure it's really advantageous. I found it wasn't really attractive overall.
#384
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, UK
Programs: BD Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 13
Quick question - I'm heading over to Aeroplan as I do most of my flying on AC anyway. I have a trip in 2 weeks to SJO via YYZ - I've got my fingers crossed my BD*G card will still get me lounge access but I also want to use the trip to earn miles with Aeroplan.
Therefore, can I still use by BD card for benefits (assuming they're still intact!) and have my Aeroplan number in the booking to credit the miles to?
Therefore, can I still use by BD card for benefits (assuming they're still intact!) and have my Aeroplan number in the booking to credit the miles to?
#385
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,405
Yes. Should be OK. Certainly for lounge access: showing your card would be OK as long as *A benefits are still available to DC Golds.
#386
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: OZ Silver, BA Gold, EK Silver, SPG/Marriot Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 154
#387
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,668
I've looked into them as I fly on their planes, but it's not that good. Accrual is 50%-150% of miles flown depending on fare (usually 125% in business). Unless you fly ANA much, you can't make their top-tier elite level, so you'll have to settle for the *G level with a 100% mileage bonus on ANA/United flights only.
Awards flights redemptions are calculated according to distance, not zone.
There might be some opportunity, but I am not sure it's really advantageous. I found it wasn't really attractive overall.
Awards flights redemptions are calculated according to distance, not zone.
There might be some opportunity, but I am not sure it's really advantageous. I found it wasn't really attractive overall.
#388
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SXB
Programs: FB Silver, BA Silver, BD Gold rememberer, IHG Diamond Royal Ambassador, Hilton and Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,584
And I share your concerns about SK (not I don't trust what have been said by others about earnings, but I can't decipher their online presentation.
http://www.flysas.com/en/fr/EuroBonu...irlines/SWISS/
"F, A, J, C, D, Z, P" earning a minimum of 1200 miles doesn't mean that business is 200% and First 300% to me. If changes are introduced in the future, and this presentation is kept, it will be very difficult to track. Plus, the earning table doesn't look attractive either.
The more I think about it, the more A3 seems to be the main contender (with the caveat to burn miles quickly, one never knows, but that was true of BMI also).
The TAM programme is clearly explained, but I can't figure if it's attractive. Looks like it's aimed at Eco travelers as there's nearly no cos bonus, and redemption look therefore cheap for them. If I read their charts correctly, an Economy ticket within Europe earns you 1,500 points (if you're Red level), regardless of fare, and you need 80,000 points for a first class redemption Europe->Asia (or 60,000 during low season). It's strange.
Not that it matters a lot if they end up in 1W also...
http://www.flysas.com/en/fr/EuroBonu...irlines/SWISS/
"F, A, J, C, D, Z, P" earning a minimum of 1200 miles doesn't mean that business is 200% and First 300% to me. If changes are introduced in the future, and this presentation is kept, it will be very difficult to track. Plus, the earning table doesn't look attractive either.
The more I think about it, the more A3 seems to be the main contender (with the caveat to burn miles quickly, one never knows, but that was true of BMI also).
The TAM programme is clearly explained, but I can't figure if it's attractive. Looks like it's aimed at Eco travelers as there's nearly no cos bonus, and redemption look therefore cheap for them. If I read their charts correctly, an Economy ticket within Europe earns you 1,500 points (if you're Red level), regardless of fare, and you need 80,000 points for a first class redemption Europe->Asia (or 60,000 during low season). It's strange.
Not that it matters a lot if they end up in 1W also...
Last edited by Richelieu; Apr 19, 2012 at 8:58 am
#390
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,143
And I share your concerns about SK (not I don't trust what have been said by others about earnings, but I can't decipher their online presentation.
http://www.flysas.com/en/fr/EuroBonu...irlines/SWISS/
"F, A, J, C, D, Z, P" earning a minimum of 1200 miles doesn't mean that business is 200% and First 300% to me. If changes are introduced in the future, and this presentation is kept, it will be very difficult to track. Plus, the earning table doesn't look attractive either.
http://www.flysas.com/en/fr/EuroBonu...irlines/SWISS/
"F, A, J, C, D, Z, P" earning a minimum of 1200 miles doesn't mean that business is 200% and First 300% to me. If changes are introduced in the future, and this presentation is kept, it will be very difficult to track. Plus, the earning table doesn't look attractive either.