Very poor, as pointed out repeatedly earlier in the thread.

Help needed!
 

Hi all,

I know this is the same as many other requests, but wanted to draw on your accumulated knowledge. Had Silver status with BMI, but with the BA merger I need a new programme. Most of my flying is with BA, but I still fly a bit with Star Alliance. It's all economy (unfortunately), but I'm not overly fussed about status/lounge access to be honest. I'm much more interested in decent earn/burn rates, limited taxes and miles not expiring.

From my research my main options are either UA, US or A3 (which would have the added benefit of relatively easy status).

I have a flight on Monday, so any advice before then much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

To summarize what's been discussed:

US: Probably best redemption rates of the lot (nothing close to BD's C+M). On the minus side, no one-way redemptions (for half miles). Credit card accrual in the UK only via SPG Amex card. Used to be easy to buy/win miles with promos.
UA: OK redemption rates (worse than US), but one-way redemptions available for half miles. UK credit card available with MBNA (1 mile/£)
A3: OK redemption rates, one-way redemptions available (for half miles), award bookings change/cancellation with penalty. Concerns about airline long term viability. No CC accrual.

Hopefully not missing anything.

A slight correction marwanb: on A3, the penalty for changing/cancelling award bookings is losing the miles and any YQ you have paid for those bookings.

If A3 would change this to a more sensible scheme (charge a fee for basic members to change/refund award bookings, a reduced fee for blue [silver], and free changes/refunds for gold) - and introduce some international miles earning credit cards and/or or points transfer from Amex MR and/or SPG - they would have a much more appealing scheme.

Probably worth adding that earning rates on A3 are much better than I had expected for travel in Y. Just as an exercise I looked up what I'd earn for four *A intra-Europe flights that I've got booked during the coming few weeks (including a couple on A3, as it happens).

The flights are all in cheap economy and were set to earn me a grand total of 531 miles with M&M (including the "executive bonus" for one LH-operated segment). With A3 they'll bring me 3,020 miles -- enough to reach *S once added to the 1,000-miles sign-up bonus. :)

Please suggest a new *A programme for me
 

I now fly longhaul only occasionally. Mostly in discounted business class (Z on most airlines, but occasionally D). Usual carriers would be LX or SK as their fares ex-UK are best, but sometimes TK is good to the Far East.

We fly to Turkey quite regularly though.

We earn most of our miles via a credit card these days :(

I'm not so worried about status as I don't fly enough to really benefit or retain it. (would be nice though)

Main goal is therefore mileage accumulation. A UK-based credit card is essential.

I have looked at the various *A programmes and I am surprised to say that Miles & More looks best for me - even though Z class will only earn at 1.5x miles from Sept 2012.

Aegean - no UK credit card it seems, and I can't read Greek to understand the site.

United - seems to have very poor earning rates

Turkish - earning rates on M&M seem to be better, even on TK flights! But no mileage earning on Z class flights (is this a business class code on TK?? or is it the class for redemptions in their Premium Economy class?).
There seems to be a credit card but the link does not work today. Mrs FD is Turkish so setting up a Turkish bank account to get the card would be possible if there is no UK based one.

So for us it looks like TK Miles & Smiles or LH M&M.

Spending rates seem less generous on M&M, but this might be balanced up by more generous earning from flying.

Am I missing something?

Given our particular circumstances, what is the collective wisdom of the group as to what's best for us?
Open to suggestions for other programmes too!

Thanks in advance

If you haven't seen it already, this might be a good place to start: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/bmi-d...dc-you-33.html

For those who have not joined or are not following A3 - the latest (genuine) enhancement to Miles&Bonus is that award bookings can now be changed or cancelled up to 30mins before departure.

A3 seems to become more like the best replacement for DC every day. One-way redemptions are available. Non-Greek Credit Card miles earning and household account/family miles transfer are just about the only two things missing from this programme.

Follow the discussion on the A3 board...

UA or US for new *Alliance FFP?
 

Hi there

I know this is a topic that is very well discussed, but I'm still in a loop regarding which FFP to transfer to.

My thoughts are:
- A3 or OZ for status
- UA or US for banking and redemption

I fly solely in Y, around the 50,000 miles per year mark.

I am a little put off by UA's own metal requirement, but I suppose if I have A3 for status, that won't matter (OK, won't get upgrades or Y+, but not really bothered about that).

I thought of TK, but have had bad experiences with them in the past.

Any thoughts? I have some miles that I need to credit retrospectively, so will need to make my mind up!

Thanks

LHR*G

Well discussed is right. That's why everyone else used the same thread...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/bmi-d...ce-dc-you.html

Where to post my *A travel to now?
 

The only *A airline I'm a member of is BMI

Most of my earning was / is via the BMI CC. I'm quite happy for the balance to move to my Avios account when the time comes.(again Avios miles mostly generated from BA Amex CC spend)

I have some upcoming travel on TG / SQ / UL / MH - mostly in business mid-haul apart from SQ in F long-haul. (you can probably guess where I'm traveling from:p)

Question is - which airlines / alliances should I be posting my miles to for these flights - are their any sign-up bonuses etc I need to know about?

Thanks

I'm sure there's a thread about that somewhere that this will get merged into, but until then...

Is it earn and burn, or lounge access that matters?

Since *S usually only gets you into the lounge of the programme owner then if you want lounge access but won't reach *G it would make sense to credit to whoever will have most lounges where you're travelling to/from.

Indeed there is ;)

When paying cash for tickets I usually fly in Bus or First so would already have lounge access - earn and burn is more important to me

I'd look at United, US Airways and the new kid on the block Avianca/Taca Lifemiles (which offers interesting cash+miles options)