Which FF program to replace DC for you?
Nov 11, 2011, 1:30 am
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routires, PCR
Posts: 13,609
Anybody tried booking partner awards online with Diamond Club? 
I had a quick look at that blog and wondered if they had tried using BA Miles to book, er, BA flights instead of somewhat exotic flights with partners. I think not. There's a lot of bleating in the BA forum from people who are not BA frequent flyers trying to book non-BA flights from the US to the Far East via the Pacific using up their 'free' credit card miles. I guess this is more of the same.
I had a quick look at that blog and wondered if they had tried using BA Miles to book, er, BA flights instead of somewhat exotic flights with partners. I think not. There's a lot of bleating in the BA forum from people who are not BA frequent flyers trying to book non-BA flights from the US to the Far East via the Pacific using up their 'free' credit card miles. I guess this is more of the same.
Nov 14, 2011, 5:31 am
#92
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 94
I'd either just scrape Silver, or I'd end up paying extra on my work flights for upgrades to keep status, which is something I'd really not want to do (give up enough of my time flying round the world at the back of the plane - don't want to start paying for it too!)
With UA I'll at least get economy plus chucked in, and the chance to upgrade UA and *A flights with miles, neither I get currently...
Cheers
Jon
With UA I'll at least get economy plus chucked in, and the chance to upgrade UA and *A flights with miles, neither I get currently...
Cheers
Jon
Nov 14, 2011, 3:01 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,376
The only people who could possibly say that BAEC residents and even then cannot speak definitively for another 24 hours or so, when we see just how bad they have made the program. I cannot believe how positive some people are on this thread because some LHR based flights have been marginally reduced in value, and because tier points have been minimally increased on some flights.
Nov 14, 2011, 7:23 pm
#94
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Northern Italian Lakes
Programs: BA, *A, Hertz Goldstar, Mucci wannabee, Waitrose, safari Oleg
Posts: 1,545
yes, but the cost!!
Thank you northernstar84 for an excellent advice... US Airways doesn't look bad...
Europe-Australia in C costs 120.000 miles - less than on A3 (150.000), OZ (180.000), TK (150.000), M&M (185.000)
Once CP, I will get 250% miles on LH/UA/US in C... (still less than 425% on BD once 55K threshold was reached - but still more than on M&M - 225%)
Europe-Australia in C costs 120.000 miles - less than on A3 (150.000), OZ (180.000), TK (150.000), M&M (185.000)
Once CP, I will get 250% miles on LH/UA/US in C... (still less than 425% on BD once 55K threshold was reached - but still more than on M&M - 225%)
Nov 15, 2011, 12:12 am
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,793
Thank you northernstar84 for an excellent advice... US Airways doesn't look bad...
Europe-Australia in C costs 120.000 miles - less than on A3 (150.000), OZ (180.000), TK (150.000), M&M (185.000)
Once CP, I will get 250% miles on LH/UA/US in C... (still less than 425% on BD once 55K threshold was reached - but still more than on M&M - 225%)
Europe-Australia in C costs 120.000 miles - less than on A3 (150.000), OZ (180.000), TK (150.000), M&M (185.000)
Once CP, I will get 250% miles on LH/UA/US in C... (still less than 425% on BD once 55K threshold was reached - but still more than on M&M - 225%)
Nov 20, 2011, 12:13 pm
#96
Join Date: May 2008
Location: ARN
Posts: 3,482
I'm really in the blind whether I should stay with Star, or go to Oneworld or Scaryteam.
I was a loyal Scaryteam customer until Flying Blue April Fools Day, and I've been status matched back to silver, but I really don't know if I want to trust those guys with my miles.
BA or AA is another possibility, but most of my flying is on routes where Oneworld isn't a very good choice, and both BA and AA have crappy mileage for CX economy class.
I've also taken a look at eight different Star programs, and I've taken a hodgepodge of Star Alliance flights (on SK, LH, LX, TK, JK, CA, TG), plus some QR flights, that I may take next year, and those flights would give me the following mileage:
OZ: 36,533 miles
A3: 36,363
UA: 35,414
LH: 35,314
US: 31,701
TK: 29,624
TG: 27,220
AC: 23,798
It appears to me that my best choice would be to stick with A3 on all flights where they give mileage, which would give me 36,363 miles, and put the other flights (such as QR, which is not part of the A3-program), into UA (11,267 miles) or US (6991 miles).
I was a loyal Scaryteam customer until Flying Blue April Fools Day, and I've been status matched back to silver, but I really don't know if I want to trust those guys with my miles.
BA or AA is another possibility, but most of my flying is on routes where Oneworld isn't a very good choice, and both BA and AA have crappy mileage for CX economy class.
I've also taken a look at eight different Star programs, and I've taken a hodgepodge of Star Alliance flights (on SK, LH, LX, TK, JK, CA, TG), plus some QR flights, that I may take next year, and those flights would give me the following mileage:
OZ: 36,533 miles
A3: 36,363
UA: 35,414
LH: 35,314
US: 31,701
TK: 29,624
TG: 27,220
AC: 23,798
It appears to me that my best choice would be to stick with A3 on all flights where they give mileage, which would give me 36,363 miles, and put the other flights (such as QR, which is not part of the A3-program), into UA (11,267 miles) or US (6991 miles).
Nov 20, 2011, 4:39 pm
#97
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Anwhere ex-MAN
Programs: A3 *G, BA Silver
Posts: 2,706
I'm really in the blind whether I should stay with Star, or go to Oneworld or Scaryteam.
I was a loyal Scaryteam customer until Flying Blue April Fools Day, and I've been status matched back to silver, but I really don't know if I want to trust those guys with my miles.
BA or AA is another possibility, but most of my flying is on routes where Oneworld isn't a very good choice, and both BA and AA have crappy mileage for CX economy class.
I've also taken a look at eight different Star programs, and I've taken a hodgepodge of Star Alliance flights (on SK, LH, LX, TK, JK, CA, TG), plus some QR flights, that I may take next year, and those flights would give me the following mileage:
OZ: 36,533 miles
A3: 36,363
UA: 35,414
LH: 35,314
US: 31,701
TK: 29,624
TG: 27,220
AC: 23,798
It appears to me that my best choice would be to stick with A3 on all flights where they give mileage, which would give me 36,363 miles, and put the other flights (such as QR, which is not part of the A3-program), into UA (11,267 miles) or US (6991 miles).
I was a loyal Scaryteam customer until Flying Blue April Fools Day, and I've been status matched back to silver, but I really don't know if I want to trust those guys with my miles.
BA or AA is another possibility, but most of my flying is on routes where Oneworld isn't a very good choice, and both BA and AA have crappy mileage for CX economy class.
I've also taken a look at eight different Star programs, and I've taken a hodgepodge of Star Alliance flights (on SK, LH, LX, TK, JK, CA, TG), plus some QR flights, that I may take next year, and those flights would give me the following mileage:
OZ: 36,533 miles
A3: 36,363
UA: 35,414
LH: 35,314
US: 31,701
TK: 29,624
TG: 27,220
AC: 23,798
It appears to me that my best choice would be to stick with A3 on all flights where they give mileage, which would give me 36,363 miles, and put the other flights (such as QR, which is not part of the A3-program), into UA (11,267 miles) or US (6991 miles).
2) Good working out of the earning rates - now how does it compare for burning. Say a J class rtn to HKG from LHR?
Nov 20, 2011, 11:33 pm
#98
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
The thing is that I fly with US Airways (from time to time), anyway... My expectations are low and I am quite frequently nicely surprised...
Nov 21, 2011, 3:59 am
#99
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: zurich
Programs: Miles&Smiles Gold
Posts: 509
I'm really in the blind whether I should stay with Star, or go to Oneworld or Scaryteam.
I was a loyal Scaryteam customer until Flying Blue April Fools Day, and I've been status matched back to silver, but I really don't know if I want to trust those guys with my miles.
BA or AA is another possibility, but most of my flying is on routes where Oneworld isn't a very good choice, and both BA and AA have crappy mileage for CX economy class.
I've also taken a look at eight different Star programs, and I've taken a hodgepodge of Star Alliance flights (on SK, LH, LX, TK, JK, CA, TG), plus some QR flights, that I may take next year, and those flights would give me the following mileage:
OZ: 36,533 miles
A3: 36,363
UA: 35,414
LH: 35,314
US: 31,701
TK: 29,624
TG: 27,220
AC: 23,798
It appears to me that my best choice would be to stick with A3 on all flights where they give mileage, which would give me 36,363 miles, and put the other flights (such as QR, which is not part of the A3-program), into UA (11,267 miles) or US (6991 miles).
I was a loyal Scaryteam customer until Flying Blue April Fools Day, and I've been status matched back to silver, but I really don't know if I want to trust those guys with my miles.
BA or AA is another possibility, but most of my flying is on routes where Oneworld isn't a very good choice, and both BA and AA have crappy mileage for CX economy class.
I've also taken a look at eight different Star programs, and I've taken a hodgepodge of Star Alliance flights (on SK, LH, LX, TK, JK, CA, TG), plus some QR flights, that I may take next year, and those flights would give me the following mileage:
OZ: 36,533 miles
A3: 36,363
UA: 35,414
LH: 35,314
US: 31,701
TK: 29,624
TG: 27,220
AC: 23,798
It appears to me that my best choice would be to stick with A3 on all flights where they give mileage, which would give me 36,363 miles, and put the other flights (such as QR, which is not part of the A3-program), into UA (11,267 miles) or US (6991 miles).
You should also consider the burning rate and if they charge YQ or not.
There the best would be US Airways.
Nov 21, 2011, 6:25 am
#100
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: BER
Programs: m&m
Posts: 91
Family membership
... I'll be missing family membership. This is (was
) a very positive factor with DC. I am often traveling with family in Y in Europe and the only way to make the miles valuable and counting is to credit them to my family account with DC and top them up with purchased miles.
Apart from BAEC is there any *A-FFP with family membership?
I know, off topic:
Just had a look at the Award-Rates at BAEC. Of course it is not as flexible as BMI DC and the m&c is a little bit higher but it still seems reasonable to me esp. for DE-NYC.
Wouldn't it be a good strategy to top the account with purchased miles (0,0126 GBP / mile vs. 0,015 GBP / mile at BAEC) and be relaxed. If DC is still in place for redemption everything works fine, if not at least BAEC-Awards will be cheaper ...
) a very positive factor with DC. I am often traveling with family in Y in Europe and the only way to make the miles valuable and counting is to credit them to my family account with DC and top them up with purchased miles.Apart from BAEC is there any *A-FFP with family membership?
I know, off topic:
Just had a look at the Award-Rates at BAEC. Of course it is not as flexible as BMI DC and the m&c is a little bit higher but it still seems reasonable to me esp. for DE-NYC.
Wouldn't it be a good strategy to top the account with purchased miles (0,0126 GBP / mile vs. 0,015 GBP / mile at BAEC) and be relaxed. If DC is still in place for redemption everything works fine, if not at least BAEC-Awards will be cheaper ...
Last edited by uncleflori; Nov 21, 2011 at 6:47 am
Nov 21, 2011, 10:39 am
#102
Join Date: May 2008
Location: ARN
Posts: 3,482
US: 80,000
TK: 100,000
AC: 105,000
A3: 110,000
OZ: 115,000
UA: 125,000
LH: 135,000
TG: 144,000
Assuming that I will earn the previously mentioned miles during 12 months, the following is the number of months it will take for me to get one ticket:
US: 30
A3: 36
OZ: 38
TK: 41
UA: 42
LH: 46
AC: 53
TG: 64
Note that some programs will have a lower redemption rate for their own airline. E.g. a TK "capacity controlled" ticket in biz Europe-Far East is 70,000 miles, while a TK "guaranteed award" ticket is 190,000 in low season and 270,000 in high season.
Nov 21, 2011, 10:47 am
#103
Join Date: May 2008
Location: ARN
Posts: 3,482
Another point in favor of A3 for me is low redemption rates on one of my most frequent routes (Europe-Israel), which is only 42,000 with A3, but up to 75,000 with AC and OZ. On that route, a redemption would take me 14 months on A3 but 38 months on AC.
Nov 21, 2011, 5:42 pm
#104
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
When it comes to Star Alliance involvement, my transition is considering the following:
Aegean or Asiana for status/lounge access, whenever my Star Alliance flight activity seems to be on the horizon of dropping.
Continental/United for ordinary Star Alliance flight activity for as long as I'm easily crediting 75k-100k of Star Alliance flight activity; also for last minute and/or regional economy class redemption tickets.
US Airways for buying miles for premium cabin redemption purposes.
Aegean or Asiana for status/lounge access, whenever my Star Alliance flight activity seems to be on the horizon of dropping.
Continental/United for ordinary Star Alliance flight activity for as long as I'm easily crediting 75k-100k of Star Alliance flight activity; also for last minute and/or regional economy class redemption tickets.
US Airways for buying miles for premium cabin redemption purposes.
Last edited by GUWonder; Nov 21, 2011 at 5:53 pm