Frequent travel between LAX and SJC - which FF program?
Jul 29, 2018, 6:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,406
Frequent travel between LAX and SJC - which FF program?
Member of the family would be traveling about 3 times round trip between LAX and SJC
Which FF program or CC is better - SouthWest, Alaska, AA, or Delta?
Accordingly, I wish to open a CC with that airline. Thanks
Which FF program or CC is better - SouthWest, Alaska, AA, or Delta?
Accordingly, I wish to open a CC with that airline. Thanks
Jul 29, 2018, 6:47 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,022
- What airline will they be travelling?
- As this thread is in the budget forum will flights be selected on price?
- 3 (cheap) short round trips is not a lot for today's revenue based ffp's. (AS is not yet revenue based).
- LAX-SJC is a very short flight 308 miles Great Circle Mapper
- A few flights is not a good basis to select a ffp
- What are the objectives with a ffp?
- Other flights in the future?
I would buy LAX-SJC RT based on price & schedule, and treat any ff miles (if any) as bonus that may or may not be able to be used.
General- Which Frequent Flyer Program to Join? Help Is Here!
Be mindful of expiry Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire. Click to open the wiki.
Jul 29, 2018, 7:14 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,406
- What airline will they be travelling?
- As this thread is in the budget forum will flights be selected on price?
- 3 (cheap) short round trips is not a lot for today's revenue based ffp's. (AS is not yet revenue based).
- LAX-SJC is a very short flight 308 miles Great Circle Mapper
- A few flights is not a good basis to select a ffp
- What are the objectives with a ffp?
- Other flights in the future?
I would buy LAX-SJC RT based on price & schedule, and treat any ff miles (if any) as bonus that may or may not be able to be used.
General- Which Frequent Flyer Program to Join? Help Is Here!
Be mindful of expiry Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire. Click to open the wiki.
Jul 29, 2018, 7:19 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,022
So join the SouthWest & AS ffp's.
AS has many ff partners. But was a lot better when DL was a partner & AA a full partner.
https://www.wheretocredit.com/as
https://www.wheretocredit.com/southwest-airlines
AS has many ff partners. But was a lot better when DL was a partner & AA a full partner.
https://www.wheretocredit.com/as
https://www.wheretocredit.com/southwest-airlines
Jul 29, 2018, 8:19 pm
#5
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
- What airline will they be travelling?
- As this thread is in the budget forum will flights be selected on price?
- 3 (cheap) short round trips is not a lot for today's revenue based ffp's. (AS is not yet revenue based).
- LAX-SJC is a very short flight 308 miles Great Circle Mapper
- A few flights is not a good basis to select a ffp
- What are the objectives with a ffp?
- Other flights in the future?
I would buy LAX-SJC RT based on price & schedule, and treat any ff miles (if any) as bonus that may or may not be able to be used.
General- Which Frequent Flyer Program to Join? Help Is Here!
Be mindful of expiry Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire. Click to open the wiki.
CC signup bonus will be WAY more than the miles earned on three short round trips for a traveler without status. I'd say less with Southwest than Alaska.
And while AS got a significant downgrade when they parted ways with DL and AA, IMHO it's a great program if you are on West Coast with lots of partners - sadly with DL leaving, so did KLM and Air France, leaving a huge hole in Europe, but it's still a solid program. Southwest is going to start flyilng to Hawaii, but good luck going overwater international with their miles
Jul 29, 2018, 11:22 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,406
Jul 29, 2018, 11:23 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,406
Some god points here ^
CC signup bonus will be WAY more than the miles earned on three short round trips for a traveler without status. I'd say less with Southwest than Alaska.
And while AS got a significant downgrade when they parted ways with DL and AA, IMHO it's a great program if you are on West Coast with lots of partners - sadly with DL leaving, so did KLM and Air France, leaving a huge hole in Europe, but it's still a solid program. Southwest is going to start flyilng to Hawaii, but good luck going overwater international with their miles
CC signup bonus will be WAY more than the miles earned on three short round trips for a traveler without status. I'd say less with Southwest than Alaska.
And while AS got a significant downgrade when they parted ways with DL and AA, IMHO it's a great program if you are on West Coast with lots of partners - sadly with DL leaving, so did KLM and Air France, leaving a huge hole in Europe, but it's still a solid program. Southwest is going to start flyilng to Hawaii, but good luck going overwater international with their miles
Jul 29, 2018, 11:30 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,022
You need to know the fare booking class (which is not the class of travel)
Finding out the fare class before booking can be hard to impossible.
Cheap fares earn less.
https://www.wheretocredit.com/alaska-airlines/r
For example R class earns
25% (of the distance or x ) if credited to BA ffp
100% (of the distance or x) if credited to AS ffp
0% (of the distance or x) if credited to EK ffp
The "tier" is the bonus for status
You need to determine is ff earning as based on distance or say money spent(x)
That site a guide only: far better to look the ffp site
Finding out the fare class before booking can be hard to impossible.
Cheap fares earn less.
https://www.wheretocredit.com/alaska-airlines/r
For example R class earns
25% (of the distance or x ) if credited to BA ffp
100% (of the distance or x) if credited to AS ffp
0% (of the distance or x) if credited to EK ffp
The "tier" is the bonus for status
You need to determine is ff earning as based on distance or say money spent(x)
That site a guide only: far better to look the ffp site
Jul 30, 2018, 3:20 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
Jul 30, 2018, 6:32 am
#10
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Southwest mile / point acquisition is dollar based like most (US) airlines these days while Alaska is still miles based (for now anyway). Credit card signup bonus is unrelated to how many miles you earn by flying.
Aug 1, 2018, 5:21 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,957
3 round trips total or 3 round trips during some time period?
As much as I like AS FFP, I'd suggest WN as it offers more flights to all airports in both regions than AS. On short hops like this frequency is more important than the FFP IMHO.
As much as I like AS FFP, I'd suggest WN as it offers more flights to all airports in both regions than AS. On short hops like this frequency is more important than the FFP IMHO.
Aug 6, 2018, 3:56 pm
#12
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
Alaska flies SJC-LAX 4 times a day.
Southwest flies SJC-LAX 11 times a day and offers a free checked bag.
If this single route is your only consideration in selecting a carrier, seems like Southwest would be the much better option.
Southwest flies SJC-LAX 11 times a day and offers a free checked bag.
If this single route is your only consideration in selecting a carrier, seems like Southwest would be the much better option.