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Hi all, new here. I am looking for advice on which loyalty program(s) to focus on that would have the best award redemptions and availability from west coast USA to HKG in economy. Advice on credit card programs and relevant transfer partners would also be much appreciated. My parents are moving from North America to Hong Kong (HKG), and as even the 1x a year economy tickets are stretching my budget, I'm hoping to leverage points for my visits. Quantity (i.e. more economy flights) over quality (one business/premium economy flight), but I would prefer a program with decent availability so I can take time off work (not difficult to book several to a few months in advance).
I did a bunch of research this morning and it looks like ANA and Alaska (for CX) have the best redemption rates, but ANA seems to have very limited availability and Alaska miles are tough to earn. Thanks very much in advance. (1) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good award redemption rates and better award access are most important. (2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors? <25000 miles, 10-15 flights at most (3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy/cheapest. (4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Airline most flown? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? Flexible in terms of airlines, cheapest class of service. Travel occasionally and domestically for work. Travel internationally 1-3 times a year for vacations. (5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often US domestic, US-CAN west coast. Usually flying United. (6) What is your home airport? SFO, willing to reposition to LAX, SEA or YVR though I believe there's plenty of options from SFO. (7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP? I have about ~100k miles in United and Premier Silver, and ~150k miles in Aeroplan. I've been accumulating points for a few years mostly to spend on annual vacations - I know these aren't FFP, but since they're transferable, I also have ~200k each in Capital One and Chase UR as well as ~100k in Amex MR. (8) Preferred Airlines Flexible. Any airline is fine. |
UA flies SFO-HKG and has pretty good economy award availability, and does not have surcharges on awards as well which is nice. If you have a UA credit card as well, you can get some discounts on award prices.
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Hiya folks,
Long post ahead! Bit of a dilemma here and need to choose between SQ and QF. I fly to Southeast Asia for work, and SQ is usually my airline of choice for those flights (work policy is economy only). However, living in Australia I have access to Qantas Point earning credit cards, and in the past year have accumulated 350k points, which I've redeemed for a OW RTW in J - departing late 2023. I also have Qantas Point Club Plus status, which gives me lounge access on all QF flights (not partner or OW flights). This expires a year from now in Mar 2024. I am leaning towards SQ because I like their product, and they have very good intra-Asia connections. Plus they have decent status earning rates when flying on partners/*A. I haven't flown on QF metal since pre-covid, and I'm not a fan of their weak status earning rate when flying on partners/OW. While I vastly prefer SQ, the big thing that's causing me to consider going with QF is lounge access I'd get with QF, and the fact that I earn Qantas points so easily thanks to credit cards. I am doubtful that I could reach gold status in either program (due to flying only in economy), but I will reach SQ silver on my next flight with them, and QF silver is also easily achievable this year. Personal travel I have booked this year SYD-HND-SYD in Y on JAL, on SQ I have SYD-SIN-HKG in Y, HKG-SIN-SYD in PE and HND-SIN-SYD in J. Essentially, I need to pick between QF and SQ for my work trips going forward. Questionnaire: 1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)? Lounge access, ability to upgrade w/points 2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors? ~40-50k miles, 20-30 flights for work, personal travel varies 3. What fare class do you usually buy? Economy only for work, sometimes premium/business for personal 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? Economy only for work, I can choose airline 5. Which routes do you fly most often? SYD-SIN, other destinations in Southeast Asia, occasional trip to LAX 6. What is your home airport? SYD 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? Qantas Club - lounge access only on QF flights. Have plenty of Qantas points, 30k SQ miles 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? SQ |
Originally Posted by GenZ
(Post 35067842)
Hiya folks,
Long post ahead! Bit of a dilemma here and need to choose between SQ and QF. I fly to Southeast Asia for work, and SQ is usually my airline of choice for those flights (work policy is economy only). However, living in Australia I have access to Qantas Point earning credit cards, and in the past year have accumulated 350k points, which I've redeemed for a OW RTW in J - departing late 2023. I also have Qantas Point Club Plus status, which gives me lounge access on all QF flights (not partner or OW flights). This expires a year from now in Mar 2024. I am leaning towards SQ because I like their product, and they have very good intra-Asia connections. Plus they have decent status earning rates when flying on partners/*A. I haven't flown on QF metal since pre-covid, and I'm not a fan of their weak status earning rate when flying on partners/OW. While I vastly prefer SQ, the big thing that's causing me to consider going with QF is lounge access I'd get with QF, and the fact that I earn Qantas points so easily thanks to credit cards. I am doubtful that I could reach gold status in either program (due to flying only in economy), but I will reach SQ silver on my next flight with them, and QF silver is also easily achievable this year. Personal travel I have booked this year SYD-HND-SYD in Y on JAL, on SQ I have SYD-SIN-HKG in Y, HKG-SIN-SYD in PE and HND-SIN-SYD in J. Essentially, I need to pick between QF and SQ for my work trips going forward. Questionnaire: 1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)? Lounge access, ability to upgrade w/points 2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors? ~40-50k miles, 20-30 flights for work, personal travel varies 3. What fare class do you usually buy? Economy only for work, sometimes premium/business for personal 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? Economy only for work, I can choose airline 5. Which routes do you fly most often? SYD-SIN, other destinations in Southeast Asia, occasional trip to LAX 6. What is your home airport? SYD 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? Qantas Club - lounge access only on QF flights. Have plenty of Qantas points, 30k SQ miles 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? SQ |
Ooh yeah, that fast-track gold status looks tempting, wish they offered a sign-up bonus though :(
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Originally Posted by GenZ
(Post 35076267)
Ooh yeah, that fast-track gold status looks tempting, wish they offered a sign-up bonus though :(
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Hi everyone.
Although I have been flying at least 3-4 times a year for leisure as long as I can remember, I recently begun flying frequently for work. I am now based in Poland (previously UK based) but still require to travel to the UK for work reasons. Under previous management rules (during pandemic) flight travel costs would not be covered by my company so I was stuck with the likes or Ryanair or WizzAir due to costs if I had to visit the offices. Following some management changes late last year, my travel costs are now covered and I am required to attend the UK offices every 2-3 months for department meetings. For scheduling flexibility, I decided to start booking flights with LO/LH due to the flight flexibility with their full price fares. I signed up to the Miles&More program but following LH’s announcement of the impending program changes from 2024, I do not think this FFP will be suitable for me going forward. I am aware that in most cases my travel frequency would not grant me any status in the future so I decided to look elsewhere. I came across TP's FFP and I signed up to their Miles&Go Platinum Club which gave me instant *A Silver status and I should be credited up to 118K miles by the end of the annual subscription and should be able to retain *A Silver either by renewing or by earning enough status miles for renewal (some long-haul trips to Brazil planned later in the current status period). I would like to achieve *G but I don't think I will be flying enough miles to achieve this on flights alone so will be mainly use miles for award flights. Star is my alliance of preference based on my location. As I now have a subscription to TP's FFP, when the renewal time comes in 2024, is it best to stick to it or consider other FFPs (heard Asiana's one seems like a good one)? Any advice always greatly appreciated. 1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)? Award flights (on miles + cash basis whenever possible), long mileage validity or possibility of extending expiring miles, *G would be nice to upgrade to. 2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors? Work (projected): 16-20 flight segments, Leisure: 4-8 segments annually 3. What fare class do you usually buy? Economy (Business class upgrades/bids whenever possible) 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? Limited choices based on current location so mainly LO or LH. Mostly work travel with a couple of leisure flights per year. Work flights in Economy but able to upgrade to Business at own cost. 5. Which routes do you fly most often? Mainly Intra-Europe, Europe-South America every few years (going forward) 6. What is your home airport? POZ 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? TAP Miles&Go Silver (*A Silver status bump – 118K by end of annual subscription), LO Miles&More (12K). 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? LO, LH (intra-Europe), TP (South America) any other *A for long-haul |
Cross-posting with the skyteam thread...
I am considering about buying an upcoming TPAC flight with KE on business class. Which FFP program shall I credit it to? I'm not with any Skyteam FFP right now. I'm deciding between DL and FB, but perhaps there's another FFP I'm missing? Advantage of DL: 1. I'm based in YYZ therefore it is most likely that I will travel with DL among Skyteam airlines 2. I might relocate to US in future therefore I might travel even more with DL (big might though) Advantages of FB: 1. I think I'll be able to attain silver with this single trip (that has a total of 5 segments RT), OTOH I think KE's business class only credit 100% of mileage to DL? That would only be ~18000 miles 2. Although I might relocate to US in future, I heard that there's so many high level elites at DL hubs that the chance of upgrade is slim? Also I noticed that the flights I take nowadays are usually packed so I guess I shouldn't expect any upgrade anyway? Answers to questionnaire: 1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)? upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc. >>> Reply: upgrades/priority services > lounge access/baggage allowance/good award redemption rate >>> other benefits 2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors? less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc. >>> Reply: My domestic flights will not be with Skyteam, other than those I'll fly perhaps 30000 miles a year. I'm expecting this number to increase gradually though 3. What fare class do you usually buy? first, business, premium economy, economy >>> Reply: Mostly economy unless there's a good deal on very-long-haul business class (< 2.5x economy class price) 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? >>> Reply: Yes, I mostly travel for leisure 5. Which routes do you fly most often? transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc. >>> Reply: With skyteam it's probably going to be all leisure travel, except maybe some occasional YYZ-JFK flights 6. What is your home airport? >>> Reply: YYZ, might relocate to US in future 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? >>> Reply: I'm getting 25K with Air Canada this year for sure, probably 50K if I book this trip on a *A carrier as well 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? >>> Reply: I will probably travel most frequently with Delta among the Skyteam airlines |
new job, new strategy needed
I am starting a new job this week, work from home with some travel. I am in DEEP with Chase, but live near CLT. I haven't found any realistic way to transfer UR to award travel on DL or AA. Ideally I'd stick with one airline for work and for personal/family travel. Please help!
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)? upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc. >>> Reply: upgrades, lounge access, better award access 2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors? less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc. >>> Reply: anywhere from 8-20 flights per year, 1-4 transcon (CLT-SAN/SNA). once every few years to DUB, LHR, or ARN. 3. What fare class do you usually buy? first, business, premium economy, economy >>> Reply: economy 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? >>> Reply: I can totally choose, I travel for work and pay with my cards and expense 5. Which routes do you fly most often? transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc. >>> Reply: domestic US for work, but to Europe for family vacations 6. What is your home airport? >>> Reply: CLT, or GSP 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? >>> Reply: no status. but I do have 950K UR points, along with the Chase trifecta of CCs. 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? >>> Reply: DL is best service and experience, but slightly less than ideal out of CLT and no way? to transfer from chase UR UA is best transfer partner from chase UR and decent for Europe travel, but also less than ideal out of CLT or GSP for domestic work travel AA is always the best schedule and availability out of CLT for frequent work travel, but poor customer service and no way to fit in with my chase UR points. |
Star Alliance for Manila?
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc. >>> Reply: Status. 2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors? less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc. >>> Reply: Less than 25000 miles, 8-10 round trips, with an upcoming MNL-CPH round trip on Turkish Airlines. 3. What fare class do you usually buy? first, business, premium economy, economy >>> Reply: Economy. 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? >>> Reply: Yes, to an extent. Mainly for work. 5. Which routes do you fly most often? transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc. >>> Reply: East Asia & Southeast Asia. 6. What is your home airport? >>> Reply: Manila. 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? >>> Reply: No. 5,443 miles on American Airlines. 3300 miles on Garuda Indonesia. 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? >>> Reply: Perhaps a Star Alliance airline. |
Originally Posted by jayzoeml
(Post 35266519)
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc. >>> Reply: Status. 2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors? less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc. >>> Reply: Less than 25000 miles, 8-10 round trips, with an upcoming MNL-CPH round trip on Turkish Airlines. 3. What fare class do you usually buy? first, business, premium economy, economy >>> Reply: Economy. 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? >>> Reply: Yes, to an extent. Mainly for work. 5. Which routes do you fly most often? transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc. >>> Reply: East Asia & Southeast Asia. 6. What is your home airport? >>> Reply: Manila. 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? >>> Reply: No. 5,443 miles on American Airlines. 3300 miles on Garuda Indonesia. 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? >>> Reply: Perhaps a Star Alliance airline. |
Originally Posted by angetenar
(Post 35272321)
You can credit Philippine Airlines (PR) flights to ANA (NH) which is a *A member, which may be of interest if you arein the Philippines. However, earning status with ANA requires half of your status qualifying flights to be with them, which may be a bit more difficult. Is *G the goal? Singapore Airlines (SQ) also has some pretty steep requirements for their *G tier. Have you seen ?
Should I just go for Asiana and hope and try for a status match with TK in the future? ANA indeed wouldn't earn me a *A status right now, but should I just rack up miles with ANA due to their awesome redemption rates? Or should I try to go with TK which might be the best bet for a *A status? I don't know anymore. :o |
Originally Posted by jayzoeml
(Post 35272398)
Thank you for your insights! Yes, *G is the goal. But if it's impossible to attain (now that Asiana will soon be part of SkyTeam), I'm not sure what I should be looking for anymore in an FF program. :o
Should I just go for Asiana and hope and try for a status match with TK in the future? ANA indeed wouldn't earn me a *A status right now, but should I just rack up miles with ANA due to their awesome redemption rates? Or should I try to go with TK which might be the best bet for a *A status? I don't know anymore. :o |
Hey all, new here and wanted to get some ideas on what would be the best frequent flyer. I currently have Kris Gold and was originally based in Singapore/Jakarta, I am now currently based in NYC. I have Amex Plat along with Chase Sapphire and Bilt rewards as my cards right now. I recently bought Qatar Business for my trip to Jakarta NYC in aug codeshare via AA in (I&D) as ANA P class fares have sold out. I just feel that holding Star Gold via SQ Kris doesn't make much sense, as lounge access is not that important to me, I usually get to the airport just nicely and Kris Gold not having many benefits and offers as compared to the US Carriers.
Would also like to inquire which would be the best option to credit the AA codeshare flight to as I have no status on all one-world carriers, would basically be crediting from 0. Thanks for taking the time to read through and helping a new member out. Really appreciate it. :) 1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)? Upgrades and good award redemptions. 2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors? Would fly usually 2 roundtrips from Jakarta all the way to NYC. Few transcon domestic from NYC to LA, probably once every 2-3 months so probably around 3-5 roundtrips depending on the situation, during summer when im not in NYC would make a few trips SIN CGK, CGK SIN as well. 3. What fare class do you usually buy? Transcon would be economy, long haul from Jakarta would be in business 90% of the time. 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? Able to choose my airline but mostly would depend on the price, some of the prices are actually crazy and not worth it. Travel for school, domestic in the US would be for pleasure. 5. Which routes do you fly most often? NYC --> LAX 6. What is your home airport? JFK if im in NYC & SIN/JKT during Summer. 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? KrisFlyer - 100k Chase UR - 750k Amex MR - 170k Bilt - 20k 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? Not really, just for the CGK SIN would prefer SQ and Long haul business from Jakarta to NYC just a nice bed to sleep. |
Originally Posted by Greenapplee
(Post 35281856)
Hey all, new here and wanted to get some ideas on what would be the best frequent flyer. I currently have Kris Gold and was originally based in Singapore/Jakarta, I am now currently based in NYC. I have Amex Plat along with Chase Sapphire and Bilt rewards as my cards right now. I recently bought Qatar Business for my trip to Jakarta NYC in aug codeshare via AA in (I&D) as ANA P class fares have sold out. I just feel that holding Star Gold via SQ Kris doesn't make much sense, as lounge access is not that important to me, I usually get to the airport just nicely and Kris Gold not having many benefits and offers as compared to the US Carriers.
Would also like to inquire which would be the best option to credit the AA codeshare flight to as I have no status on all one-world carriers, would basically be crediting from 0. Thanks for taking the time to read through and helping a new member out. Really appreciate it. :) 1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)? Upgrades and good award redemptions. 2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors? Would fly usually 2 roundtrips from Jakarta all the way to NYC. Few transcon domestic from NYC to LA, probably once every 2-3 months so probably around 3-5 roundtrips depending on the situation, during summer when im not in NYC would make a few trips SIN CGK, CGK SIN as well. 3. What fare class do you usually buy? Transcon would be economy, long haul from Jakarta would be in business 90% of the time. 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? Able to choose my airline but mostly would depend on the price, some of the prices are actually crazy and not worth it. Travel for school, domestic in the US would be for pleasure. 5. Which routes do you fly most often? NYC --> LAX 6. What is your home airport? JFK if im in NYC & SIN/JKT during Summer. 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? KrisFlyer - 100k Chase UR - 750k Amex MR - 170k Bilt - 20k 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? Not really, just for the CGK SIN would prefer SQ and Long haul business from Jakarta to NYC just a nice bed to sleep. I note that AA has several partners that can get you between CGK and JFK: CX, EY, JL, and QR. (EY flights can earn redeemable AA miles, but not AA status points.) |
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