Last edit by: Mwenenzi
Before posting please read POSTS 1-3 for a comprehensive overview of how to select a program.
If you already plan to focus on one particular alliance, please visit the sticky in the relevant forum: Deciding on a oneworld FFP or Which SkyTeam FFP or Choosing a Star FFP
List of frequent flyer programs from Wikipedia
Questionnaire: Copy and paste into your post
Provide the requested information.
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:
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:
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply:
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply:
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply:
6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply:
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply:
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply:
If you already plan to focus on one particular alliance, please visit the sticky in the relevant forum: Deciding on a oneworld FFP or Which SkyTeam FFP or Choosing a Star FFP
List of frequent flyer programs from Wikipedia
Questionnaire: Copy and paste into your post
Provide the requested information.
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:
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:
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply:
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply:
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply:
6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply:
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply:
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply:
Which Frequent Flyer Program to Join? Help Is Here!
#1831
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 15,655
Hello everyone, I am very new here. If I posted in the wrong place feel free to move or delete this.
I will often bw traveling to Asia, specifically China, to airports in Nanjing and Shanghai from California. (I mainly go to Suzhou a lot, but they don't have an airport).
To all China travelers, what frequent flyer program do you use? Also, what has the best benefits for being a higher tier in the program?
I will often bw traveling to Asia, specifically China, to airports in Nanjing and Shanghai from California. (I mainly go to Suzhou a lot, but they don't have an airport).
To all China travelers, what frequent flyer program do you use? Also, what has the best benefits for being a higher tier in the program?
chgoeditor
co-mod, Info Desk
#1832
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: ABQ NM USA
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 67
Moving to Lisbon late Fall this year. Main TATL will be return to Seattle to visit fam.
Racked up some points with Alaska, but wondering if TAP/United is a better deal.
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Upgrades, lounge access
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
40k, 40
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Economy domestic, premium TATL
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Retired, all pleasure
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
Currently ABQ-SEA, ABQ-LIS
6. What is your home airport?
Currently ABQm soon LIS
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
200k with AS, MVP Gold
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Alaska
Racked up some points with Alaska, but wondering if TAP/United is a better deal.
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Upgrades, lounge access
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
40k, 40
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Economy domestic, premium TATL
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Retired, all pleasure
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
Currently ABQ-SEA, ABQ-LIS
6. What is your home airport?
Currently ABQm soon LIS
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
200k with AS, MVP Gold
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Alaska
#1833
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
Moving to Lisbon late Fall this year. Main TATL will be return to Seattle to visit fam.
Racked up some points with Alaska, but wondering if TAP/United is a better deal.
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Upgrades, lounge access
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
40k, 40
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Economy domestic, premium TATL
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Retired, all pleasure
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
Currently ABQ-SEA, ABQ-LIS
6. What is your home airport?
Currently ABQm soon LIS
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
200k with AS, MVP Gold
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Alaska
Racked up some points with Alaska, but wondering if TAP/United is a better deal.
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Upgrades, lounge access
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
40k, 40
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Economy domestic, premium TATL
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Retired, all pleasure
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
Currently ABQ-SEA, ABQ-LIS
6. What is your home airport?
Currently ABQm soon LIS
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
200k with AS, MVP Gold
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Alaska
AA: LIS-PHL-SEA
AY: LIS-HEL-SEA
BA: LIS-LHR-SEA
QR(!): LIS-DOH-SEA (QR LIS service begins June, 2024)
For TATL, do you mean Premium Economy or Business?
#1835
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
It's not clear from your initial post how much flying you intend to do annually after you relocate to LIS. Can you tell us that, including estimated spend on airfare, total number of miles and segments?
If you expect to fly just one TATL a year in Premium Economy, and a few Economy Class intra-European and/or intra-U.S. flights per year, you might be hard-pressed to attain even low-level status in any FFP.
If you expect to fly just one TATL a year in Premium Economy, and a few Economy Class intra-European and/or intra-U.S. flights per year, you might be hard-pressed to attain even low-level status in any FFP.
#1836
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,035
Upgrades on EU airlines are nothing like on USA based airlines. Always expect to fly in the seats you pay for.
Are you familiar with what short haul UK EU business class is? [economy seats with middle seat unoccupied for most airlines]
OW (AA~QF) are trialing an alliance wide upgrade scheme--> Oneworld alliance-wide upgrades
Will you/can you fly enough on AS to maintain status?
Oneworld partners BA & IB are in that part of the world.
BA fly LHR SEA non stop.
Have you priced out LIS-XXX-SEA fares?
Wikipedia SEA -->https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattl...tional_Airport
Wikipedia LIS--> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon_Airport
Staying with OW/AS a practical solution. Would get status benefits with Oneworld. Mainly lounge access . Starting from the bottom in another (Star A?) ffp a harder path.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=c%3Ablu...=bm&PW=3&DU=mi
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Mar 30, 2024 at 6:17 pm
#1837
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: ABQ NM USA
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 67
How long will you be living in Lisbon for? A few years / decades?
We are looking at least a decade
Upgrades on EU airlines are nothing like on USA based airlines. Always expect to fly in the seats you pay for.
Are you familiar with what short haul UK EU business class is? [economy seats with middle seat unoccupied for most airlines]
yes, not impressed by EU shorthaul.
Will you/can you fly enough on AS to maintain status?
Alaska seems to have changed the rules so it is easier, I think only 6 segments needed. Trips back to the US and domestic travel will favor AS unless another option is more fruitful.
Oneworld partners BA & IB are in that part of the world.
BA fly LHR SEA non stop.
Have you priced out LIS-XXX-SEA fares?
Other than for cucumber sandwiches I try to avoid Heathrow and BA
Wikipedia SEA -->https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattl...tional_Airport
Wikipedia LIS--> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon_Airport
Staying with OW/AS a practical solution.
We are looking at least a decade
Upgrades on EU airlines are nothing like on USA based airlines. Always expect to fly in the seats you pay for.
Are you familiar with what short haul UK EU business class is? [economy seats with middle seat unoccupied for most airlines]
yes, not impressed by EU shorthaul.
Will you/can you fly enough on AS to maintain status?
Alaska seems to have changed the rules so it is easier, I think only 6 segments needed. Trips back to the US and domestic travel will favor AS unless another option is more fruitful.
Oneworld partners BA & IB are in that part of the world.
BA fly LHR SEA non stop.
Have you priced out LIS-XXX-SEA fares?
Other than for cucumber sandwiches I try to avoid Heathrow and BA
Wikipedia SEA -->https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattl...tional_Airport
Wikipedia LIS--> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon_Airport
Staying with OW/AS a practical solution.
AA while uninspired seems competent at least.
#1838
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 2
I am finding it hard to earn status with any specific program because my travel is not focused on one geographical area: I live in hotels and travel between countries.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Most value from my points, spend points instead of cash
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
About once a month, about 25k miles per year, always business, always one way
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Business but due to my flexibility I typically buy low cost last minute business tickets rather than pay full price. I'll know roughly when I want to fly (e.g: early May) and I'll look for the lowest cost ticket (with a good seat), averaging $2500 USD for a long haul ticket
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Airline most flown? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Flexible, no constraints, all out of pocket personal expenditure
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often
No regular routes or airlines
(6) What is your home airport?
No home airport
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
No meaningful status. I earn around 100k avios per year from my credit card spend, I have 100k avios in my British Airways account, and earn around 1 million Marriott points per year (which can be converted to most airline programs at a 3:1 ratio (so if I spot a great deal with a specific program I can convert the points as I need them))
(8) Preferred Airlines
I like Qatar for flying between Europe and Asia which I do a couple of times a year. If I could get status that made it more cost effective / easier to use avios to pay for those flights, that would be valuable, as sometimes it seems the cost is reasonable (e.g: 70k) and other times the only option is to pay part avios part cash which has a very low redemption rate (I'm assuming/hoping status would make it easier to reliably get the 35k/leg tickets but maybe it's not relevant). If I can fly business from Manila to Frankfurt for 100k avios (or equivalent) and then business from London to Japan for 100k avios (or equivalent) I'd be very happy.
My current thinking is that oneworld is the right program for me because it has members globally, but I am not sure if it's possible to earn status given the geographical distribution of my flights. I've tried to focus on oneworld by booking partner flights through British Airways to earn oneworld status, but partner flights don't seem to be available much, so I end up going with the partner carriers directly and I'm now half way to entry level status with a few different oneworld members.
Thank you.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Most value from my points, spend points instead of cash
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
About once a month, about 25k miles per year, always business, always one way
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Business but due to my flexibility I typically buy low cost last minute business tickets rather than pay full price. I'll know roughly when I want to fly (e.g: early May) and I'll look for the lowest cost ticket (with a good seat), averaging $2500 USD for a long haul ticket
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Airline most flown? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Flexible, no constraints, all out of pocket personal expenditure
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often
No regular routes or airlines
(6) What is your home airport?
No home airport
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
No meaningful status. I earn around 100k avios per year from my credit card spend, I have 100k avios in my British Airways account, and earn around 1 million Marriott points per year (which can be converted to most airline programs at a 3:1 ratio (so if I spot a great deal with a specific program I can convert the points as I need them))
(8) Preferred Airlines
I like Qatar for flying between Europe and Asia which I do a couple of times a year. If I could get status that made it more cost effective / easier to use avios to pay for those flights, that would be valuable, as sometimes it seems the cost is reasonable (e.g: 70k) and other times the only option is to pay part avios part cash which has a very low redemption rate (I'm assuming/hoping status would make it easier to reliably get the 35k/leg tickets but maybe it's not relevant). If I can fly business from Manila to Frankfurt for 100k avios (or equivalent) and then business from London to Japan for 100k avios (or equivalent) I'd be very happy.
My current thinking is that oneworld is the right program for me because it has members globally, but I am not sure if it's possible to earn status given the geographical distribution of my flights. I've tried to focus on oneworld by booking partner flights through British Airways to earn oneworld status, but partner flights don't seem to be available much, so I end up going with the partner carriers directly and I'm now half way to entry level status with a few different oneworld members.
Thank you.
#1839
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
I am finding it hard to earn status with any specific program because my travel is not focused on one geographical area: I live in hotels and travel between countries.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Most value from my points, spend points instead of cash
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
About once a month, about 25k miles per year, always business, always one way
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Business but due to my flexibility I typically buy low cost last minute business tickets rather than pay full price. I'll know roughly when I want to fly (e.g: early May) and I'll look for the lowest cost ticket (with a good seat), averaging $2500 USD for a long haul ticket
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Airline most flown? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Flexible, no constraints, all out of pocket personal expenditure
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often
No regular routes or airlines
(6) What is your home airport?
No home airport
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
No meaningful status. I earn around 100k avios per year from my credit card spend, I have 100k avios in my British Airways account, and earn around 1 million Marriott points per year (which can be converted to most airline programs at a 3:1 ratio (so if I spot a great deal with a specific program I can convert the points as I need them))
(8) Preferred Airlines
I like Qatar for flying between Europe and Asia which I do a couple of times a year. If I could get status that made it more cost effective / easier to use avios to pay for those flights, that would be valuable, as sometimes it seems the cost is reasonable (e.g: 70k) and other times the only option is to pay part avios part cash which has a very low redemption rate (I'm assuming/hoping status would make it easier to reliably get the 35k/leg tickets but maybe it's not relevant). If I can fly business from Manila to Frankfurt for 100k avios (or equivalent) and then business from London to Japan for 100k avios (or equivalent) I'd be very happy.
My current thinking is that oneworld is the right program for me because it has members globally, but I am not sure if it's possible to earn status given the geographical distribution of my flights. I've tried to focus on oneworld by booking partner flights through British Airways to earn oneworld status, but partner flights don't seem to be available much, so I end up going with the partner carriers directly and I'm now half way to entry level status with a few different oneworld members.
Thank you.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Most value from my points, spend points instead of cash
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
About once a month, about 25k miles per year, always business, always one way
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Business but due to my flexibility I typically buy low cost last minute business tickets rather than pay full price. I'll know roughly when I want to fly (e.g: early May) and I'll look for the lowest cost ticket (with a good seat), averaging $2500 USD for a long haul ticket
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Airline most flown? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Flexible, no constraints, all out of pocket personal expenditure
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often
No regular routes or airlines
(6) What is your home airport?
No home airport
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
No meaningful status. I earn around 100k avios per year from my credit card spend, I have 100k avios in my British Airways account, and earn around 1 million Marriott points per year (which can be converted to most airline programs at a 3:1 ratio (so if I spot a great deal with a specific program I can convert the points as I need them))
(8) Preferred Airlines
I like Qatar for flying between Europe and Asia which I do a couple of times a year. If I could get status that made it more cost effective / easier to use avios to pay for those flights, that would be valuable, as sometimes it seems the cost is reasonable (e.g: 70k) and other times the only option is to pay part avios part cash which has a very low redemption rate (I'm assuming/hoping status would make it easier to reliably get the 35k/leg tickets but maybe it's not relevant). If I can fly business from Manila to Frankfurt for 100k avios (or equivalent) and then business from London to Japan for 100k avios (or equivalent) I'd be very happy.
My current thinking is that oneworld is the right program for me because it has members globally, but I am not sure if it's possible to earn status given the geographical distribution of my flights. I've tried to focus on oneworld by booking partner flights through British Airways to earn oneworld status, but partner flights don't seem to be available much, so I end up going with the partner carriers directly and I'm now half way to entry level status with a few different oneworld members.
Thank you.
How much would you estimate that you spend annually on air travel? Some programs, like AA's AAdvantage, now credit redeemable mileage and Loyalty Points based on pre-tax airfare -- not distance flown -- for some partners, like BA and IB. For other partners, like QR, CX, and JL, AAdvantage still credits based on miles flown and booking code. In addition, hotel stays credited to AAdvantage also count towards achieving elite status, so you might be able to use your Marriott stays to help get elite status in the AAdvantage program. More details here:
https://www.aa.com/web/i18n/aadvanta...tel-stays.html
("Earn miles and Loyalty Points at hotels")
If you're more interested in collecting Avios than AAdvantage miles, then I would look into crediting your flights to Iberia Plus. See this "Inside Flyer" article for more information about that:
https://insideflyer.co.uk/2019/03/qa...f-iberia-plus/
("WHY QATAR AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS REGULARS MIGHT BE BETTER OFF WITH IBERIA PLUS")
I don't know whether attaining status in QR's frequent-flyer program would result in cheaper redemption rates for you on QR flights. I do know that achieving status in the AAdvantage program would not: redemption rates on partner carriers like QR are fixed price, and availability depends on what award seats QR chooses to make available to AA. It's possible that QR has dynamic award pricing for members of its own program, but I'm not certain about that.
As you may know, Avios earned in one FFP can be transferred to another Avios FFP, in case it is advantageous to redeem from a different FFP for a particular redemption.
Edited to add: And welcome to FlyerTalk!
Last edited by guv1976; Apr 25, 2024 at 12:27 pm
#1840
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,035
I am finding it hard to earn status with any specific program because my travel is not focused on one geographical area: I live in hotels and travel between countries.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Most value from my points, spend points instead of cash
<snip>
My current thinking is that oneworld is the right program for me because it has members globally, but I am not sure if it's possible to earn status given the geographical distribution of my flights. I've tried to focus on oneworld by booking partner flights through British Airways to earn oneworld status, but partner flights don't seem to be available much, so I end up going with the partner carriers directly and I'm now half way to entry level status with a few different oneworld members.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Most value from my points, spend points instead of cash
<snip>
My current thinking is that oneworld is the right program for me because it has members globally, but I am not sure if it's possible to earn status given the geographical distribution of my flights. I've tried to focus on oneworld by booking partner flights through British Airways to earn oneworld status, but partner flights don't seem to be available much, so I end up going with the partner carriers directly and I'm now half way to entry level status with a few different oneworld members.
Avios is used as the frequent flyer currency by QR, BA, IB, IE and from a few weeks ago AY. Subject to rules avios, but not status, can be moved at nil cost between QR, BA, IB & IE. Have you done that?
Some airlines have "own flights" rules for status. With BA (and QR?) that is 2/4 flights. Check BA web site/BA forum for the detailed rules.
Your statement "focus on oneworld by booking partner flights through British Airways to earn oneworld status. You do not need to "book through" [what ever that means] any 1 airline. Just enter your ffn in any reservation that is a partner. You do not earn "OW staus". You earn status with 1 ffp, and that is recognised by other OW airlines.
You seem to have a low understanding of how alliances ~ ff partners work. What ffp's are you a member of now?
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Apr 25, 2024 at 3:48 pm
#1841
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 2
So, if I understand correctly: when I fly with a oneworld airline and enter my British Airways membership number, I should earn the points as Avios and the flights should count towards my British Airways status but I'll also need to fly at least 2 flights per year booked with British Airways for those flights to start counting? Does this mean that the flights I've already taken (with Malaysia Airlines and others) are a wash, or will the tier points for those flights show up after I book + fly twice with British Airways this year?
How much would you estimate that you spend annually on air travel? Some programs, like AA's AAdvantage, now credit redeemable mileage and Loyalty Points based on pre-tax airfare -- not distance flown -- for some partners, like BA and IB. For other partners, like QR, CX, and JL, AAdvantage still credits based on miles flown and booking code. In addition, hotel stays credited to AAdvantage also count towards achieving elite status, so you might be able to use your Marriott stays to help get elite status in the AAdvantage program.
Thank you very much for your helpful post and the welcome.
I know very little. Off the top of my head, I'm a member of Singapore's KrisFlyer, United MileagePlus, Qatar, Qantas, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Malaysia, SAS but all have a couple of flights at most and are at the entry level status except for United MileagePlus which is Silver (via the Marriott partnership).
#1842
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,035
I think this might be the root of my confusion / issue. I have entered my British Airways membership number when booking with other oneworld airlines (like Malaysia Airlines) and I have earned the Avios from those bookings (as reflected in my Avios balance with British Airways) but I have seen no change in my status, nor any indication that my miles are being registered by British Airways -- i.e: my tier points are unchanged. If I look in my Malaysia Airlines account, I can see the miles did register there, as I am making progress towards with their status. I (incorrectly?) concluded that entering my British Airways membership number was just for earning Avios, not for getting credit for the flights against my British Airways account
If for the same flight you are also getting MH miles and status earning and BA avios some thing is amiss. If you booked the flight while logged into your MH ffp account and then tried to change to BA ffp, anything could have happened.
Is some cases is possible to credit status raning to one ffp and redeemable miles/avios/points to another ffp. But requires a skilled airline or travel agent to do. Is not common.
Depending on the detailed rules with OW if you earn redeemable avios/miles/points you also earning status. Code share flights can be problematic.
Some low cost fares can earn nothing to some ffp's. Look at your ffo web site. A very broad guide (not 100% correct in all cases)--> https://www.wheretocredit.com/
So, if I understand correctly: when I fly with a oneworld airline and enter my British Airways membership number, I should earn the points as Avios and the flights should count towards my British Airways status but I'll also need to fly at least 2 flights per year booked with British Airways for those flights to start counting? Does this mean that the flights I've already taken (with Malaysia Airlines and others) are a wash, or will the tier points for those flights show up after I book + fly twice with British Airways this year?
I know very little. Off the top of my head, I'm a member of Singapore's KrisFlyer, United MileagePlus, Qatar, Qantas, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Malaysia, SAS but all have a couple of flights at most and are at the entry level status except for United MileagePlus which is Silver (via the Marriott partnership).
Oneworld
- QR
- BA
- MH
- QF
Star
- UA (miles never expire)
- SQ (miles have 3 year hard expiry. Use them or lose them)
- LH
- SAS (but leaving)
EK and UA are ff partners (check the t&c's)
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Apr 26, 2024 at 5:18 am
#1843
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
I think this might be the root of my confusion / issue. I have entered my British Airways membership number when booking with other oneworld airlines (like Malaysia Airlines) and I have earned the Avios from those bookings (as reflected in my Avios balance with British Airways) but I have seen no change in my status, nor any indication that my miles are being registered by British Airways -- i.e: my tier points are unchanged. If I look in my Malaysia Airlines account, I can see the miles did register there, as I am making progress towards with their status. I (incorrectly?) concluded that entering my British Airways membership number was just for earning Avios, not for getting credit for the flights against my British Airways account.
BAEC requires two "qualifying" flights (plus the requisite number of Tier Points) in order to attain low-level status (BAEC Bronze/oneworld Ruby). For any higher BAEC status, four qualifying flights are required.