May 24, 2014, 12:34 pm
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!
Feb 12, 2026 | 9:15 pm
#1951
Join Date: Oct 2024
Posts: 60
alerys , assuming that your pre-tax airfares total ~$22K USD, you should be able to achieve OWE status by crediting all flights within an elite-earning year to AAdvantage if all of your flights are on BA. The AAdvantage program credits miles/Loyalty Points for travel on BA based on pre-tax fare. Travel on Cathay, Finnair, Qantas, and Qatar, on the other hand, credit based on distance and fare class, with some Business Class fares earning more than others.
Though it's not a oneworld member, flights on Etihad do earn redeemable miles and Loyalty Points if credited to AAdvantage. But again, credit would be based on flown mileage and fare class, not on pre-tax fares.
Though it's not a oneworld member, flights on Etihad do earn redeemable miles and Loyalty Points if credited to AAdvantage. But again, credit would be based on flown mileage and fare class, not on pre-tax fares.
Given these options, are there any benefits I should consider between these 4 programs, or are they all the same? I would hope that when flying their own program, the status would give more, but maybe that's not a significant factor? Also, for flying, I assume the quality in J is QR > SQ > BA = Finnair?
All the non-SQ options mean extra layovers for me, which is sad. But the PPS status just gives me so little value (I can access the SQ lounge on J flights already, and I fly other airlines for Y).
Feb 12, 2026 | 10:20 pm
#1952
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,988
Nice, thanks! It seems like flying Qatar, BA or Finnair and crediting to their own FFP would work too, QR and BA are a bit tighter though. And QR would be route-based rather than distance based, but the math looks good.
Given these options, are there any benefits I should consider between these 4 programs, or are they all the same? I would hope that when flying their own program, the status would give more, but maybe that's not a significant factor? Also, for flying, I assume the quality in J is QR > SQ > BA = Finnair?
All the non-SQ options mean extra layovers for me, which is sad. But the PPS status just gives me so little value (I can access the SQ lounge on J flights already, and I fly other airlines for Y).
Given these options, are there any benefits I should consider between these 4 programs, or are they all the same? I would hope that when flying their own program, the status would give more, but maybe that's not a significant factor? Also, for flying, I assume the quality in J is QR > SQ > BA = Finnair?
All the non-SQ options mean extra layovers for me, which is sad. But the PPS status just gives me so little value (I can access the SQ lounge on J flights already, and I fly other airlines for Y).
Feb 12, 2026 | 10:23 pm
#1953
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,911
What is your objective from a ffp? [ If you list free upgrades will be disappointed ]
What opportunities for on the ground (cc etc) earning of ff miles.avios/points?
QR, BA, AY as well as IB EI all use avios as the frequent flyer currency.. Avios, but not status earning, can be moved between these ffp, subject to t&c's. BA & QR have a closer relationship and can use avios by looking through to the other, without moving.
In Asia also have Malaysian Airlines MH, Japan Airlines JL and Cathay Pacific CX. And SriLankan UL & Fiji Airway FJ at SIN.
What opportunities for on the ground (cc etc) earning of ff miles.avios/points?
In Asia also have Malaysian Airlines MH, Japan Airlines JL and Cathay Pacific CX. And SriLankan UL & Fiji Airway FJ at SIN.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Feb 12, 2026 at 10:49 pm Reason: EI<--> IE
Feb 12, 2026 | 10:30 pm
#1954
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,988
Feb 14, 2026 | 4:20 am
#1955
Join Date: Oct 2024
Posts: 60
Originally Posted by [color=#333333
guv1976[/color];37594568]
You might find that AA miles are more valuable for redemption than miles in other programs -- assuming that you can find partner award availability when you need it. AA does not collect carrier surcharges on any carrier except BA and IB. And you can earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points from car rentals and hotel stays, too.
You might find that AA miles are more valuable for redemption than miles in other programs -- assuming that you can find partner award availability when you need it. AA does not collect carrier surcharges on any carrier except BA and IB. And you can earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points from car rentals and hotel stays, too.
Feb 14, 2026 | 12:35 pm
#1956
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,988
(Note that the baggage and boarding group benefits are for travel on AA. On other airlines, those benefits can vary, but will be subject to the minimum prescribed by oneworld.)
Edited to add: Keep in mind that the elite-status "earning" year for the AAdvantage program runs from March 1 until February 28/29, so you would have to earn 125,000 Loyalty Points during that period to achieve AAdvantage Platinum Pro (oneworld Emerald) status.
Last edited by guv1976; Feb 14, 2026 at 1:24 pm