sprover Welcomer to FT

Stay with AA ^. And start burning those 553,000 miles. They do not increase in value.

From you profile you are also in the UA ffp

What other ffp could you bank miles with? FFP's of USA based airlines are more generous than non USA airlines. Non USA airlines do not have the (free) upgrade policies so common with USA airlines and often have higher miles and/or cash co payments for awards..

Hello all, newly assigned traveling consultant here. I've had the luck to be local in NYC for the past 4 years, but I'm now scheduled to be staffed down in Houston for the next 14 months.

I've had frequent flier programs all my life, but never really utilized them before as my travel was inconsistent. Now I'm looking for the best way to really maximize this constant travel and make use of the 5 weeks of vacation time I rarely do anything fun with.

Quick overview,

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: Award redemption (i.e. fly free for personal flights) and upgrades.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: On average, above 25k. This year will likely be closer to 150,000 if I'm flying to Houston every week. Number of flights on average is around 20 a year, before weekly travel.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: Economy, but would buy business if upgrades were available for relatively the same price.

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Travel for both work and pleasure. For work, able to choose airline and class if required economy/coach when domestic.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: Domestic.

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: NYC, in order of preference: LGA, JFK, HPN, EWR, SWF

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: No status achieved. About 10,000 on Delta; 3,000 on American; and 55,000 on Jetblue.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Jetblue was preferred for a long time due to easy JFK access and need to travel to FLL and Plattsburgh for family. JB is moving down the list, though, with loss of customer service and Mosaic being, well, just dumb. Delta is probably my preferred of the nationals, then American, than United.

I know United is the easy answer here, given their Hub in Houston, but I'm looking for alternatives and other ideas as I'm really just not a huge fan of them. I'm open to being converted, though.

Thanks!

Hey guys, amazing forum you got here. I just entered a new job, and for the next couple of years (at least) I'm going to be flying a lot. I want to start knowing everything now so I won't be sorry later.
Basically I think my Dilemma is *A or OneWorld, and inside these whether to join the BA/Lufthansa/United/AA FFP.

Thanks for any help!

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
upgrades upgrades upgrades. most of the flights will be long hauls

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
~40,000 miles, 12 flights a year. 6 Israel-Europe, 6 Israel-US.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply:
Cheapest/Economy (Unless it is provable that Economy rewards are more valuable in the long run than the tix $ difference)

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Airline most flown? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I can choose my airline freely. Travel for work.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often
Israel-Europe (UK/Germany/Northern), and Israel-USA. Sometimes to the east (Singapore/Thailand)

(6) What is your home airport?
Tel Aviv - TLV

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
Negligible.

(8) Preferred Airlines
Have none, that's what I'm here for.

Barakp Welcome to the forum

Your objective of upgrades is unlikely to happen, especially if flying non USA airlines and on the cheap tickets. 12 return flights a year is not a lot and may not get status unless all on 1 airline. Better to set a realistic long term objective from a ffp.

What airlines fly your expected routes?
Companies often have travel policies at are choices

From post 2

Thanks for the quick reply. I read post 2 but figured that if I will have a high ranking in one of the airlines, I will be able upgrade often free of charge. Maybe a more realistic estimate is 18 flights / year.

My company allows me to set the policies (but obviously still want low expenses). My routes are Israel to western Europe and SF/NY.
Basically I think my Dilemma is *A or OneWorld, and inside these whether to join the BA/Lufthansa/United/AA FFP.

No. The chances of a free upgrade are very low. Some airlines require cash or miles or upgrade instrument from status (SWU). With only 18 flights may not get you high status with an ffp. There will be many higher status than you. Even then status may you may not get to the top of an upgrade list (if your airline uses that system:most do not).
With non USA based airlines expect to fly in the class you buy.

Ok then, I hear you. So if 18 flights/year are not enough for a high status, what is a good consideration for choosing an FFP? Simply the company I like its logo the best?

I would look at which carrier(s)/alliance suits you best based on routes/cost/schedule, then look at which FFP within that alliance to credit to.

I will also echo Mwenenzi's comments that your chance of a free upgrade on international flights on almost all carriers is very close to zero even if you achieve their top membership tier.

Hey, I am new to the frequent flyer thing, mainly because we dont fly a lot. My wife and I try and take a vacation every year and fly for that but thats generally all we fly. We just booked a trip to Europe in September and used points we had saved from our Barclays card to pay for a good portion of the tickets.

So that got me thinking about FFPs and if there was a way for us to use them to our benefit. We dont really have an allegiance to an airline and generally fly the cheapest/most convenient flights.

p.s. We are flying Lufthansia to Europe and United back to the states.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Replyiscounted rates and upgrades

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply:<25000

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., 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, just tend to go with the cheapest. For pleasure.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: Mainly domestic. Taking first transatlantic flight in September

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: CLT

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: No

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Doesnt matter

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
RPR, BOM
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Cheapest available
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
around 25k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
Nope
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
upgrades and award tickets. Not bothered about premeir status and lounges
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Everything from India, domestic and to Europe, SE Asia.
(7) Preferred Airlines
Air India, Jet Airways
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Pleasure. Buying my own tickets.

Have 0 miles on every program. Currently in US but will move to India in December. Travel economy everywhere. Advantage of United Mileage Plus is that I can redeem miles on my occassional jet airways flight as well since they are codeshare partners with UA.

I posted this on the star alliance thread but since that thread doesnt look very active I am posting it here as well.

My preference is to join one of the star alliance' programs. I would prefer a program which allows for good earning of miles on international and domestic jet airways and air india flights plus on international flights on one of the gulf carriers (etihad or emirates)

Thanks

Hi people of flyertalk!

I'm very new to FFP's and with this abundance of information it all seems pretty overwhelming. So I'm asking for you guys' expertise. I live in the Netherlands and I usually fly about 2-4 times a year just in Europe, mostly to Geneva. In 6 weeks I'm going on a trip to Australia (still have to book my flight, flying to Melbourne) and when I'm there I'll fly domestic probably 2-3 times and to New Zealand. Next year I have a trip planned to North America, so I'll by flying much more in the coming time than I have before.

What would you guys advice me?

Thanks a lot!


1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply: Upgrades and award tickets

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: <25000

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., 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, usually just searched for the cheapest. I just travel for pleasure.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: Europe domestic, this year to Australia, next to North America (trans-atlantic).

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: AMS (or RTM)

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: No

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: No preference

Anyone?
I'm waiting to buy my flight to Australia until I know which airline I should fly for the FFP I chose.

Buy the flight that best value or schedule for you. A lot of airlines fly to Australia. Eu/UK – Australia is a very competitive route.

Freq flyer miles, if any, are secondary. FFP's are for the long term:- not 2 trips (Eu-Aust & Eu-USA). You may get some miles that, in the distant future, you may be able to use to get an award flight. Due to your infrequent flying you will not be getting upgrades. Upgrades, if any, are from banked miles or status.

What airlines do you fly in Eu? Freq flyer miles from cheap economaty fares can be low (25%) or nil in some to a lot of ffp's.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
(e.g., upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access)
Reply:Good Award Redemption rates, upgrades, better award access

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
(e.g., <25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles and <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply:>50000 miles and >50 segments

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., 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:Only choose airline. Travel for work

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: U.S. domestic

6. What is your home airport?
(e.g., SFO, LHR, HKG)
Reply: SEA

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
(e.g., AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro)
Reply: UA 1K

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply:Alaska, Delta, United

Delta skymiles vs virgin atlantic flight club.
Hi Everyone,
Just trying to figure out what is the best to use.
Interested in upgrades, and probably lounge access in heathrow.
Have 52000 in amex delta skymiles .
I have booked a ticket on virgin-atlantic already and was wondering if i should put in my virgin atlantic rewards account or the delta skymiles rewars account.
Also if i use the delta skymiles account, do i need to pay with my delta amex card?
What kind of benefit will i get?
Thanks