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-   -   Which Frequent Flyer Program to Join? Help Is Here! (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/information-desk/1550730-frequent-flyer-program-join-help-here.html)

Norcalkid Mar 17, 2015 9:32 pm


Originally Posted by mikelat (Post 24523563)
Seeing as you want Bangkok, I'd bet on Thai Airways flights. But you're going to have to do some research as to which airlines typically offer the lowest fare to BKK with the number of connections you'd be comfortable with. I'm only really familiar with OneWorld and I know there you could do Cathay SFO-HKG and then HKG-BKK.

From what I've heard, the Asian carrier's loyalty programs are not as generous as US Carriers (and even those are de-valuing). What are you looking for in a loyalty program?

Thai is super expensive (no better service than Cathay). Cathay is my favorite but I haven't really tried their loyalty program. Often United is cheapest but they have terrible service and their loyalty program is useless to me as a cattle class flyer. Can't even pick a seat on the partner legs you have to use now that United dropped the NRT-BKK route. I like China Air better than United. Singapore is supposed to be nice but has long layovers. I like Asean and indochine airport but haven't used them much.

I might just end up flying the cheapest price and not being loyal to any airline.

planensimple Mar 17, 2015 11:49 pm

EVA, Asiana, Emirates should be good picks

SingaporeDon Mar 18, 2015 12:03 am


Originally Posted by mikelat (Post 24523563)
From what I've heard, the Asian carrier's loyalty programs are not as generous as US Carriers (and even those are de-valuing). What are you looking for in a loyalty program?

OP can continue to credit his US programs, if he finds them more attractive, even if he flies Asian carriers.
eg Fly Thai/SQ/AI etc, credit UA
Fly CX/JAL credit AA/US

I know OP mentioned SQ has long lay overs, but is that really the case? SQ has two flights daily to/from SFO, and between SQ and Silk Air, they have 8/10 flights a day between SIN and BKK. I am surprised OP thinks connections will be too long.
SQ is a great product, and with 15% online discount for redemptions on SQ, I feel OP may want to re-look as SQ KF as the program to fly/credit

EuropeanPete Mar 18, 2015 3:18 am

Thailand appears to be oddly expensive this year. I'm not that familiar with the SFO route specifically, but coming from the other way it is significantly cheaper to stop off somewhere else in Asia first rather than fly direct to BKK.

If price wasn't a factor I'd go CX via HKG or Thai direct and credit the miles to OW or *A accordingly.

Mwenenzi Mar 18, 2015 4:44 am


Originally Posted by Norcalkid (Post 24523368)
... I’m more interested in best loyalty programs for cheap fares? Thanks

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html


Originally Posted by mikelat (Post 24523563)
... From what I've heard, the Asian carrier's loyalty programs are not as generous as US Carriers (and even those are de-valuing). What are you looking for in a loyalty program?


Originally Posted by SingaporeDon (Post 24524757)
OP can continue to credit his US programs, if he finds them more attractive, even if he flies Asian carriers.
eg Fly Thai/SQ/AI etc, credit UA
Fly CX/JAL credit AA/US

USA based airline ffp's tend to better than non USA ffp's:- earn/burn & status benefits

bobbysfca Mar 18, 2015 7:19 am


Originally Posted by Norcalkid (Post 24524243)
I might just end up flying the cheapest price and not being loyal to any airline.

Big mistake unless you're saving thousands.
If you're going SFO-BKK x 5 annually, that's at least 80,000 eqm right there.
Not to mention 80-160K RDM (with AA) or 15-20K RDM (with UA :td:)

With the current state of ever increasing stupidity at UA MP, I'd consider going One World and making AA ExPlat.

Hayvenhurst Mar 19, 2015 4:40 pm


Originally Posted by bobbysfca (Post 24525793)
Big mistake unless you're saving thousands.
If you're going SFO-BKK x 5 annually, that's at least 80,000 eqm right there.
Not to mention 80-160K RDM (with AA) or 15-20K RDM (with UA :td:)

With the current state of ever increasing stupidity at UA MP, I'd consider going One World and making AA ExPlat.

It certainly could be a good idea for the original poster to take all of his or her flights on one alliance -- five trips between SFO and BKK could be enough to earn platinum status.

But you need to remember that many flights on oneworld airlines do NOT earn miles in the AA program. For instance the only "cattle class" flights on Cathay Pacific that earn AA redeemable or qualifying miles are those flown on full fare tickets. To earn mileage credit on AA for a flight in coach to BKK on Cathay, it is necessary to buy a codeshare ticket -- one with an AA flights number,

fernandozuvi Mar 20, 2015 7:39 pm

Hi All,



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: priority access and lounge 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: 45000 miles (72000 km), 25-50 flights

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: I am not able but 90% of my flights are in my prefered airline / Work.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: LIMA - SAO PAULO / LIMA - GYE / LIMA - MADRID

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

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: Lanpass Premiun Silver (Saphire Oneworld) / 120000 km (75k miles) including bonus class (100%)

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

lindseynicole Mar 23, 2015 6:00 am

Hi everyone I am looking for FFP suggestion and I got some of the interesting suggestion here thanks for helping me. I would have any problem regarding this I will post thread for getting more help.

el_jugo Mar 25, 2015 3:39 am

Change from ANA to SK?
 
Hi all,
I have been living in Japan for 5 years and I'm about to relocate to Copenhagen.
I have about 130K lifetime miles on ANA and I'm 1/3 of the way to getting Platinum Service for this year.

I might use ANA 2x per year after I relocate (back to Japan) and will be traveling frequently around Europe, presumably on SK as their hub is in Copenhagen. As a result, it looks like I will not get to Platinum this year.

My question is this: should I abandon ANA completely for the time I am in Denmark and start piling miles on SK's Eurobonus? Or is there some way accumulate miles on both? Sorry if it is a stupid question.

Thank you for reading and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

pointsn00b Mar 26, 2015 2:32 pm

Newly frequent JFK-LHR traveler -- need to choose program
 
Hi everyone,

I know very little about points, but I can always count on a good forum to point me in the right direction!

I started a new job that will have my flying from JFK to LHR once a month. I will probably travel within the US 2-3 additional times a month.

In London, I stay at a Morgans' hotel which gives me Virgin points upon every stay.

My travel goals are pretty simple: I'd like to earn enough miles for two roundtrip tickets to France sometime in 2016.

On my first trip, I took BA -- premium economy to London, coach on the return. That's what my company covers.

I appreciate any help that you can provide to point me in the right direction. I sense that most programs are the same, but am looking for any insight that you geniuses might provide.

Thanks!

guv1976 Mar 26, 2015 2:42 pm

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Welcome to FT!

Unless you're hoping to travel to France during the high-demand summer months, I'd suggest flying AA/BA between JFK and LHR, but crediting all of those flights to AA's frequent-flyer program (AAdvantage).

After a few months (and at least four flights on AA metal), you should have AAdvantage Gold status, and a few months after that, AAdvantage Platinum status.

Mwenenzi Mar 26, 2015 2:59 pm


Originally Posted by pointsn00b (Post 24570038)
My travel goals are pretty simple: I'd like to earn enough miles for two roundtrip tickets to France sometime in 2016.
< snip >
I sense that most programs are the same, but am looking for any insight that you geniuses might provide.

FFP's can be very different. Earning miles, using miles and benefits from status can vary a lot between the frequent flyer programs.

Look and ask here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
As a USA resident flying BA & AA (Oneworld alliance) AA would be the initial choice for a ffp, But we need more information on your travel profile and ffp objectives

vebaev Mar 26, 2015 6:29 pm

Which SkyTeam airline/program to choose?
 
Hi,
till now I have by chance flying mostly with StarAlliance airlines, so my Lufthansa Miles&More card was very handy to use when I have to re-pring fast my boarding passes - just a swipe of the card :D

Now I have to use Alitalia and after few months Aeroflot which are SkyTeam members? Does anyone knows which airline program to choose so I can get fast (by post) a similar card for checking-in and simplifying my SkyTeam flights?

Mwenenzi Mar 26, 2015 11:22 pm

vebaev Welcome to FT

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/skyte...i-sign-up.html


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