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!
Mar 17, 2015 | 9:32 pm
#451
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 17
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?
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?
I might just end up flying the cheapest price and not being loyal to any airline.
Mar 18, 2015 | 12:03 am
#453
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,948
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
Mar 18, 2015 | 3:18 am
#454
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Finnair Platinum, Bonvoy LT Plat, GHA Tit, Turkish Elite
Posts: 9,173
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.
If price wasn't a factor I'd go CX via HKG or Thai direct and credit the miles to OW or *A accordingly.
Mar 18, 2015 | 4:44 am
#455
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,913
Mar 18, 2015 | 7:19 am
#456
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posts: 663
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
)With the current state of ever increasing stupidity at UA MP, I'd consider going One World and making AA ExPlat.
Mar 19, 2015 | 4:40 pm
#457
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern California LAX, BUR
Programs: AA Plat; UA.
Posts: 262
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)
With the current state of ever increasing stupidity at UA MP, I'd consider going One World and making AA ExPlat.
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
)With the current state of ever increasing stupidity at UA MP, I'd consider going One World and making AA ExPlat.
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,
Mar 20, 2015 | 7:39 pm
#458
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Lanpass
Posts: 4
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
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
Mar 25, 2015 | 3:39 am
#460
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1
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.
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.
Mar 26, 2015 | 2:32 pm
#461
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1
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!
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!
Mar 26, 2015 | 2:42 pm
#462
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,988
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.
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.
Mar 26, 2015 | 2:59 pm
#463
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,913
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
Mar 26, 2015 | 6:29 pm
#464
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 5
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
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?
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
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?
Mar 26, 2015 | 11:22 pm
#465
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,913