Hey guys, I'm planning on going to Barcelona with my girlfriend the week of 10/16-10/23 this year. Last year I went by myself and just booked a ticket+hotel combo through Expedia, but wanted to try out an airline rewards program.

I have a really old Avios account that I made a couple years ago that I have never used. It has only 6,000 Avios in it, but my family has 2 credit cards:

Amex Hilton Honors (200k, but I believe they can't be transferred)
Chase Freedom (100k which I believe can be transferred to Avios)
Bank of the West Credit Card (~85k, which I don't think transfer)

I have approx. 4 months before my flights so I was planning on opening the following credit cards:

Chase Sapphire Preferred (Will spend $5k in 3 months on it, earning me around 50k points)
British Airways Visa Credit Card ($2k in 3 months, for 50k Avios)

So I think I'll have around 200k Avios to spend. I was thinking of purchasing 2 tickets and upgrading them to first class. Is that a possibility?

Trip would be from ORD to BCN. Any input? Perhaps I should go with a different airline like American AA?

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Welcome to FT!

I think you have some homework to do. Not all TATL flights offer First Class; many offer Business Class as the highest cabin.

Using miles to upgrade is subject to very specific upgrade rules that vary from program to program. You might only be able to upgrade a very expensive Coach fare, or you might be able to upgrade even the cheapest Coach fare. There might not be upgrade "inventory" available. If you are flying on BA aircraft, you might only be able to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy (a class that is below Business Class). And to upgrade to First Class (on a flight that offers it) you would probably have to purchase a Business Class ticket, not an Economy ticket.

You'll find a Sticky in the FT BA forum on using Avios. It should explain the rules about using Avios to upgrade on BA, and on BA partner carriers.

Good luck!

The airline and ticket last year may have been able to earn freq flyer miles.
Be careful with the expiry of the avios. They expire if no activity in 3 years.
The airline you fly and the airline ffp you credit the ff miles can be different (subject to the ffp t&c's). Like fly BA but credit to AA ffp
Have you looked at airlines what airlines fly ORD-BCN or ORD-???-BCN?
Have you flown international class aircraft with first? Its not like USA domestic first. Many international class aircraft in business have better seats than USA first.

Yep, noticed that there is a lack of First class, but I've been told that Business is just as nice. I understand that I'd have to buy a Coach to upgrade to a Business, which is what I am planning on, as well as that cheaper coach tickets cannot be upgraded...

I think American is my best option as it comes out to around 440k miles outright. I'll have to run the numbers and see how much it costs to upgrade....

So I can use past flights to earn miles now? If so, that's awesome! Avios are still there, I logged in today to check on them. I also have like 25k in American miles, as well.

I think my best option is AA since they have an airline that flys ORD->?->BCN. I think business class will do, but even then, the cost is nearly 440k miles outright. I would need to buy a premium coach or full-fare coach and upgrade, as earning 440k miles in 4 months is nearly unatainable for me.

Decisions
 

***Seeking loyalty program that will propel my status quickly from nothing (may use challenge?). Also, I'm concerned the US CLT/NYC direct will be removed once the AA/US merger is complete (need a direct flight Monday AM from CLT to NYC).***

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Award redemption rates and access, upgrades, and priority service

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
40000+ miles and 80+ segments

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
economy

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Can choose airline but is economy (work)

5. Which routes do you fly most often
U.S. domestic for flights, international for rewards
CLT-NYC

6. What is your home airport?
CLT

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
No status. Many miles in each.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
United and AA? but am open.

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: Safety, Safety, Non-stop Routes (SFO base), Overall Service, Priority Service, Upgrades (including certs/mile 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: ~50,000

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)
Reply: Mainly domestic economy, and a mix of business/economy international travel. Would buy real premium economy if offered (not the complimentary E+ with a couple more inches).

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Mainly pleasure, some work. Able to choose own airlines and class of service.

5. Which routes do you fly most often
(e.g., U.S. domestic, transatlantic, intra-Asia)
Reply: Heavy skiier to SLC, ASE, JAC, DEN, YVR.
- 2-4 trips a year to SEA. 1-2 trips a year to HNL/OGG.
- 1-2 trans-cons a year to NYC.
- Average a trip a year to Asia (TPE) and 1-2 trips a year to Europe (FRA, CDG, ZRH).

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

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 Gold

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Eva Air, seconds are Virgin America and JetBlue.

---

Short version is, UA Gold based in SFO exploring options.

Always felt UA has horrible service and in-cabin product on average (although some GA and crew have been awesome). More importantly, slightly concerned by recent DoT reports on UA's safety violations, and the allegations made by pilots union about UA management prioritizing scheduling over safety (which while it might be an exaggeration, the fights/lack of care/distrust between management and the staff staff has to be unhealthy).

Help, please: EXP with American, now travelling to canada
 

I've been EXP for years. I will now be travelling to and from Orlando to Canada almost weekly, and within Canada during the week. How can I get quick status, and what is my best option. I hate to leave American. They've been very good to me.

Do you need to leave AA? Westjest is an AA partner if you intend to fly them in Canada.
http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/ea...es/westjet.jsp

Who are you looking to get status with, exactly?

Switch from Delta or stick with them?
 

I've been flying Delta for 20-some years but have recently been pretty unhappy with their customer service, even for Medallion customers. I've also recently moved to Rochester (ROC) where they don't have as strong a presence as my previous home airports (SJC, LAX, ATL). So I'm wondering if it's time for a change.

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)
Upgrades primarily. A connection with a good credit card is nice as well. I've currently got a Delta Platinum Amex which gives me a companion certificate every year, free checked bags, and cheaper 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?)

Mostly in the 25-50k range but not infrequently >50k if I have a trip to Asia. Definitely fewer than 25 flights.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
(e.g., first, business, premium economy, economy)

Economy.

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?

Yes to airlines, though it generally should be somewhere near the cheapest option. I can't choose class of service. Mostly for work.

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

Most frequently domestic, many to the SF Bay Area (SJC/SFO). Some transatlantic, occasional to Asia.

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

ROC

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)

Currently Silver Medallion with Delta and about 60k miles.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?

It used to be Delta... I was very much unimpressed with US Airways the last time I flew them.

Switching FFP from AS to ??? BOS to LAX
 

My new job has me traveling regularly from BOS to LAX and I am just 12K miles away from AS MVP Gold 75K for next year. There is no quick way to go from BOS to LAX via AS, plus it is usually twice as much in airfare. My options are DL, UA or AA. My current plan is to get to MVP Gold 75K for next year and then switch over to another FFP. A few questions, is that a good plan or does it really not matter. If I am going to move to a new FFP which one is good? DL? I really use a FFP to get the upgrades since the flights are long rather than award flights. I would be really grateful for advice.

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MVP Gold 75K gives you complimentary upgrades on DL, although who knows how long that perk will remain. And you can earn MVP Gold 75K by flying AA/DL; you just have to fly 90K miles, instead of 75K miles.

What benefit do you expect from AS MVP gold, especially if you are going to another FFP? With another ffp you start from nothing (again).

AS is a good ffp, due to its many partners. You can fly AA & DL and put those miles to the AS ffp. The airline you fly and airline ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be the same.

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

Wouldn't starting with a new FFP be a good option AFTER reaching MVP Gold 75K for next year? I have it for this year and while I may have the chance for a DL upgrade, I'm on the direct flight to LAX where there may be many many more ahead of me that are eligible for upgrades? I understand that you can fly one carrier and accrue points on another. I just think that the accural on AS is a little more limiting. I'm hearing you all say that I may not have to switch? Other than reaching that status, I'm not expecting much for reaching that tier.

I'd look into possibly retaining my AS MVP and fly AA, which has a decently close relationship with AA.

If not for this year, maybe until I saw AA is not going to impose some major changes (revenue based status or miles earning) as DL, UA, BA, IB etc. have. Then I might compare again, if this is a long-term change.