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*A would seem to me to be a strong option as long as OP is willing to fly Asiana (since UA doesn't fly to ICN non-stop out of NYC) though somewhat depends on class of service.
If on a 016 ticket, Asiana earns based on the standard 5/7/8/9/11 structure. If not on a 016 ticket, the earnings get a bit fuzzy for Y but are fine for J. Of course if a one-stop is acceptable for UA you can always take NH metal and go JFK - HND - ICN (or of course UA metal EWR - NRT - ICN) or as mentioned up-thread, EWR - SFO - ICN. KE crediting to Alaska is a pretty good suggestion too, especially since you could mix in an occasional one-stop if required on JL or CX. |
Despite the Sky Peso reputation, there are some sweet spots in Delta's FF redemption non-charts. (Though I'll note there are also some real unicorns like low level redemption from Southeastern outstations to Hawaii)
I also kind of hate CLT, especially the zoo of E gates, regional jets, and bad air conditioning. It makes the domestic part of ATL seem very organized and reasonable, if still quite crowded, in comparison. |
IMHO - Delta for the two main reasons listed above by several --- 1) flight reliability, and 2) more flight options. Only negative - ATL tends to have more weather-related flight delays than CLT.
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Going to be travelling a lot in 2017, which program should I join?
So, starting in late Jan of 2017, I will be flying A LOT. I have a rough schedule and it calls for nearly 20 trips from ORD to Europe, a couple times to SYD, and I already planning on multiple vacations as well.
I previously have only flown One World (American Airlines mainly) and even got to the Gold Tier, but I feel as if I play my cards right, I can definitely hit the top level in whichever program I choose to join. My current plan at the beginning is to pay for Business class tix out of pocket to move up the ranks and then start requesting upgrades obviously. I have a great credit score and I am willing to open a few CCs to take advantage of point offers as well. So my questions to you guys are the following: 1) Which FF program is the best bang for your buck? 2) With everyone switching from miles flown to money spent, how hard is it to achieve the higher levels? 3) What's your preferred FF program? Thank you and Merry Christmas! |
Originally Posted by mokarney
(Post 27660688)
So, starting in late Jan of 2017, I will be flying A LOT. I have a rough schedule and it calls for nearly 20 trips from ORD to Europe, a couple times to SYD, and I already planning on multiple vacations as well.
<snip> My current plan at the beginning is to pay for Business class tix out of pocket to move up the ranks and then start requesting upgrades obviously. Upgrades are never guaranteed. You are likely to disappointed with upgrades, especially if flying non USA airlines. With non USA airlines always expect to pay for the class you buy. For upgrades the general rule is you can only upgrade a flight marketed (flight number) and operated (metal) by the airline of your frequent flyer programme (no codeshares) with your airlines upgrade instrument (e.g. SWU, miles) or complementary with status (if applicable) or ff miles/cash. All subject to the t&c's of your FFP and your paid ticket. Low cost tickets are often not eligible for upgrades. Cross airline upgrades are uncommon. If cross airline upgrades are offered they tend to require a very expensive base fare and have t&c's. As above http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html The grass in not always greener on the other side |
I suggest looking at the routes that you will fly most and assessing which airlines offer the best flight options. Upgrades are important as are the other perqs - but - when you start flying all the time, the most important thing is sometimes just very simple - which airline has a nonstop etc.
Being based at ORD is excellent. You have both UA and the Star fleet of airlines and AA and team One World. DL is unlikely to be your pick unless Skyteam partners fly nonstop to ORD from locations that matter to you (as some may). . Were I in your shoes, I would think about what you like and dislike about AA and then see if the other option(s) offer a better alternative. If they don't, then I'd probably stick with the devil you know. |
While it often makes sense to credit one's alliance (oneworld, Star Alliance, Sky Team) flights to the airline one flies the most, there can be exceptions to that, depending on what one values most in an FFP. For example, status with BAEC will afford one lounge access when traveling domestically on AA; even AA EXP status does not offer that. But award-flight redemptions booked with BAEC Avios can cost more (or less) than the same award flights booked with AAdvantage miles.
You really need to carefully consider what you want out of an FFP, how likely you are to actually get what you want, and what your intended redemptions are. It's a tricky business. |
Originally Posted by FirstInFlight
(Post 27661281)
I suggest looking at the routes that you will fly most and assessing which airlines offer the best flight options. Upgrades are important as are the other perqs - but - when you start flying all the time, the most important thing is sometimes just very simple - which airline has a nonstop etc.
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"For SYD, there are no nonstops, so the connection city is important. I think the west coast offers more options than DFW in case of irreg ops. That means UA. "
:confused: Why does it mean UA? Both AA and QF fly LAX-SYD nonstop. |
Originally Posted by guv1976
(Post 27663988)
"For SYD, there are no nonstops, so the connection city is important. I think the west coast offers more options than DFW in case of irreg ops. That means UA. " Why does it mean UA? Both AA and QF fly LAX-SYD nonstop. And also DL & VA fly to Au from LAX. And HA from HNL. QF has on & off considered ORD-SYD. At one time was in the schedule, but later the route was canned, before it even started. |
Originally Posted by jpm2024
(Post 27654122)
My wife and I are moving from Boston to Shanghai, which is exciting and terrifying. We love to travel, but have never invested in a rewards program due to us just buying the cheapest flight on many different airlines. This move is going to allow us to travel a great deal more than we are used to, so we need to get serious about miles ( I think). 75% of our travel will be together and for leisure, paid for out of our pocket. 25% will be just me traveling for work, where I will have control to pick my airline. Thank you in advance for any advice!
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. >>> I'm honestly not sure, being able to get free flights and/or upgrade my long haul flights when I go home sound important. 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. >>> I'm new to this, so I'm not sure, I will be flying round trip from Shanghai to Boston at least twice a year, so that is at least 16,000 miles for both my wife and I. We will have a tremendous amount of time to travel while we are there, so at least 5 trips within Asia each year. 3. What fare class do you usually buy? first, business, premium economy, economy >>> I pay myself, so usually the cheapest. I could entertain business on long haul flights if it was reasonable. 4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? >>> Most of my travel is for pleasure, so I have total choice. 5. Which routes do you fly most often? transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc. >>> Round trip between Boston and Shanghai will be the most frequent, but all others would be from Boston to US/Canada, or Shanghai to Asian cities. 6. What is your home airport? >>> Shanghai/Boston 7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any? >>> I have nothing - this world is new to me 8. What are your preferred airlines, if any? >>> The only direct flight between Boston and Shanghai right now is via Hanain, which would be great, but it does not look like they are a good pick for the travel in Asia (although I would love if I am wrong). If direct flights with Hanain are out of the picture then I'm not sure if a Delta/China Southern combo would best. I've read the Delta wants to expand their Shanghai presence and is considering direct flights to Boston. China Southern has a ton of flight from Shanghai to most of the other destinations I am considering. It seems to me that you're not likely to travel enough on one carrier, or in premium cabins, to make elite status a high probability, so in that case I'd look for a program that will let you earn miles toward award trips using the greatest number of channels. Your China Southern/Delta strategy might be reasonable, but Delta's mileage program (called "Skypesos" by cynics) has the reputation of not being terribly generous. (I have no idea if China Southern's program - BTW, China Southern's "handle" is CZ, like Delta's is DL, etc. - used here a lot - is any good; it's grounds for your own research.) One thought that came to mind is probably a bit strange sounding, but Alaska Airlines' (AS) Mileage Plan is one of the best, and Alaska is partners with several Asian airlines that might be useful to you, including Hainan, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Based in Shanghai there are very few places in Asia - in the world, really - that you couldn't get to with one stop or less using any of those airlines. Alaska is also partners with Delta, so if and when DL expands its Shanghai presence, you could use your Alaska miles with them, too. Have a look at Alaska's program - https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/ - and see how it looks. There's no substitute for homework and research as you embark on this, and you've come to the right place. I strongly recommend putting together a two-year "master plan" for travel and just do some "what if" scenarios using various mileage schemes to see how you could leverage the most out of your travel dollars and days. |
Originally Posted by Gardyloo
(Post 27664765)
Alaska is also partners with Delta, so if and when DL expands its Shanghai presence, you could use your Alaska miles with them, too. Have a look at Alaska's program - https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/ - and see how it looks.
This site is useful to check redeemable miles earning www.wheretocredit.com But with revenue based ffp's this is now more complicated. And use as a general guide only:-always check the ffp web site. |
Some thoughts:
If it truly is out of pocket for everything you should consider either PassPlus (UA) or AAirpass and be able to have status from the start. If not, OWE (AA EXP) will get you F lounge access globally even in Y or J and their SWUs aren't fare restricted. *G gets you in J lounges but no equivalent *A tier for F lounge access. UA GPUs are fare restricted but the new Polaris hard product is forthcoming and looks quite good. |
Originally Posted by Mwenenzi
(Post 27665207)
DL & AS are only ff partners until 01 May 2017 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...-1-2017-a.html. This ff divorce has been rumoured for a long time (years).
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Originally Posted by Mwenenzi
(Post 27661235)
The grass in not always greener on the other side
Upgrades are never guaranteed. You are likely to disappointed with upgrades, especially if flying non USA airlines. With non USA airlines always expect to pay for the class you buy. For upgrades the general rule is you can only upgrade a flight marketed (flight number) and operated (metal) by the airline of your frequent flyer programme (no codeshares) with your airlines upgrade instrument (e.g. SWU, miles) or complementary with status (if applicable) or ff miles/cash. All subject to the t&c's of your FFP and your paid ticket. Low cost tickets are often not eligible for upgrades. Cross airline upgrades are uncommon. If cross airline upgrades are offered they tend to require a very expensive base fare and have t&c's. As above http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html The grass in not always greener on the other side Yep, going thru that and running my frequent destinations: BCN, MAD, LHR, and CDG... I think I'm going to stick with AA & OneWorld. I already have access their lounges via my CC, and they have great routes. I should mention that I'm actually from Omaha, NE, but fly thur ORD 90% of the time and DFW 10% of the time. AA is huge in both airports so it's looking like the winner to me.
Originally Posted by FirstInFlight
(Post 27661281)
I suggest looking at the routes that you will fly most and assessing which airlines offer the best flight options. Upgrades are important as are the other perqs - but - when you start flying all the time, the most important thing is sometimes just very simple - which airline has a nonstop etc.
Being based at ORD is excellent. You have both UA and the Star fleet of airlines and AA and team One World. DL is unlikely to be your pick unless Skyteam partners fly nonstop to ORD from locations that matter to you (as some may). . Were I in your shoes, I would think about what you like and dislike about AA and then see if the other option(s) offer a better alternative. If they don't, then I'd probably stick with the devil you know.
Originally Posted by guv1976
(Post 27661475)
While it often makes sense to credit one's alliance (oneworld, Star Alliance, Sky Team) flights to the airline one flies the most, there can be exceptions to that, depending on what one values most in an FFP. For example, status with BAEC will afford one lounge access when traveling domestically on AA; even AA EXP status does not offer that. But award-flight redemptions booked with BAEC Avios can cost more (or less) than the same award flights booked with AAdvantage miles.
You really need to carefully consider what you want out of an FFP, how likely you are to actually get what you want, and what your intended redemptions are. It's a tricky business.
Originally Posted by guv1976
(Post 27663988)
"For SYD, there are no nonstops, so the connection city is important. I think the west coast offers more options than DFW in case of irreg ops. That means UA. "
:confused: Why does it mean UA? Both AA and QF fly LAX-SYD nonstop.
Originally Posted by Duke787
(Post 27665667)
Some thoughts:
If it truly is out of pocket for everything you should consider either PassPlus (UA) or AAirpass and be able to have status from the start. If not, OWE (AA EXP) will get you F lounge access globally even in Y or J and their SWUs aren't fare restricted. *G gets you in J lounges but no equivalent *A tier for F lounge access. UA GPUs are fare restricted but the new Polaris hard product is forthcoming and looks quite good. |
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