Welcome to FT!

You're probably not going to find a status match; it's not especially common with US carriers. However, flying out of SEA the choice is obvious - Alaska Airlines.

AS has a big domestic network (now including Virgin America routes) with Seattle as its major hub, and AS is partners with several Oneworld (and for the time being several Skyteam) airlines as well as Icelandair and Emirates.

Alaska's credit card program (Bank of America Visa) is one of the best going, plus you get an annual $100 companion certificate. Alaska's redemption rates are also excellent. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...eage-plan-442/

If you're willing to connect at JFK, AA offers flat beds on both the BOS-JFK and the JFK-SFO segments.

Thanks everyone! I was also wondering what the best airport lounges are in Boston, between Delta's Sky Club, American's Admirals Club, and the United Club, assuming I hadn't already picked an airline/alliance. Thanks!

Also, which airline of the Big 3 has the best transcontinental first class? Say between JFK and SFO. Thanks again!

When it comes to transcons on F & J definitions vary. Delta & United don't have an domestic F product on this route. Instead it's a version of their international J service with lieflat beds and multi-course meals ect. AA flies 3 class A321s on the JFK-SFO/LAX routes where both J & F are based on their international products with lieflat seats & upgraded meals. B6 flies their Mint product which is of Business class level with lie flat and multi-course meals (no lounge access yet). VX flies their domestic F product which is quite good for a domestic F but fails next to the others.

So AA's F wins because it's the best F product on that route but it's also comparing apples & pears.

UA has the most frequency fro EWR-LAX/SFO.
DL has a solid product but on generally older widebody aircraft. Some like the widebody factor.
AA has new planes that are 3 class on this route.

Stl > bne/ool > bkk > stl
 

My wife and I are planning a trip in November from St. Louis to Brisbane/Gold Coast in Australia. Spent two weeks or so, continue on to Bangkok in Thailand, and after two or three weeks return to St. Louis. We are fully retired, somewhat flexible, don't mind riding in the back of the airplane to save money, but would like the least amount of aircraft changes/inconvenience, at the same time knowing the best connections and costs?
My open jaw searches with UA/AA/LH/Quantas/Thai were not possible or not successful!?
Any help or suggestions will be most welcome. Thanks in advance.
Menko

You would have been better starting a new thread

Looking for open jaw may be more $. You need to look at where UA/AA/QF/TG fly to. LH is from Germany, so a big diversion. Then plug in the main cities/airports. Add STL last, if at all. EK/EY/QR may be an option.
Oneworld has a circle pacific fare, but may be expensive. https://www.oneworld.com/flights/mul...circle-pacific
Or a task for a living breathing travel agent. But they get low commission on cheap economy fares, so little value in them spending hours for saving $100 for you.

A USA Australia return with a nested Australia Thailand return may be best. Or a USA Thailand return with a nested Thailand Australia return.
BNE has limited flights to/from USA. More likely you may have to go via LAX/SFO to SYD/MEL.
BNE does not have that many long haul flights. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane_Airport and http://www.bne.com.au/bne-airlines-aviation

Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia (not from all airports to all airports)
- American Airlines AA (LAX - SYD) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Air Canada AC (YYR – SYD, BNE from Jun 2016) [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO IAH YVR via AKL) [Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN (LAX via Tahiti. Last segments on codeshares) (AA & DL partner)
- Delta DL (LAX – SYD) (VA & AS partner) [Skyteam Alliance]
- Fiji Airways FJ (LAX HNL – BNE SYD BNE via Fiji) (QF, AA & AS partner)
- Hawaiian HA (HNL – SYD BNE) (AA & VA partner)
- Jetstar JQ JQ (HNL – SYD BNE)
- Qantas QF (LAX SFO JFK DFW HNL YVR*– SYD BNE MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner) {* seasonal}
- United UA (LAX SFO – SYD MEL) [Star Alliance]
- Virgin Australia VA (LAX – SYD BNE) (DL partner) MEL LAX restarting 4 April 2017
And others via Asia & Middle East

Various airlines fly to Thailand. Is a popular destination for Aussies. Look in google flights as this Example

And Qantas does not have a u

Thanks for helping me out!

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Upgrades & Lounge access

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
60-70k miles
Around 20 sectors

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
J for transpacific (mainly through redemption)
Cheapest economy for intra-continent

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes, I can.
50/50 work and pleasure.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?

Transpacific: HKG/TPE-YYZ
Intra-asia: HKG-RMQ/TPE/SIN/PVG/PEK
Intra-N.America: (mainly for leisure)

6. What is your home airport?
HKG & YYZ

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
BR*G, I cannot renew Gold status for sure
CXGR

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
CX & BR

Mwenenzi:
Thanks for the detailed response.
Found this on Insanely Cheap Airfares.
Menko

$1,854 .00 + $217 .46 (taxes) = $2,071 .46
Avg. price per person (Bonus applied)

Act fast: Only 3 tickets left at this price!

Outbound
American Airlines American Airlines
Flight 1258 319 more
04:52pm Oct 31, Tue Take-off: St Louis (STL)
06:52pm Oct 31, Tue Landing: Los Angeles (LAX)
Nonstop
Coach 4h 0m


American Airlines American Airlines
Flight 7409 747 more
11:20pm Oct 31, Tue Take-off: Los Angeles (LAX)
06:05am Nov 02, Thu Landing: Brisbane (BNE)
Nonstop
Coach 13h 45m


China Eastern China Eastern
Flight 716 332 more
11:45am Nov 15, Wed Take-off: Brisbane (BNE)
07:40pm Nov 15, Wed Landing: Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG)
Nonstop
Coach 9h 55m


China Eastern China Eastern
Flight 547 332 more
09:40pm Nov 15, Wed Take-off: Shanghai Pu Dong (PVG)
12:55am Nov 16, Thu Landing: Bangkok (BKK)
Nonstop
Coach 4h 15m


American Airlines American Airlines
Flight 8893 333 more
08:25am Nov 30, Thu Take-off: Bangkok (BKK)
12:10pm Nov 30, Thu Landing: Hong Kong (HKG)
Nonstop
Coach 2h 45m


American Airlines American Airlines
Flight 126 77W more
03:45pm Nov 30, Thu Take-off: Hong Kong (HKG)
04:00pm Nov 30, Thu Landing: Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
Nonstop
Coach 14h 15m


American Airlines American Airlines
Flight 1010 S80 more
08:15pm Nov 30, Thu Take-off: Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
09:58pm Nov 30, Thu Landing: St Louis (STL)
Nonstop
Coach 1h 43m

Total Trip: 50h 38m
(Flight: 50h 38m)

Flight 7409 operated by Qantas Airways
Flight 8893 operated by Cathay Pacific

BNE-BKK via Shanghai is insane (i.e. look at a map, and PVG is a terrible place to transit), especially in light of the fact nonstops aren't expensive.

Hi all,
I am based in LHR and currently a BA Executive Club Silver (expiring in 2019). I think Silver is good for me now in OW (it gives me lounge access in oneworld, priority boarding, and it is not too hard to get when traveling in premium economy).
Because I usually prefer a direct/convenient flight out of LHR, and I use *A sometimes too, I would like to start crediting my *A miles to the best FFP. I am wondering what is the best program for that.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
1. Lounge
2. Priority check-in/bags/boarding/etc
3. Redemption and upgrade

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
On *A, one roundtrip LHR-Europe (LH, LX, LO, OS) in economy every 3 weeks, occasionally transatlantic in premium economy LHR-Houston or Chicago on LH or UA.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Economy in Europe
Premium economy when available

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Airline most flown? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Class is according to the travel policy:
- premium economy when available,
- if no premium economy, economy
- if flights >12hrs, business
I choose the airline and the itinerary (except huge price difference). I travel for work so I choose the schedule too, and sometimes book in full Y fares.

I may favor one airline over another because of the FFP but my main choice criterion is schedule and experience.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often
LHR to Europe, and sometimes Middle East in economy
Transatlantic in premium economy

(6) What is your home airport?
LHR.

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
I am BA Executive Club Silver until 2019. I got it mostly with one business class roundtrip on QR (~300) and several premium economy or economy journeys (90 each)

(8) Preferred Airlines
BA is usually good for transatlantic, not that good for European. For European, I usually choose LH, LX, OS, LO, TP because they have direct flights.


I saw that LH Frequent Traveler is reachable with 30 flights, so about 15 roundtrips in economy. This may be an option for me. However I am not sure LH FT is very good because it does not allow lounge access for other *A carriers, and I may take UA from time to time.
Therefore I am wondering if I have better options for *A.


Thanks!

Looking for international program to join
 

I'm already a member of American, United, and Delta FF plans. I've flown Bulgarian Air twice and none of those will accept Bulgarian Air-operated flights for credit, so I need a new program that does accept Bulgarian Air.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?

>>> Reply:
Good award redemption rates, maybe even better than the 3 American ones I have :)
Accepts Bulgarian Air flight credits

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?

>>> Reply: "In 2016, I earned 10,103 EQMs and 7 EQSs" in American, so that's probably the same across 3 programs. I pretty much split them among my 3 FF accounts, and just fly whatever's cheapest. That said, if I join a new program that allows me to get credit in more than one alliance, I'd focus on that one.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?

>>> 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, I choose for the most part. I travel for both work and pleasure.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?

>>> Reply: Usually US or transatlantic. In the next 4-6 months it'll be mostly within/from Europe

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply:
Currently, SOF (Sofia, Bulgaria) until June-Aug. Then it's LAX.

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply:
American: 72,000
Delta: 91,000
United: 112,000

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply:
Whatever's cheapest :)

Bulgarian Air seems to be independent. Only has 10 aircraft.
Has code shares with a range of airlines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria_Air
http://www.wheretocredit.com/

The ffp link does list any partners.
https://www.air.bg/en/collecting-points
https://www.air.bg/en/partners-points

up :-:

Moving to Portugal - best rewards program
 

Hi All,

I currently live in Philadelphia (PHL) but I am about move to Portugal. I will mostly be in Porto (OPO) and Lisbon (LIS).

I will be flying back and forth between LIS/OPO and the east cost of the US probably 4-6 times per year (mostly PHL but sometimes BOS or an NYC airport). I will be booking the cheapest flights possible.

I am looking for advice on which loyalty program to favor.

It seems like my main choices for cheap flights are Iberia (through MAD) or Lufthansa (through FRA).

In my view the advantages of Iberia are:
More convenient flights
Partnership with BA/AA (can I earn BAEC Tier points and Iberia Plus Elite points on the same flight?)

The advantages of Lufthansa are:
Better planes
Overall better airline than Iberia
Partnership with TAP

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.

Also please let me know if you need more info! First time posting here and I am sure I left out key details.