Actually, you should also investigate one other FFP: Alaska Airlines' MVP program. Alaska partners with an eclectic group of carriers, including AA, AF, Cathay, Hainan, JAL, and Korean. You could credit your paid Business Class flights to Asia on AS, and then redeem AS miles for travel to France on AA or AF. ;)

+1 to this.
I feel this would fit your needs best in flexibility. I'd recommend also looking into the SPG Amex which is an AS transfer partner and/or the BOA Alaska card.

How long will you be in SFO? A short time (few years) or for ever?
Why not stay with FB?
What are you objectives from a ffp?
You will not get (free) upgrades on long haul international flights. Upgrades with miles/cash are hard and may require an expensive base fare. And almost never if flying an airline that is not your ffp. Better to have a different objective.

Will your Asia flights be for work? Any corporate travel policy

AS is good catchall fpp due to its many partners. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...rline-partners
And UA AA DL are now revenue based ffp's, so harder to get status.
Look here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html

You will continue to be disappointed by USA domestic airlines

Which Frequent Flyer Program
 

Hi all, I've recently booked a round the world trip through Lufthansa. The itinerary is:

Brisbane-Sydney (Operated by Qantas)
Sydney-Delhi (Operated by Air India)
Delhi-Frankfurt (Operated by Lufthansa)
Frankfurt<->Lisbon (Operated by TAP/Lufthansa)
Frankfurt-Sao Paulo (Operated by Lufthansa)
Buenos Aires-Auckland-Brisbane (Operated by Air New Zealand).

Paid business class.

I am a Qantas frequent flyer member but I can't add that to my itinerary through Lufthansa's site (not really sure how that's ticketed). I am not a member of any of the other airlines - or any Star Alliance member except Virgin Australia.

I will also be flying one of either Air France, Royal Air Maroc or Turkish on this trip. Possibly Air Astana, but very unlikely.

So what airline program should I join? I am unlikely to fly Lufthansa regularly - this was just a really good fare. And they have no presence in Australia, so not sure how I'd go about redeeming their points here.

I'm thinking of joining Air New Zealand or Singapore Airlines since I'm likely to be able to redeem those in Australia and on an Australian airlines (Virgin Australia), though really have no clue. What Lufthansa partner (or Lufthansa themselves) gives me best in terms of redeemability (I mostly fly with Oz and Asia) and earning potential.

Thank you.

Do NOT join the Air NZ ffp. You may think QF is a poor ffp (it is) until you look at Air NZ ffp.
www.wheretocredit.com for redeemable miles/points. Status earning is harder to calculate

You need to careful if any of the flights are codeshares. With codeshares you need to understand the rules for crediting ff miles and what is an eligible flight.
With some airline ffp's (like Oneworld & Skyteam) the marketing carrier (flight number) determines earnings, if an eligible flight.
With some airline ffp's (like Star Alliance) the operating carrier (a.k.a. metal) determines earnings, if an eligible flight.
But as is the way with ffp's there can be exceptions.
The airline who tickets (ticket number) can have an influence with revenue based ffp's


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

Total beginner
 

Hello everyone!

I tried to get some info about all those FFP and how they actually work but right now I can't really find my way through everything. So I found this forum and I'm sure you guys can help me chose the right FFP. First maybe my situation: So far I flew just a couple of flights a year for vacation and those were rather short flights. I'm from Switzerland and destinations last year were Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Wroclaw.

Now my situation changed as I have a girlfriend that lives in Moscow and I'll be starting to travel more. Either me flying to Moscow regularly or us meeting somewhere in Europe.

In addition to that, I might get to fly for my job during the year. Destinations (ranked by probability that I have to go there) are Hamburg, San Jose, Shanghai.


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: As I want to have my time that I spend at the airports as pleasurable as possible with priority check-ins and lounge, I would say that "priority services" and "lounge access" is the most important thing for me.


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: This is difficult to tell as this will be the first year that I'll actually start to fly frequently. If possible, I'll go for a weekend somewhere in Europe every 2-3 weeks. So that will be around 15-20 round trips.


3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy

Reply: As cheap as possible - so economy.


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

Reply: I'll be able to choose as most of the flights will be for pleasure. If I fly for work, then it will probably be a flight with Swiss.


5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.

Reply: Flights in Europe - especially Switzerland to Moscow.


6. What is your home airport?

Reply: I don't really care which one in Switzerland as they are all reasonably close. If I had to rank them I would say: ZRH - GVA - BSL - BRN


7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?

Reply: So far I just registered with Miles and More because I flew to Marrakesh two weeks ago with Swiss. So I have 2 flights and 630 status miles.


8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?

Reply: That would probably be Swiss - If I'd have to chose one. I do realize that I mentioned Swiss now three times (for work, already signed up and now) and that it might be the obvious answer to go for them. But I don't just want to go for the obvious one as I am not sure if they are actually the best for me in my situation. Flights to Moscow or other European places are also provided by Aeroflot (I actually flew with them when I was in Moscow in February because my AirBaltic flight was cancelled/rebooked) or some airlines that I did not think about yet.


Thanks already in advance for your help!

I don't care about status, I don't really plan to fly with Lufthansa ever again, but the trip (if I redeem in Lufthansa Miles and More) will net me somewhere between 40-50000 miles, which I would like to redeem with an economy flight or an upgrade on a partner airline (Thai, Singapore, ANZ or some other Asian one).

Joining these programs unfortunately don't seem to be an option as I only receive a 125% bonus as opposed to 200%. But that said, if I stay using Lufthansa's program, there aren't many flights that I can redeem them on ex Australia.

Star Alliance cross airlines upgrades are hard to get. Need a high cost Y-B base fare. Have never seen any reports on people getting Star Alliance upgrade on Air NZ. UA thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-carriers.html

% earning is only 1 side of the ff mile equation. If rewards are you objective need to look at reward cost in miles/points and cash carrier imposed airline surcharges (if any). A typical award comparison tool (there are others) http://www.awardace.com/

Be mindful of expiry http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-t-expire.html

There are Star Alliance airlines flying into Australia. Thai TG is popular for awards by UA frequent flyers

Any FF advice for a newbie?
 

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: I fly international more than domestic so upgrades to business class are top of my list. Trying to sleep in coach on an overnight flight to Western Europe makes for a LONG 7-8 hours.

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: It varies greatly. 20,000-30,000 miles/for business, maximum 10,000 miles/personal would be a fair estimate, though I wouldn't be surprised to see the frequency of my travel increase now that I've been promoted.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply: Economy or premium economy. Work doesn't allow business or first unless we're using our rewards points to pay the additional cost or traveling to Asia.

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: I can choose airline but not always class of service.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: Most frequent is transatlantic followed by domestic USA

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: BOS

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: Just opened a Delta SkyMiles account as I've got two trips in a row (one domestic, one transatlantic) where I'll be flying Delta. Miles banked is minimal at the moment (less than 10,000 miles).

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: Previously I've been all over the map with which airlines I fly but I'm learning to be more selective. Lately it's been mostly Delta and/or KLM.

That's quite helpful and also disappointing. As I said, I would want to redeem my miles for an upgrade (or economy flight) on either Thai or Singapore. Thai from Sydney to Bangkok to Beijing would probably be my ideal redemption, and according to Lufthansa's calculator, I will have more than enough points for an upgrade on that route. Unfortunately, when I search Lufthansa's booking engine (for paid flights) that route does not show up at all. I can't search their award flights until I have a card in my hand.

And if I earn points on Thai Airways instead of Lufthansa, I don't get the percentage multiplier which means I won't earn enough points to redeem. So doesn't seem to be any real point to collecting the miles.

LH does not fly from Australia so of course will not offer flights. Some airlines may offer a codeshare partner tag on flight.
Why are looking at LH web site? :confused: Why not look at TG or SQ web site for flights?
The chances of a cross alliance upgrade upgrade are low. Y or B fare booking class will cost you big $$$$.
Will be better deals elsewhere

Because I will likely be purchasing the flight with Lufthansa Miles and assume I need to do that through the Lufthansa website. I would not book Thai or SQ in Economy unless I was confident in getting an upgrade (or the flights are free award flights) - it's cheaper and easier to fly Qantas.

I just want the best way to redeem the 40-50k Lufthansa miles that I am going to get on my upcoming trip. If I can't redeem them on partner airlines or cross-alliance upgrades, there's no real point to them for me.

Yes. To redeem LH miles you use the LH site. Look on the LH forum for info on rewards flights. I thought you were looking for cash paid fares

There are cheaper airlines than QF ex Australia - NZ. The Asian airlines are price competitive.

Upgrades are never guaranteed

Hello All,

I've been pretty undisciplined about trying to pile all my travel into one airline but recently realized that with as much as I've been flying for work it makes sense to stick with one airline. I'm mainly debating between DL and UA. I'm based out of SFO, so UA seems like the natural choice, but I've already got about 19K miles flown (or booked) with DL this year (about 4.5K with UA this year and no status with anyone).

Looking at the trips I've got coming up the rest of year I've got about another 50K to fly (and potentially 15-25K more). UA has offered me M+ silver if I fly 10K miles and I've got a long trip to MEL coming up, so I can be silver with either UA or DL after my next flight.

Anyway, I think the most likely scenarios for me are:
1) If I go with DL I'll easily earn gold status and have a good shot at making platinum or 2) If I go with UA I'll likely make gold but would have to stretch to get platinum.

Any advice on what to do? One thing I was considering was trying to get platinum with DL then possibly matching into UA next year if flight availability with DL was an issue (but I usually fly long-haul international, so SFO has decent options with both). See below for my answers to the standard questions.

Thanks!

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
(upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, extra baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, free - discounted lounge access, etc.)

Mainly economy award value. I'll take two trips wedged into the back row next to an overflowing bathroom over one trip in business or first class any day. Upgrades into E+ are also nice as I'm 6'5". Other than that, the only other perks that mean anything to me are complimentary upgrade availability and maybe lounge access. Baggage, priority boarding/security/check-in, reduced change fees, etc. I could care less about.

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
(<25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles - <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)

Typically 50K-ish in a year, but potentially up to 75-85K for some years. Primarily long-haul international from SFO to asia/europe. Also some trips to the east coast.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)

If I'm paying whatever is cheapest. For work (which is maybe ~85% of my travel) I'm allowed to pay more for a "better seat" in economy. On UA this means economy plus, but on DL comfort+ is a separate fare class that isn't allowed (unless it's an international flight). Exit rows are usually available for both though and are allowed under policy.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Airline most flown? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?

I can choose. I'm in a UA hub (SFO), but for some reason have only flown them a handful of times over the last few years. DL seems to have good availability for where I travel.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)

SFO-BRU a few times a year, plus other international trips to other cities in europe/asia. Also some trips to the east coast.

(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)

SFO or OAK

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
(AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)

No status with anyone.

(8) Preferred Airlines

I tend to enjoy flying DL a little more than UA, but no major preference.

If you like Delta, stick with them.

To maximize economy award redemptions consider flying KLM and BA to BRU and credit the flights to Alaska Airlines.