I normally fly LHR to BOM a few times a year and LHR to USA once every 2 yrs. Apart from that, short haul EU and some long haul SE Asia on holidays once every yr or so.

3 of us are flying LHR to LAX (VS upper class booked in I) and then LAX to KOA (Hawaii) in first class on Delta (booked with VS but on Delta booking with Delta PNR access) on P.

This trip, if credited to VS will give 200% miles on transatlantic and 400% on Hawaii. This will also give me silver status on VS (not that useful looking at benefits). I have the possibility of miles booster as well considering their current offer.

If credited to jet airways (I fly them to BOM because they are the only direct flight with 1-2-1 business class), I will get 150% on transatlantic and 300% on Hawaii but doesn't add to tier miles (so no help with status).

Any suggestions on where I should credit (not just the above, but any other airline if better is fine) given my usual travel pattern? Mainly concerned as this booking has 3 travellers so a lot of miles - need to credit it to the right programme!

Note sure exactly sure what you mean by
"VS upper class booked in I) and then LAX to KOA (Hawaii) in first class on Delta (booked with VS but on Delta booking with Delta PNR access"
If a code share with one airlines flight number and yet operated by another airline options on where to credit the ff miles can be very limited.

Flying a flight marketed by one airline (codeshare-flight number), operated by a second airline and crediting the frequent flyer miles/points to a third airlines ffp is always problematic. Usually only works if all three are in the same alliance (Oneworld - Star - Skyteam) or specific provision in the ff program rules. e.g AA miles or BA avios on QF marketed flight operated by EK. With non alliance partners even if the marketing and operating carriers are both partners to your ffp the codeshare does not always earn ff miles/points.

Who sold the ticket (ticket number) can make difference with some revenue based ffp's.

www.wheretocredit.com/vs
www.wheretocredit.com/dl

To simplify, all tickets sold by Virgin Atlantic. By 'I' I mean the booking fare type (upper class = business class) on Virgin. Similarly the Hawaii flight is on booking class P.

I think from what you are saying I should confirm with jet airways (9W) as to whether they will credit these flights (and how much) before going down that route.

Thanks.

If you arent already a VS FF member then probably just to get the miles credited to Jet as I believe both VS and DL are a partner.

As you said, VS silver is not worth much so I would rephrase the question.

Is it better to get a crappy silver card with VS and another program, than just getting the miles (and not status) on Jet - given vs silver is worthless and (another?) program.

What airline ffp's are you a member of now? Miles/status?

Do all the flights have a VS flight number?
I would not be confident on VS marketed flights operated by DL crediting are to a 3rd airlines ffp.
Who sold the tickets (ticket number) mean little, unless a revenue based ffp. And then the rules need checking and understanding.

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

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
>>> Reply: Redeeming miles easily for free/discounted flight tickets. Besides, I might consider getting some kind of upgrade, but I'm looking for the reduction in prices mainly.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
>>> Reply: I cannot say exactly, but I expect to travel each year an average of 4-5 flights inside Europe and 1-2 long-haul flights to destinations in both Central/East Asia and North America (taking into account that for the longer ones I'd most probably choose routes with two segments).

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 the airline depending on the price, services included, and so on (although I usually stick to Vueling or Ryanair till now). Whenever I travel, I do it for pleasure on vacation or during weekends.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
>>> Reply: Answer n� 2 tells it pretty well, considering the fact that travelling to european cities is cheaper and faster most of the times.

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: Barcelona - El Prat

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: Not really. After my trip to Tokyo last september I enrolled in Lufthansa's Miles & More FFP but I only redeemed miles for the Spain-Germany segment (500 miles... if I remember correctly).

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: ANA and Lufthansa

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: Upgrades, then priority services, then award redemptions.

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: Close to 100k miles and 90-100 segments.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
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: Travel for work, can choose airline within reason

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: Domestic. Current client is in Chicago, but theoretically could be anywhere in US. Family is in NJ, so travel there probably at least 5-6 times/year as well.

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

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: Currently EXP in AA, but not going to make it again this year (will hit PP most likely).

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: Not Spirit?

AA has kinda been sucking with all the negative changes this year. I recognize that the grass isn't necessarily going to be greener on the other side, but curious if another airline is worthwhile for me.

For your routing, to limit having to connect it would seem that United fits a bit better than AA unless your family in NJ is in southern NJ near Philly then I'd go with AA.

For upgrades I'd give the edge to AA for the service & because on those routes you see more A320 family planes than 737s which have fewer F class seats for upgrades on UA. You could try a status match/challenge with your EXP to UA now and have it for the next year anyways so you can see the experience as an elite.

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: Upgrades, then award redemptions, then priority services.

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: 100k + miles and 60-75 segments.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
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: Travel for pleasure and work(self), can choose any airline.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: Domestic. GJT to FLL, GJT to JFK and GJT to LGA. Occasionally I will fly out of DEN. Also 6x per year I fly to either FCO or MXP.
6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: GJT

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: Currently Gold in AA - ~225K points

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: I prefer Alitalia on my TATL flights to Italy, and have mostly flown AA. The one time I flew DL I was impressed.

Been a loyal AA customer for years with the credit card. Seems like their mileage redemption is less attractive ( multiple connections ) and the FE is declining. Considering my options. Thanks for any advice.

Hello,

Based in CDG, I usually fly with Skyteam.

I will go 2 or 3 times to Australia in the next 12 months: one trip is already booked in J on SQ, the other will be either in business or in Premium Economy (SQ or maybe CX).

I have an old M&M card, without any status.

By reading on the Internet, I reduced my options to the following
- Put my trips on M&M, 200% EQM, so *A silver, but I will not reach Gold
- Enroll in SQ, I will probably be KS Gold and *A gold. Redemption are not so bad if I want to make PAR-SIN flight.
- Eroll in OZ, I will probably by *A gold. Long validity but miles difficult to burn

I do not fly with TK or A3 and do not plan to do it.

What do you think is the best solution?

I'm trying to pick a frequent flyer program, that's a little better than emirates for my situation. Kinda on the fence between Garuda miles, Flying blue, and Etihad guest.

Garuda miles
pro: partners with city link, airline I'm most likely to actually fly, earns more miles on low fare garuda flights.
cons: awards more expensive(?). no miles on malaysian, not partnered with SPG

Flying blue
pro: partners with garuda and malaysian, more earnling opportunities (holland-based), cheap awards
cons: not actually likely to fly much klm, no citilink flights, switching to revenue based(?), no earning with middle eastern carriers

Etihad
pro: partners with garuda and malaysian, might actually fly, family points pooling
con: a little more expensive to actually fly, limeted earning on cheap garuda fairs, not a citilink partner

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.
good earning and reward rates, non-expiring points.

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.
back and forth from amsterdam to indonesia 1-2x a year, domestic flights in indo. Possibly one extra mid-long distance trip. Travelling with partner.

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

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

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

6. What is your home airport?
AMS

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
I have a few 1000 emirates miles, but their awards are too expensive for me to realistically use.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
I've tended to fly emirates long distance and LCC short haul, due to favorable prices and schedules, but their reward scheme seems terrible.

Gun to your head, would you rather have miles in a Delta account, or in a Korean account?

Two caveats:

1) I can easily get the spend requirement with Delta waved just by using my European address. So I'd be collecting actual miles flown.

2) I am planning on getting a co-branded Korean credit card (secured, it's all I can qualify for). So I'll be collecting those anyway.

I live in the US, travel to SLC (DL hub) a fair bit. But I will never fly skyteam enough to earn more than silver so, whatever on that.

Which would you choose?


(I will annoyingly ask the same question about AA vs. BA later on)

What are your objectives from a ffp?
Generally you are better being a member/status with the airline you fly most

Which ST program should I sign up for?

Which Frequent Flyer Program to Join? Help Is Here!

Deciding on a Oneworld Frequent Flyer Program? Help is here.

Well, you realize in essence you just asked it now? So I'll answer that:

BA Avios points are a great value for nonstop flights in economy class (but only usable if you can find saver availability). They become a poor value, compared to AA miles, for longhaul international business flights (you typically need about 50% more Avios points than AA miles for the same flight, though it varies again depending on how many legs there are to the flight, because AA charges by zones while BA charges by distance per flight leg, added up.

I find very few nonstop flights in economy class that actually have saver availability (from my home base in SoCal), and most of my nonstop flights in economy class are not too expensive to just pay for with cash. So I find very little use for Avios points. (But someone living in another area where there might be more nonstop saver availability might find them more useful.)

And all my longhaul international flight redemptions are in business class, so Avios is useless for that (since a big devaluation a couple years ago). Avios charges 3x the economy miles for business class, while AA only charges about 2x or a somewhat more, but way less than 3x.

I pile mine into Korean, but it has one oddity that can be a major problem if you don't have flexibility. Partner awards may not be one way, which means you cannot mix and match with other alliances out and then in. I fly through Korea enough so are on their metal enough to make it worth it, but be aware this can make getting partner awards with KE difficult - it's often possible to find one leg but not the other on the dates you want.