Best FF for US-Germany
Aug 3, 2014 | 7:00 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Best FF for US-Germany
From the period of 2015-2020 I'll be flying form New York to Saxony (specifically Leipzig). I have 2 options: UA/LH/AC and AA/BA/AB. I'm leaning towards oneworld because it has more options even though it's more slightly expensive.
In this time frame I'll be living 1/2 in Germany and 1/2 in the US. I'll be flying at least 3 transatlantic a year and 5 CONUS, Mostly on Y.
So of the two options which has the better mileage accrual and the best CC?
In this time frame I'll be living 1/2 in Germany and 1/2 in the US. I'll be flying at least 3 transatlantic a year and 5 CONUS, Mostly on Y.
So of the two options which has the better mileage accrual and the best CC?
Aug 3, 2014 | 7:56 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,439
Best FF for US-Germany
It's not a lot of travel, though I suspect you are best off with LH MM or UA MP. I can't see where you're from since I'm on an iPhone, so I'm not sure where your connection point is.
What else matters to you? Upgrades? Award seats?
What else matters to you? Upgrades? Award seats?
Aug 3, 2014 | 8:52 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
I live in the NYC region, my closest airport is JFK, it's an easy 20 minute train ride. That estimate is the lowest I'm going to fly, it'll definitely be more.
I care the most about lounge access.
To be honest I grew up under the approach pattern for JFK airport and had a childhood obsession with British Airways and American Airlines. I was fascinated with the Concorde.
Also I don't mind connections
I care the most about lounge access.
To be honest I grew up under the approach pattern for JFK airport and had a childhood obsession with British Airways and American Airlines. I was fascinated with the Concorde.
Also I don't mind connections
Last edited by Mh8780; Aug 3, 2014 at 9:10 am
Aug 3, 2014 | 9:10 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,402
You can't fly from the US to Leipzig (or Dresden) without connecting somewhere. Last month I flew DRS-DUS-JFK on AB, followed by a flight to DCA. I was using AA award miles and was quite satisfied with AB, but UA/LH would offer more options for flights to JFK/EWR via FRA, MUC or possibly ZRH. I've never been to Leipzig, but I think that the airport is comparable to Dresden in size. DRS is attractive, modern, easy to get to and not crowded, but it doesn't offer many flights to choose from.
Aug 3, 2014 | 9:29 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Germany
Programs: CX-Marco Polo Club, LH-Miles and More
Posts: 14
Hi.
Leipzig is actually my home airport. But neither DRS or LEJ offer a very large choice of connections. Actually only LEJ offers some flights to FRA and MUC (via LH) and to AMS and ZRH (via Darwin / Ethiad Regional). DRS offers mostly to FRA and MUC (via LH). But as you are flying in Y class MM - in my opinion - does not offer you a good value. In the last years they downgraded especially when flying LH / LX / UA.
Instead, may I suggest that you consider flying to FRA by AA / BA / US and connect by train to LEJ / DRS? It is only a 4 hour ride. The ICE train cabine is pretty comfy and you can book your Rail & Fly ticket for as little as 29 Euro.
Have fun enjoying LEJ/DRS - its a hell of a beautiful city
Leipzig is actually my home airport. But neither DRS or LEJ offer a very large choice of connections. Actually only LEJ offers some flights to FRA and MUC (via LH) and to AMS and ZRH (via Darwin / Ethiad Regional). DRS offers mostly to FRA and MUC (via LH). But as you are flying in Y class MM - in my opinion - does not offer you a good value. In the last years they downgraded especially when flying LH / LX / UA.
Instead, may I suggest that you consider flying to FRA by AA / BA / US and connect by train to LEJ / DRS? It is only a 4 hour ride. The ICE train cabine is pretty comfy and you can book your Rail & Fly ticket for as little as 29 Euro.
Have fun enjoying LEJ/DRS - its a hell of a beautiful city
Aug 3, 2014 | 10:40 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LEJ BRU
Posts: 1,285
For LEJ oneworld is not an option. AB is the only OW carrier here which unfortuntalely just offers holiday destinations and therefore is of no help for you considering your flight profile.
You need to go with *A. Your best choices are UA MP for E+ on your Y TATL and CONUS flights or the infamous A3 (have a look at the designated forum for A3) for easy status depending on your usual booking classes in Y.
You need to go with *A. Your best choices are UA MP for E+ on your Y TATL and CONUS flights or the infamous A3 (have a look at the designated forum for A3) for easy status depending on your usual booking classes in Y.
Aug 3, 2014 | 12:42 pm
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
From the period of 2015-2020 I'll be flying form New York to Saxony (specifically Leipzig). I have 2 options: UA/LH/AC and AA/BA/AB. I'm leaning towards oneworld because it has more options even though it's more slightly expensive.
In this time frame I'll be living 1/2 in Germany and 1/2 in the US. I'll be flying at least 3 transatlantic a year and 5 CONUS, Mostly on Y.
So of the two options which has the better mileage accrual and the best CC?
In this time frame I'll be living 1/2 in Germany and 1/2 in the US. I'll be flying at least 3 transatlantic a year and 5 CONUS, Mostly on Y.
So of the two options which has the better mileage accrual and the best CC?
Aug 3, 2014 | 1:10 pm
#9
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 35,062
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
It looks like Vueling flies BCN-LEJ/DRS. You could fly AA JFK-BCN, and then connect to Vueling. While Vueling flights cannot be credited to AA, I believe that they can be credited to IB. IB Avios can, in turn, be converted to BA Avios, which provide excellent value for short haul redemptions on AA/US within the U.S. (NYC-BOS/WAS/YYZ/YUL, etc. for just 4,500 Avios one way.)
So you could credit the AA flights to AAdvantage (or to BAEC or to Iberia Plus), and the Vueling flights to Iberia Plus.
Originally Posted by Mh8780
I think I'll do oneworld to TXL & FRA and do the ICE/Deutsche Bahn. I forgot to mention I don't have a preference if the air travel is direct or not. AA/BA seems to have a better offering than LH/UA.
So you could credit the AA flights to AAdvantage (or to BAEC or to Iberia Plus), and the Vueling flights to Iberia Plus.
Aug 3, 2014 | 1:58 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,402
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
It looks like Vueling flies BCN-LEJ/DRS. You could fly AA JFK-BCN, and then connect to Vueling. While Vueling flights cannot be credited to AA, I believe that they can be credited to IB. IB Avios can, in turn, be converted to BA Avios, which provide excellent value for short haul redemptions on AA/US within the U.S. (NYC-BOS/WAS/YYZ/YUL, etc. for just 4,500 Avios one way.)
So you could credit the AA flights to AAdvantage (or to BAEC or to Iberia Plus), and the Vueling flights to Iberia Plus.
It looks like Vueling flies BCN-LEJ/DRS. You could fly AA JFK-BCN, and then connect to Vueling. While Vueling flights cannot be credited to AA, I believe that they can be credited to IB. IB Avios can, in turn, be converted to BA Avios, which provide excellent value for short haul redemptions on AA/US within the U.S. (NYC-BOS/WAS/YYZ/YUL, etc. for just 4,500 Avios one way.)
So you could credit the AA flights to AAdvantage (or to BAEC or to Iberia Plus), and the Vueling flights to Iberia Plus.
Aug 3, 2014 | 2:19 pm
#12
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
Aug 4, 2014 | 12:01 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2014
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