Which airline has the best mileage program?
Aug 20, 2014, 2:49 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: EK - Silver; Accor - Silver; O6 - Gold; BAEC - Silver; Flying Blue; SPG; Krisflyer
Posts: 506
In theory you could credit your EK flights to Alaska (AS). You would likely lose your EK Gold benefits, however. Is that a concern?
AS has a number of partners with coverage in South America (LAN, Delta, American, Aeromexico), and SE Asia (Cathay Pacific). There are no fuel surcharges, save with BA. However, the Alaska award chart is primarily suited for someone based in North America (there is no South America-SE Asia award on any AS partner available, for instance). The AS plan is good if you can work around those problems (you may not be able to, however).
I am not so sure contorting travel way out of your way (routing from South America to SE Asia via North America, for instance) on sub-par airlines and routings compared to what you fly now is worth getting the occasional free trip. It seems to me much of the value proposition for USA-based airline programs is "yes, flying on us is pretty horrible, but every now and then you can redeem your miles on some other, much better airline and get some Dom and caviar". In the end, is it worth having occasional outstanding experiences worth suffering more when you're not having them?
Also- can EK miles be used for upgrades? That's another potential use for them...
AS has a number of partners with coverage in South America (LAN, Delta, American, Aeromexico), and SE Asia (Cathay Pacific). There are no fuel surcharges, save with BA. However, the Alaska award chart is primarily suited for someone based in North America (there is no South America-SE Asia award on any AS partner available, for instance). The AS plan is good if you can work around those problems (you may not be able to, however).
I am not so sure contorting travel way out of your way (routing from South America to SE Asia via North America, for instance) on sub-par airlines and routings compared to what you fly now is worth getting the occasional free trip. It seems to me much of the value proposition for USA-based airline programs is "yes, flying on us is pretty horrible, but every now and then you can redeem your miles on some other, much better airline and get some Dom and caviar". In the end, is it worth having occasional outstanding experiences worth suffering more when you're not having them?
Also- can EK miles be used for upgrades? That's another potential use for them...
Aug 20, 2014, 3:13 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,393
Thanks for the tip. Could be worth a try, I don't think I will lose my EK benefits though. As I understand it, the Tier miles (which grant you status) and Skyward miles (which you use to redeem) is separated. Hence as long as I continue to fly EK for normal business, my Tier miles will accumulate. I will check out Alaska air miles program to see how I should go about transferring my Skyward miles.
Aug 21, 2014, 7:33 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: EK - Silver; Accor - Silver; O6 - Gold; BAEC - Silver; Flying Blue; SPG; Krisflyer
Posts: 506
I'm afraid you do not understand what I am suggesting. You cannot transfer your existing Skywards miles to Alaska (there is no benefit for either airline to allow customers to do this; the only airlines that allow this are ones using common currency like Avios, like British Airways and Iberia). You would need to credit Alaska (AS) instead of EK on future EK flights to gain AS miles. This would probably preclude you from crediting EK (unless they allow a split like SQ does for PPS, where PPS credit can be separated from where you credit for miles).
I think I would be better off just using the my miles for upgrades.
But thanks anyway.
Aug 21, 2014, 2:44 pm
#19
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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
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The question here is so subjective that any answer will just be an opinion about what is best for that person.
If status doesn't matter, you can examine a typical travel pattern and compare the award tickets that would result, although even here some people value FC and others don't, some want nonstop flights or new aircraft, etc. Just calculating a % return can be very misleading, just as it's misleading to compare miles earned from travel or miles per award ticket as miles can be more or less valuable in different programs.
Status further complicates the situation because to many of us, status perks can be worth more than award tickets. Again, different people value different aspects differently and the same supposed benefit can mean more in some programs. For example, lounge access is more beneficial when you get access to outstanding lounges or when almost all of your airports are covered.
If status doesn't matter, you can examine a typical travel pattern and compare the award tickets that would result, although even here some people value FC and others don't, some want nonstop flights or new aircraft, etc. Just calculating a % return can be very misleading, just as it's misleading to compare miles earned from travel or miles per award ticket as miles can be more or less valuable in different programs.
Status further complicates the situation because to many of us, status perks can be worth more than award tickets. Again, different people value different aspects differently and the same supposed benefit can mean more in some programs. For example, lounge access is more beneficial when you get access to outstanding lounges or when almost all of your airports are covered.
Sep 16, 2014, 6:08 am
#20
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Taiwan
Posts: 2
I've been an American expat for the past 20 years+ usually flying once a year. I've collected at least 8 FFP cards but I don't keep tabs on them. I usually fly economy class. What I'd like to learn about more about is YQ as a discount on flights and if there are any other deals like this. (I learned about this in the Economist.) How could following FT pay off for someone like myself who flies economy and only uses a credit card to book a flight? Thanks in advance
Sep 16, 2014, 1:46 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,029
meyers66 Congratulations on your first post on FT (after 6 years)
YQ is a fuel surcharge in $$ that some, but not all, airline ffp's charge on awards flights (that is a flight booked with miles from a ffp). YQ is part of the price of many paid fares. Avoiding YQ is difficult.
Most airline ffp's have partner airlines so you can get miles in your ffp, even if flying another airline (subject to the t&c's).
Look and ask more here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
I've been an American expat for the past 20 years+ usually flying once a year. I've collected at least 8 FFP cards but I don't keep tabs on them. I usually fly economy class. What I'd like to learn about more about is YQ as a discount on flights and if there are any other deals like this. (I learned about this in the Economist.) How could following FT pay off for someone like myself who flies economy and only uses a credit card to book a flight? Thanks in advance
Most airline ffp's have partner airlines so you can get miles in your ffp, even if flying another airline (subject to the t&c's).
Look and ask more here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Sep 16, 2014 at 1:55 pm
Sep 16, 2014, 1:52 pm
#22
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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: 100,417
I've been an American expat for the past 20 years+ usually flying once a year. I've collected at least 8 FFP cards but I don't keep tabs on them. I usually fly economy class. What I'd like to learn about more about is YQ as a discount on flights and if there are any other deals like this. (I learned about this in the Economist.) How could following FT pay off for someone like myself who flies economy and only uses a credit card to book a flight? Thanks in advance