FF Advice (UK Specific)
May 21, 2015 | 3:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Location: London (LHR)
Programs: Hilton (Diamond) Hyatt (Gold) IHG (Spire Elite) VS (Silver)
Posts: 33
FF Advice (UK Specific)
I want to make it known I registered here because I am an avid reader of this forum and have an interest in all things aviation!
However here is the dilemma. I make 90% of my travel to the US and have flown UA, VS and DL (majority being with Delta) before it wasn't an issue I was signed up to Skymiles and have redeemed a few award flights in the US however the program is terrible for UK - US redemptions.
Now I am looking to join a FF program which will award me with UK-US flights and sometimes redemption elsewhere. At the moment I will probably make 3 trips a year to the US which may improve and the usual splattering of travel within Europe to earn miles.
I am not au fait with all the FF programs but have focused mainly on BA and VS being UK after all. Herein lies the problem with the recent changes to BA and my average salary I can't afford to buy flexible tickets all the time between UK-US some of the differences are startling between lowest/flexible prices and so I will forever collect reduced mileage therefore making my dreams further out of reach but I always had this idea of saving up for a First Class redemption with BA or perhaps first class with a partner airline? This happens to put me off slightly with VS which isn't offering reduced mileage but don't offer First Class or perhaps the plethora of options to travel to i.e. I have been talking about an Australia trip (via redemption perhaps) and BA's massive routing options? I could be wrong please do correct me! Is first streets ahead of Upper Class?
Therefore I am after the collective knowledge of everyone who cares to share what do you think is my best option BA, VS, someone else?
I really do look forward to all your input.
However here is the dilemma. I make 90% of my travel to the US and have flown UA, VS and DL (majority being with Delta) before it wasn't an issue I was signed up to Skymiles and have redeemed a few award flights in the US however the program is terrible for UK - US redemptions.
Now I am looking to join a FF program which will award me with UK-US flights and sometimes redemption elsewhere. At the moment I will probably make 3 trips a year to the US which may improve and the usual splattering of travel within Europe to earn miles.
I am not au fait with all the FF programs but have focused mainly on BA and VS being UK after all. Herein lies the problem with the recent changes to BA and my average salary I can't afford to buy flexible tickets all the time between UK-US some of the differences are startling between lowest/flexible prices and so I will forever collect reduced mileage therefore making my dreams further out of reach but I always had this idea of saving up for a First Class redemption with BA or perhaps first class with a partner airline? This happens to put me off slightly with VS which isn't offering reduced mileage but don't offer First Class or perhaps the plethora of options to travel to i.e. I have been talking about an Australia trip (via redemption perhaps) and BA's massive routing options? I could be wrong please do correct me! Is first streets ahead of Upper Class?
Therefore I am after the collective knowledge of everyone who cares to share what do you think is my best option BA, VS, someone else?
I really do look forward to all your input.
May 21, 2015 | 4:19 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,919
BA ffp has high cash surcharges on most long haul awards.
AA ffp has surcharges on BA flights booked with AA miles, but none on AA flights
Cheap fares tend to collect less than 100% on many airline ffp's. That's the way many ffp's are tending to go.
USA airline based ffp tend to more generous (earn to burn / surcharges on awards)
But 3 off UK-US trips is not a lot.
Have a look at AA ffp. For long haul awards (earn/burn/surcharges) is better than BA IMHO.
The airline you fly and the airline ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be same (but check earnings)
Look here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
AA ffp has surcharges on BA flights booked with AA miles, but none on AA flights
Cheap fares tend to collect less than 100% on many airline ffp's. That's the way many ffp's are tending to go.
USA airline based ffp tend to more generous (earn to burn / surcharges on awards)
But 3 off UK-US trips is not a lot.
Have a look at AA ffp. For long haul awards (earn/burn/surcharges) is better than BA IMHO.
The airline you fly and the airline ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be same (but check earnings)
Look here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
May 21, 2015 | 5:32 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,439
Welcome to FT, rosierd!
So you ideally want to redeem miles for a first class ticket and fly mainly economy, right? In addition to the advice Mwenenzi has given you, which I agree with, I think you need to focus on US-programmes rather than European ones. As you note, BAEC is not really designed for infrequent economy fliers. You won't earn a great deal of Avios, and redemptions are difficult due to limited availability and very high YQ surcharges. Lufthansa is really not much different. They are increasingly designed to target high- and frequent-spending business travellers.
Have you thought about UA? The airline is never going to win any awards, but as a Star Alliance member you have fantastic European earning potential and pretty good availability to the US and beyond in the business and first cabins for redemptions. They are also usually cheaper on flights to the US.
So you ideally want to redeem miles for a first class ticket and fly mainly economy, right? In addition to the advice Mwenenzi has given you, which I agree with, I think you need to focus on US-programmes rather than European ones. As you note, BAEC is not really designed for infrequent economy fliers. You won't earn a great deal of Avios, and redemptions are difficult due to limited availability and very high YQ surcharges. Lufthansa is really not much different. They are increasingly designed to target high- and frequent-spending business travellers.
Have you thought about UA? The airline is never going to win any awards, but as a Star Alliance member you have fantastic European earning potential and pretty good availability to the US and beyond in the business and first cabins for redemptions. They are also usually cheaper on flights to the US.
May 21, 2015 | 6:13 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Location: London (LHR)
Programs: Hilton (Diamond) Hyatt (Gold) IHG (Spire Elite) VS (Silver)
Posts: 33
Thank you Mwenenzi and LondonElite for your advice so far. I think majority of my flights will be a mix of Economy/Premium Economy and maybe the occasional business class but that would be more of a rarity. My gripe with BA is as much as I can look to fly Business I am looking at the lowest end and not flexible and so it hampers my earning potential. I did spend some time looking into AA and it looks perfect for my ideal redemption.
My ideal redemption is probably likely to be London-West Coast in First on BA Metal that's the pinnacle for me but it's all about max earning/ best benefits I am not what you might call a FF but I will make at least 2-3 Long haul per year and some intra-European flights.
So far so good with the info!
My ideal redemption is probably likely to be London-West Coast in First on BA Metal that's the pinnacle for me but it's all about max earning/ best benefits I am not what you might call a FF but I will make at least 2-3 Long haul per year and some intra-European flights.
So far so good with the info!
May 21, 2015 | 6:55 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,139
It also worth considering that being UK based you have good non-flying earning potential on BA and VS using Tesco Clubcard vouchers (can convert to either scheme) and/or a credit card, both airlines have one or more dedicated cards or a generic AMEX which gives membership rewards which again could convert to either scheme (and other airline schemes). Many of these cards also give a sizeable number of bonus miles for signing up.