Advice on accumulating miles / points multiple programs
Mar 27, 2018 | 11:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: N/A
Posts: 685
Advice on accumulating miles / points multiple programs
Hi all!
I have a quite unique situation and would love some advice given my mileage balances, travel preferences, and (potential) home location.
Current Statuses
I'll be travelling quite a bit over the next year for work. I have 8 transcon RT paid tickets in J class (SFO to JFK), with some further travel after that.
Give my existing statuses and goals, could anyone advise what you would do? A part of me wants to increase my delta balances to diversify however it is also tempting to push towards a road warrior status at AA or potentially United (for the GPUs)
Thanks in advance all!
I have a quite unique situation and would love some advice given my mileage balances, travel preferences, and (potential) home location.
Current Statuses
- United - Platinum for life due to gifting. If i want to hit 1k, i must requalify from 0 every year.
- American - Status matched platinum until 2019 (currently my next few flights are on AA)
- Delta - No Status
- United - 10k (but have 400k UR)
- American - 270k
- Delta - 150k
- AMEX MR - 250k / Citi TYP - 300k
- Home location: will be changing over the next year but will rotate between SFO and NYC
- Main mileage redemptions: Europe / Asia in J Class
I'll be travelling quite a bit over the next year for work. I have 8 transcon RT paid tickets in J class (SFO to JFK), with some further travel after that.
Give my existing statuses and goals, could anyone advise what you would do? A part of me wants to increase my delta balances to diversify however it is also tempting to push towards a road warrior status at AA or potentially United (for the GPUs)
Thanks in advance all!
Mar 28, 2018 | 6:34 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,161
I have a quite unique situation and would love some advice given my mileage balances, travel preferences, and (potential) home location.
Current Statuses
I'll be travelling quite a bit over the next year for work. I have 8 transcon RT paid tickets in J class (SFO to JFK), with some further travel after that.
Give my existing statuses and goals, could anyone advise what you would do? A part of me wants to increase my delta balances to diversify however it is also tempting to push towards a road warrior status at AA or potentially United (for the GPUs)
Current Statuses
- United - Platinum for life due to gifting. If i want to hit 1k, i must requalify from 0 every year.
- American - Status matched platinum until 2019 (currently my next few flights are on AA)
- Delta - No Status
- United - 10k (but have 400k UR)
- American - 270k
- Delta - 150k
- AMEX MR - 250k / Citi TYP - 300k
- Home location: will be changing over the next year but will rotate between SFO and NYC
- Main mileage redemptions: Europe / Asia in J Class
I'll be travelling quite a bit over the next year for work. I have 8 transcon RT paid tickets in J class (SFO to JFK), with some further travel after that.
Give my existing statuses and goals, could anyone advise what you would do? A part of me wants to increase my delta balances to diversify however it is also tempting to push towards a road warrior status at AA or potentially United (for the GPUs)
Flying SFO-JFK on AA, 8 roundtrips in J is enough to get you most of the way to EXP, if not over depending on the actual fares you're buying.
With your stash of Amex/Chase/Citi points, you've got lots of transfer partners to work with in terms of redemptions to Europe and Asia.
Mar 28, 2018 | 10:04 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,680
If someone else is paying for it, buy the most expensive ticket you can get away with on whichever airline gives you the most points. Since all programs are now revenue-based, this will result in the most points. (But don't just buy a last minute walkup first class fare if doing so will get you fired.)
If you are paying your own way, buy the least expensive ticket on any airline that meets your personal standards. (Schedule, no. of stops, comfort level, etc.) Keep the money you save and use it to buy more tickets later on. While this won't give you the most points, it will result in you having the most money.
If your money doesn't matter, then you really don't need to be asking on FlyerTalk in the first place.
If you are paying your own way, buy the least expensive ticket on any airline that meets your personal standards. (Schedule, no. of stops, comfort level, etc.) Keep the money you save and use it to buy more tickets later on. While this won't give you the most points, it will result in you having the most money.
If your money doesn't matter, then you really don't need to be asking on FlyerTalk in the first place.
Mar 28, 2018 | 1:19 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA Plat/2MM, DL Gold, UA Silver (via Marr), Marr LTT, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 1,068
Plat PRO is considered to be much more valuable than Plat at AA these days (potential for upgrades, no 500 mile stickers needed), so if you can hit 75k EQM and $9k EQD, you may want to target hitting that to complement your UA status.
Mar 28, 2018 | 2:39 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 26,111
So it's actually your American balance that is the "effective" lowest of the 3 airlines above, even if it's the "actual" highest.
Mar 31, 2018 | 11:56 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,775
If you plan on maximizing domestic upgrades while accumulating miles for int'l award travel, I'd recommend hitting Plat Pro on AA, and then putting the rest of your travel on UA.