Currently in a mileage program soup - want to stick to one program
Aug 5, 23, 8:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Boston, USA
Posts: 226
Currently in a mileage program soup - want to stick to one program
Hello,
I hope all of you are well. Over the last year, my family member has been travelling every ~3 months from Houston to Mumbai, and may continue to do so for the next several months.
She may also need to travel from Houston to Eastern Europe, e.g. Budapest, Hungary, and maybe even to Asia, e.g. Thailand.
All this travel is in economy, sadly, she has not been able to stick to one airline for the past year, thus her miles are staggered across programs and alliances.
Going forward, which airline that flies out of Houston (IAH), e.g. United, Emirates, Qatar, BA offer the best option to multiply/grow miles and status? In other words, which of these is the most generous airline program these days?
She is not looking to get a credit card or any other form of credit to get additional miles.
Thank you dear friends
I hope all of you are well. Over the last year, my family member has been travelling every ~3 months from Houston to Mumbai, and may continue to do so for the next several months.
She may also need to travel from Houston to Eastern Europe, e.g. Budapest, Hungary, and maybe even to Asia, e.g. Thailand.
All this travel is in economy, sadly, she has not been able to stick to one airline for the past year, thus her miles are staggered across programs and alliances.
Going forward, which airline that flies out of Houston (IAH), e.g. United, Emirates, Qatar, BA offer the best option to multiply/grow miles and status? In other words, which of these is the most generous airline program these days?
She is not looking to get a credit card or any other form of credit to get additional miles.
Thank you dear friends
Aug 5, 23, 11:53 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 28,498
1. "Most generous" is in the eyes of the beholder. What does she value most? Award travel (if so, to what destinations, and in what class of service)? Lounge access? Something else?
2. A lot of inexperienced travelers make the mistake of thinking that one can only credit flights to the frequent-flyer program of the airline flown. But that's not true. UA is part of Star Alliance, so UA flights can be credited to any Star Alliance FFP. Similarly, BA and QR are members of oneworld, so those flights can be credited to AA, or any oneworld FFP. Elite status in AA's AAdvantage program can be earned not only from flying, but also from hotel stays, car rentals, dining, online shopping, etc.
Find out what the traveler most values from an FFP, and where she wants to fly on award tickets, and we can give better advice.
Aug 5, 23, 12:15 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 28,498
Note that if crediting BA or QR flights to the AAdvantage program, the number of redeemable miles and Loyalty Points (to determine status) will depend upon the particular fare class booked. A flight in Economy might earn 100%, 50%, or 25% of flown miles, depending on fare class.
Details here:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...sh-airways.jsp (BA)
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ines/qatar.jsp (QR)
One must earn 40,000 Loyalty Points in a single earnings year (March-February) to attain low-level status (AAdvantage Gold/oneworld Ruby) with AA.
Details here:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...sh-airways.jsp (BA)
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ines/qatar.jsp (QR)
One must earn 40,000 Loyalty Points in a single earnings year (March-February) to attain low-level status (AAdvantage Gold/oneworld Ruby) with AA.
Aug 5, 23, 1:07 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Boston, USA
Posts: 226
Two observations:
1. "Most generous" is in the eyes of the beholder. What does she value most? Award travel (if so, to what destinations, and in what class of service)? Lounge access? Something else?
2. A lot of inexperienced travelers make the mistake of thinking that one can only credit flights to the frequent-flyer program of the airline flown. But that's not true. UA is part of Star Alliance, so UA flights can be credited to any Star Alliance FFP. Similarly, BA and QR are members of oneworld, so those flights can be credited to AA, or any oneworld FFP. Elite status in AA's AAdvantage program can be earned not only from flying, but also from hotel stays, car rentals, dining, online shopping, etc.
Find out what the traveler most values from an FFP, and where she wants to fly on award tickets, and we can give better advice.
1. "Most generous" is in the eyes of the beholder. What does she value most? Award travel (if so, to what destinations, and in what class of service)? Lounge access? Something else?
2. A lot of inexperienced travelers make the mistake of thinking that one can only credit flights to the frequent-flyer program of the airline flown. But that's not true. UA is part of Star Alliance, so UA flights can be credited to any Star Alliance FFP. Similarly, BA and QR are members of oneworld, so those flights can be credited to AA, or any oneworld FFP. Elite status in AA's AAdvantage program can be earned not only from flying, but also from hotel stays, car rentals, dining, online shopping, etc.
Find out what the traveler most values from an FFP, and where she wants to fly on award tickets, and we can give better advice.
Which of these airlines UA, Emirates, Qatar, BA seem more attractive to meet these goals?
Thank you
Aug 5, 23, 1:27 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 28,498
Thank you! For her, the traveler, as she travels economy on these long haul flights, privileges such as premium check in, early seat selection, lounge access would be her first preference, followed by the ability to redeem miles.
Which of these airlines UA, Emirates, Qatar, BA seem more attractive to meet these goals?
Thank you
Which of these airlines UA, Emirates, Qatar, BA seem more attractive to meet these goals?
Thank you
As to which oneworld FFP would be easiest for her to reach low- or mid-tier status, that will depend upon what fare class she books when she flies in Economy, and whether she stays in hotels, rents cars on her trips; or is willing to earn AA Loyalty Points through dining, shopping, etc., when at home.
If she's content to fly on BA/QR, then some oneworld program makes sense. But there are more one-stop options with Star Alliance from IAH to Europe, India, and Asia.
Last edited by guv1976; Aug 5, 23 at 1:42 pm
Aug 5, 23, 3:30 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 28,498
Because so many FFPs now base mileage and elite-qualification earnings on either cash fares or fare bases (booking class), it is crucial to know what kind of Economy Class tickets she flies on in order to determine the best FFP for earning elite status -- or whether she will be able to earn elite status at all.
Last edited by guv1976; Aug 5, 23 at 3:38 pm
Aug 5, 23, 4:26 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,478
Over the last year, my family member has been travelling every ~3 months from Houston to Mumbai, and may continue to do so for the next several months.
She may also need to travel from Houston to Eastern Europe, e.g. Budapest, Hungary, and maybe even to Asia, e.g. Thailand.
All this travel is in economy, sadly, she has not been able to stick to one airline for the past year, thus her miles are staggered across programs and alliances.
Going forward, which airline that flies out of Houston (IAH), e.g. United, Emirates, Qatar, BA offer the best option to multiply/grow miles and status? In other words, which of these is the most generous airline program these days?
She is not looking to get a credit card or any other form of credit to get additional miles.
She may also need to travel from Houston to Eastern Europe, e.g. Budapest, Hungary, and maybe even to Asia, e.g. Thailand.
All this travel is in economy, sadly, she has not been able to stick to one airline for the past year, thus her miles are staggered across programs and alliances.
Going forward, which airline that flies out of Houston (IAH), e.g. United, Emirates, Qatar, BA offer the best option to multiply/grow miles and status? In other words, which of these is the most generous airline program these days?
She is not looking to get a credit card or any other form of credit to get additional miles.
Some low cost fares can earn very little or even nil to a freq flyer programs. Not unusual to earn less to a partner ffp. But the earn to burn as a total is what is important.
Look here. Lists partners. A guide only, so need to read the airline ffp web sites and understand the fare booking classes.
-->https://www.wheretocredit.com/
BA - QR - AA are all Oneworld Alliance (ff partners). so eligible flights can go to 1 ffp. Avios (but not status) can be moved from/to BA QR ffp's
UA & EK are (limited) partners, so eligible flights can go to 1 ffp.
https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mil.../emirates.html
https://www.wheretocredit.com/emirates
https://www.wheretocredit.com/united-airlines
Will be opportunities to collect in a few ffp's.
But do not spend (extra) $$$ in the faint hope a ffp will give mega benefits.
What ffp's is she a member of now?
QR & EK fly to *many* airports in the world. Not many places they cannot get you to.
Watch expiry. UA miles do not expire. But others expire if no activity for 18-24-26 months. Some ffp's have hard expiry: use them or loose them.
Link-->Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire
HOU https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George...nental_Airport
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Aug 5, 23 at 7:00 pm
