Joining multiple FFPs?
 

Hi all, I'm a newbie to FFPs but I was wondering if there are any benefits in joining multiple FFPs? I suppose it's not advantageous for example to be an AA member and a UA member at the same time. But what about joining a US FFP and a European one at the same time? Are there any scenarios or use cases in which it would be useful to be in multiple programs? Thanks in advance!

Welcome to FlyerTalk, aem1

Since it is free to join all the frequent flyer programs of which I am aware, I join them all. Especially with programs where miles never expire, I see no down side to multiple memberships, except possibly that I must store/remember another password for yet another online account.

That being said, I also try to fly my preferred airline (or an allied partner) as often as possible, because there is value in having status (earning more points, free checked bags) plus miles/points in one place earns free tickets and upgrades sooner.

I am a member of Delta, Alaska, and United. Why? Because they all have different routes and hubs, each of which serves my needs at various times. If this fits you, you might want to consider it. If not, then stick with whichever one fits your travel the best.

You can belong to as many FFPs as you wish. What matters is which FFP(s) you credit your flights, hotel stays, car rentals to.

Join as many as you want.

However, remember that any mileage-earning activity (be that: taking a flight; spending on credit card attached to a mileage account; or any other activity that has the potential to earn miles) can only be used to "top up" one of your multiple accounts. You can't take a single flight, and expect to earn miles for that flight in multiple frequent flyer accounts simultaneously.

Now, consider a scenario where you have a variable number of buckets (each representing one of the various frequent flyer programmes you have joined) but only a single hose (representing the actual "mileage earning" activities you perform - be that from flying, from credit card spend, or whatever else).

The more buckets you attempt to fill, the longer it's going to take you to fill any individual bucket (representing getting a balance in any individual frequent flyer programme where you can do something useful with those miles, or reaching a threshold where you gain status with that airline (and its alliance partners)). Even worse - some of those buckets have leaks (representing: miles might expire either through lack of activity on the account, or because miles in that programme only have a limited lifetime).

The more you can focus on a particular airline - or a particular alliance - and the more you can focus on a particular frequent flyer programme - the quicker you can fill a single bucket, and the more useful that bucket - and the miles it contains - will be for you.

Unless you fly a lot better to join 1 FFP in the alliance you fly most. Could also join 1 FFP in each alliance. Try for status and a good ff balance in only 1 ffp, unless you fly a lot.

A small balance in a ffp will get you close to nothing. With status only mid top tier gets you real useful benefits.
No use spending more $$$ just to get some ff miles that will be of nil value in the mid-long term.
In USA most ffp are frequent spenders programs. And awards flight dynamically priced.
Do not be sucked in by bloggers.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/info...help-here.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mile...-t-expire.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_alliance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneworld
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Alliance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTeam

Great advice
 

Stupidly only my sister had been getting real airmiles, I've flown with multiple carriers over the years and never used a mileage card abd only signed up with individual airlines programmes. She has told me for years. Will be flying with Saudia which I think is SV on here, will be flying buusness so will sign up to the alliance

Alliances do *not* have frequent flyer programs.
You sign up to an airline frequent flyer program. The airline can be a member off an alliance. Some are and some are not in alliance. Airlines can also have ff partners outside an alliance.
Depending on the detailed terms and conditions you can earn ff miles/points/avios to your ffp when flying on a partner/alliance airlines.

Saudia is a member of the Skyteam alliance. https://www.skyteam.com/en/
A broad guide but check your ffp's web site-->https://www.wheretocredit.com/saudi-arabian-airlines

From your profile your are in GB (UK). KLM/AirFrance is the largest Skyteam airline in your part of the world.

Thanks
 

Thanks Mwenenzi, sorry yes that is what I meant by the alliance. I collected points on Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and BA FF programmes in the past but never used the points jointly within an alliance so spent it on rubbish. So have a few outstanding Avios from BA from last year I will add on when I sign up to the alliance and avios that are due to expire. Slowly reading about how it all works.

I have the skyteam and Alfursan website up but not got round to signing up, still planning my trip.

Thanks so much for the links. Gutted flew with KLM a few times never AF.

Again. No such thing as "sign up to the alliance"
That's not the way frequent flyer programs (FFP) work. You join an airline ffp.

The Saudia Alfursan ffp may not be the best Skyteam ffp for you. Suggest AF/KLM

Emirates: not in all alliance, but has ff partners
BA: in Oneworld alliance
TK: in Star alliance

I accrue my miles to one airline FFP per alliance. I am not loyal to any airlines or alliance, I buy whatever the cheapest airfares and accrue miles to my chosen alliance partner airlines FFP. I am not interested in gaining elite status. To me, cheaper airfare is more valuable than elite status. And, come to think of it, with miles devaluation again and again, they don't really worth much anymore these days. Many cheap tickets don't even give you miles, and I'd pick these cheap airfare with no miles any day and save myself from the headache keep tracking the miles, and hunt for mileage award availability in this competitive award ticket market.

Ah was going to mention what Alfursan was but think you made an edit. I'm only signing up with them as I have two buisness class flights with them. And will possibly book another for next year.

Sorry yes maybe my misunderstanding but I am sure one of the alliances you mentioned I had to sign up also. I understand I need to collect points or miles with each FFP, but I thought the point of the alliances was that you could combine/earn points with various airlines within each alliance to create airmiles. Maybe I misunderstood that too..But I guess it makes more sense to fly with just one airline, as the replies suggest to earn more miles quickly.

Getting my head around mike runs and airmile cards so i'm just at the beginning of understanding all of this. I understand you suggest AF/KLM because I'm UK based appreciate that.

Sorry Alfursan I think have other benefits if you sign up to their membership I know this is nothing to do with a FFP or alliance. I hopefully will be using the lounge as part of my flight so not looked into that yet, just saw there was something else to sign up for

Thanks so much

That's good to hear definitely the way I've travelled. Guess this status is about getting access to lounges and other perks. Ah interesting outlook yeah my sister has been annoyed that things have changed and closed over the years. When it becomes a headache I will opt out

For me, the biggest status benefit is getting free premium (eg exit row) seats when seated in economy. These are quite expensive and definitely something that I would pay for (and do pay for the rare time I fly economy without status).

So basically on AA domestic flights I pay for economy (or, usually, get a cheap economy award) and get upgraded to first a little over half the time, and the rest of the time I'm in the exit row without paying extra.

The more time I spend in lounges, the less I care about them. If I have a long connection they are useful but if I'm flying direct I usually will wait at the gate even if I have lounge access. I'm at the gate, maybe, 20-30 minutes before boarding. Being on my phone in a lounge vs being on my phone at the gate for half an hour is not a huge upgrade.

Ah never flown PE but when I look now BC is usually less or the same price just crazy. Never thought about seats being near the exit, always trapped either way 🙃. I currently have no status but interesting to know.

Ah your in the states if you mainly use AA not seen them for a while. So your saying because of your status when you book economy you get upgraded to first wow. Is that part luck and status?

I never usually have time for lounges, if I can explore and have time would rather do that but no point in our case. First time in J class so will freeze, eat and rest as much as I can.

I'm always later to the gate but hasn't always worked out so a bit more cautious now. I can't do long international flights anymore hence flying Overspent before I left so have to struggle with Y on the way back already dreading it.

VegasGambler was talking about premium ("Main Cabin Extra") seats in the Economy cabin, not the Premium Economy cabin which AA does not offer on most domestic routes. ;) MCE seats offer a few inches more of seat pitch compared to regular Economy seats.

Yes exactly. AA calls it Main Cabin Extra, AS calls it Premium Class, UA calls it Economy Plus, DL calls it Comfort Plus, but it's basically the same. You get extra legroom and maybe a free drink (no free drinks on UA). On long domestic flights (like transcons) these can cost $100 or more as a seat selection fee; on shorter flights they are less but still not cheap.

If I'm flying on an airline without status I usually try to book first or business if the cost is reasonable, but if it isn't I'll book economy and pay extra for seat selection to get the extra space. Paying for this every time really adds up; status passengers generally get this for free.

There are also significant savings from having free checked bags on every flight.

Ah never heard of that. I'm tiny so just about fit in a seat 🙃

Ah I see. Guess UA is United Airlines, don'toften fly with American lines but we are no longer banned post covid. .. That sounds like PE in the UK with the extra space etc. All sounds like a good strategy. Now I know where to find decent J flights just need to make sure my bank account is full

It's not like PE in the UK. BA (for example) offers true PE on their long haul flights.

This is like getting an exit row seat on a flight from LHR to FCO. Both airlines will charge extra for this seat, but the difference is that the US carriers will give this a marketing name (like Main cabin extra, Economy plus, Comfort plus, depending on the carrier) and maybe include free drinks, dedicated overhead bin space just for those seats, and an earlier boarding group.

Also in the US, in addition to not paying for exit row (or similar) seats in economy, those with status will usually get space-available upgrades to first / business on domestic flights. So in addition to getting MCE on AA for free, I also end up in F about half the time, despite not paying for it. And while US domestic F is nothing special, it beats the hell out of economy (and euro-business for that matter)

The one thing that you don't get with status in the US is lounge access for domestic flights. They charge extra for that, and it's not cheap (the going rate is about $700+ per year, though you can usually get it slightly cheaper by signing up for a credit card, or buy day passes for $60 or so each). A lot of people swear by lounge access but I don't bother. You still get lounge access for international flights. Personally I prefer this to the EU model (I would rather upgrade my inflight seat than upgrade my preflight seat) but not everyone agrees with that.

Ahh that is all really interesting how they differ. Do you get told about status before your flight? Sounds like you mostly get upgraded when you fly which sounds amazing, wonder how they decide to upgrade. Never heard of exit seats with extras like that. Guess lounge access is expensive per year if it's F class, if not that is expensive. Guess status perks will differ in the UK. Seen alot of people using FB awards so will look at the airline partners if it is in my remit.

It's true that if you are a true frequent flyer, it's better to stick with one airline, especially for U.S. domestic routes. Suppose you take 100 flights per year, and are at the top tier elite level of the airline, and you get free upgrade 50% of the time, that's the reward for your loyalty to this airlines. But if you fly 10 times a year domestically, I just don't see the point of being loyal to any airlines.

This is no longer true any more, especially with US airlines perfecting FCM (first class monetization). I am 1K with UA, its top published tier, and I wish my upgrade was 50%.

I am a free agent, and my long game is million miler program with three different airlines in three different alliances. My current progress is 55%+, 30%+, and 20%+. I wish I had started out younger, but I am still young, and should accomplish all three within the next 10 years.

This is highly dependent on where you are based and what routes you fly. As an AA EXP out of PHX (still a hub) I get upgraded well over 50% of the time. If I was based in DFW I doubt I would do much better than 10%