LANPass as alternative oneworld program for USA-based flyer?
Feb 17, 2006 | 9:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlntida, Canelones, Uruguay (MVD) and rarely GNV
Programs: AV LifeMiles, CM ConnectMiles, BA Exec Club. Former:ex-ASGold, ex-UA1K, ex-COPlat, ex-NWGold.
Posts: 2,672
LANPass as alternative oneworld program for USA-based flyer?
Wanted to get other FTers' opinions on whether it makes sense for me as a US-based flyer to start using LANPass, as an alternative to AAdvantage.
Here's why I first signed up for LANPass:
I recently booked a trip to Buenos Aires for my wife and me, burning a bunch of NW Worldperks miles. While in Argentina, we want to spend a couple of days at Iguazu Falls, so I purchased tickets on LAN Argentina AEP-IGR. Originally I put our AAdvantage numbers in the reservation, since I knew that LA was in oneworld. However I then found out that K-class tickets on LAN entirely within Argentina do not qualify for AA miles. So not wanting to let any flight be wasted entirely for earning miles, I decided to sign up for LANPass and had their rep change our FF#s in the PNR.
That got me thinking - what about using LANPass as my program for all my oneworld travel instead of AAdvantage? I don't have any status on AA nor do I expect to fly enough BIS miles to get it this year. I don't like AA for domestic travel (hate the Maddogs and DFW) but do have to fly them sometimes for work/route/fare reasons. I'm dumping my AAdvantage citibank cards anyway due to some issues I have with Citi, so I won't be giving up any earning opportunities I'd have if I stayed with AAdvantage. My only other regular non-flight AA earnings have come from Hertz and Hilton, and both of them also can credit to LAN, so I wouldn't be giving up any earnings possibilities there.
Plus living in the Denver area, my only two choices for nonstops to Europe are LH to FRA (which I took a couple of months ago) on *A, or BA to LHR on 1W. But I can't credit BA transatlantic to AAdvantage at all, whereas I could (though at their crummy 25% rate on discount economy) to LA.
I don't expect to be flying LA often or maybe even at all after this trip. But given the ability to credit BA TAtl miles and the somewhat lower kilometer levels for some awards compared to AA miles, I'm thinking LANPass may be a better program than AAdvantage for me.
Has anybody else who is primarily US-based and flying mostly USA domestic and USA-Europe done this? What do you think about it?
How is LANPass availability, and service on redemption requests, for domestic USA flights on AA metal? That's probably the most I'd be redeeming given oneworld travel is my least-used alliance.
How prompt and accurate is LANPass in crediting flight mileage on AA as LANPass kilometers? I'd hate to keep sending BPs to Santiago!
As a USA-base flyer, would I have a shot at a status match with LAN to my UA Premier/*A Silver, or better, to my NW Gold/ST Elite status?
In general, does this sound like a good idea? Or am I just making things more difficult for myself?
Here's why I first signed up for LANPass:
I recently booked a trip to Buenos Aires for my wife and me, burning a bunch of NW Worldperks miles. While in Argentina, we want to spend a couple of days at Iguazu Falls, so I purchased tickets on LAN Argentina AEP-IGR. Originally I put our AAdvantage numbers in the reservation, since I knew that LA was in oneworld. However I then found out that K-class tickets on LAN entirely within Argentina do not qualify for AA miles. So not wanting to let any flight be wasted entirely for earning miles, I decided to sign up for LANPass and had their rep change our FF#s in the PNR.
That got me thinking - what about using LANPass as my program for all my oneworld travel instead of AAdvantage? I don't have any status on AA nor do I expect to fly enough BIS miles to get it this year. I don't like AA for domestic travel (hate the Maddogs and DFW) but do have to fly them sometimes for work/route/fare reasons. I'm dumping my AAdvantage citibank cards anyway due to some issues I have with Citi, so I won't be giving up any earning opportunities I'd have if I stayed with AAdvantage. My only other regular non-flight AA earnings have come from Hertz and Hilton, and both of them also can credit to LAN, so I wouldn't be giving up any earnings possibilities there.
Plus living in the Denver area, my only two choices for nonstops to Europe are LH to FRA (which I took a couple of months ago) on *A, or BA to LHR on 1W. But I can't credit BA transatlantic to AAdvantage at all, whereas I could (though at their crummy 25% rate on discount economy) to LA.
I don't expect to be flying LA often or maybe even at all after this trip. But given the ability to credit BA TAtl miles and the somewhat lower kilometer levels for some awards compared to AA miles, I'm thinking LANPass may be a better program than AAdvantage for me.
Has anybody else who is primarily US-based and flying mostly USA domestic and USA-Europe done this? What do you think about it?
How is LANPass availability, and service on redemption requests, for domestic USA flights on AA metal? That's probably the most I'd be redeeming given oneworld travel is my least-used alliance.
How prompt and accurate is LANPass in crediting flight mileage on AA as LANPass kilometers? I'd hate to keep sending BPs to Santiago!
As a USA-base flyer, would I have a shot at a status match with LAN to my UA Premier/*A Silver, or better, to my NW Gold/ST Elite status?
In general, does this sound like a good idea? Or am I just making things more difficult for myself?
