Best *Low-Tier* Program
Oct 15, 2009 | 7:38 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: BOS / PHL / PEK / YYZ
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 232
the question you pose is what is the best low tier program
I too am going to say AS. Simply because AS as it stands now has 2 tiers and is attainable with less miles than most other low tier frequent flyer choices and upgrades arent rare or unheard of for MVP on a lot of routes. You also get 50% bonus RDMS...again unheard of on most silver/low tier status
What is the best program for you the OP may not be AS but IMO is the best "low tier" program
I too am going to say AS. Simply because AS as it stands now has 2 tiers and is attainable with less miles than most other low tier frequent flyer choices and upgrades arent rare or unheard of for MVP on a lot of routes. You also get 50% bonus RDMS...again unheard of on most silver/low tier status
What is the best program for you the OP may not be AS but IMO is the best "low tier" program
Oct 15, 2009 | 9:20 am
#17
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S+, Choice Platinum
Posts: 23,317
The bonus miles for MVP/MVPG will post, though, so you'll get 50%/100% bonuses even on your TPAC flights.
Oct 15, 2009 | 9:45 am
#18
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,283
BTW, I just flew DL in Y PDX-NRT-PVG and was pleasantly surprised. Even the 763 on the PDX-NRT leg was tolerable. My only beef with it was that my seat (reclining exit row aisle) couldn't have been any closer to the mid cabin lavs. I armed myself with a bunch of drink coupons, but it turned out that the FAs didn't want them. Also, the NW lounges in NRT have showers now, the lack of which was one of my pet peeves from the days that I used to spend a lot of time on NW.
Oct 16, 2009 | 7:28 pm
#20
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,010
I don't think AS elite status translates into any kind of alliance-wide elite stauts.
I think out of Asia I'd probably want to find my easiest path to Star Gold if I could. I'm not 100% sure what that is...maybe UA if you are eligible to obtain one of the credit cards that includes EQM, thus nudging a Silver level of flying up to Gold.
BD might be an option....
In 2010, I'm going to be migrating back towards OW because my flight patterns are going to align with AA, so I'm going to have to re-learn the whole OW universe. I've been pretty Star-centric (and mostly happy with it, occasional Starnet filter aside) for the past few years.
I think out of Asia I'd probably want to find my easiest path to Star Gold if I could. I'm not 100% sure what that is...maybe UA if you are eligible to obtain one of the credit cards that includes EQM, thus nudging a Silver level of flying up to Gold.
BD might be an option....
In 2010, I'm going to be migrating back towards OW because my flight patterns are going to align with AA, so I'm going to have to re-learn the whole OW universe. I've been pretty Star-centric (and mostly happy with it, occasional Starnet filter aside) for the past few years.
Oct 16, 2009 | 8:55 pm
#21
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S+, Choice Platinum
Posts: 23,317
Not most, unfortunately--very few. Actually, just one: DL.
International upgrades (except for perhaps the odd op-up, since you're [just barely] ahead of the non-status folk on the plane) are never going to happen on DL with AS status, but you should be able to select premium seats (exit rows, bulkheads, etc) and have some sort of priority in irrops situations.
Great airline and good program, but probably not a super fit for someone in your situation (where you could possibly get and have use for elite status on an airline you're actually flying).
International upgrades (except for perhaps the odd op-up, since you're [just barely] ahead of the non-status folk on the plane) are never going to happen on DL with AS status, but you should be able to select premium seats (exit rows, bulkheads, etc) and have some sort of priority in irrops situations.
Great airline and good program, but probably not a super fit for someone in your situation (where you could possibly get and have use for elite status on an airline you're actually flying).
Oct 16, 2009 | 9:18 pm
#22
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,283
Gold on many airlines is a sweet deal. *G provides lounge access on all flights except for domestic US, and NW/DL golds with non-US addresses get lounge access whenever they want it (even if not flying a partner airline; this data is 5 years old, so I'm not sure how the new DL is handling things).
Oct 16, 2009 | 9:33 pm
#23
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
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The DL partnership is pretty tight. AA, not so much IME.
As I've mentioned up thread, the primary rationale for going with AS is the ability to earn more miles.
TMK, there aren't any programs out there that deliver more at the low tier level, but you should definitely research some of the Asia based options.
As I've mentioned up thread, the primary rationale for going with AS is the ability to earn more miles.
TMK, there aren't any programs out there that deliver more at the low tier level, but you should definitely research some of the Asia based options.
Oct 16, 2009 | 11:00 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 610
I have a naive suggestion. If I were in OP shoes, my focus would be to choose a carrier for my long haul TAPC trips based on schedule and cost. Schedule means routing w.r.t. # of stops, departure/arrival timing etc. I'd then decide which FFP I should credit the mileage earnings to.
My thinking is that (1) as a lower level elite, the benefits are limited anyway (except if you are tall and traveling in coach then E+ is a meaningful benefit from UA); (2) OP's goal is to accumulate miles over long term, however the best rewarding FFP today could devalue by the time OP has sufficient miles for a meaningful redemption. Now if OP could get to mid-tier (or willing to MR for it), then *A gold is a very sweet spot...
My thinking is that (1) as a lower level elite, the benefits are limited anyway (except if you are tall and traveling in coach then E+ is a meaningful benefit from UA); (2) OP's goal is to accumulate miles over long term, however the best rewarding FFP today could devalue by the time OP has sufficient miles for a meaningful redemption. Now if OP could get to mid-tier (or willing to MR for it), then *A gold is a very sweet spot...
Oct 23, 2009 | 9:06 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: BOS / PHL / PEK / YYZ
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 232
Deltame, good suggestion... unfortunately I am pretty much stuck at the low end of the low tier :/
I think I may just stick with DL on the ST front and UA on the *A side to keep things simple - I already have a number of miles on each which I can continue to earn and burn to redeem awards.
I think I may just stick with DL on the ST front and UA on the *A side to keep things simple - I already have a number of miles on each which I can continue to earn and burn to redeem awards.
Oct 25, 2009 | 6:51 am
#26
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Been there, seen that
Programs: LH, AY, KL, Hilton, Sixt, Hertz
Posts: 11
subjective decision
I really like my Miles & More status. If you look first level status card Frequent Traveller aka silver.
What I really like is that you have lounge access already if you fly with those Miles & More companies, like LH, OS, LX etc, here I do not mean parthers.
Of course this is excellent benefit when you are living Europe. Other excellent benefits are that miles do not expire and executive bonus which means that you get additional miles on certain airlines. And not to forget that card is valid for two years.
Main thing in my opinion is to compare and then to stick to one card per alliance.
What I really like is that you have lounge access already if you fly with those Miles & More companies, like LH, OS, LX etc, here I do not mean parthers.
Of course this is excellent benefit when you are living Europe. Other excellent benefits are that miles do not expire and executive bonus which means that you get additional miles on certain airlines. And not to forget that card is valid for two years.
Main thing in my opinion is to compare and then to stick to one card per alliance.