Requesting advice- Which Airline program is best
 

Which airline program should I pick? I'll be traveling regularly to Orlando, San Diego, Denver, Dallas, New York City and Seattle among other places.
Any recommendations?

Welcome to FT!, newflyer1902

What is your most common origin airport? (your starting point for these trips)

What is your goal of being a part of a ff program?
- miles for travel/or upgrades?
- other travel preqs? such as better economy seating

Will you be flying lowest cost economy or a higher fare level?

Are these trips booked a few months or weeks in advance or close to travel day?

What airlines have you been flying and do you have any preferences?

Are you interested in linking a credit card for additional miles?

also see
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...am-choose.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...e-program.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-new-game.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...t-changes.html

IMHO, it's about choosing the airline (and their partners) that you're most likely to get booked on so you can accummulate most/all of your benefits into that program.

My Opinion:
If your "home" airport is a hub for one (or more) carriers, I'd start out by exploring that airline and that airline's alliance partners. For example, DTW is the airport from-which I originate (almost) all of my round trips. DTW is a Northwest/Delta hub, so I usually get myself on NW/Delta flights or SkyTeam Alliance partners (Alaska Air, Air France, etc).

If your "home" airport is not a hub for any carriers, take a look at your local airport and see which airlines seem to offer the most flights in/out of it -- Preferably direct flights to one-or-more of your commonly-traveled-to cities.

You may also want to align yourself with an airline (and partners) who operates a hub or "focus city" in most of your commonly-traveled-to cities.

(excerpts from Wikipedia entries for your target airports below)

Orlando (MCO) - The airport serves as a secondary hub for AirTran Airways and a focus city for both Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Southwest Airlines is currently the airport's largest carrier in terms of passengers traveled; SWA carried one-fifth of all passenger traffic at MCO in 2006

San Diego (SAN) - Not a hub for anyone. The top three airlines in terms of market share are Southwest Airlines (36.2%), Delta Air Lines (10.9%), and American Airlines. (10.6%).

Denver (DEN) - Denver International Airport is the main hub for low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines and commuter carrier Great Lakes Airlines. It is also the second-largest hub for United Airlines (after Chicago's O'Hare International Airport), as well as a focus city for Southwest Airlines.

Dallas (DFW) - American Airlines hub.

New York City (LGA) - The airport serves as a focus city for American Airlines and their regional affiliate, American Eagle. It will become a domestic hub of Delta Air Lines.

New York City (JFK) - JFK airport is the base of operations for JetBlue Airways and serves as an international gateway for Delta Air Lines. It is also the smallest hub for American Airlines.

Newark NJ (EWR) - Continental Hub

Seattle (SEA) - The airport is a hub for Alaska Airlines. The top five carriers at Sea-Tac in number of passengers carried in 2008 were Alaska Airlines (34.2%), Horizon Air (14.2%), Southwest Airlines (8.9%), United Airlines (7.4%), and Northwest Airlines (6.9%).

Good Luck, and Welcome!
Sean

I would suggest visiting those airline forums on FT to browse around, check out what people are talking about. When you familiarize yourself with what people are praising or complaining about the airlines you are considering, you can decide better for yourself.

I might be a little biased, but considering your destinations, Southwest sounds like a good option.

Another consideration is your long term plans for travel (especially if you plan international travel in the future) and how an airlines frequent flyer program might fit these plans.

I do not live at a hub airport and could have picked AA, CO, UA or even DL. I chose AA because I will have 2MM before I retire and will have Platinum for life. A key aspect of this is that AA counts all my miles (including credit card charges, dining program etc) not just EQM towards the 1 and 2 MM awards. This may or may not be important to you.