What Can FF Programs Do For Me?
 

Excuse me in advance for being a bit long-winded but I want to try and explain myself and see if I can get some good advice for my particular situation.

In the early 90's I used to fly a lot, and loved it. I was living in NYC and flew with my then BF mostly to Europe and S. Korea. We always stayed in Intercontinentals and we always flew First and a few times were upgraded (???) to the Concorde. I didn't even realize how spoiled I was, LOL but flying back then was pleasurable and relaxing and I actually looked forward to not only the destination but the travel part of travel.

Fast forward a few years, I get married then divorced. Now I find myself in a 9-5 M-F boring job. When I do travel, I might get a 4* nice hotel thru priceline, but First Class is waaaaay out of my budget now. Airline travel has become a bore and is in no way relaxing or fun.

Last year I had a friend who invited me on a trip to South America with her. She had never traveled out of the country before, spoke no Spanish (I do) and was terrified to go alone but she really wanted to go to Peru so she asked me to go with her and insisted on taking care of all travel expenses. Her father had left her a fairly large inheritance and she decided to do the trip of her dreams. So, she purchased us First Class tickets on American.

I had forgotten what a pleasure the actual travel part of travel can actually be. We made use of the easy check in, the Admirals Club, and enjoyed the quality, personal service in the cabin by a flight attendant who had only a few mostly relaxed, happy people to look after instead of a hundred mostly grumpy, squeezed together like sardines, people to look after. I once again had a wonderful travel experience and remembered how it used to be!

So, I got to thinking about how I could go back to enjoying the travel part of travel again. I honestly used to find such excitement about "going somewhere". Which is what lead me to this website. I am wondering if it is possible to go back to flying better while not busting the budget?

I have been reading up on the different FF programs, Mileage Runs (interesting) and lots more here on the website but now have more questions that I had before I started!!

I will try to describe myself a bit more and anyone wants to throw out if they think that a FF program can benefit me?


RDU is my closest airport.

I have no family so can be flexible with my time and am willing to do so.

I love to research, and the thrill of the chase of good fares seem quite fun. I have a trip to Central America this coming up week where I watched fares hover around $600-$700 for weeks and weeks and when I saw it dip below $500 bought that instant. I got it at just the right time as it went back up hasn't dropped since. I get a thrill out of that for some crazy reason....

I wouldn't mind putting in the time/money to get status on an airline if it meant I would get consistent upgrades the next year. But I don't want to put in the time/money just to spend it and still end up crammed in coach. This is a question I am not sure has been answered yet, if you get top tier status, can you buy bargain basement fares but still get free upgrades? Or do you need to buy full-fare coach to get upgraded with some regularity?

Which airline should I go with? American goes to a lot of the Central/S. American destinations I like, but seems to offer no low fares domestically out of RDU. Most of the domestic flights I have taken have all been on USAir, United, or Delta.

Or, should I simply abandon this whole crazy idea and just shell out the $$ every now and then when I want to fly with a little more luxury? :D

One last question: What is this with buying miles? I see on many of the FF sights that you can buy miles? Lots and Lots of miles, for perhaps even cheaper than flying them? What is the catch?? I know I must be missing something?

for starters
others wil add in

1) look at the flying alliances
decide which one works best for you
in terms of work travel, mandatory leisure travel (visits to friends, relatives), and persoal leisre travel

concentrate your travel on that alliance

accrue all you flying miles to one particular airline within that alliance



2) adopt a value plus miles for all of your spending

a) get a credit card to go with the airline you a chosen

b) concentrate all your spending to that credit card to maximize the miles
(make sure you pay off the balance befoire interest accrues or this method is worthless)


c) where it makes a good value, do a lot of your spending using your cc on your chosen airlines shopping mall

Welcome to FT NC_Girl.

I should have been more clear but figured I was already pushing the wordy limit.

I travel ZERO for work.

I am looking at mostly long or even short weekend trips domestically, just a night or two somewhere, and the occasional international trip with the most interest in Central/S. America though might be willing to go anywhere if the deal is right. A few of the most interesting and fun vacations were places I wouldn't have thought of going but came upon an interesting offer from one of those weekly emails.

I realize that picking an airline and sticking with it is very important, which is why I want to get advice as to which one is right for me out of RDU. I like American, but find so few good deals with them domestically that I don't know if they are the right option for me.

If I'm not mistaken, RDU is the hub for US Air.

If I were you, I would join AA's FF program. The most important thing is to be a member of a FF program that flies to where you want to visit. AA gives you more options in Latin America.

Most here are also members with other programs as well. One airline in each alliance is a good idea. AA is part of Oneworld.


Buying miles is for people who need a set number on miles for particular trip fast. I never have bought miles, but many people I know have in order to be able obtain an award ticket.

Welcome to FT!

Really, each alliance has a decent number of flights out of RDU. AA and DL both have fairly large operations (remember, they have most of the gates on concourse C), and US actually has a decent operation with their frequent flights. Personally, I chooses UA over US, since about the only thing I haven't gotten on US over being one of their elites are upgrades (I live in GSO which US dominates, so I have to fly them regularly). I have gotten great last minute deals on UA and DL ($210 to ONT one weekend buying the day before). I don't have any experience on AA (out of GSO, I can't fly to MIA or DFW just to connect up to the northeast for work, takes too long), but I have fallen in love with *A cooperation compared to ST.

Though I know a lot of people here will trumpet the benefits of their program, it really depends on the level of service you can get to where you want to go.

Actually, RDU is not anyones hub anymore. We used to be an American hub but no more.

The problem I am finding with AA is that I have never been able to find reasonably priced domestic flights with them.

*****************

I was wondering if my basic reasoning is sound? Once I pound out the original miles/dollars to get a top tier status, will I be consistently upgraded buying bargain basement fares or should I save my money and just shell out for better travel when I really want it?

I still don't get the logic of airlines selling miles for less than 5 cents when mileage runs are costing more in many cases? Why not simply buy 100,000 miles?:confused: I know I must be missing something?

I'm having my doubts that elite status for an infrequent traveler is of much use. They usually require a lot of traveling and free upgrades only apply to domestic, not international travel. To fly cheap in premium cabins I'd rather look out for cheap mile deals and/or special promotion offers.

If you get to EXP on American by flying 100,000 miles, you will get unlimited domestic upgrades and 8 EVIP's which can upgrade any flight your on. EVIP's are perfect for upgrading international flights. You can upgrade any fare on AA except for one, O fare to Latin America. But that won't matter since Q is usually only $20 more then O. By being in RDU, you have the opportunity to rack up some serious miles but it will involve a little work.

ex. Take the 6am American Eagle flight to JFK. then do this. JFK-SFO-LAX-STL-RDU. You will do that all in one day and that's almost 6,000 miles if IIRC.

Being EXP grants you first class checkin, first class lounge access when flying internationally among many benefits. Being a EXP, if you reserve early enough, you will get the upgrade nearly all the time. Most EXP's report missing out on only 1-4 upgrades in a year where they fly easily almost every weekend. there is even a way to make the fight for Executive Platinum even easier. Take the Platinum challenge which is the level below EXP. Get 10,000 Points in 3 months. if you fly super cheap fares, that means 20,000 miles. There is a $200 fee so it's up to you if you find it worth it.

Hope the information helps.

OK, so if I had a budget of say $3000-4000 a year for air travel, I should not bother putting in a bunch of mileage runs, getting a CC for my program and trying for top tier status and "hoping" for upgrades?

I should focus more on finding good deals individually and makes fewer trips? Perhaps pay the daily fee to access the nice quiet lounges when I actually travel? I always enjoyed those lounges for some reason!

Doesn't seem quite as much fun, LOL, but.... might be more likely to actually reach the goal of a bit more luxury (relaxing) travel when I do do it?

oh, I posted before I read the last post. So, am I to understand from El_Chiflero that it is worth it? If I do put in the miles the first year, I will get consistent upgrades the next year? The last two posts are contradicting each other somewhat.

I think for me that half the fun would be the searching out and trying to chase the miles, seems kinda insane to hear myself say it.

With that budget, you'll be fine. Transcontinental flights get you at least 5000 miles and only cost 250 dollars. 20 of those equals 100,000 miles at $4,000. it's very possible if you have the budget and time.

You can also do an extended mileage run that runs into the 36-48 hour mark that can rack you at least 10,000 miles by combining transcons and/or doing trans atlantic or trans pacific Mileage runs.

Mileage runs are for people who are close to obtaining a certain level with an airline. If you join a FF program, then get the CC for that airline. You will earn miles on every day spending and thus "free" flights.

It is very worth it. yes on both your questions. like I wrote, if you have the budget and it seems like you do, you will be fine. You don't sound insane, you just sound like the rest of us hardcore FT'ers.