new member, looking for some help/feedback/suggestions
Feb 27, 2010 | 12:18 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 27
OneWorld is one of the 3 global airline alliance, not an airline program. You don't "enroll" in OneWorld.
Basically what you get to choose and enroll is the airline's FF program (i.e. FFP) that best fits your flying pattern and preference. Then see which alliance your chosen FFP belongs to. After figuring it out, you try every possible way to fly your chosen airline or and the partners and credit all your miles/points into your chosen FFP.
The choice of FFP can also work the other way. Say your flying destination (international) is best served by Star Alliance. It'll make more sense to pick a main FFP within Star Alliance to fly (domestic or international, or both).
Having said that, your current miles balances are, IMHO, too low to be tied up with. You should cast a wider net and research which airline and alliance work best for your goals. Open your eyes and explore the possibilities. Study all the sticky threads in fora of your interest. Then make an informed decision and stick to it. But don't aim for Delta, very difficult to get international award tickets: FTers' collective wisdom.
Good luck!
Basically what you get to choose and enroll is the airline's FF program (i.e. FFP) that best fits your flying pattern and preference. Then see which alliance your chosen FFP belongs to. After figuring it out, you try every possible way to fly your chosen airline or and the partners and credit all your miles/points into your chosen FFP.
The choice of FFP can also work the other way. Say your flying destination (international) is best served by Star Alliance. It'll make more sense to pick a main FFP within Star Alliance to fly (domestic or international, or both).
Having said that, your current miles balances are, IMHO, too low to be tied up with. You should cast a wider net and research which airline and alliance work best for your goals. Open your eyes and explore the possibilities. Study all the sticky threads in fora of your interest. Then make an informed decision and stick to it. But don't aim for Delta, very difficult to get international award tickets: FTers' collective wisdom.
Good luck!
But thank you for clarifying!I did come across that last link you posted regarding Delta, and I am NOT considering staying with them anymore.
Thanks for the help!
Feb 27, 2010 | 12:23 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 27
Regardless of which legacy airline's program, you will still pay taxes and fees on award tickets, just so some programs (such as BA's) you also have to pay fuel surcharges on top of the taxes and fees.
Also CO is the only program that still claims no expiration date. However this really should not be an issue at all as ANY activity, even getting a burger at a fast food joint, would have extended the life of your miles by another 18 months. There are gazillions of activities one can do, to keep one's account alive. This should be the least of your concern.
While BA program charges high fuel surcharges when flying BA metal, the same surcharge is much lower to 0, when redeeming partner flights. Too bad you dont do more research before summarily dismiss the 100K offer - you would have flown IBeria on that with some but not outrageous surcharge to your spain destinations. Not to mention that it is good for 2 coach r/t to Asia from US gateway cities, or 1 business r/t for the same... Not to mention South America (requires even less miles), and the out of pocket would be less than $100 for ticket would have costed you close to a thousand or more, just of the top of my head for rough estimate.
Forget about DL which miles are so devalued that even a 40K miles balance would only get you a domestic ticket which other airlines only require 25K.
You may want to study AA's program - there are excellent STICKIES in AA forum for you to get started.
Also CO is the only program that still claims no expiration date. However this really should not be an issue at all as ANY activity, even getting a burger at a fast food joint, would have extended the life of your miles by another 18 months. There are gazillions of activities one can do, to keep one's account alive. This should be the least of your concern.
While BA program charges high fuel surcharges when flying BA metal, the same surcharge is much lower to 0, when redeeming partner flights. Too bad you dont do more research before summarily dismiss the 100K offer - you would have flown IBeria on that with some but not outrageous surcharge to your spain destinations. Not to mention that it is good for 2 coach r/t to Asia from US gateway cities, or 1 business r/t for the same... Not to mention South America (requires even less miles), and the out of pocket would be less than $100 for ticket would have costed you close to a thousand or more, just of the top of my head for rough estimate.
Forget about DL which miles are so devalued that even a 40K miles balance would only get you a domestic ticket which other airlines only require 25K.
You may want to study AA's program - there are excellent STICKIES in AA forum for you to get started.
I do appreciate the feedback on the BA program, you are right, i DID NOT do as much research as I could have into that specific program. I am doing so much research into this the last few days so getting specific into EVERY program has been difficult.
I will also look at the AA program, as you and someone else suggested, but right now my first choice is SPG. As I seem it is the best all around program. The only thing I don't like is that they are AMEX, but I can get around that or just use my visa debt at places that dont accept amex.
Feb 27, 2010 | 1:39 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 27
OneWorld is one of the 3 global airline alliance, not an airline program. You don't "enroll" in OneWorld.
Basically what you get to choose and enroll is the airline's FF program (i.e. FFP) that best fits your flying pattern and preference. Then see which alliance your chosen FFP belongs to. After figuring it out, you try every possible way to fly your chosen airline or and the partners and credit all your miles/points into your chosen FFP.
The choice of FFP can also work the other way. Say your flying destination (international) is best served by Star Alliance. It'll make more sense to pick a main FFP within Star Alliance to fly (domestic or international, or both).
Having said that, your current miles balances are, IMHO, too low to be tied up with. You should cast a wider net and research which airline and alliance work best for your goals. Open your eyes and explore the possibilities. Study all the sticky threads in fora of your interest. Then make an informed decision and stick to it. But don't aim for Delta, very difficult to get international award tickets: FTers' collective wisdom.
Good luck!
Basically what you get to choose and enroll is the airline's FF program (i.e. FFP) that best fits your flying pattern and preference. Then see which alliance your chosen FFP belongs to. After figuring it out, you try every possible way to fly your chosen airline or and the partners and credit all your miles/points into your chosen FFP.
The choice of FFP can also work the other way. Say your flying destination (international) is best served by Star Alliance. It'll make more sense to pick a main FFP within Star Alliance to fly (domestic or international, or both).
Having said that, your current miles balances are, IMHO, too low to be tied up with. You should cast a wider net and research which airline and alliance work best for your goals. Open your eyes and explore the possibilities. Study all the sticky threads in fora of your interest. Then make an informed decision and stick to it. But don't aim for Delta, very difficult to get international award tickets: FTers' collective wisdom.
Good luck!
One more question. I think I am understanding this 100% but I just want to check...
I am going to be signing up for the SPG card because it fits my needs best, although it is an AMEX, as I said, I can use my VISA debit card if they don't accept AMEX, no big deal.
But, regarding FF program and a global alliance...
I am most likely going to be flying Iberia on my next trip to Europe, so I would join Iberia's FF program, and have the points credited to that account. Any time I fly another airline in the OneWorld alliance, I can have their points (if they are of the right fare etc..) credited to my Iberia FF program.
Then, to redeem, I can use my Iberia FF miles on any of their OW partner airlines (assuming there are available flights).
I can also use my SPG awards on any of their flights/hotels (this is straight forward, I have redeemed credit card points plenty of times before).
Say I want to fly back to Europe and Iberia serves my destination. I can just transfer my AMEX points over to Iberia FF miles and then book my trip??