New Frequent Flyer from Boston - best program?
 

I am new here but lurked for a few days before posting to get a feel for the land.

I am a new business (frequent) traveler. I've traveled a few times a year for the past 5 years but now it will be closer to 15 times a year so I am looking to take advantage.

I live equidistant between Logan (Boston) and Manchester (in NH). Neither is a hub for a major airline.

My trips will be domestic - for instance this year I am planning on Texas, Florida, and Ohio.

I'd like to be able to earn toward elite status and upgrades while also saving for potential family vacations and international trips.

Southwest flies a ton out of Manchester but their plan doesn't seem as comprehensive.

Does anyone have any recommendations on which airline to hook up with? I currently don't have any loyalties but I am intrigued by lifetime memberships.

If you're intrigued by lifetime status, AA, CO, and UA (although CO=UA soon) are your best bets...specifically AA because all miles count (credit card, shopping, etc.), not just flying miles.

I like AA for their lifetime status and OW awards and US Air for their *A awards and unlimited domestic upgrades at any level.

I would vote for AA also. We use Logan for domestic (earning miles) and international (spending them). Although using London as a gateway to Europe and beyond can be problematic since TATL award travel is not available on BA, we have found Iberia (using Madrid as a gateway city) to be much more readily available in terms of business class awards. Not sure of the effect of the AA/BA/IB consolidation that is looming will have upon award travel.

My wife and I are lifetime gold and plt status, respectively, and it was the purchases, dining, credit cards, and other promotions mentioned in the prior post that got us there.

AA and UA are the best airiline options for you.

Both will offer you free upgrades if you fly enough and allow you accrue rewards that can be used for very expensive trips worlwide. Delta miles are worth far less than AA or UA miles and Southwest's FF program is not competitive for someone with your travel pattern.

Note that Southwest credits expire in 2 years, however if you go with the other majors, you can redeem miles for intl destinations and if you have activity once in 1.5 yrs on avg, you can extend the life of the miles indefinitely.

DL awards can be a nightmare to redeem, please see their forum.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...oughts-co.html

Thanks everyone!
 

This was all very helpful!

Sign up for them all. If you are doing DFW, AA is a no brainer. If you are flying to Austin, look at JetBlue