How to maximize frequent flyer benefits?
Jul 25, 2011 | 3:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, DL
Posts: 281
How to maximize frequent flyer benefits?
After lurking on the board a few weeks and reading a similar post in this forum, I thought I'd ask you experts how to maximize my bang for the buck or rather bang for my miles.
My frequent flyer situation is a bit of a mess, as I have mileage on:
US Air: 37k miles
Delta: 23k miles
AA: 6k miles
I fly out of Seattle, take about 5 or 6 pleasure trips a year, and fly for business about 3 times a year (mainly internationally). In 10 days, I have a biz trip to Nigeria (SEA-LHR-LOS-LHR-SEA) on BA business class whose miles I plan on depositing into my AA account. Since my employer pays for travel, I have little control over the choice of airline other than selecting an itenerary and schedule that meets business needs which means convenience at times. My company flies us in business class for international trips and in coach domestically.
For the 5 or 6 leisure trips I take a year, most of them are domestic and one perhaps would be to Mexico to catch some sun, which we don't get often in Seattle. I have a vacation to Vietnam planned for December and plan to fly business class. All my personal trips are booked through Orbitz and I typically select the lowest fare unless the additional cost of a direct flight doesn't tack on too much. The domestic trips are not to a particular, repeat destination, rather all over the US.
As you can see, my miles are spread all over the major alliances since I lack allegiance to any particular carrier or group. In an attempt to consolidate my mileage, I applied and was approved to the Alaska Airlines Visa card that comes with 40k miles (Alaska's main hub in Seattle). It seems as though Alaska's frequent flyer program includes carriers across alliances I find myself flying (Delta, American). In addition, several businesses in town offer Alaska mileage such as the car park at the airport.
Currently, I've been charging all my purchases to my Citibank Thank You Rewards card which offers a wide range of redeemable goods as well as free travel. When I receive the Alaska card, I plan on charging all my purchases on it.
My questions are as follows:
1. What strategy should I follow to maximize frequent flyer benefits given my situation? I surmise it's not too clever to have mileage fragmented over 3 FF programs. Maybe it is? I don't know.
2. Can miles from one frequent flyer program be transferred to another? I.e. transfer the miles from AA and Delta to the Alaska account. Since both AA and Delta are partners of Alaska, it wouldn't make sense to be logging miles in the AA Advantage and Delta Skymiles programs anymore if I'm making my Alaska account the central "repository" for miles earned through both flying and purchases.
3. Was it a good call to get the Alaska card?
4. I don't believe I fly a particular carrier or alliance enough to earn status. Would one achieve status with Alaska by mainly earning miles through the Alaska Visa card or would one be compelled to also fly X segments/year to earn status?
5. Where would you book a round trip flight to Vietnam from Seattle this December in business class for 2 people? Itinerary is SEA-SGN and then HAN-SEA on the way back. Trip dates: Dec. 14, 2011 to Jan 02, 2012. I'm looking for affordability but also sensible mileage accumulation.
Thanks for putting up with the rant, and any light you may shed.
My frequent flyer situation is a bit of a mess, as I have mileage on:
US Air: 37k miles
Delta: 23k miles
AA: 6k miles
I fly out of Seattle, take about 5 or 6 pleasure trips a year, and fly for business about 3 times a year (mainly internationally). In 10 days, I have a biz trip to Nigeria (SEA-LHR-LOS-LHR-SEA) on BA business class whose miles I plan on depositing into my AA account. Since my employer pays for travel, I have little control over the choice of airline other than selecting an itenerary and schedule that meets business needs which means convenience at times. My company flies us in business class for international trips and in coach domestically.
For the 5 or 6 leisure trips I take a year, most of them are domestic and one perhaps would be to Mexico to catch some sun, which we don't get often in Seattle. I have a vacation to Vietnam planned for December and plan to fly business class. All my personal trips are booked through Orbitz and I typically select the lowest fare unless the additional cost of a direct flight doesn't tack on too much. The domestic trips are not to a particular, repeat destination, rather all over the US.
As you can see, my miles are spread all over the major alliances since I lack allegiance to any particular carrier or group. In an attempt to consolidate my mileage, I applied and was approved to the Alaska Airlines Visa card that comes with 40k miles (Alaska's main hub in Seattle). It seems as though Alaska's frequent flyer program includes carriers across alliances I find myself flying (Delta, American). In addition, several businesses in town offer Alaska mileage such as the car park at the airport.
Currently, I've been charging all my purchases to my Citibank Thank You Rewards card which offers a wide range of redeemable goods as well as free travel. When I receive the Alaska card, I plan on charging all my purchases on it.
My questions are as follows:
1. What strategy should I follow to maximize frequent flyer benefits given my situation? I surmise it's not too clever to have mileage fragmented over 3 FF programs. Maybe it is? I don't know.
2. Can miles from one frequent flyer program be transferred to another? I.e. transfer the miles from AA and Delta to the Alaska account. Since both AA and Delta are partners of Alaska, it wouldn't make sense to be logging miles in the AA Advantage and Delta Skymiles programs anymore if I'm making my Alaska account the central "repository" for miles earned through both flying and purchases.
3. Was it a good call to get the Alaska card?
4. I don't believe I fly a particular carrier or alliance enough to earn status. Would one achieve status with Alaska by mainly earning miles through the Alaska Visa card or would one be compelled to also fly X segments/year to earn status?
5. Where would you book a round trip flight to Vietnam from Seattle this December in business class for 2 people? Itinerary is SEA-SGN and then HAN-SEA on the way back. Trip dates: Dec. 14, 2011 to Jan 02, 2012. I'm looking for affordability but also sensible mileage accumulation.
Thanks for putting up with the rant, and any light you may shed.
Last edited by koopas; Jul 25, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Jul 25, 2011 | 5:55 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: Associate
Posts: 5
Jul 25, 2011 | 6:03 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: Associate
Posts: 5
Answers
. What strategy should I follow to maximize frequent flyer benefits given my situation? I surmise it's not too clever to have mileage fragmented over 3 FF programs. Maybe it is? I don't know.
None of your mile would get you any where decent except for one way domestic ticket which is not allowed on Delta or US Airways but only on American and United/Continental.
2. Can miles from one frequent flyer program be transferred to another? I.e. transfer the miles from AA and Delta to the Alaska account. Since both AA and Delta are partners of Alaska, it wouldn't make sense to be logging miles in the AA Advantage and Delta Skymiles programs anymore if I'm making my Alaska account the central "repository" for miles earned through both flying and purchases.
No, you can not transfer miles from one alliance to another. At this moment he only exception is that you can transfer United miles in to Continental for no fee. If you have Alaska Card you can accumulate miles to fly One World Alliance.
3. Was it a good call to get the Alaska card? Yes good call.
4. I don't believe I fly a particular carrier or alliance enough to earn status. Would one achieve status with Alaska by mainly earning miles through the Alaska Visa card or would one be compelled to also fly X segments/year to earn status?
Your purchases will get you the miles but it will not count towards Status. Some cards like Delta Amex will count towards status if you spend a lot of money.
5. Where would you book a round trip flight to Vietnam from Seattle this December in business class for 2 people? Itinerary is SEA-SGN and then HAN-SEA on the way back. Trip dates: Dec. 14, 2011 to Jan 02, 2012. I'm looking for affordability but also sensible mileage accumulation.
It would be exceedingly difficult to get an award ticket in the month of December because of the Holiday Travel. If you had the miles today, you may be lucky to get a seat but it would become almost impossible close to the Holidays.
I fly about 30,000 miles a month and I thought I can help you but sorry for the bad news. But this is the truth.
None of your mile would get you any where decent except for one way domestic ticket which is not allowed on Delta or US Airways but only on American and United/Continental.
2. Can miles from one frequent flyer program be transferred to another? I.e. transfer the miles from AA and Delta to the Alaska account. Since both AA and Delta are partners of Alaska, it wouldn't make sense to be logging miles in the AA Advantage and Delta Skymiles programs anymore if I'm making my Alaska account the central "repository" for miles earned through both flying and purchases.
No, you can not transfer miles from one alliance to another. At this moment he only exception is that you can transfer United miles in to Continental for no fee. If you have Alaska Card you can accumulate miles to fly One World Alliance.
3. Was it a good call to get the Alaska card? Yes good call.
4. I don't believe I fly a particular carrier or alliance enough to earn status. Would one achieve status with Alaska by mainly earning miles through the Alaska Visa card or would one be compelled to also fly X segments/year to earn status?
Your purchases will get you the miles but it will not count towards Status. Some cards like Delta Amex will count towards status if you spend a lot of money.
5. Where would you book a round trip flight to Vietnam from Seattle this December in business class for 2 people? Itinerary is SEA-SGN and then HAN-SEA on the way back. Trip dates: Dec. 14, 2011 to Jan 02, 2012. I'm looking for affordability but also sensible mileage accumulation.
It would be exceedingly difficult to get an award ticket in the month of December because of the Holiday Travel. If you had the miles today, you may be lucky to get a seat but it would become almost impossible close to the Holidays.
I fly about 30,000 miles a month and I thought I can help you but sorry for the bad news. But this is the truth.