Building miles from scratch
 

Some background info first: I live in New York, so could fly out of JFK or LGA (or even EWK if need be...) I fly only twice a year now. Once domestically to Detroit and once internationally to France. Usually I pick my ticket based purely on price and not on accruing miles, and I want to start collecting miles.

I'm not sure which airline I should stick to when it comes to building miles. It's dizzying the number of airline CC offers out there.

Right now I'm tempted to go for the AA 75k option. I read the major thread and post #2, all the FF have given great advice on how to procure the card(s).

Question is this... My goal one day is to fly to Asia on points. Am I on the right track to start with AA and their OneWorld alliance? I saw that Cathay and Japan airlines are in that alliance, but is there a better way?

I just started this last year and although I'm not sure about the flying to Asia part, the AA cards are the best starting option in my opinion.

Using post #2 :), apply for both personals at the same time, get 150K miles, and then 61+ days later apply for the 75K business card and you'll be at an awesome start 225K miles after your spends are complete and you could get to Asia and back in first class (max 67.5K each way) and still have 90K miles!

AA 75K
 

Looking for these offers but can't find. Trying to get AA visa and Amex cards each with 75K miles.

Is this deal still ongoing?

Can't find any link to this. Only to 30K miles for each.

Thanks

Literally on the same forum page...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...t-2-first.html

From NYC, pretty much any airline/alliance will give you options.

AA seems like a great place to start. After that, think about your second choice. Maybe UA/CO, so you'll have a backup plan (and more non-stop domestic flights, if you need it).

AA also flies to Japan, I used them on an award trip a few years ago.

It was only 50k miles round trip in the off season, quite the bargain IMHO.

So for going to Asia I think you are on the right track between the various OW partners.

Consider Delta
 

I'd think seriously about Delta. They use JFK and LGA as major hubs, which would allow you to fly virtually anywhere domestically non-stop, and you'd have a million options for your DTW trip. Also, they offer great coverage to Europe both directly on DL and through their Skyteam partners like KLM, Air France, and Alitalia.

They also offer mileage bonus for even their lowest-tier elite flyers (Silver Medallion) which allows you to build miles quickly. The one downside is that if you cared about upgrades, you might be out of luck given that NYC has a lot of Delta elite flyers, but that doesn't sound like your concern.

As for Asia, Delta does daily non-stops to Japan, China, Korea, and is partners with Korean Airlines and Vietnam Airlines.

I have no idea what their CC sign-up promo is right now, but would encourage you to think long-term. A big bonus up-front is obviously nice but, to reach your goals, you are going to be tied to your airline FF program for some time to come.

Best of luck.

haha wow, i didn't know that i'd still have 90 after a 1st class redemption!

Cool, thanks! You know, I never thought much about UA before, but I need to look at their options.

Thanks! Yea I've flown Delta quite a few times since they got so many flights to DTW from NYC. Their current promo isn't too enticing, and also the annual fee ($95) on their CC is high. Do most folks keep their airline CC if it's their main airline? Even if they only do two flights on it a year?

One important perk not stated yet.

AA gives Lifetime status (Gold) to members who accrue 1,000,000 lifetime miles by any method, CCs included.

Other carriers require BIS miles to get this perk

A 100k BA offer is a better way, if it comes back again.

Are there lots of FT members that have gotten to 1mm miles without flying on AA? Just on points alone?! See, what I read FT and travel bloggers, I get the sense everyone flies at least a little for work. It makes regular peons like me who fly once or twice a year think we can get something if we just sign up for every single CC ever advertised.

Ah yes, I missed out on the 100K BA offer. I read on the forums here it was offered twice in 18 months. Too risky to go for the 2 Citi AA cards and have to wait to meet the spend? Or just go for it and then apply for any 100k offers when they come out?

It's hard. I'm half-way there on Delta and I hope to get to 1MM in 5 years or so, but that might be pushing it. For what it's worth, there are ongoing FT discussions that the AA 1MM rules might be changing to be more in line with the BIS methods of the other airlines. You should look into those before having that be a real concern.