New job - likely to be flying often. Which FF scheme?
 

Hello All

I am starting a new job next week and it's likely I will be flying often and to a wide range of places, the company has clients all over the world. The job is in Scotland so I'll be flying out of Glasgow or Edinburgh.

In the past, I've been a fairly infrequent flyer and mainly short haul so haven't paid any attention to frequent flyer schemes.

Where do I start working out which scheme is best for me? I won't have any control over whom I fly with. All I really want out of a scheme is the occasional opportunity to upgrade and perhaps a couple of 'free' short-haul flights.

Can someone help me?

Thanks

Here are some basic questions that are a good way to outline your Frequent Flyer Airline Strategy

Earning
• What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
• What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
• How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
• Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
• What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
• Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
• Preferred Airlines?
• Do you travel for work or pleasure?

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Welcome to FlyerTalk!
If you have no control with who you will be flying with, you have no scheming to do. Your only plan should be to join the loyalty program of whatever airline your company uses. cross your fingers and hope it's not Ryan Air. Make sure your frequent flyer number is attached to all your reservations.
Whatever air program you join, if your company gives you enough trips you will earn miles for free flights and maybe status. Make sure to join a hotel loyalty program too, once again whatever hotel group your company uses.

[QUOTE=fatboysliminal;17793202]Hello All

I am starting a new job next week and it's likely I will be flying often and to a wide range of places, the company has clients all over the world. The job is in Scotland so I'll be flying out of Glasgow or Edinburgh.

In the past, I've been a fairly infrequent flyer and mainly short haul so haven't paid any attention to frequent flyer schemes.

Where do I start working out which scheme is best for me? I won't have any control over whom I fly with. All I really want out of a scheme is the occasional opportunity to upgrade and perhaps a couple of 'free' short-haul flights.

Can someone help me?

First of all sign up for every Alliance that flys out of these airports. Then consolidate to one airlines in the Alliance and use that FF # on all flights in that Alliance. Try to make it the one you are most likely to use. Upgrades usually come by miles flown. they usually start after 25,000, 50,000 and 75,000 levels are passed. With the more miles, the more likely the upgrade. I'm sure others with more experience in European airlines will be able to help you more. Just use this as a starting point to think about Alliances, Airlines and how upgrades are given out. Good luck and enjoy. :)

Y'all a UK or nonUK citizen? Makes a difference in the banking cards that might feed into the scheme of things.

I would think that British Airways is probably the best from the information you have given.

Exactly right. Join any programs for airlines you fly, hotels you stay at, car rental companies you deal with. Be mindful of alliances, i.e. pick only one FF program from Star, SkyTeam, etc. But otherwise, if you don't have control over your bookings, there isn't much of a strategy to be had.

do this....continue to learn & make mid course corrections....spend a lot of time on ft.....

notice that at the top of the forums, there are sticky.s....read them & learn....