Starting later this year, I'll be flying LAX-LHR (and back) several times a year, so it seems as good a time as any to join a frequent flyer program. Now, I'll probably (unless you persuade me otherwise) be flying Air New Zealand, since they have the triple benefits of being (1) inexpensive, (2) amazing, and (3) flying LHR-HKG (which I may need to fly once a year or so, although they unfortunately don't have LAX-HKG).

However, it seems like since I don't actually live in New Zealand, or Australia, for that matter, or ever go there, I'm not sure if enrolling in ANZ's frequent flyer program is the smartest thing to do, whereas if I enrolled in a US airline's frequent flyer program, I do fly domestically within the US a few times a year.

Would it make more sense to either

(1) fly ANZ and credit the miles to an alliance program, or
(2) fly some other airline, and if so, which one?

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

There are so many variables that it's tough to make an intelligent recommendation without knowing more.

What class of service will you be flying on your paid tickets? If Economy, will you be on a deeply-discounted fare? (Some FFPs award less than full mileage when you fly a partner carrier on deeply-discounted fares.)

Will you want to redeem your earned miles for domestic flights? International flights? A combination of the two? And in what class of service?

What do you value most in an FFP? Free flights? Upgrades on paid flights? Lounge access? And how many total miles would you expect to fly in a 12-month period?

Given the fact that you may be flying to HKG with some frequency, you might want to consider joining a oneworld carrier's FFP, since Cathay Pacific serves HKG from LAX, LHR, and lots of other places. Both AA and BA fly LAX-LHR nonstop. (And LAX is an AA hub, which should be considered since you will be flying domestically, as well.)

If you are really set on flying Air NZ you could always join UA's FF and just credit your miles to them. I think it would work better than having an Air NZ FF Account.

Presumably UA doesn't get lounge access on domestic US flights, though.

Strange rule, that.

NZ no longer operates LHR-HKG, they only have a code share with CX on that route.

If you will be flying enough to maintain Silver or Gold with NZ, you may find Airpoints a good value for the complementary upgrades. If not, the award miles if credited to UA will have greater value.

Also note some aspects of Airpoints are not available for non-NZ residents. There is also no credit card available for US residents.

Look at these
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...help-here.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...post-here.html
Sadly both threads have more people asking questions than people answering these questions.

NZ Airpoints is a very poor freq flyer program. Ignore it.
As a US resident you are far better joining a US based ffp. Also you can get miles from US credit cards & other non airline activities

Yes, please factor in where and how you want to redeem those miles and if you will need one way redemptions.

Thanks for all the help, guys. I'll take all of this into account, but just wanted to provide more info first.

Just a little bit more info: I'm living in the US, but for the next few years or so, I'll be spending maybe half the year in the UK, but after that, should be back in the US more permanently. (Does that make a difference?)

Class of service: Economy, cheapest possible, probably, since it's coming out of my own pocket and flights add up quickly.

Redemption: No preference as to redemption, except that I'd like to stretch it as far as it goes (obviously, if the best I can redeem is LAX-SFO, that's not so great).

Value most: If I'm flying NZ, free flights possibly since their economy is already amazing, but with any other airline, upgrades probably.

Yearly miles: Probably 32000 miles on just the LAX-LHR route, and maybe another 10000–15000 on either LAX-HKG or LHR-HKG and US domestic combined. (Plus miles from credit card, maybe?)

HKG: Not sure if I'll be making it to HKG that frequently, probably just once a year, maybe twice depending.

Didn't hear about that, now I'm just the tiniest bit sad.

No particular redemption preference; one-way vs. round trip shouldn't be a factor for me?

Please remember the following requirement for UA elite status -

"To qualify for any Premier level, members must fly at least four paid flights operated by United or Copa during a calendar year.*


*Members who hold a United MileagePlus Presidential Plus or Club Credit Card are exempt from the four segment minimum as long as they are the primary Cardmember and their Credit Card account is in good standing at the time of qualification."