Long term USA airline FF elite strategy
Jun 24, 2013, 4:08 pm
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
That is, I'm not aware of any Starnet blocking on the A3 end of things. Chances are good that I'm going to end up redeeming my meager A3 RDM balance for coach seats for my family members, so it's not like I'm going to be chasing LH F with my A3 miles.
Thus, if you see a partner award flight on United.com, I could believe you could call A3 and redeem it. If I was actually looking at United metal, then I'd query some other *A airline through Award Nexus just to make sure real partner award seats were there.
Jun 26, 2013, 1:12 am
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 1,208
AA or AS. Yes, unknows with AA, but as of now, they beat UA by a lot. 8 SWU's on any fare with 100k, no PQD (yet). many hypotheticals, but their route network is getting better w/US, they are treating their customers well, and seem to want to poach UA customers.
Jun 27, 2013, 1:06 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
Posts: 1,528
PMCO blew them all out of the water IMHO
and when I jumped ship from UA to AA after the CO merger, I hated the AA product because I felt nickle & dimed...
Jun 30, 2013, 10:24 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: Too Many to Count
Posts: 510
Well, with the economy improving, program changes are inevitable. Airlines have gone a decent amount of time without redemption increases, and I was thinking for sure this is something all major airlines will roll out due to the obscene, historic, and unprecedented amount of CC-linked bonus miles they've doled out over the past decade.
Compared to other Western countries, it's still stupid easy to rack up 100s of 1000s of miles very easily in the US. I think it's worth playing this game so long as the goal is the top level of status.
The average consumer who isn't too travel savvy, travels once or twice in a year, and doesn't understand the ins and outs of the FFPs isn't necessarily the one who gets screwed over. They rarely travel, they're going to be stressed regardless of the situation. The biggest thing they'll holler about is baggage fees. It's the layer of semi-regular travelers who get hosed. They've got just enough miles to think of redemptions, not enough miles to warrant any special privileges, and not enough know-how to get around many extra charges.
Compared to other Western countries, it's still stupid easy to rack up 100s of 1000s of miles very easily in the US. I think it's worth playing this game so long as the goal is the top level of status.
The average consumer who isn't too travel savvy, travels once or twice in a year, and doesn't understand the ins and outs of the FFPs isn't necessarily the one who gets screwed over. They rarely travel, they're going to be stressed regardless of the situation. The biggest thing they'll holler about is baggage fees. It's the layer of semi-regular travelers who get hosed. They've got just enough miles to think of redemptions, not enough miles to warrant any special privileges, and not enough know-how to get around many extra charges.