They give you pyjamas in BA first...

I know for service there is no doubt it would be BA (visitors seat, great for dining or meetings etc; choice of 45 video cassettes, bring your own if you want; fantastic food; seat reclines to 6ft 6in flat bed size; pre-flight dining if you prefer it).

I'm sorry but CO BusinessFirst is nowhere near that level of service - sorry but it's more like BA Club.

Anyway, I was thinking more about the mileage opportunities than the service.

That is my dilema, great service on BA, but better mileage earning opportunities on CO/UA.
MF

You said what I was thinking (about CO), MF.

The question is - do you want or need the miles? If you already have zillions, that's unlikely. Who are you going to take your free trips with anyway? (would you rather fly BA then?)

(US) BA golds get 100% bonus miles, & you'd get the 50% first class bonus too. Or do they deny the bonuses to UK-based premier card holders?? (I suppose if you've paid APEX-rate economy & travelled in first...)

If I were flying to the West Coast I'd go with BA's comfort & service. The shorter trip to the East Coast might be okay on one of the other airlines: it's no great hardship to sit in a Club-style seat for six hours, as long as you don't get a 'red-eye' type flight.

What would Prince Charles do?

Sorry folks, I'd go for the comfort, also.

Baobab: I have a confession. I am a mile horder. I have never claied an award!

But I still get a real buzz from getting some bonus miles from the system.

I suppose one-day I will use the miles and points I have, but at the moment, if I have free-time (like this week) I just spend it at home.

If I get free tickets or travel (as opposed to points etc) I tend to use them. So far this year AMEX Travel have given me two Business Class returns LHR-JFK and Virgin gave me a weeks holiday in their hotel in Ravello, Italy, which I have used (the hotel was fantastic by the way, one of the best I have ever stayed in, it is called Palazzo Sasso, check it out on the Virgin web site, I really recommend it).

The BA Exec Club in the UK is different to the US. You get triple miles for First (double for Club), but nothing else.

Premier's get the same terms as Gold Exec Club.

I don't think I have ever bought a cheap ticket on the basis that I know I will get upgraded, although for flights of less than 6 hours I tend to go Club instead of First, in Europe it is two class anyway. But BA normally upgrade if it is US East Coast.

I've never tried United First Class on Transatlatic - does anyone know what that is like? - I quite fancy that and suppose I should give it a go now they have given me PremierExec.

Since you asked about Charles, he would obviously use a UK carrier or a Commonwealth carrier if he was visting the colonies. I wouldn't think he would use the airline of an ex-colony (you know who you are!).

As you can probably tell, I am leaning towards giving United a try. I might wait to see what Rudi has to say on the subject before I book though.

I really would be interested to know what people think of United First long-haul (I know the domestic is very dissapointing).
MF

Jaws43... if you are heading to Asia, United
is the way to go if you can't get reservations on Sinapore, Cathay, Japan, etc
airlines. It is very good in first with
personal service, someone always ready to
offer you something, friendly responsive
(No pajamas but wear comfortable clothes.)

UA to Hawaii is also very good. I was very
satisfied wtih my trip to Maui in First
(drinks, meals served fast... except for the
missing mahi mahi... but I got the captain's
steak.) Their staff though can be hit or
miss, it was mixed going, very nice returning.

While they flew us on a 757 (thought it would have been a bigger first class station) I
ended up being satisfied.

There are better airliens for first class.
AA has been mostly miss, Northwest (one flight in first) left me with a headache.
Never was in Delta first. Must try CO
(thinking of a trip to Vegas soon... need
a wild weekend break!)

As for you Merry Flyer... if you need the miles, go UA and enjoy your PremEx status
(I have news on that & me in the UA site!)
Otherwise if you are very happy with BA and
teh soft blue carpet and attention, stick
with what you know. CATMAN

MF - it comes down to a choice between continuing status & service...

Ask yourself whether you want to be able to flash a wallet full of elite cards, impress everyone & be treated as an esteemed mortal wherever you might go ... or whether you want to belong to an almost masonic order of ffs, be treated like a god and have blue carpet beneath your toes wherever you go.

Flip a coin.

I want a new job where I don't have to fly anywhere!

I spend far too much time thinking about who I will fly with and what deal I will use to get the most miles.

The whole point of the ff programs is to make flying easier - it is just making life more complicated for me.
MF

I'm sorry to hear that the frequent FLyer
program world is getting complicated for you,
Merry FLyer. I hope if you get a job that
cuts down your need to fly that you won't
abandon us at FlyerTalk. I like your insight
and humour.

Thinking about your dilemna between UA and BA
I looked back at why UA is my primary carrier.. I've had the least problems with
them. It seems you are very happy with BA
so you should make them your PRIMARY carrier
and take the others only as an alternate
(or if you get enough miles on BA for elite
status.) IT can get too complicated trying
to be a member of 5 airline and 8 hotel and
five rent a car companies (I joined most only
as a back to use one if I can't get my primary.)

Does what I said make sense? Let me know
guys (esp. Merry FLyer.) CATMAN

Merry - I sympathise.

I know that you get a kick out of watching those miles rack up, but truly, when one is travelling as much as you do, whether you have a million or a billion miles becomes irrelevant - the last way you want to spend your leisure time is in the air, and you probably already have more miles than you will ever need.

As you are obliged to travel, you should decide which airline makes the flying experience most pleasant/least draining, and stick with them whenever possible. Rudi might disagree with this advice, but I have a feeling that he has more power over his schedule than you have over yours - I haven't noticed you planning any round the world trips 'for fun'.

Whether you live closer to Heathrow or Gatwick, & which airlines can bring you closest to home may also affect your decision-making: I preferred the relative peace at Gatwick, but Heathrow was definitely more convenient for me... the extra half-hours and stress of crowds definitely adds up.

Choose an airline where the gate agents, support staff and stewards will make the extra effort for you.
(This may well mean Virgin...)

What this all comes down to is pretty much what Catman says: close your eyes, imagine that ff miles simply don't exist, and decide who YOU want to fly with.

Baobab

For those who have more miles than they know what to do with. I have given rewards to non-profit or charitable organizations (mostly environmental and for last minute travel that would have been prohibitively expensive for them) to travel to meet with key funders, decision-makers etc. Please consider what groups operate in your area and ask if they could a few free certificates a year. I think they would appreciate it. Most elite flyers can transfer their rewards to whoever they want. Don't expect a tax receipt--rewards are not supposed to be worth anything or we would be paying tax on them. If you are paying tax on rewards where you live then ask for a tax receipt.

Remember also that there are children's charities and other groups who can use miles
to get people in need of critical medical
care and their families to medical facilities.

I assume they have the same gift programs for the overseas airlines. And if you can
put a smile on a child's face, that's worth
all the frequent flyer point sin the world!
CATMAN

Merry Flyer - Continental Gold gives you 125% bonus miles plus threshhold miles (as though you need more miles ..

Merry Flyer: I agree with your wish list. And if you can teach the 'phone companies how to recognize your status, you're an automatic millionaire.

Rudi: Even without knowing the agents, dealing with the ones that work away from the aitport, face to face, can be a good deal. I've had several situations where I'm at a meeting, Delta has a temporary desk setup, and I go chat up the people manning the desk for a minute or two. Even though I can't confirm an upgrade until the next morning, they say, "don't sweat (is sweat an acceptable word?) it. we'll take care of it for you." You'll never get that on the telephone of the 'Net.