best program for SEA originators
 

I'm just now beginning to travel enough that it makes sense for me to pay attention. I've already screwed myself this year as I have enough miles between UA and AA to get to 50k, but instead am just over 25k on both.

So... My question for the audience is this: I mostly travel internationally to Europe and Asia in business class, with maybe one Latin America trip next year; 5 or 6 intl trips. Then maybe 4 domestic trips a year. I will originate our of Seattle. Anyone in the Seattle area who has a preference on what carrier is going to get me the most miles and elite status with the least hassle?

thanks!

-Allen

My choice for you would be that you sign up for UA Mileage Plus. From SEA you could easily go down to LAX or SFO to fly to Asia with United. When you are going to Europe you could fly direct from SEA to CPH on SK and earn qualifying miles on your UA MP card.

Why do you have to go to LAX to travel Asia from SEA? I thought UA ran their best equipment (Int'l 3-class 777 with suites) out of SEA?

Both UA and AA fly direct from Seattle to Tokyo so that is nice. BA has a direct Seattle to London but I can't get AA credit for it since they also fly trans-Atlantic. Neither carrier has a direct Seattle to London so I have to connect on the way through Chicago or SFO/LAX.

The thing that seems nice about AA is that you get to count the 25% mileage uplift for flying business class toward elite status, which UA doesn't give.

-Allen

I think UA will be your better bet. More flights to Europe and Asia will give you more flexibility. From your note it seems that miles are important. (Least hassle is another issue.) If you are able to spare a few hours in the quest for miles on the European flights fly SEA to LAX then to LHR, etc.. This amounts to almost 2000 miles more/RT. You can also fly to SFO, but it's fewer miles and you need to deal with the shuttle and its poor on time performance.

I try to do this on all my European flights. The only time I question my sanity is when I'm returning in coach and we fly South, past Seattle and I realize I'm 4+ hours from getting home.

Assuming that this is business travel you're talking about, have you checked with your company's travel office to see if you have a preferred carrier that might grant a discount or complimentary elite status?

I'm also out of SEA and have chosen UA for a few reasons:

1. Company preferred carrier with a big discount.
2. Most nonstops to the destinations I travel to most often (SFO, IAD).
3. Best worldwide route network of any US airline with easy and frequent connections to pretty much anywhere I'd like to go. Star Alliance covers everywhere else.

As kempis pointed out, the SK nonstop to CPH is nice because it provides just about the easiest and fastest connections to most anywhere in Europe from Seattle.

Yeah, but the Admirals club in SEA is soooo much better than the UA club in the basement. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I think the routing is a push, customer service is to AA and the web site to UAL.

I'm a very happy AA plat.

DR

Join AA but fly AS, getting AA miles.

NW will get you to NRT (daily) or KIX (3x weekly). NW also has a AMS non-stop (daily). Latin America can be covered via CO. West Coast travel via AS. NW has an excellent FF program (both AS and CO are partners), especially for us who buy WBC tickets.

Just my biased opinion....



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"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."

--Vice President Al Gore

I haven't seen the AA Admiral's Club, but while the UA Red Carpet Club is in the basement:
1) They just renovated it. There still aren't enough phones with power jacks nearby but at least it looks nicer.
2) You always walk by it. It may not be right next to the gate, but it's no more than a 3 minute walk to the gate and it's always on the way from the main terminal to your gate.

Forgot to add: The NW WorldClub at SeaTac has recently been remodeled. The Club is very nice and very close to the gates. Flight #7 (SEA-NRT) goes out of the gate adjacent to the WorldClub.


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"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."

--Vice President Al Gore

You are getting some good advice here AllenN.

UA for most routes. AS for west coast might also suit?

But remember AS have only a fairly limited route network.

And please add your positive comments to: http://www.saveskymiles.com