simple question on getting miles on other airlines
 

If I want to get FF miles for an airline, but am flying on a partner airline; do I need a FF account and number for the partner, or can I just give the partner my usual number. For example, TWA is a partner of Alaska, and I have an Alaska FF account. I doubt I will fly TWA in the future, so I don't need miles with them. thanks

Hi Bound,

Usually, you only need to provide the airline (in your case TWA) with your preferred partner airline ff number (in this case Alaska) to get credit where you want for the flight.

I have found you have to do this at check-in, not after the flight is finished.

William

When flying a partner, I always give them my preferred airline number when I make the reservation and then confirm at check-in that it is actually in the record.

Whenever possible when looking at AS partners, I try to fly NWA or AA because their miles (plus their 1st class bonus miles) count toward AS status whereas those of TWA or CO do not.

I also always maintain my ticket stub and record containing the actual ticket number the mileage has actually posted.

If you have elite status on the airline you are flying with, but want to credit the flight to another FF program, it might be useful to book the flight giving your elite number on the actual carrier. You will receive higher waitlist priority etc. You can always change the program your miles will be credited to before boarding the plane, i. e. at check-in, at the lounge or at the gate (latest option). I usually make sure at the gate that the flight is actually credited to the program I want and that (if possible) the boarding pass indicates that (e. g. a printed on LH *G if flying United and crediting miles to my LH account).

There are exceptions to the general rule that you need only be a member of the program in which you want credit. For example, to get AA credit on USAirways east-coast US shuttle flights you must also be a member of the US program. (You get US miles for the flight too, which you may or may not care about.) I'm not aware of other exceptions, but if one exists, others may. Therefore, be sure to get accurate information for your specific situation.