status in all three alliances
May 14, 2005 | 7:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Scottsdale AZ
Posts: 805
status in all three alliances
Last month I pulled off the trifecta- status in all three alliances- one world (AA), skyteam (NW), and star (RG, or Varig). I wonder how many other people are elite in all three alliances? How many are the highest tier (say US Chairman's, AA Ex Plat, and NW Plat)?
I'm actually the lowest level elite on all three- some people might argue that one mid- tier elite (say AA plat which would give me lounge access on intl flights) would be more valuable than three of the lowest level.
My strategy was to book the least expensive or quickest flights (kind of the opposite of what the elite progrms are trying to do- put all business out of one airline). Flying out of New York, there are many options for nonstops and no single airline works best for me. Last year, i just happened to fly a lot- this year the only airline which I expcet to make status with is Varig (unless I take a mileage run on NW). What type of patterns of flying do other people with status in all three alliances have?
I'm actually the lowest level elite on all three- some people might argue that one mid- tier elite (say AA plat which would give me lounge access on intl flights) would be more valuable than three of the lowest level.
My strategy was to book the least expensive or quickest flights (kind of the opposite of what the elite progrms are trying to do- put all business out of one airline). Flying out of New York, there are many options for nonstops and no single airline works best for me. Last year, i just happened to fly a lot- this year the only airline which I expcet to make status with is Varig (unless I take a mileage run on NW). What type of patterns of flying do other people with status in all three alliances have?
May 14, 2005 | 8:28 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus, HH Gold, Hertz PC, National Executive, etc.
Posts: 31,670
I would bet there are quite a few with status in each - top tier in each is a bit more dificult. I was top tier in *A and OW for several years, with lower tier on Sky for a few of those years. Only requiring mid-tier program status to gain top-tier alliance status makes it much easier.
May 14, 2005 | 8:56 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
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Posts: 102,077
I'm soon to be one of those unfortunates with top-tier status in all three alliances. Star Gold, OneWorld Emerald and SkyTeam Elite Plus by month's end.
May 14, 2005 | 9:14 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,859
There are not actually that many around FT that are top all around, I have been posting for years that I am/was top on all alliances and very few others were in the same situation. Actually sadly enough I'm almost at it TIMES TWO!!! Two plats in Skyteam, 1 in OneWorld, and one top in star and one mid tier in Star. Sad or what!?!
May 15, 2005 | 4:58 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
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Posts: 19,258
Hi,
Currently bmi*Gold, BA Silver( OW Sapphire but by the end of August should be OW Emerald thansk to a YUP fare to HNL) and Virgin Atlantic Gold ( ok not skyteam) -also DL lowest status thank to the dash to the gate game.
Regards
TBS
Currently bmi*Gold, BA Silver( OW Sapphire but by the end of August should be OW Emerald thansk to a YUP fare to HNL) and Virgin Atlantic Gold ( ok not skyteam) -also DL lowest status thank to the dash to the gate game.
Regards
TBS
May 15, 2005 | 9:41 am
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: 1 hour from Khao Yai, Thailand. No longer Bangkok, China, Taiwan , Palm Coast, FL, LA, or Chicago though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
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Posts: 5,574
And the reward goes to..
I happen to know an FT'er (Cart_Flagman) who achieved the top elite in all three last year. AA EXP, LH SEN and BD G, CO PLT. It helps that CO had those $157 FC RT's to MCI. I was going to join him and reserved the CO flights, but then sanity reared its ugly head, so only AA EXP, LH SEN and (coming soon) BD G. My NW comp'd Gold expired.
May 15, 2005 | 10:07 am
#10
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,593
Originally Posted by rbAA
I happen to know an FT'er (Cart_Flagman) who achieved the top elite in all three last year. AA EXP, LH SEN and BD G, CO PLT.
May 15, 2005 | 2:13 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Scottsdale AZ
Posts: 805
So I admit....
That my AA status was due to a challenge, got about 9500 q-points in 3 months but was too sick of flying to make a MR to get the plat challenge.
The RG status is calculated by flying over 20,000 miles in 12 consecutive months (not a calendar year) so my JFK-GRU's in 6/04 and 3/05 got me status.
For those of you who have status in all three- what type of jobs do you have? What do you travel for? How many status miles/ total miles do you get in a year?
For me, I'm a poor ophthalmology resident (with med school loans), travel almost exclusively for leisure (usually to Asia or Brazil; job interviews last fall got me the AA challenge), and got status in all three with only about 70,000 status miles/ 100,000+ total miles in 2004!
That my AA status was due to a challenge, got about 9500 q-points in 3 months but was too sick of flying to make a MR to get the plat challenge.
The RG status is calculated by flying over 20,000 miles in 12 consecutive months (not a calendar year) so my JFK-GRU's in 6/04 and 3/05 got me status.
For those of you who have status in all three- what type of jobs do you have? What do you travel for? How many status miles/ total miles do you get in a year?
For me, I'm a poor ophthalmology resident (with med school loans), travel almost exclusively for leisure (usually to Asia or Brazil; job interviews last fall got me the AA challenge), and got status in all three with only about 70,000 status miles/ 100,000+ total miles in 2004!
May 15, 2005 | 2:28 pm
#12
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,445
Originally Posted by d00t
once you have top status in 2, the 3rd is easiest to obtain by being compd! 
Skyteam has almost no flights to NZ. Between top statuses in both OW and *A there is no need for ST top status (for me).
May 15, 2005 | 4:02 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,241
I have status in all three alliances. I am Oneworld Sapphire, Star Silver, and SkyTeam Elite. Woo friggen hoo. Last time I was on Southwest I told the guy next to me how much better I was than him. He was very impressed!
May 15, 2005 | 5:28 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*SE MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Dia RA
Posts: 3,487
Originally Posted by number_6
The LH HON benefit of guaranteed award seat availability is terrific, actually making using those miles viable (they will convert any LH revenue seat in any fare basis into an award for you, up to 4 seats per flight with 14 days notice). .