Yes, dgordon, I am aware that AA gives lifetime gold/plat for 1mm/2mm.

My point was merely the 'nature' of FF programs - ie. it would be more consistent with the programs if at least some of the miles were 'airmiles'.

The main perks of FF status really do not mean anything to those who do not fly, so why have them?

I was not trying to be 'cute' but rather 'realistic'. Sorry if I offended you.

Yes, I am new to posting on the board, but I am not new to flying frequently - does being a new poster mean that my opinion (for what it's worth) mean less than someone who posts a lot?

yyz-den:

I agree with you. Which is ehy I'm relieved that UA does NOT participate in the Amex Plstinum program (which costs $300 o join but alllows members to buy 2 for 1 Business/First Class tickets on a bunch of airlines).

Its hard enough to compete for premium seat inventory against fellow FFers, but those airlines that allow Amex Platinum members, further exacerbate scarce inventory and thse folks have NO alllegiance to the airline..

yyz-den I was not offended nor bothered by your opinion. I just didn't understand it. When you said - am I missing something I thought you might really have not known that you could get status this way. In reading your post, you sounded incredulous (now I realize sarcastic) that there would be such a possibility - so it has nothing to do with you opinion, just how I read your post. For me the value of achieving lifetime gold (and hopefully platinum), is that when I finally use my FF miles for awards ( my AA miles are my 401K for travel), I will still have status on those flights - because if I fly a lot on awards tickets I won't be earning enough to achieve status. While I have platinum and before I achieve lifetime platinum I prefer to pay for a ticket - as long as the price is reasonable. I am using an award ticket to Puerta Vallarta at the end of Sept because the fares remained over $500, which, for the amount of miles I would get was worth the 30,000 miles.

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DtG

Anyone have an opinion as to the best credit card FF program? I have a Webmiles MC - 25,000 for a domestic ticket on any airline with no blackout dates - and I think the annual fee is $40. I thought this was a pretty good deal until I stumbled on this site. But I don't get points towards any carrier's elite club membership. I average $10,000/month in CC charges, and I live in Dallas, so having a a CC that gets AA credit wouldn't be a bad thing. Any help?

i just got a http://www.milesone.com/ CapitalOne card. 3.9% intro, 9.9% fixed, up to 5000 miles for transferring balances, and only $19/year annual fee. you can also travel within a zone for 18,000.

i added my wife to the card so both of us can accumulate miles in one account instead of two. just a thought ...

I got that offer in the mail but did not like it because you cannot combine the miles with an airline program. In fact they should not even call them miles because they are really just points earned on a credit card that awards its holders its own rewards - they never become a part of an airline program. If you do not ever purchase airline tickets tbis card may be of some benefit, but I would prefer to get miles accumulated with an airline program and have the flexibility of using them as such or adding them to my existing airline mileage programs. This also would not solve the original question of achieving elite status with a credit card.

If you are wedded to AMEX, then some of the suggestions above do not work.

Question is: If you do not fly much, it is no big thing not to get a free "lowlevel" elite status with an airline.

If you still are determined, then you might call (write) AMEX. They comp corporate clients top management team in airline programs often to status level regardless of air travel frequency. Perhaps they might do the same thing for you?

I am not sure I understand this paragraph ?



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keep those miles (km) coming ... paul

I think everyone has missed one major point here. QF Millions lives in Sydney and cannot get the huge number of different cards available in the US.

I think the only way to get the miles into the AA program is to transfer tham to Starwood and then into AA. I know the conversion rate is terrible, but it is the only way I can think of.