Get Max Miles: Always Choose FF Program Based on Home/Hub?
 

I'll be doing a lot of IAH flying and would like to concentrate mile accumulation with one airline... most flights are for business; but I would like to ultimately use miles for pleasure. Is it the general consensus of the FT gurus that focusing on paticular airline for specific cities - like, CO for IAH or DL for ATL always makes the most sense when considering a loyalty program? What factors besides flying in and out of an airline's home base should be considered when choosing a FF program? Thanks in advance.

If you're looking for elite upgrade availability, sometimes joining a program from a carrier that isn't a hub may help, especially if you'd only be in the lowest-level elite tier. You're competing with fewer elites for a limited number of upgrades.

However "where do you fly on paid tickets" plus "where do you want to fly on free tickets" are probably the most important factors, if your goal is maximizing miles for future rewards. The other thing is award availability. It may be anecdotal, but it seems easier to find saver (25,000 mile domestic, 50,000 Europe etc) tickets in UA, NW, and AA's programs than it does in CO "NonePass" or DL. I don't have any experience with US's program.

Just make sure you don't spread miles across multiple programs in one alliance. You probably know that already, but just join one program out of NW, DL, or CO and use it for all three; join one out of US or UA and use it for both.

The rule is, as just posted, focus.

It's usually easier to focus when you use the carrier whose hub is at your home airport. However, it's not a rule, it's just a fact, and it's a generalization that doesn't apply to everyone. If it doesn't apply to your travel patterns - if you can focus on a "better" airline for your purposes without totally screwing up your travel - don't fly the airline whose hub you're at. It's your money, your choice.

That's true... but despite the decreased amount of elites, you're competing for far fewer seats.

If I were based in IAH, I personally would just choose CO. That leaves me the option of flying NW/DL (albeit, DL doesn't offer upgrades to CO elites, and flying NW might mean 50% EQMs to my CO bank), but it also gives me the non-stop options. If I went with NW/DL, I'd have to fly through MSP/MEM/DTW/ATL/CVG/SLC just to get to my destination.

Of course, if you're fine with connecting and earning more EQMs on top of it, another carrier might be a sound choice. But, consider your time and flexibility vs. your need to get somewhere in one segment.

If in the end, you may just end up flying CO just for the non-stops sake, you might as well go with CO.

Out of IAH, you also have a pretty decent option with AA. There are 7 (I think) nonstops daily to DFW and from there you can connect to just about anywhere. If you're willing to almost always add that extra segment on, then you can benefit from the hub-access without the hub fares (necessarily). Plus, you'll add an extra 1000 miles to every flight (500 min EQM/EQP each way) and 2 segments, which could certainly add to your status.

If your earning is related to work you'll probably have to go with the hub carrier, especially if you're under directives or being scrutinized (e.g. an employee for a company). Airfares will usually be the same across the board, and if you take a connecting flight out of FF loyalty you could see a slightly higher fare (from more taxes) and be criticized for not spending time efficiently (even if it's not counted as work time, but especially if it is). I didn't know anyone at work who was earning work-related miles primarily in any airline other than DL (from ATL), even though that may have had accounts with other carriers.

If your earning is from leisure or more discretionary than it can get more interesting. Sometimes other carriers will do spot specials out of competitors' hubs just to get at the hub carrier over something, and if you can combine that with FF benefits it can work out well. My main earning is on NW, for example, and they have done some deals to jab at DL that I've been able to take advantage of (despite both airlines being in Skyteam). NW also has the better upgrade policy.