I am asking your input in helping me choose my Skyteam FFP. I have always been top-tier on AA and just recently crossed the plat for life status on AA, because of this I am shifting most of my business to Skyteam as i find no difference from AA EXP to AA Plat. Currently im Gold on both DL and NW by default mostly. NW because of frequent J trips to AMS from BOS and DL bcs of VS trips mostly.

I log at least 150kBIS/yr and my main destinations are Europe(LON/AMS/BCN/CDG/WAW/LUG/MIL)/Asia(Japan/China mostly) and OZ/NZ. My home bases are BOS/MXP/LAX and i mostly fly paid J/F associated with work and leisure.

What is most important to me in a FFP is:

1)Free Lounge access irrespective of class of travel

2)Mileage bonus

3)FF ease of use and destination menu, and or Intl Upgrades

Do not care in a FFP:

1)Domestic upgrades

2)How good coach is, and coach related services... (E+ for example)


I was pretty loyal to NW (as far as Skyteam goes) but just recently redemeed all my miles (except 20k left over) for from flights in J to Africa from USA on AF over Xmas and J class KQ connection intra-africa for the mrs and I.

I have ZERO experience on CO except a couple of flights 5 yrs or so ago EWR-MXP... dont even have 1pass account...yet.

Delta have some domestic experience (mainly DL shuttle, take it couple times a month), some transcon and some TATL. Also flew them to GRU once but again, it was bcs for some reaosn i couldnt get AA.

My mileage balances of the three are:

CO 0
NW 20,134
DL 104,887

Note, Mrs. psyflyer is also GM on Delta and has about 200,000+ miles in her account (and she doesnt even know it...) So I thought recently that I should abandon NW, having used all of my miles (over 400k...) and stick with Delta, build our balances and try to get to Millionmiler status and move on to a different program. Yet, NW always treated me right and like indeed their WBC product and their Asia network, while on CO im really info-less. Regardless, I am going to have to use AA everynow and then being that to OZ i use QF and only NZ/TN/FJ and UA go there (oh, forget hawaiian...) so im stuck with QF F which is the best of that bunch imo. Appreciate your input.

If you fly business class often, I'd say go with CO. it has a better product, but
overall I like NW/KL better for international when flying coach.

i'm not too fond of delta.

What about Flying Blue from Air France and KLM? I think FB is simply THE best for you.

You need 70k/year to become and remain platinum. As a platinum member you receive 100% mileage bonus.
Ten years platinum, lifetime platinum.
Air France is one of the largest carriers in the world and has lots of partners besides ST like JAL.
As a business flyer it will be quite easy for you to get platinum. (*1.5 actual miles)

If you fly 10k on business :
status miles 15k
destination miles 15k+10k = 25k


And it seems you fly often OZ, a member of Star Alliance. Why not claim *A platinum at the same time? It must be very easy for people like you. With FB you only need 70k/year, and it takes ten years anyway. So why not?

BMI, also a member of *A, has one of the greatest FFP in the world called Diamond Club.
First, you need 16k to get silver and then ADDITIONAL 38k is required to get gold which is the highest at BMI.
You need 38k/year to remain gold then.
Ten CONSECUTIVE years gold, lifetime gold.
Gold members get 25% bonus miles which isn't that great but BMI is VERY generous to business and first flyers : *2 and *3 each.

If you fly 10k on business :
status miles 20k
destination miles 20k+2.5k = 22.5k

Be aware AF FB is talking about a calendar year while BMI DC is somewhat complicated. - To your favor.

The timer starts once you enroll. Say 1st November 2006.
You accumulate 16k by 1st February 2007. And your timer and status miles are resest.
You accumulate ADDITIONAL 38k by 1st August. Then you become gold and everything is reset. 1st August is now your date of importance. 38k until 31st July each year.
Don't worry, your destination miles never reset or even expire.

You are already lifetime elite at OneWorld. If you manage your flight plans with some care, In ten years you are lifetime elite at all three Alliances. Congratulations.



The other alternatives are Korean carriers KE and OZ, if your primary interest lies in becoming lifetime platinum ASAP : Million Milers get lifetime platinum.
They both suck regarding bonuses, but they have some finest lounges and services.

And with OZ miles you can do some crazy AROUND trips.

For further details on OZ, read my post here :
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=616077

cya

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i think the main drawbacks of AF blue plat is
1)no 150% EQM for Y/B
2)25% on V/N on KL/NW (and i have used a V fare everynow and then to AMS on NW)
.........................

i think ill stick with DL... but dont know why....