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Nov 19, 2006 | 9:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Brand New...
I'm new to this forum and had a question about which would be the best airline to choose for frequent flyer miles. I'm starting a job soon and will be traveling alot and I have no idea anything about flying, only flown about 4 times my whole life. Thanks.
Nov 19, 2006 | 10:07 am
#2
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1. Where do you live?
2. Do you know where you will be travelling for work? Domestic or international? About how many trips per year?
3. Where might you want to go with the free trips that you earn?
2. Do you know where you will be travelling for work? Domestic or international? About how many trips per year?
3. Where might you want to go with the free trips that you earn?
Nov 19, 2006 | 10:34 am
#3
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Something else to try to answer if possible. Do you know if your employer has a contract with a specific airline? Larger companies often do, and you may be economically forced to use a certain carrier or alliance.
Nov 19, 2006 | 3:47 pm
#4
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Originally Posted by Moderator2
Something else to try to answer if possible. Do you know if your employer has a contract with a specific airline? Larger companies often do, and you may be economically forced to use a certain carrier or alliance.
Tom in Stockholm, Sweden tonight
Nov 19, 2006 | 3:57 pm
#5
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i personally would suggest earning miles on American Airlines (AA AAdvantage) for travel on oneworld airlines, and All Nippon Airways (NH Mileage Club) for travel on star alliance airlines.
http://www.oneworld.com/
http://www.staralliance.com/
http://www.skyteam.com/
for each alliance pick 1 airline to credit the miles to.
http://www.oneworld.com/
http://www.staralliance.com/
http://www.skyteam.com/
for each alliance pick 1 airline to credit the miles to.
Nov 19, 2006 | 5:24 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CLT
Posts: 7,249
Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
for each alliance pick 1 airline to credit the miles to.
I think the more important decision is which hotel chain to use. Airlines are still very regional, but hotels are ubiquitous so pick one program (Hilton, Marriot, Starwood) and stick with it.
Always sign up for a program because you never know how much you'll be staying with that chain in the future, but don't duplicate your programs (not really possible with hotels, but quite easy with airlines).
Nothing is worse than having orphan points.
Nov 19, 2006 | 7:13 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 108
home airport
Originally Posted by gj83
That's the strategy I follow also. For Star Alliance I use United because being a United member I get the full domestic Star Alliance experience, but with US Air there are many aspects of United that US Air members can't use (economy plus seats).
I think the more important decision is which hotel chain to use. Airlines are still very regional, but hotels are ubiquitous so pick one program (Hilton, Marriot, Starwood) and stick with it.
Always sign up for a program because you never know how much you'll be staying with that chain in the future, but don't duplicate your programs (not really possible with hotels, but quite easy with airlines).
Nothing is worse than having orphan points.
I think the more important decision is which hotel chain to use. Airlines are still very regional, but hotels are ubiquitous so pick one program (Hilton, Marriot, Starwood) and stick with it.
Always sign up for a program because you never know how much you'll be staying with that chain in the future, but don't duplicate your programs (not really possible with hotels, but quite easy with airlines).
Nothing is worse than having orphan points.
Nov 19, 2006 | 7:17 pm
#8
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personally, even if it was very inconvenient to avoid skyteam, i would do it.
i even have lounge access through amex, but i just dont see any value in the miles or status. (thanks to FT)
id recommend starwood for hotels as their points are the most valuable.
unless youre traveling to places where there are no starwood, then you have to go with another chain, either by itself, or in addition to starwood.
i even have lounge access through amex, but i just dont see any value in the miles or status. (thanks to FT)
id recommend starwood for hotels as their points are the most valuable.
unless youre traveling to places where there are no starwood, then you have to go with another chain, either by itself, or in addition to starwood.
Nov 19, 2006 | 7:57 pm
#9
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Originally Posted by gj83
Always sign up for a program because you never know how much you'll be staying with that chain in the future, but don't duplicate your programs (not really possible with hotels, but quite easy with airlines).
Nov 19, 2006 | 8:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
http://www.oneworld.com/
http://www.staralliance.com/
http://www.skyteam.com/
for each alliance pick 1 airline to credit the miles to.
http://www.staralliance.com/
http://www.skyteam.com/
for each alliance pick 1 airline to credit the miles to.
The so-called "low cost carriers" are generally frequent flyer program isolates, though you might as well join the programs if you fly them, just in case your travel on them is enough to get an award.
Nov 19, 2006 | 8:42 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
Wow, thanks for all the reponses! I'm from DC and I would imagine that I'll be traveling domestically primarily. Because I'll be using Dulles Airport, I thought about JetBlue might be the best choice. I'm not quite sure exactly how much I'll be traveling, depending on what my work decides to do with me, but it would be great if I can use my frequent mileage for intercontinential travels, which means JetBlue might be a bad idea. Does anybody know if Southwest and AA fly to other countries? (Asia and Europe)
Nov 19, 2006 | 8:49 pm
#12
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Originally Posted by MasonGraduate
Wow, thanks for all the reponses! I'm from DC and I would imagine that I'll be traveling domestically primarily. Because I'll be using Dulles Airport, I thought about JetBlue might be the best choice. I'm not quite sure exactly how much I'll be traveling, depending on what my work decides to do with me, but it would be great if I can use my frequent mileage for intercontinential travels, which means JetBlue might be a bad idea. Does anybody know if Southwest and AA fly to other countries? (Asia and Europe)
fuzz
Nov 19, 2006 | 8:49 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CLT
Posts: 7,249
Why the desire for low cost carriers? I avoid Southwest like the plague. I have flown southwest once in my life and that is enough for me. JetBlue is nice because they have live TV and are non-union.
If you're by Dulles it's going to be hard to avoid United.
American Airlines is a full fledged legacy and will get you pretty much everywhere you need to go or the other oneworld parters can.
If you're by Dulles it's going to be hard to avoid United.
American Airlines is a full fledged legacy and will get you pretty much everywhere you need to go or the other oneworld parters can.
Nov 19, 2006 | 8:59 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 1,882
for most purposes out of washington, it's american, united or usairways.
other carriers only enter as a choice if your business flights often take you to Atlanta or Cincinnati (Delta), Newark or Houston (continental), minneapolis and detroit (Northwest) or international destinations.
The quick expiration of Southwest points and the lack of international flights, makes them a poor choice unless you travel a lot in a year and want a domestic flight. Jet Blue has relatively limited service out of Washington and i dont believe it has much on an international connection.
other carriers only enter as a choice if your business flights often take you to Atlanta or Cincinnati (Delta), Newark or Houston (continental), minneapolis and detroit (Northwest) or international destinations.
The quick expiration of Southwest points and the lack of international flights, makes them a poor choice unless you travel a lot in a year and want a domestic flight. Jet Blue has relatively limited service out of Washington and i dont believe it has much on an international connection.
Last edited by MrAOK; Nov 19, 2006 at 9:04 pm
Nov 20, 2006 | 2:12 am
#15
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Originally Posted by MasonGraduate
Does anybody know if Southwest and AA fly to other countries? (Asia and Europe)
Tom in the Finnair Lounge at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport