Best FF program to choose for parents for my advantage later?
 

My parents and inlaws are coming from India to visit. I am wondering which airline FF program to choose for them so that I can use those miles in one way or the other.
3 people would be coming, so basically each would get 16000 miles,which is 48k in all.
They are not going to use those miles anyway, so I was wondering if any program would let me use those? I have NWA and hilton honors. Any thoughts????

What I was thinking was for eg. If they fly American then they can transfer those miles into hilton points at the rate of 5000miles = 10000 points for $25.
So if they have 15000 miles = 30000 points for $25 . So basically 90000 points for $75 which is a very good deal because I could stay in a 40000 points hotel for 2 nights which normally would atleast cost $250 per night.


Is there any other option like I just mentioned?

With your seemingly low status in HH and NW WP, I would say that the American-->Hilton Honors option seems best.

As a 2MM status seeker, I see other peoples miles in a different way. I would hold onto those miles and transfer them into my aadvantage account to increase my "program to date" count.

I have four accounts of other people that are waiting to have their miles transferred into mine. Unfortunately AA limits the transfer to 15k per year, so I have to do it over the course of four years. However, that's 60k that will end up towards my MM status.

Does the AA -> HH transfer require a match on account holder's name? This was a topic in a different thread today - I don't know the answer.

The jist of that thread was similar: someone flying AA internationally once without any projected future AA activity. Long enough flights that the mileage total mattered, however, sort of like your case. The AA->HH route is probably best even if you can't combine 'em all on the HH side.

In your case, the points raised would be enough for 3 Cat 4 nights - but if they have to go to separate accounts you wouldn't be able to bundle 'em into an AXON or GLONP2 (bigger 4- and 6-night awards at Cat 6's at better per-night rates).

What about BA? I haven't kept up with the latest information, but at one time they allowed different family members to combine miles into one account. You could then use those miles for tickets on AA.

Thanks for the replies. I did post this question on another forum and some one said that I could combine and exchange some miles and points with AMEX Starwood. Any Ideas??

I am getting a good deal on Delta where they can get a non stop flight.
Just wondering what are the chances I can explore with the Skyteam?

If you are looking at Delta, they can transfer the miles directly from their account to yours for $.01/mile + $25 fee. If they are flying before the end of Feb you could hurry and tranfer by 28 Feb and get the fee waived.

http://www.delta.com/skymiles/use_mi...iles/index.jsp

Good luck!

Delta --> Continental --> Amtrak ---> Gift Card
 

I haven't done this for a while so you have to check if it still works. Fly Delta, earn miles on Continental, transfer over to Amtrak, use the miles for gift cards. Essentially you will get 1 cent per mile (in a increment of 5000). For me this is the best use of miles for infrequent flyers.

The Starwood AMEX might be of some help, since you can exchange Starwood points for Frequent Flyer miles on many programs at 1 - 1, with a bonus of 5,000 miles when you redeem 20,000 miles (i.e., redeem 20K Starpoints and get 25K FF miles). This works on most of the major international (LH, AF, BA) and US-based legacy airlines, but not on Continental or United (they require 2 Starpoints for 1 FF mile). Click here for the exchange rates.

And, Starwood used to allow people with the same mailing address to transfer Starpoints between their accounts. I think they still do, but can't say for sure.

So, if your parents and in-laws are eligible for a (US-based) Starwood AMEX card, and you have the same address as they do, they could earn Starpoints for paid stays at Starwood properties as well as for expenses such as purchasing airplane tickets that they charge to the AMEX card. If they transferred those Starpoints to you, you could convert the Starpoints into FF miles.

But I know of no way you can transfer Frequent Flyer miles they might earn from flying from the airline program into Starwood, so Starwood won't help convert the miles they earn from flying to visit you into FF miles in your account.

1/1/07-2/15/07
 

I believe this prom is only good till 2/15/07, instead of 2/28/07.

"Between January 1 and February 15, 2007, we're waiving the $25 processing fee and giving a 20% mileage bonus to your transfer miles recipient. For example, transfer 10,000 miles and they'll receive an extra 2,000 miles for a total of 12,000 miles."

Not to be rude, as you confessed that you had cross-posted on different forums for the same line of question. FWIW, cross-posting is a big no no for any FTer.:td:

Other than this thread, you had posted on AA froum:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=657920 (AA forum)
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=657919 (Hilton HHonors)