best program for a student?
 

not sure if this is the place to post this... apologies if i'm overstepping something here.

i'm looking for some advice on which airline's frequent flyer program would make the most sense to join.

i'm a student with a year or two left at university.
i travel internationally on average once a year; my family is in japan.
i'm frugal and poor.
i don't really fly domestically much since the megabus expanded. maybe 500-600 miles a year?

i'm looking at united because they have a student program wherein students are awarded 10,000 miles upon graduation, and they partner with ANA (all nippon airways). i've really no idea what i'm doing here, though. experts??

You mention the megabus. Are you in Chicago? If so, I would recommend United and their College program. You get 10000 miles, IIRC, for graduating.

my advice is to go with the low bidder for 1 intl flight the 1st year....if they have a ff program, sign up....

the next year evaluate again based on cost and the ff program you're in if you are still in school....

you don't say what the route is that you will fly....that might make a difference, nor do you say what country you plan to be in after school....

at this point, i believe that it isn't worth much effort on you're part....

good luck....

And welcome to FT, powerconverters!

Welcome to Flyertalk!

As a student, buy the cheapest tickets and sign up for one program in each alliance to credit your miles too. Also, sign up for credit cards with no annual fee, and spend enough just to earn the bonus miles before you sign up for another one.

This is precisely what I have done-I graduated from college in May. Got the NW WP Visa, went to Chile for free to visit my gf this summer (now I dont use NW for miles/never used the credit card). Used some existing miles I had been saving up on United to go to Europe with UA/Star Alliance for free. Now I have about 60k with United, and by the end of the year Ill have about 110k on Delta and will prolly be Silver (Im working in France right now, so Ive been trying to take advantage of as many cheap trips back to the US as possible). As a student and still now, I have always bought the cheapest fare regardless of the airline. Usually this contributes to my UA or DL balances, but I would rather take twice as long to get a free ticket on two airlines than pay more and get one free ticket quicker on one airline.

Gathering miles or hotel points using credit cards is ideal.....IF... you have the discipline to only use it for necessary purchases and are able to pay the balance monthly. As a college student, being able to handle your purchasing using a credit card is something you have to commit to. The path to financial ruin for a lot of people was paved by Citibank, etc. You will find many people on this board (I'm one) who get hundreds of thousands of points (hotel and air), but if I pay any monthly charges, I am wasting the effort.

Good luck!

Opening a whole bunch of credit cards and never using them or using them a couple times, and closing out your accounts is a good way to send your credit in to a nose dive. I read that they can figure out what you're doing, and you're not as likely to be approved the next time.

thanks for the advice and welcomes, all.

fs2k2isfun: "Are you in Chicago? If so, I would recommend United and their College program."
yes, i live in chicago. is there some sort of chicago-specificity in united's college student program?

i s'pose it doesn't matter; i'll be taking the dominant advice here and signing up with the lowest bidder each time i fly for the next several.

thanks again.