BDA Flier: CO, NW or DL?
 

I am trying to educate a friend on the ways of miles etc. He is based in Bermuda (BDA), which has service to ATL and BOS on DL, and EWR on CO, BUT NO service on NW.

He mainly flies AA and AC, so will not be flying DL/CO/NW enough for Elite status (but regardless several times per year he will have to fly CO and/or DL).

What would be the best program to join of these 3-DL, CO, NW? He always flys on discount fares, and would be redemming for leisure trips to the US and Canada. I guess the main issues would be mileage earning (basically flight miles only) AND economy award availability for flights on DL & CO from BDA. What Program would give his best chance of getting the awards he wants?

I am committed to NW, but have never tried to redeem on DL & CO International flights. I know NW members seem to be in general happier with their program than DL & CO members, but this is a weird situation, and elite aspects don't really apply!

Any insights or suggestions wold be appreciated. (Incidentally I discarded AS from consideration because of the certainty that he will be flying DL regularly).

If elite doesn't matter, then there is no big deal about the discount fares.

I would go with the airline with the most useful hub to BDA -- DL.

ATL is the closest. I presume it also has fewer weather delays than BOS or EWR? A few years back it had more ATC delays, though, didn't it?

I've flown through ATL twice this month, and previously some time in the 1970s or '80s. (!)

If he wants miles and a chance for elite and traveling on discount fares, he will not want to go on Delta. Discount fares will only earn 50% toward Elite on Delta.

He could also wait for US to join Star Alliance and then collect miles on AC's Aeroplan.

US has alot more service to BDA than DL does.

And don't forget, it is an international trip so there is no reason why he couldn't book BDA to (I assume) MEM via YYZ on AC...wait, does AC fly YYZ-MEM?

It was specifically stated that Elite is not an issue.

He mainly flies AA and AC,

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If he mainly flies AA why not stick with AA who offer 2X daily service BDA-JFK and seasonal summer service to BOS?

Thanks for the feedback so far.

On certain trips, flying CO or DL is unavoidable e.g. group trips organized by someone else, tickets bought by employer etc. Thus service options on US and AA aren't relevant, and he needs a program to gain credit for these periodic CO & DL flights.

DL also seems to be the most logistically viable option for BDA-MEM. The CO connections in EWR dont seem to work for this city pair, resulting in a EWR overnight.

Anyone have any experience redeeming CO awards on DL metal, NW rewards on CO metal, etc.? I am curious if theres a difference between the programs from that standpoint.

Are you aware of the folowing:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum21/HTML/012082.html

Could be that DL is joining Alaska's Mileage Plan...

And if that comes to pass, then that becomes a very attractive program for a Kindley Field, err...Bermuda International Airport regular given the links to AA (BDA-JFK, BDA-BOS?), CO (BDA-EWR), and BA (BDA-LGW).

[This message has been edited by HeHateY (edited Nov 27, 2003).]