Which oneworld programme for an infrequent flyer?
 

I am looking for advice as to which oneworld programme I should concentrate on. I used to credit my BA and AA flights to SN Privilege, but this possibility is gone.

I currently have a BA account with 12700 miles and a QF account with 19600 miles (plus I think an AA account from 8 years ago with 0 miles).

I mostly fly *A, and need to concentrate most of my flights there to kepp my LH SEN status. However, from time to time I fly oneworld; mostly within Europe (50% business, 50% discounted economy), but sometimes also on other shorthaul flights. Very rarely longhaul (only once so far, and not sure when again). I had a BA Club Europe flight recently and was shocked I only received 750 miles for this on BAEC. I don't fly enough oneworld to get any kind of status, so I am looking for:

• miles do not expire (at least as long as there is some activity)
• Expiry due to no activity should not be too short - there might be a year from time to time when I don't credit at all. Ideally at least two years.
• decent minimum miles earning - I would credit mainly short European flights
• good business class cabin bonus (ideally 200% miles on business class)
• possibility to do cash and miles redemptions

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

You forgot to mention bacon on the wing....

Am I asking for too much? Had someone asked the same question in the *A forum, I would have suggested BD or LH in combination with a LH CC. Both would have fit the bill well.

So nothing similar in OW?

Unfortunately, there aren't programs amongst OW carriers that meets your criteria in my opinion. Many suggest that AA program is best amongst OW FF programs but the main problem with OW is that all of the European carriers in OW system are not generous with mileage credits for economy class fares. Even business class fares, you'd only earn 25% more than actual RDM. There are frankly no program that awards you 200% on business class like LH or BD does.

I think you are accustomed to BD program where its program is quite unique compared to most FF programs. So, I'd say you should just keep your OW flight mileage to BAEC and accrue miles there. Or pick one of FF of OW European carrier that you fly most frequently and start building your mileage there.

LANPass has a 3 year renewable expiry date for miles, but mileage can be as bad as 25% on BA deep Y.

I'd probably top up the BA & QF accounts until you have enough for a basic award, and then switch to AA (because redemptions are cheap and low fuel surcharges). Short awards on QF start at 8k miles oneway.

There are no 200% redeemable miles in business class, other than odd promotion. (200% status credits is earned on QF but that is no help to you).

Discount Y earning on non-home airline (and sometimes even on home airline) is rubbish. For example while QF business class has minimum mileage earn for your CE flights, the cheap ET flights only earn 25%.

Agree with KF, Stay with what you have until you burn the miles.
Also if you want to upgrade economy to bus you only can do with the airline miles of that airline.

The other to consider is Alaska Airlines. A partner with many OneWorld airlines and many others.

With the odd exception like AsiaMiles, which can be used to upgrade CX (incl KA), BA and AA.

Hi SmilingBoy!

As an infrequent flyer, I would chose the AA program. Since you will not be getting status anyway, it really only is about the best earn/burn rate. And AA will be the best program for that. Forget BA or QF and only use whatever you have left.

This may seem like an off the wall reply, but you might want to consider the Alaska Airlines (AS) Mileage Plan. It is a great bank for non *A carriers - there are both ST and OW partners, and some of the partners count for AS status - which won't do you much when flying partners (no lounge access, no priority anything except with DL), but it will earn you bonus mileage if you reach any status. Your mileage accrual is probably no worse than with other programs (i.e., restricted fare limited accrual, etc). The current partner mix w/accrual is below:

http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileagep...rs_Airline.asp

Also note that with awards, you cannot mix/match partners.

I have heard that you can mix partners within the same alliance e.g., DL & AF.

Not to my knowledge. AF/KL maybe, but not e.g. AA and BA in Oneworld.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will look both into American and Alaska, and see which one fits best. Also might continue slowly topping up my BA and QF accounts, whenever the mileage earning is decent.

And with AA, if you make sure you credit stray amounts (hotel stays, car rentals), they do end up counting towards lifetime status - the only program which counts all mileage, not just flown mileage. This is an undocumented benefit though and there's always a chance it could be taken away.

Very good point! If I wanted to go for a second lifetime status in OW then AA would be great. "Just" moving 2 MM credit card points over and you get a shiny lifetime Platinum card without every having set foot on an AA plane.