Mwenenzi

LoganApp Welcome to FT & Aussie when you get here

As you are going to Aust for study I assume it for a short time: 1 year , maybe 2 years
Stay with AA ffp. Do not consider QF ffp, even for 1 second.
Australia does not have a domestic Star Alliance airline.

You will not get upgrades on QF flights with AA status. And QF freq flyers are very very unlikely to get upgrades flying on QF. Requires a lot of QF points. Is referred as the "upgrade lottery". See post 330 in this thread.

The upgrade philosophy with upgrades on USA and non USA airline is vastly different. With all non USA airlines expect to fly in the cabin you buy, no matter what ff status.

Some AA forum threads that may be of interest

• LAX-SYD AA 73 / 72 Upgrade & Waitlist Discussion
• AA LAX-SYD-LAX AA73 / AA72 (17 Dec 2015)
• AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) & related (consolidated)
• https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html

LoganApp

I have no clue right now. If I had to guess, I'd say I'd be returning to the US, because unless I either get a job offer and a work visa, or Australian citizenship, I need to leave once my student visa expires. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

LoganApp

I'm not sure yet. If I had to guess, I'd say I'll be returning to the US, but it's four years from now so it's hard to say. I would either come back or stay in Australia, not move to another 3rd country.

LoganApp

Wow, thank you. I actually will be down there for four years. Do you think a certain program earns elite status faster? I know Qantas has double status credit promos sometimes. The whole elite qualifying process is so different between these airlines.

Mwenenzi

Is USA home? 3 or 4 years does make a difference. However getting Au residency is a lot different to student visa status.

No simple definitive answer on earning status quickly. Depends on many things:- airline, class of travel , fare booking class. Just need to crunch the numbers in a spread sheet. So can be a wild guess looking to the future. AA is based on calendar year. QF is 12 months based on the date you join the ffp. With QF, get more status credits on QF than on other partner airlines. QF double status are limited offer for a short time. That should not effect a AA vs QF ffp choice.

If you get an Au credit card you can credit to QF (or VA?). Credit card offers & points are a lot less than in USA.

AA has a status challenge. If flying in a premium cabin that helps a lot
AA thread https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ge-2017-a.html

Edit: LoganApp's other thread on this topic
AAdvantage vs. QF Frequent Flyer for Flying Regularly between BOS-SYD

Seattle1

I previously posted this question, and my answers to the questions above are still the same. I recently flew on Qatar (J) and have some miles to credit.

Can I ask which of the airlines in OW has miles that last longest, or do not expire (for ordinary flyer status)? I very rarely fly OW airlines, so my goal would be to accumulate the miles in one account for the rare occasion that I use it.

As an alternative, is it useful to spend the miles on shopping etc?

I am thinking of the following airlines to base my files, but all suggestions are welcome:
- American Airlines
- Cathay Pacific (since it is in the region)
- British Airways (but only for flights originating in the UK, which is very uncommon)

Please let me know your advice.

Thanks!

Mwenenzi

Guide to expiry Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire. Click to open the wiki.
Activity required to stop expiry every 18 months or 36 months is common. What is eligible "activity" can vary by ffp.
CX Asia Miles have a 3 year hard expiry, so CX ffp is not for you.

Note many airline ffp's required you to be a signed up member at the date of the flight. Some airline ffps allow you to join and retro claim for past flights made in the previous X days. X does vary between ffp's. X = 30 days is common & 90 with BA. And with some ffp's can be limited to flights on the own airline and not partners. Some info on retro credit is post 1 (may not be up to date).
You only need to join 1 OW ffp. Not multiple "airlines to base my miles"

mpkz

I'll be moving from HEL to HKG in about 6 months along with a complete change in my travel patterns. Along with the QR devaluation and crappy customer service, it's high time to switch FFPs. I think I'll fly enough to earn OWE, even on AY. I use miles mainly for upgrades as work travel is quite restricted. Don't really ever use non-upgrade redemptions.

Questions
For members asking for information, to help people to assist you, can you please provide:
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
(upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, extra baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, free - discounted lounge access, etc.)
Reply:
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
(<25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles - <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: >50 flights, >50k miles. But not much higher than that.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Typically economy. Some cheap business tickets. Economy flights for work often higher fare buckets.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes, and both (roughly 50/50)
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: HEL-Asia, intra-European (will be reduced), HEL-South Africa (but that will be reduced), probably will have an increasing number of intra-Asian flights next year
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: HEL now, HKG soon
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
(AA Executive Platinum, QF Gold, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply: QR Plat, almost renewed for next year so that I can enjoy the benefits while switching.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: QR, CX and AY.

Here are my options and the main concerns on each:
QR - devaluation and poor on the ground service, but relatively easy status
AY - status is harder to earn, not many upgrades even as a plat? But probably the most convenient for upgrades.
CX - don't know much the program.
BA - supposedly good value and easy status. However, upgrading on BA isn't great and rumors of another devaluation?

So I'm leaning towards AY unless someone can convince me not to? I am a bit concerned that Plat on AY takes 4 HKG-HEL roundtrips in J (which I can do without much pain, it's just annoyingly high a bar) and is almost impossible in economy.

Unionruler

CX is not for you because you can only gain 1 tier at a time, and OWE is even harder to earn/ maintain than on AY.

AY would be the best if you were sure of qualifying for OWE, but since you're not, the other options are (1) AA, (2) doing just enough for BA Gold annually and banking miles with AS/ AA.

hugotam0

MPC members have also helped me out: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...y-program.html

Lifelong CX program participant, but the changes for the past few years caused many troubles. I recently relocated to Buffalo, NY for work. For about 9 more months here. I will be in the US at least for the next 2-3 years. Debating whether or not to switch from CX program to AA. With the amount of air traveling, I am at least a Sapphire in other programs, but CX has been especially tough. Now that I have fewer opportunities to enjoy the HKG lounges now, I'm unsure is it a good idea to switch up? I also banked a lot of credit card points from Amex Plat, so looking to utilize that with the right reward redemption program.

General travel picture:
1-2 Roundtrip flights from US - HKG per year (Econ/Prem)
1-2 major vacation flights, combine with some mileage runs.
5-10 domestic flights for work/pleasure per year

I will manage to become CX Gold before the annual cycle. But should I spend my efforts building Exec Plat instead? Should I keep my Amex Plat card with limited Centurion Lounges around me? Should I stay in for at least another cycle with all miles savings? Should I stay to focus on the upgrades for HKG flights with CX?

A newcomer in the forum here, thanks for all the help so far!

Questions
For members asking for information, to help people to assist you, can you please provide:
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
(upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, extra baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, free - discounted lounge access, etc.)
Reply: Upgrades on travel, award redemption rates, lounges
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
(<25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles - <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: >50,000miles
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Econ/ Prem Econ
c(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes. Mostly for pleasure, minor flight trips.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Mostly long hauls, CX: North America (ORD/YYZ/NYC) -> HKG, AA with all my domestic flights
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: Base in BUF/ YYZ
(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
(AA Executive Platinum, QF Gold, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply: CX SIlver, 415 points away from Gold. Debating to move up to Gold or not. Or Participate AA Status Challenge.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: Preferred CX. Most common AA, CX, then BA

Cheers,

Hugo

flyercity

Best OW program for status only

Wanted to share some thoughts for those looking for a OW program for status only and are not bothered about spending miles, expiring miles, upgrades etc.

I searched on the basis that all flights credited would be discount economy with no particular preference for any one airline.

Researched all OW member sites and found that many do not credit discount economy fares (e.g. MH), give very little credit (BA, IB, CX, QF etc) or have a money component (AA). So, e.g. with BA or IB you'd need to fly about 5-6 long haul discount economy return flights for Ruby and about 12-14 for Sapphire.

From what I found, AY is probably the best option for those who want to gain status via discount economy travel. Ruby with about 2-3 long haul discount economy return flights and Sapphire with about 6-7.

QR looks promising in terms of their tier thresholds but unfortunately their mileage/elite points calculator does not work, so it is not known if they are a better option than AY.

Wasabi Tofu

For Sapphire, 50 50min JAL flights.
JAL provides package tour that travels 16 flights in two days. (However, 2 flights are LONG HAUL between Tokyo/Haneda and Okinawa).

Then, once get Sapphire, JAL credit card (JAL Global Club) provides Sapphire status without flying if you keep paying annual fee.

Dr. HFH

Where can I find details?

Wasabi Tofu

I couldn't find English page. But

https://www.jal.co.jp/domtour/kyu/amaminosora

This year's tour provides only 14 segments for 2 days.
Last winter, there were Okinawa based tour and Kagoshima based tour.

Practically, this isn't an guided tour. So, almost same as your own arrangement.
Another popular segment based status run route is 8 segments a day by (FUK-KMI-FUK)x4

marchelli

Okay here's my situation, I mainly fly AC because of where I'm based, but this year has me transiting while on different continents so I've done trips on BA, Iberian, CX and American. I realized I probably won't be able to retro actively claim these flights but I figure I should probably sign up for a one world program because I guess these smaller flights will eventually all add up. I'm torn between American and CX's programs.