Thank you for the prompt reply. I'm aware of many of these issues. My question, to be clearer, is that given how I've weighted my preferences, I'm trying to figure out which one is best. I'm particularly curious about options beyond the AA/BA programs, since I know them quite well.

I would really appreciate help on choosing the best FFP for us. We will start our 1st RTW with OW through JAL in January. We intend to do another RTW in the near future also with OW through JAL as starting in Japan gives us the best price. We currently live in Thailand & are likely to do BKK-YUL, BKK-SEA, YUL-SEA routes once every 1 or 2 years between our other Asia/Europe explorations. We have family near SEA & MTL. I've looked at www.wheretocredit.com & it looks like we would get the most miles by using Alaska'a FFP for most of our flights although Alaska is not officially a OW member. With our flights with Qatar & Latam we would get more miles with Bangkok Airways. But miles are not always more important than other factors & I'm wondering if it would not be better to pool all the miles in one place. Thanks in advance for any advise you can give us.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good Award redemption rates & better award access
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
25000-50000 usually Premium economy but sometimes business.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Premium Economy when purchasing single segment. Business when using awards or purchasing RTW
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Travel for Pleasure. Freedom to choose any airline or class of service
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Asia & Transpacific
(6) What is your home airport?
BKK (Bangkok)
(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?
No status yet. Delta 40K+ Chase Reserve 100K+
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Up to now, mostly Delta, Air Canada & Air Asia. With our upcoming RTW it will be a first with most of the OW airlines.

Alternatives to Marco Polo?
 

I am from Hong Kong. Every year, I fly at least 4 times HKG-LHR with Cathay in Economy. I also fly to Seoul as well. Starting university in UK soon, I will travel with my friends to Europe for vacation. Therefore, priority service matters, such as, extra baggage allowance and good administrative services such as toll-free calls at any time, clear ticketing fare rules, be able to talk to managers when the front line can’t solve our problems, just like CX.

I will be an uni student for the next 3 years and probably another year in the US for masters. I don’t mind to take business for some trips.

It is very likely for me and my family to relocate to the UK or US, probably Singapore as well due to the social unrest in HK.

I am a Marco Polo Gold member (OW Sapphire) because due to unforeseen circumstances I flew 7 times HKG-LHR last year.

I would like to maintain my OW Status, but keeping in mind my future plan for the next couple of years it is unlikely for me to do so with Cathay.

I am looking for an alternative for Marco Polo and have done some research. Personally, I am attracted to Qatar’s Privilege club because the membership lasts for two years, which saves me a lot of time in planning trips. They also have bonus Qpoints as well which attracts me a lot.

I am also attracted to Finnair’s FFP. We are able to collect mileages based on distance travelled in kilometres. When taking Finnair flights there are multipliers based on tier and if I take CX flights, I can get extra mileages. I am also attracted to their lifetime membership.

While researching, I found out that Japan Airline’s JGC Club automatically give members lifetime OW Sapphire memberships. Looks like a good thing…

Thank you for reading though. Can you kindly suggest which FFP I should go? If any Star Alliance airlines are suitable, please feel free to suggest.

P.S. I think grace period matters most.

Many thanks, Neo

I am from Hong Kong. Every year, I fly at least 4 times HKG-LHR with Cathay in Economy. I also fly to Seoul as well. Starting university in UK soon, I will travel with my friends to Europe for vacation. Therefore, priority service matters, such as, extra baggage allowance and good administrative services such as toll-free calls at any time, clear ticketing fare rules, be able to talk to managers when the front line can’t solve our problems, just like CX.

I will be an uni student for the next 3 years and probably another year in the US for masters. I don’t mind to take business for some trips.

It is very likely for me and my family to relocate to the UK or US, probably Singapore as well due to the social unrest in HK.

I am a Marco Polo Gold member (OW Sapphire) because due to unforeseen circumstances I flew 7 times HKG-LHR last year.

I would like to maintain my OW Status, but keeping in mind my future plan for the next couple of years it is unlikely for me to do so with Cathay.

I am looking for an alternative for Marco Polo and have done some research. Personally, I am attracted to Qatar’s Privilege club because the membership lasts for two years, which saves me a lot of time in planning trips. They also have bonus Qpoints as well which attracts me a lot.

I am also attracted to Finnair’s FFP. We are able to collect mileages based on distance travelled in kilometres. When taking Finnair flights there are multipliers based on tier and if I take CX flights, I can get extra mileages. I am also attracted to their lifetime membership.

While researching, I found out that Japan Airline’s JGC Club automatically give members lifetime OW Sapphire memberships. Looks like a good thing…

Thank you for reading though. Can you kindly suggest which FFP I should go? If any Star Alliance airlines are suitable, please feel free to suggest.

P.S. I think grace period matters most.

Many thanks, Neo

Hello,

A friend of mine would like to consider a frequent flyer program for One World. He won't fly that much so I was wondering what would be the best fit for him, as I don't fly OW.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge access, and potentially priority boarding, but mostly lounge access.

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
25000-50000 usually economy for work.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Economy

4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Travel for work, can choose the airline if the price is cheap enough relatively speaking.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Latin America and Caribbean

(6) What is your home airport?
JFK, LGA and EWR.
(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?
United Silver this year.

8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Up to now, mostly Delta or Air Canada (going to Canada).

The rouge is now changing to South America. LatAm should be the most common carrier used.

LATAM is leaving OW in Oct 2020. Will then be associated with DL. DL have take a part ownership of LATAM.
Mid top level status with AA will not get you lounge access on USA domestic flights. Unsure on Caribbean flights.
Some other ffp's like BA & QF have an requirement for X flights on the ffp airlines. Precise rules vary, so check each ffp. But mid-top level status get you lounge access on USA domestic flights.
May be better to pay cash for lounge access. Or a credit card that has a lounge access benefit.

Will lose AA exec platinum after 10 years of having it and will miss my emerald card and those first class lounges in hong kong plus using F class BA checkin in London when time is tight. I have a Centurion so not a big deal, i can always use fast track. I've joined RJ thinking that 65,000 EQMs would be easy. Thoughts on this? What's the easiest to qualify for EMD. BA is a big turnoff to me because of the poor phone service and high fuel surcharges on awards.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Easy EMD qualification (easiest) plus low fuel surcharges on awards.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
100k in business long haul and economy EU short haul
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
discount business and economy

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
total freedom to choose. usually for work
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
GVA/MLA TUN/LAX ARN/PEK

(6) What is your home airport?
GVA
(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 Exec Platinum (losing it January 2020) and AF Platinum
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
QR, CX, BA

I think rj has two years for emd.

IB vs BA
 

I’m located in Europe and need some help deciding between BA, AA and AS.
The last 4 years, I have had BA Silver (OW Sapphire) or Gold (OW Emerald) status from flying cheap QR business class tickets to Asia and cheap BA/AA/IB/AY business class tickets to the US.
But I have recently flown more on miles, so for this year I haven’t renewed my BA status yet.

I have three bookings in Finnair I class to CAN/HKG from Germany.
Something like TXL-HEL-HKG and back.
Apart from that, I don’t have any longhaul travel booked yet for this year.

I’m wondering whether I should credit those flights to AS, BA or AA.
AS would yield the highest number of the most valuable miles - but they’re not a Oneworld member yet and a devaluation is incoming.
BA wouldn’t yield as many miles, but it would help with renewing my status.
AA has the challenge to Platinum Pro (I’m a Hyatt Globalist).

I have very few domestic flights in the US, so lounge access in the US or upgrades on domestic AA flights aren’t very important to me.
I could also credit the AY flights to AS and then book something with QR, purely to renew my BA status. But then again, I’m wondering how much sense that makes... Status actually isn’t THAT important to me. It’s just nice to be able to select seats for free (especially on BA metal - but then again, I try avoid flying BA...).
And the other benefit that I use is lounge access, especially at MAD. And of course fast track security.
I only fly business class on longhaul flights though, so again, it’s not that critical.
But I do fly IB in economy from time to time, etc.

Most of my economy class flights are with Star Alliance nowadays, and I’m already covered there.
But I still think it would be nice to keep Oneworld status as well.

So... What would you do?

Shuttle between BLR / LHR and SFO a lot. Which OW status makes sense?
 

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: Extra Baggage Allowance, Good Award Redemption Rates are things I'd prioritise over anything else. Lounges get covered by my credit card (Diners)

(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: 100000-150000 miles in a year. All in Economy.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: I can choose any airline. International Travel is work and domestic is for work and pleasure.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: India -> US, India -> UK, US Domestic
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: SFO and BLR (I spent equal time in both these cities)
(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: Flying Returns Silver (Star Alliance Silver) where I have 25K miles. Vistara Gold (40K miles). Other than this, I have 25K in Asia Miles, and 7-10K miles in KrisFlyer, Etihad Guest, American Airlines.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: My most common international routes are BLR -> LHR, BLR -> SFO and hence end up taking either Cathay or Etihad respectively. Though also end up traveling quite a bit on Air India too coz of Direct flights to India from both SFO and LHR.

Since I already have a star alliance silver, I am hoping to get OneWorld status this year and hoping with atleast 6 long haul flights and about 10+ mid range (across US domestic/UK-US) flights, it should be enough. The only challenge is that all these flights are going to be economy. What would you suggest?

I am personally quite keen on Alaska, but also thinking about other alternatives. I am not very thrilled with the surcharges on BA

Hello

Would like an opinion on what may suit my travel.
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: Extra baggage, lounge access
(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: ~100,000 miles on paid tickets
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Economy/Business (cheapest)
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes - but prefer to have least stops. Traveling to represent country in sport events, given a travel stipend usually but no restriction
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: in asia, Asia to US (3-4 times/year), Asia to Europe (1-2 times/year)
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: HKG, SIN (travel between the two almost every 2-3 weeks)
(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, UA 1K
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: CX, UA, SQ

I don't see the huge added benefit of 1K vs Gold on UA, so will likely shift some travel onto Oneworld to get a mid-high status on each alliance for convenience. Traveling with my sport equipment usually requires extra baggage, so with status to save the cost of extra baggage is essential.

For lounge access, definitely CX MPO if you mostly travel in Y. CX gives silver members unlimited lounge access before its own flights, which is not a benefit given by UA or SQ. On the other hand, CX only gives silver members extra baggage on non-Trans-Pacific tickets. If you think 2pc*23kg is enough, it should be okay, but if you need more, you will have to aim for Gold. Note AFAIK SQ doesn't give extra bags to silver members, either. With CX silver (oneworld Ruby), though, you can get a free bag on AA domestic, too.

Incorrect in my opinion. Need OW Sapphire (look at the bottom on OW linked page)
https://www.oneworld.com/travel-benefits#benefits Click on benefits
AA charge for bags on many flights. Baggage not included in many fares
Better to refer to OW status as airline gold/silver has different OW status depending on airline ffp