Deciding on a Oneworld Frequent Flyer Program? Help is here.
Dec 14, 2020, 11:43 am
#1591
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
Dec 14, 2020, 2:50 pm
#1592
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
EK really isn't that exciting anymore anyway, given that they F award space is now basically only available through their own Skywards program.
Mar 25, 2021, 8:21 pm
#1593
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 568
Dear FlyerTalkers,
I am currently a Star Alliance Gold member and last year, matched to QR Platinum (Oneworld Emerald). However, due to the pandemic, I will not unfortunately not be able to retain the QR status within the allocated date (which they will sadly not extend, even due to the pandemic). Thus, I would really appreciate your help to see which OneWorld FFP would be best for me in the future.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- The possibility to keep both Star Alliance Gold (currently Asiana Club - i.e. need to earn 20,000 miles per year to retain) & Oneworld Sapphire.
- Most important for me is to have lounge access & extra luggage allowance.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
- Approximately 45,000-50,000 miles total per year, every second year up to 15,000-20,000 more.
- Usually 20,000-25,000 of those miles flown in paid Business, the rest in paid Economy (standard or flexi fares, not discounted).
- Often around 30 sectors, 8 long-haul and 22 inter-Europe or inter-Australia.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
- Business
- Economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
- I can mostly choose my own airlines and class of service
- I travel for both work & pleasure
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
- Return FCO > SYD (at least 2 times per year)
- Return FCO > either Asia or USA (approx. 1 time per year)
- Return SYD > MEL or BRI (approx. 2 times per year)
- Return FCO > various european destinations (approx. 15 times per year)
(6) What is your home airport?
- FCO (primary) - resident
- SYD (secondary) - citizen
(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?
- OZ (Diamond Plus / Star Alliance Gold)
- SQ (Gold / Star Alliance Gold)
- QR (Platinum / Oneworld Emerald) [status matched last year from OZ & SQ), expiring shortly.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
- SQ
- EK
- EY
- CX
- QR
- LH
- AZ
- QF
I wish you all a wonderful day and many thanks for your guidance in advance!
I am currently a Star Alliance Gold member and last year, matched to QR Platinum (Oneworld Emerald). However, due to the pandemic, I will not unfortunately not be able to retain the QR status within the allocated date (which they will sadly not extend, even due to the pandemic). Thus, I would really appreciate your help to see which OneWorld FFP would be best for me in the future.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- The possibility to keep both Star Alliance Gold (currently Asiana Club - i.e. need to earn 20,000 miles per year to retain) & Oneworld Sapphire.
- Most important for me is to have lounge access & extra luggage allowance.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
- Approximately 45,000-50,000 miles total per year, every second year up to 15,000-20,000 more.
- Usually 20,000-25,000 of those miles flown in paid Business, the rest in paid Economy (standard or flexi fares, not discounted).
- Often around 30 sectors, 8 long-haul and 22 inter-Europe or inter-Australia.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
- Business
- Economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
- I can mostly choose my own airlines and class of service
- I travel for both work & pleasure
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
- Return FCO > SYD (at least 2 times per year)
- Return FCO > either Asia or USA (approx. 1 time per year)
- Return SYD > MEL or BRI (approx. 2 times per year)
- Return FCO > various european destinations (approx. 15 times per year)
(6) What is your home airport?
- FCO (primary) - resident
- SYD (secondary) - citizen
(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?
- OZ (Diamond Plus / Star Alliance Gold)
- SQ (Gold / Star Alliance Gold)
- QR (Platinum / Oneworld Emerald) [status matched last year from OZ & SQ), expiring shortly.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
- SQ
- EK
- EY
- CX
- QR
- LH
- AZ
- QF
I wish you all a wonderful day and many thanks for your guidance in advance!
Mar 25, 2021, 8:27 pm
#1594
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,946
Dear FlyerTalkers,
I am currently a Star Alliance Gold member and last year, matched to QR Platinum (Oneworld Emerald). However, due to the pandemic, I will not unfortunately not be able to retain the QR status within the allocated date (which they will sadly not extend, even due to the pandemic). Thus, I would really
I am currently a Star Alliance Gold member and last year, matched to QR Platinum (Oneworld Emerald). However, due to the pandemic, I will not unfortunately not be able to retain the QR status within the allocated date (which they will sadly not extend, even due to the pandemic). Thus, I would really
Mar 25, 2021, 8:37 pm
#1595
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,029
I am currently a Star Alliance Gold member and last year, matched to QR Platinum (Oneworld Emerald). However, due to the pandemic, I will not unfortunately not be able to retain the QR status within the allocated date (which they will sadly not extend, even due to the pandemic). Thus, I would really appreciate your help to see which OneWorld FFP would be best for me in the future.
<snip>
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
- Return FCO > SYD (at least 2 times per year)
- Return FCO > either Asia or USA (approx. 1 time per year)
- Return SYD > MEL or BRI BNE (approx. 2 times per year)
- Return FCO > various European destinations (approx. 15 times per year)
(6) What is your home airport?
- FCO (primary) - resident
- SYD (secondary) - citizen
(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?
- OZ (Diamond Plus / Star Alliance Gold)
- SQ (Gold / Star Alliance Gold)
- QR (Platinum / Oneworld Emerald) [status matched last year from OZ & SQ), expiring shortly.
[b](8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
- SQ
- EK
- EY
- CX
- QR
- LH
- AZ
- QF
I wish you all a wonderful day and many thanks for your guidance in advance!
<snip>
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
- Return FCO > SYD (at least 2 times per year)
- Return FCO > either Asia or USA (approx. 1 time per year)
- Return SYD > MEL or
- Return FCO > various European destinations (approx. 15 times per year)
(6) What is your home airport?
- FCO (primary) - resident
- SYD (secondary) - citizen
(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?
- OZ (Diamond Plus / Star Alliance Gold)
- SQ (Gold / Star Alliance Gold)
- QR (Platinum / Oneworld Emerald) [status matched last year from OZ & SQ), expiring shortly.
[b](8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
- SQ
- EK
- EY
- CX
- QR
- LH
- AZ
- QF
I wish you all a wonderful day and many thanks for your guidance in advance!
AA has EY as a frequent flyer partner. While AA is mainly a revenue based frequent flyer programme, for flights on partner airlines is more of a distance based ffp (good for earning on business class long hauls)
QF AS & BA have a 4 own flights rule for status. Maybe other do as well. AA does not have a X own flights rule for status.'
I would consider AA: do more research on earnings from flights and credit cards. But AA status would not give lounge access on USA domestic-regional flights.
Having 2 ffp's with Star Alliance gold may not be worth the effort.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Mar 25, 2021 at 9:15 pm Reason: Added " USA domestuc" etc
Mar 25, 2021, 8:38 pm
#1596
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 568
In short, yes, they will extend the status to Dec, however, the re-qualification date will not get extended with it. I found that rather sneaky.
Thus, if you have a re-qualification date this May and you don't make the re-qualification by that "original" date, then you will automatically lose the status on 31 December and need another 600 Qpoints in 12-months to get it back. I was quite shocked.
On top of this (and sorry that it's a little off topic from the question), even though it was a 50% off deal to re-qualify, it's not 50% off the re-qualification quota (i.e. 540 Qpoints / 50% = 270 Qpoints), but 50% of the "as new" quota (ie. 600 Qpoints / 50% = 300 Qpoints), which really is impossible in the current climate. I found that sneaky as well.
In fact, to give them credit where it's due, Asiana extended BOTH the status and re-qualification date to match, at their initiative and proactiveness.
Mar 25, 2021, 8:51 pm
#1597
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,946
That's what I thought, however, upon speaking to them (and I have it also in writing), it's only "half" the story.
In short, yes, they will extend the status to Dec, however, the re-qualification date will not get extended with it. I found that rather sneaky.
Thus, if you have a re-qualification date this May and you don't make the re-qualification by that "original" date, then you will automatically lose the status on 31 December and need another 600 Qpoints in 12-months to get it back. I was quite shocked.
In short, yes, they will extend the status to Dec, however, the re-qualification date will not get extended with it. I found that rather sneaky.
Thus, if you have a re-qualification date this May and you don't make the re-qualification by that "original" date, then you will automatically lose the status on 31 December and need another 600 Qpoints in 12-months to get it back. I was quite shocked.
Mar 26, 2021, 10:08 am
#1598
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 11,803
I would give strong consideration to BA, even with its 4 "own metal" flights requirement. You could do a couple of quick returns on BA to London every year, or one return trip to someplace like Edinburgh, with a plane change at LHR, to get those flights in, and the rest of your fights could be on OW members, earning BA tier points for status qualification. Couple hundred Euros and problem solved..
Mar 26, 2021, 3:13 pm
#1599
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,029
I would give strong consideration to BA, even with its 4 "own metal" flights requirement. You could do a couple of quick returns on BA to London every year, or one return trip to someplace like Edinburgh, with a plane change at LHR, to get those flights in, and the rest of your fights could be on OW members, earning BA tier points for status qualification. Couple hundred Euros and problem solved..
02 What is a qualifying flight?
Examples of criteria used to determine a qualifying flight:
BA operated + BA flight prefix
BA operated + other flight prefix
Other carrier operated + BA flight prefix
IB operated + IB flight prefix
Examples of criteria used to determine a qualifying flight:
BA operated + BA flight prefix
BA operated + other flight prefix
Other carrier operated + BA flight prefix
IB operated + IB flight prefix
Mar 31, 2021, 2:33 pm
#1600
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2
Hi - with AS joining Oneworld I need help choosing which program to make my primary one. I am leaning towards Alaska..
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades on travel, reward travel
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
~120k miles a year, when flying domestically economy (40 segments a year) when flying international usually in paid business class (4 RTs a year)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Mostly economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes I can choose, most travel is for work
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
US Domestic, AUS-SJC is most frequent route
(6) What is your home airport?
AUS
(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 Platinum Pro
AS MVP Gold
WN A-List
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Almost all travel is on one of 3 of AA, AS, WN
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades on travel, reward travel
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
~120k miles a year, when flying domestically economy (40 segments a year) when flying international usually in paid business class (4 RTs a year)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Mostly economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes I can choose, most travel is for work
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
US Domestic, AUS-SJC is most frequent route
(6) What is your home airport?
AUS
(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 Platinum Pro
AS MVP Gold
WN A-List
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Almost all travel is on one of 3 of AA, AS, WN
Mar 31, 2021, 2:39 pm
#1601
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
Hi - with AS joining Oneworld I need help choosing which program to make my primary one. I am leaning towards Alaska..
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades on travel, reward travel
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
~120k miles a year, when flying domestically economy (40 segments a year) when flying international usually in paid business class (4 RTs a year)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Mostly economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes I can choose, most travel is for work
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
US Domestic, AUS-SJC is most frequent route
(6) What is your home airport?
AUS
(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 Platinum Pro
AS MVP Gold
WN A-List
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Almost all travel is on one of 3 of AA, AS, WN
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades on travel, reward travel
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
~120k miles a year, when flying domestically economy (40 segments a year) when flying international usually in paid business class (4 RTs a year)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Mostly economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes I can choose, most travel is for work
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
US Domestic, AUS-SJC is most frequent route
(6) What is your home airport?
AUS
(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 Platinum Pro
AS MVP Gold
WN A-List
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Almost all travel is on one of 3 of AA, AS, WN
Think about your lifetime miles and lifetime status. In AS MP, when you have 1M miles, you would be AS MVPG for life; AA has a gradual system for lifetime status.
If you have no other factor and if you fly both AS and AA equally, head towards AS as you wouldn't have any spending based requirement.
Mar 31, 2021, 3:14 pm
#1602
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,029
hombri Congratulations on you first post on FT (after ~7 years)
As above AA, for AA tickets, is a revenue based ffp. AS is a distance based ffp.
Been reported that AA-AS will introduce a cross airline upgrade system (outside of the OW alliance).
Details slow being released. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...-upgrades.html
But would expect any airline would favor upgrading its own freq flyers ahead of the other guys.
For award travel AS (currently) has a very prescriptive award chart. How that will/may change with AS now in OW alliance is unknown. AS awards can be very good value and the free stopover useful for some. But all ffp award charts have sweet spots. Depends on where you want to go with award flights.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...advantage-733/
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...eage-plan-442/
Hi - with AS joining Oneworld I need help choosing which program to make my primary one. I am leaning towards Alaska..
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades on travel, reward travel
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
~120k miles a year, when flying domestically economy (40 segments a year) when flying international usually in paid business class (4 RTs a year)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Mostly economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes I can choose, most travel is for work
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
US Domestic, AUS-SJC is most frequent route
<snip>
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades on travel, reward travel
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
~120k miles a year, when flying domestically economy (40 segments a year) when flying international usually in paid business class (4 RTs a year)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Mostly economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes I can choose, most travel is for work
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
US Domestic, AUS-SJC is most frequent route
<snip>
Been reported that AA-AS will introduce a cross airline upgrade system (outside of the OW alliance).
Details slow being released. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...-upgrades.html
But would expect any airline would favor upgrading its own freq flyers ahead of the other guys.
For award travel AS (currently) has a very prescriptive award chart. How that will/may change with AS now in OW alliance is unknown. AS awards can be very good value and the free stopover useful for some. But all ffp award charts have sweet spots. Depends on where you want to go with award flights.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...advantage-733/
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...eage-plan-442/
Apr 6, 2021, 1:53 am
#1603
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 11
Hello everyone! I would appreciate your help in deciding which FFP to settle on.
Notes:
Good award redemption rates, better award access, priority services when flying the airline.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
25000-50000 in discount J. At least two BKK-SFO roundtrips yearly.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Discount J.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I can choose my airlines and class of service, I travel to college in the US.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
BKK-SFO almost exclusively, often on QR, CX, and JL. BKK-HND for holidays every other year.
(6) What is your home airport?
BKK and SFO.
(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?
~200k miles in CX Asia Miles but am looking to switch for better redemption rates.
~90k miles in QR Privilege Club Gold (OW Sapphire).
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
QR, CX, and JL.
Thanks!
Notes:
- I was considering a move from CX/QR to AS because of great F redemption rates to Southeast Asia on CX & JL but am worried about potential devaluation from AS joining oneworld.
- I’m a student, so QR’s new student club program sounds pretty good, but redemption rates are not the best. Please let me know your opinions.
Good award redemption rates, better award access, priority services when flying the airline.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
25000-50000 in discount J. At least two BKK-SFO roundtrips yearly.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Discount J.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I can choose my airlines and class of service, I travel to college in the US.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
BKK-SFO almost exclusively, often on QR, CX, and JL. BKK-HND for holidays every other year.
(6) What is your home airport?
BKK and SFO.
(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?
~200k miles in CX Asia Miles but am looking to switch for better redemption rates.
~90k miles in QR Privilege Club Gold (OW Sapphire).
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
QR, CX, and JL.
Thanks!
Apr 21, 2021, 2:20 am
#1605
Join Date: May 2015
Location: RBA / TBS
Programs: AF Gold / Accor Gold / Hilton Diamond / TP Silver / A3 Gold
Posts: 2,750
OW is done in such way that you dont always have full benefits granted by your status unless you fly with the airline who owns this FFP unlike skyteam , so unless you fly different routes on regular basis or change criteria , then your choice is limited
In general , unless you fly a lot , having two FFPs is not a good idea also
In my case my main focus is skyteam but i also have star alliance (A3) and i had oneworld (RIP AB) ... just in case of flights with airline of these alliances so i dont loose miles .... but i wont open an FFP with every airline i fly often with as its counter productive, so my main focus now is skyteam (soon it might change , thats why iam also here)
i would suggest to focus on one FFP only , and collect everything there . Up to you to check which one is the best between CX and QR
Redemption rates are going worse and worse every year , regardless of airline , so sitting on a giant pile of miles (assuming these 90k/200k are worth something) and not use them now or in the near future is just a waste due to constant devaluations
Since you only fly in J , then a status wont bring much difference , and as your flight patterns are limited , having a 3rd FFP wont change much
I can recommend you to restart your investigation about new FFPs across all 3 majors alliance once you finish your study and your life will change significantly (maybe more travel , maybe different routes , different home airports , etc .....)
Last edited by fifty_two; Apr 21, 2021 at 7:11 am