Hi all,
I don't usually fly OW but I have one fligth and hoping to get OW status with this flight.
The flight is on IB I class TLV-MAD-EZE GRU-MAD-TLV

If I'm not wrong I can get on BA 580 Tier points which is almost silver and ow Sapphire.

or, on IB 2050 elite points, almost gold.

I don't care about redemtion, only status.

Which do you recommend?

Thanks

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades, lounges
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
15000 miles - 15-20 segments
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
cheapest when it's holiday, or standard fare when it's business trip
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes, 4-8 segments for holiday flights, 6-12 segments for work
(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
Intra European, Moscow and SVX - Europe. 1 return flight from Moscow to SEA/USA/Latin America per year.
(6) What is your home airport?
SVX, or all Moscow airports
(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?
5000 avios in BA, 11500 miles in S7 Priority (not status, only award miles).
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Finnair from SVX,
S7 for domestiс flights
Qatar for flights to SEA
In fact there are only two airlines which flight from my home airport (SVX) - Finnair and S7

Which One World Program?
 

Deleted

Hi all,

I currently feel like I have too many FF programs and am looking to consolidate into the best program for my needs. I'm currently taking a year off to travel, so I want to try and use this time to attain points and status before needing to rejoin the real world at the end of next year!

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- upgrades
- extra baggage
- good redemption rates
- lounge access

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
- normally once a year
- but this year it's been close to 15 flights, 50,000 miles

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
- cheapest or business on sale

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
- I choose the flights
- pleasure

(5) Which routes do you fly most often
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
- MEL-HKG

(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
- MEL

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
- too many!
QF: silver, 60,000
AA: none, 85,000 (considering platinum challenge for bonus points)
AS: none, 56,000
CX Asia miles: none, 32,000
A3: blue, 11,000

(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply:Any

I am reporting from the introduction forum as my main concern is which OW airline should I stick with! In regards to status, should I chase qantas gold or simply do the AA challenge to obtain OW sapphire and receive bonus points? I think I can reach both QF gold and AA platinum this year to be valid til next year but I'm not sure it's the right move. There's also the problem of flying CX a lot and not earning many points on AA!

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Kerry

Having miles/points with OneWorld Airlines AA, QF & CX and also AS who has all 3 as partners is crazy (being diplomatic). Be careful about expiry. Just start burning miles/points.

To many (including me) 2 QF points has less value than 1 AA mile. (QF has large co pay fees on awards: see post 330 above).

CX has many economy fares that are nil or low earning in CX and other OneWorld airline ffp's (such is life!!) [but look at AS]

For AA & QF status you need to fly 4 segments with AA / QF respectively

For upgrades read post 1. I do not like your chances. (QF is a lottery) Which airline do most often fly MEL-HKG?

I generally fly MEL-HKG on discount economy with QF or CX. I agree that AA miles are worth more than QF but unfortunately AA miles are also harder for me to earn when not flying! I do need to start burning points but just want to know if I should buy revenue tickets now for status or just burn and forget about status altogether. I'm slowly sifting through AA vs AS vs QF....

One World
 

Hi, deciding between LANPASS, my current program, or AA Advantage. I'm thinking of switching because I live in the US and fly a lot in AA, and can potentially earn miles with the AA-Citi credit card. But I fly to Chile via LAN at least once a year.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good award redemption rates
Upgrades on travel
Overall better flight experience

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
>50000 miles, 15-20 flights. Mostly Premium Economy or Economy, Business is allowed in my job but I have a fixed budget every year.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Not necessarily cheapest, e.g. Premium Economy (or Business from time to time).

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I can choose. I fly mostly for work, but I also travel with my family to Chile at least once a year.

(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
Domestic US (OHR, LAX, etc), JFK-SCL, Europe (London, Zurich, etc).

(6) What is your home airport?
JFK (also LGA).

(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?
LAN Premium (Ruby). Might obtain Sapphire this year.

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
AA, LAN, BA.


Thanks for your help!

nychile1 welcome to FT

AA for sure. You will earn AA miles on LAN flights. Start burning LAN miles and be careful about LAN expiry
http://www.hotels-and-travel.de/ffp/...ld/ow_ruby.htm

Look at the AA challenge for faster status. If you are flying long haul, with the occasional some business class, should not be a problem. LAN is not eligible, but AA codeshares on LAN aircraft are.
http://flyerguide.com/index.php/Challenge_%28AA%29
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html

Retrospective flight recognition for new FFP joiner
 

Hello, apologies in advance if this question has been answered elsewhere on the forum. I have only just started taking the time to investigate joining FFPs. Having had a look around, it seems like a number of FFPs will honour flights taken with the relevant airline within up to 12 months prior to joining. A notable exception appears to be American. Does anyone happen to know whether any other Oneworld airlines will honour flights taken on other oneworld (i.e. American) so I can get recognition upon joining of a recent LHR-TVC return journey I took a couple of weeks ago? I have a similar question about a number of Star Alliance long haul flights I've taken in the last year which I will post in the Star Alliance forum. My responses to the standard intro questions are below.

Many thanks in advance.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Upgrades on travel, good award redemption rates
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: Approx 30,000 miles per year. 10-20 flights per year.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Cheapest
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Mainly pleasure, occasionally work.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Pan-European mainly, LHR-BNE once a year. LHR to various US cities once a year.
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: LHR
(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: Virgin Australia - small number of points which may have now lapsed.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?

British Airways

I should add that I will be flying LHR -BNE return in a couple of weeks most likely with either Malaysian or Singapore (re my post in the Star Alliance thread). Many thanks

Newbie to alliance - which program to choose if BOS->Asia
 

Hi all:

Sorry if there is a thread dedicated for questions like this. Feel free to move my message there if need be.

Essentially, I have a trip that would take me to London, then Saint-Peterburg (Russia) and coming back from Moscow in September. I am a frequent traveler (1K on United), so my first inclination was to go for *A. However, the flights on BA are much more convenient time wise, and for a lesser price than LH, UA or all others I can purchase premium economy, which I assume is worth something.

This beg the question... if I am starting a new account on one of the OneWorld members, which one should I choose? Obviously BA comes to mind, but here is my flying pattern:

1- Mostly going to India, China, Japan and Korea
2- Also visiting SIN and MOW annually, maybe once or twice.
3- Based out of BOS, usually also take flights intra-Asia

Right now, I am not looking at issuing a challenge to get status elsewhere (I have 3 vouchers to upgrade to Business on United, and I intend to use them all this year). But I am considering a secondary flight carrier for some needs. JAL comes to mind, but then, when I kayak, the only business flights I can convince management to endorse - sometimes! - seems to be Finnish.

So, should I go BA? JAL? Finnish? Or, Cathay? I am pretty sure I don't want to do American since I am not trying to switch at this point, but then who knows... certainly not me?

One area of concern would be minimal fly requirements on the "home airline" obviously (I may not fly BA at all next year, but JAL is more likely).

Anyway... any advice you can provide would be good!

Would help to know which cabin, and whether you are buying flexible or cheapest available fares.

The American programs are generally more rewarding for earn/burn ratios, and also you have the ability to get credit card points etc.
The only downside with AA is lack of access on AA domestic itineraries (albeit this may not be an issue for you).

BA can be good for some routes in premium cabins, thanks to the tier point methodology.

1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades, Premium Long-haul Awards, Lounges

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
75000ish 40-50 segments, economy

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Mainly flex fares intra-Europe, discount long-haul

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes for airlines, economy only. Travel for work 75% of miles, please 25%

(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
Intra European ex BRU or LHR intra europe, 2-3 times transatlantic, 2-3 times europe to Asia. Again - EX BRU/CDG/LHR/AMS (don't mind which)

(6) What is your home airport?
BRU

(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?
None

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
No preference, BA most common

I have approximately 30,000 miles of OW travel guaranteed in 2015 (most on BA). I normally fly *Alliance but am willing to make the switch. My guess is that although I am likely to fly more on BA, that AA is a better bet if I'm willing to MR around 25,000 miles towards the end of the year.

Thanks in advance.

1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Upgrades, Lounge Access.

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
25-50,000 per year. <25 flights.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Mostly economy / premium economy.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I have options of airlines, economy mostly, occasional business. 75% work-based flights, 25% pleasure.

(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
Mostly European, occasional trip to Asia/US/Aus.

(6) What is your home airport?
London LHR / LGW.

(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?
BAEC Bronze with 50k+ avios, 260TP.
Asia Miles with 14,000 miles.

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
BA generally preferred at work, but no real preference.

Thanks in advance all.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: upgrades on travel, good award redemption rates, lounge access, clear path to top tier

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: 100,000 - 125,000; long-haul in business, short-haul in economy


(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Business long-haul; economy short-haul


(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes, can choose; travel mainly for work

(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
Reply: Europe domestic, USA, Asia

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: FRA

(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?
Reply: LH SEN

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: Currently LH, looking for alternatives

I'm looking for an FFP to sign up for that will probably become my primary FFP when i move to London next year. Currently with Flying Blue as my family resides in France and i've moved to Paris for one year.

(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: Priority services, Baggage allowance, lounge access

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: Roughly 35-40000 at the moment though i'll probably hit the >50000 miles threshold this year. Currently flown 42 flights this year, expect to be in the 50-60 zone by the end of 2014

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply:Economy on short-haul, premium cabins on long-haul with the occasional flight in economy.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Free choice of cabins, mix of work/pleasure travel.

(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
Reply: European short-haul

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: Paris CDG/ORY, though will move to London in 2015

(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?
Reply: AF FB Gold

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: Currently AF/KLM but looking for alternatives
______

Is JAL a good OneWorld Alliance for YVR?
 

(1) What is your home airport?
YVR

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
One transpacific flight per year and a domestic flight (LA, etc.)

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? ( First, Business, Economy etc.)
Economy

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Mostly pleasure related. I can choose my airline.

(5) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Transpacific yearly in economy.
YVR-US once or twice.

(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present? What is it? *A Aeroplan dSilver

(7) 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.)
good award redemption rates

(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: JL, NH, AC, BA, AK

Yes, I know I'm a small fish for the regular flyertalk forum member, but I have heard that JAL Mileage Bank isn't that good. Most of our flights will be either KE, NH, AC or JL. When we fly JAL, I've heard that for Canadians, the BA Avios program is pretty decent for domestic travel. *A is useful for YVR, but redemption costs are sky high on AC, as you have to pay a HIGH fuel surcharge. $650 in taxes YVR-YTO on an $1100 flight!!!

With that little activity, your first and foremost concern should be mileage expiry. JL miles expire three years after earning, too early to have built a meaningful balance wth just one long annual flight.
AAdvantage and BAEC points do not expire with once-a-year activity, allowing you to build up a balance that's actually usable. Also, both programs offer co-branded credit cards and other non-flying activity that earns miles.
In general, BAEC is better for domestic redemptions indeed as redemptions are distance-based and require fewer avios on shorter flights. Seeing short domestic hops can be very expensive, redeeming them for such can provide excellent value.
AAdvantage miles are better for longhaul redemptions as the "fuel" surcharges on BA redemptions are not much lower than those on AC, whereas AA doesn't charge these for most flights on partners other than BA. When crediting JL flights to both BAEC or AAdvantage, deep discount economy has abysmal earning rates in both programs (about the same as in JALs own program, so no advantage going with JL at all) - so carefully check your fare class (AA earning table here, BA earning table here). The solution to this could be AA codeshares on JL flights, which will earn you 100% miles in AAdvantage even for the cheapest fare classes. The price differences vary wildly, though.

BAEC. When flying premium cabin longhauls you'll have no problem achieving Silver status which will grant you lounge access. The BA program awards status on tier points which emphasize cabin class a lot more than traditional mileage-based earning in other programs. Also, if you can upgrade those longhaul economy flights to premium economy (BA "T" discount PE fares can be a real bargain) you might have a shot at making BA Gold, which will give you Fast Track access in LHR, a benefit that's worth a lot to me.

I have updated post 554 regarding OW FFP expiration policies with new entrants (TAM, UL, US) and checked for any changes. The information should now be current as of Sept. 2014.

The UL Flysmiles program could be a gem for anyone set to achieve Emerald or sapphire status quickly:
for Platinum status (OW Emerald)
Qualification: 60,000 Tier Miles or 60 segments (minimum of 30,000 Tier miles / 30 segments on UL metal)
Renewal: 55,000 Tier Miles or 55 segments (minimum of 28,000 Tier miles/ 28 segments on UL metal)

for Gold status (OW Sapphire)
Qualification: 40,000 Tier Miles or 40 segments / minimum of 20,000 Tier miles/ 20 segments on UL metal
Renewal: 35,000 Tier Miles or 35 segments / minimum of 18,000 Tier miles/ 18 segments on UL metal

Not quite an oneworld A3 equivalent, but worth mentioning methinks. They definitely offer a fast path to OW status for anyone flying, say, Europe-to-S/SE Asia where their network is largest, and their business fares are pretty competitive. Their earning rates aren't bad as well - most economy fares earn 100%, only the two most discounted fare classes earn 50%. Partner earning varies, though: It's not too shabby on AA, where economy generally earns 75% miles save for the two lowest fare buckets which earn a measly 25%. BA flights tend to earn less, with the notable exception of PE, where even the cheapest "T" fares earn almost as good as business class.

Newbie to OW -- need your help to decide which OW to go for
 

I am deciding among BA, Cathay, and AA. What's the best option for me given that I live in HK? I am inclined to do Cathay but I hear that the diamond service is not as good as before (low prob for opup, poor redemption, etc).

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Reply: Comp upgrade; good award redemption rates (within Asia and long distance)

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: >140,000 miles and >50 flights

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Reply: Business (Oneworld RTW business tickets) or economy (intra-Asia; most likely not full fare)

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes within Oneworld - work

5. Which routes do you fly most often
Reply: HKG --> JFK --> LHR --> HKG (RTW) AND intra-Asia routes

6. What is your home airport?
Reply: HKG

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
Reply: UA 1K banked zero miles (I burned them already)

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Cathay Pacific (although I heard its FFP is not as good as before), British Airways, and AA.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Cheers! I've gone ahead and signed up for BAEC now.

I'm a CX DM and a former AA EXP and I find CX to be a much better program.

If you're expecting comp upgrades with CX, don't expect them to give you one unless the flight is oversold. Your chances of getting them on busy routes such as ICN, BKK, SIN, BOM, etc might by high but don't expect them to give you one just because you're DM.

Since you're based in HK, you really should stick with CX. Since you plan on getting some cheap Y class fares, you will be able to accrue miles with CX. You'll have a tougher time banking it with another airline with cheap tickets on CX.

As far as redeeming miles, you definitely have more options being a DM as opposed to another oneworld program. I've had times where I've been wait listed for the flight to clear using miles and they have cleared 90% of the time. I know with AAdvantage, they won't let you wait list for a particular flight. It's available or it's not.

AA is a great program at the moment, but with this merger that's being phased in, there is no question there will be changes with the AA program. You can't expect the redemption rate to be the current levels they're at now and the earning rates.

That's really a toss-up. You'll easily make top tier in any program.
With your flying pattern (Europe by way of the US), AA has the eight SWUs you'll get annually upon qualifying for EXP going for them, in case the AA 77W F cabin appeals to you (in a nutshell: top hard product, mediocre soft product). You'll qualify for top-tier EXP very quickly and would be able to put them to good use by upgrading eight TPAC/TATL flights into F (you can upgrade HKG-DFW and JFK-LHR with one SWU when on the same PNR). Those flagship suites have a ton of space and a very comfy bed.
AA miles are very versatile to use and the award chart hasn't devalued as much as other programs - intra-asia redemptions aren't too bad at 15k/22.5k/30k for Y/J/F. They have eliminated Oneworld RTW Explorer awards a few months ago, though.

That said, I'd still go with CX if most of my travel would be on them - every airline treats their own top FF better than those of alliance partners. For example, having AA EXP status hasn't done much for me when traveling on BA or CX so far. Only one op-up in a bunch of BA flights, nothing on CX.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: good award redemption rates, better award access, free - discounted lounge access

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: 25000-50000 - 16 flights

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Premium economy, Economy

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: No, cant choose; travel mainly for work

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Reply: Europe-Latin America

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: Vienna international airport

(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?
Reply: Asiana Airlines (star alliance) gold membership, Air france (skyworld) silver

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: Air France, Lufthansa, Iberia

Mi Chal Welcome to FT
You have Star Alliance & Skyteam covered so you a need OneWorld ffp

BA is good for short haul awards, but has surcharges. You can move avios from BA/IB/avios.com, so IB is also an option.

AA is good for long haul awards and has no surcharges, except on BA flights.

All need 4 flights in the home airline ffp to get status. That is you need 4 AA flights to get AA status or 4 BA flights to get BA status. No idea about IB flights needed for status. High status get you free lounge access.

BA expiry (36 months no activity) is better than AA (18 months no activity). But if you fly eligible IB flights credited to AA or BA expiry will not happen.

There are some BA vs AA threads linked in post 2
If you will never fly AA go for BA.

thanks, probably will not use AA, so i will go for BA

I would also check out Iberia plus and open an account with them in any case, even if you don't credit flights to it. Seeing you said you'll travel to South America, you'll likely end up on their flights as they have a large presence there.
IB uses the same avios currency as BA does, and you can transfer those between both programs, but need an account that's been open for a few months.
IB's program has far lower surcharges on award bookings compared to BA.

You'll only get lounge access as a mid-tier elite on oneworld ('sapphire' status). On airlines with mileage-based qualification, you typically have to fly 50.000 miles to attain it. BAEC uses a tier point system to determine status qualification which rewards travel in higher cabins. Type your most traveled routings into the calculator and see for yourself if you stand a chance of making Silver - should be possible if you have a few return flights to South America in Premium economy.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: good award redemption rates

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: 15 - 30k. 3 domestic US, 1-2 international. Planning RTW trip in 2015, debating business if not far more expensive.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: economy

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes, can choose; travel mainly for pleasure

(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
Reply: US domestic, SEA-MEL once a year, anticipate SEA-LHR annually in addition/replacement

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: SEA

(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?
Reply: No real status anywhere. I have
Qantas 65k points
Alaska Airlines 25k points
Chase Ultimate Rewards 5k points, planning to get +70k with Ink Bold cc

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: Currently Alaska for domestic flights and Qantas internationally but redemption on Qantas looks terrible, also planning to go to Europe more often now that I have family there.

For awards QF is worse than terrible. Look at post 330.

For residents of the USA AA is the default choice. AA miles from credit cards is good for many people. But with AS they have QF, CX, AA, & DL as partners so that gives you wide coverage. http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...ePlan-partners

I would be looking at using those QF points and use AA or AS as your main ffp. Domestic AA flights using QF points can be reasonable value (compared to other QF awards)

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Free lounge access. Extra baggage allowance is also nice.

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: <25000 miles - <25 flights

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Cheapest

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Mix of work and pleasure. For work I can't really choose my airline and fly economy.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Reply: At the moment I'm based in Arcata, California and the closest airport is San Francisco. I don't have many work trips but they will likely all be to Asia.
I'm from Australia however and will likely move back closer to there in the next 1-3 years, possibly to somewhere in Asia, at which point I will be doing a lot of travel around Asia and maybe to Australia and back.

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: SFO currently but will likely change to somewhere in Asia in the next 1-3 years.

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in tOW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
Reply: None. I have about 20,000 miles on Qantas and about 4,000 miles on Malaysia Air Enrich (which was a mistake), and 13,770 Virgin Velocity points. I really need to consolidate my miles and have a strategy on earning them going forwards.

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: None really. Though my work trip coming up to India and Perth, Australia is mostly on Cathay Pacific.

garick Welcome to FT

Just join AA. Is still the best OneWorld ffp for someone living in USA. Some USA people like BA which is good for short haul awards. Look here for some good info on BA awards.

You do not fly enough to get status, unless your future trips are business class. High status get you lounge access. However AA status does not get you lounge access for USA domestic flights.

Be careful about expiry of the QF (18 months) & VA points(36 months?). Use them or earn some more. Not that hard to do.

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?

Award flights from Hawaii to Japan and Japan to Europe on economy Fuel surcharges from or to Japan where I usually fly are insane with JAL so I am not sure what other choice I have for redeeming flights without paying $600 in taxes for a supposedly awarded ticket. Free Oneworld business lounge access would also be very nice but with my amount of flying I don't expect to be able to get that.

Increased luggage allowance is not a big deal because JAL always gives me 2x 23kg check in luggage even for cheapest economy flights

Reply:
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?

25000 to 30000 all in economy, 4 or 5 flights?

Reply:
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?

Cheapest economy flights, often less than 100% mileage accrual rate.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Can always choose airline and fly for mostly pleasure (seeing family)

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often

Honolulu (HNL)- Osaka (KIX, ITM)
Osaka (KIX, ITM) - Paris (CDG, ORY), Geneva (GVA)
Honolulu (HNL) - Los Angeles (LAX)
Osaka (KIX, ITM) - Seoul (ICN, GMP), Bangkok (BKK)

Usually JAL because there is no American from HNL. Also use Qatar pretty often and British Airways from time to time

(6) What is your home airport?
Honolulu, however I actually fly more often from KIX/ITM

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
Unfortunately not because until I discovered this forum recently I have been acting stupid and am all over the place. I have way too many different mileage cards (sometimes the same alliance) so I end up never having enough miles for award or FFP.
Right now though 28000 miles on Jal Mileage Bank, 18000 on ANA Mileage Club, 15000 on Delta Skymiles, 12000 on Hawaiianmiles, 20000 on Lufthansa Miles & More

As you can see ANA and Lufthansa are both SA and I could have accrued hawaiian air miles on my ANA card instead and combined I would have had 50000 miles if I stuck to the ANA card.

(8) Preferred Airlines
JAL and Qatar most often (JAL usually has pretty cheap flights to Japan from Hawaii). But I don't mind any other company's card as long as I can get award flights from time to time.

Frankly I am not sure if a oneworld FFP would be the best for my case. Star Alliance definitely has a lot more flights from Osaka.

As you are buying tickets by price and FFP consideration second, treat any miles as a bonus.

With so many FFP's with small balances I would carefully check the expiry rules and expiry date of all these FFP's.
Then determine the cost of awards for routes you may fly for all these FFP's
Build up the balance in 1 or more of these and use the miles, before they expire.
Earn to burn is what is important

As you have now realised the airline you fly and the airline FFP you credit miles to does not need to be same (FFP's have partner airlines)

For a residents of the USA AA is still the best OneWorld FFP. As post above some like BA. Alaska is a good catchall for some people

But as you noted Star airlines may serve you better for the routes you 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, lounge access, good award redemption rates

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
100,000+ miles

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Business

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes, mostly work.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Jakarta - Paris
Jakarta - LA/NYC
Jakarta - HKG

(6) What is your home airport?
Jakarta CGK

(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?
QR Privilege Club Platinum (OW Emerald), around 350,000 miles

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: Qatar, but flying Cathay more since they join OW. Sometimes AA US domestic.

I am deciding between Qatar and Cathay. One biggest factor of the move is that I cannot upgrade using mileage in OneWorld airlines with Qatar's mileage. Plus Qatar is getting more and more expensive in their business class. Is the move worth it? How hard is it to earn CX Diamond membership?

Thanks!

Reading the QF forum it seems upgrades on QR are hard to get & and the method used is difficult

For upgrades the general rule is you can only upgrade a flight marketed (flight number) and operated (metal) by the airline of your frequent flyer programme (no codeshares) with your airlines upgrade instrument (e.g. miles, SWU). All subject to the t&c's of your FFP and your paid ticket. Low cost tickets are often not eligible for upgrades.
However as is the way with FFP's there are some upgrade exceptions
- on AA/BA/IB with higher priced economy fares using AA/BA/IB upgrade instruments
- on some BA tickets with Asia Miles

Reports on FT is that CX treats its own top status passengers very good. If flying business class top status may be achievable: put the numbers into a spreadsheet. And look in the CX forum

Be careful about the expiry of your QR points.

Thanks for the advice Mwenenzi! I'm likely to move back to the Asia region or Australia in the next year or 2 though. What would be the best Oneworld FFP for that region? Also, if I'm probably not going to get enough status for lounge access I guess my next priority would be good award redemption rates.

Hi, Please help me to decide. Thanks.

(1) What is your home airport?
BUD
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
25-50k, usually economy, sometimes business
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Usually economy within Europe, if its wide body either premium economy or business. Flying in business within Europe if its a good price. Transatlantic flights usually business.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
usually work, 2-3 times a year leisure
(5) Which routes do you fly most often
I fly Eastern Europen cities from BUD and twice to London each year.
(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present? What is it?
I have just joined BA Exec Club basic status.
(7) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge access and free advance seat selection.
(8) Preferred Airlines
Not important


I have A3 and SPG Gold status.

Thanks.

(1) What is your home airport? YYC
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y or W
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 30K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good redemption rates and better seating for a discount (AMEX Plat gives me lounge access already)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Usually YYC to Asia
(7) Preferred Airlines Delta has been good to me and same with Cathay
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure and very flexible

Right now, I'm leaning alliance towards Skyteam then OneWorld. *A is at the bottom because I'm not a fan of Air Canada.

You might want to look at Alaska Airlines (AS) which partners both with CX and DL (as well as AA and others) so you could earn/burn on either airline. AS' redemption rates are very good, and even if you don't fly AS itself, it's an excellent and flexible program. You might also look at MBNA's Alaska-branded credit card, which has a 25K mile signup bonus, but which also gives you a $100 annual companion fare (Y only) on any AS-metal itinerary, including Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, etc.

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...av:mileagePlan