Deciding on a Oneworld Frequent Flyer Program? Help is here.
Apr 9, 2013 | 12:49 pm
#361
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: JFK
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 18
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Booking BA award seats with AAdvantage miles will still incur BA's hefty surcharges. The number of miles required might be more or less than the number of Avios required, depending on exact routing, class of service, etc.
Booking BA award seats with AAdvantage miles will still incur BA's hefty surcharges. The number of miles required might be more or less than the number of Avios required, depending on exact routing, class of service, etc.
Apr 10, 2013 | 3:27 am
#362
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
Thanks for this, I registered for AAdvantage and had a look around, it did not convince me to leave BA for now. It looks to me that a BA revenue WT+ ticket with an avios upgrade to J for the transatlantic leg is the best value for travel to Athens, especially if you consider that you almost make back the upgrade miles after each roundtrip. The issue with BA is upgrade availability which is not that great, and I was hoping that though AA it might be better.
BA rewards are good value for Euro flights (called Reward Flight Savers) as you pay a small fixed price plus Avios. And paying for WT+ and upgrading to CW is excellent value if you can find availability.
May 2, 2013 | 8:08 am
#363
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: FRA
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 134
If you can make 50k per year, I would go for AA. You will get airport special lines, lounges and 100% bonus miles.
Though no one replied to my post back in October when I asked for opinions/help, I figured I'd try once more. I'll be moving to the UAE at the end of the summer. I'm already :-:A Gold, now looking to see what OneWorld program would be best for me.
(1) What is your home airport?
Stateside: Usually PDX, though LAX occasionally.
UAE: I'll be living in Al Ain, so both AUH and DXB are both close.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
With my new job contract, I imagine I'll rack up at least 40k (possibly over 60k) in Economy per year.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? ( First, Business, Economy etc.)
Nearly always Economy.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I'm almost always flying for personal vacations. And the few times it's specifically for work... I buy my ticket, but it has to be Economy.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often? (US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
I'll be going back to the US fairly regularly, with a random trips to Asia, Europe, and Africa thrown in there.
(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present? What is it? (AA Executive Platinum, QF Gold, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
A3 Gold.
(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.)
1. extra baggage allowance
2. low qualifications for maintaining status.
3. longer periods of status staying valid.
(8) Preferred Airlines
I really haven't experienced too many that have won me over (yet). In the states, I've probably had better experiences with Alaska Airlines more than most other ones.
I'd just like to have a OW option to add to my :-:A Gold status... something that would be useful when flying out of DXB or AUH.
Thanks in advance for your help!
(1) What is your home airport?
Stateside: Usually PDX, though LAX occasionally.
UAE: I'll be living in Al Ain, so both AUH and DXB are both close.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
With my new job contract, I imagine I'll rack up at least 40k (possibly over 60k) in Economy per year.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? ( First, Business, Economy etc.)
Nearly always Economy.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I'm almost always flying for personal vacations. And the few times it's specifically for work... I buy my ticket, but it has to be Economy.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often? (US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
I'll be going back to the US fairly regularly, with a random trips to Asia, Europe, and Africa thrown in there.
(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present? What is it? (AA Executive Platinum, QF Gold, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
A3 Gold.
(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.)
1. extra baggage allowance
2. low qualifications for maintaining status.
3. longer periods of status staying valid.
(8) Preferred Airlines
I really haven't experienced too many that have won me over (yet). In the states, I've probably had better experiences with Alaska Airlines more than most other ones.
I'd just like to have a OW option to add to my :-:A Gold status... something that would be useful when flying out of DXB or AUH.
Thanks in advance for your help!
May 5, 2013 | 4:00 pm
#364
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: SQ AA TK
Posts: 1,472
Mwenenzi has requested that I contribute some information on MH.
So here goes.
For Asia-Europe, MH redemptions are decently priced.
MH uses a unique reward system. There are 3 bands of redemption if I am not wrong. It's a little like a revenue ticket system. More miles = easier to redeem. I usually find the cheapest band available.
MH only gives 25-30% elite bonus, which is much less generous than other FFP.
Only MH Gold and Plat will get you lounge access when flying Y. MH silver is useless except for the 25% bonus.
Seat selection for elite members don't exist. Their IT system is a mess.
Don't expect too much recognition onboard unless you are Plat flying in J.
If anyone needs more information I will be happy to help.
So here goes.
For Asia-Europe, MH redemptions are decently priced.
MH uses a unique reward system. There are 3 bands of redemption if I am not wrong. It's a little like a revenue ticket system. More miles = easier to redeem. I usually find the cheapest band available.
MH only gives 25-30% elite bonus, which is much less generous than other FFP.
Only MH Gold and Plat will get you lounge access when flying Y. MH silver is useless except for the 25% bonus.
Seat selection for elite members don't exist. Their IT system is a mess.
Don't expect too much recognition onboard unless you are Plat flying in J.
If anyone needs more information I will be happy to help.
May 6, 2013 | 12:11 am
#365
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Asia
Posts: 1,274
Mwenenzi has requested that I contribute some information on MH.
So here goes.
For Asia-Europe, MH redemptions are decently priced.
MH uses a unique reward system. There are 3 bands of redemption if I am not wrong. It's a little like a revenue ticket system. More miles = easier to redeem. I usually find the cheapest band available.
MH only gives 25-30% elite bonus, which is much less generous than other FFP.
Only MH Gold and Plat will get you lounge access when flying Y. MH silver is useless except for the 25% bonus.
Seat selection for elite members don't exist. Their IT system is a mess.
Don't expect too much recognition onboard unless you are Plat flying in J.
If anyone needs more information I will be happy to help.
So here goes.
For Asia-Europe, MH redemptions are decently priced.
MH uses a unique reward system. There are 3 bands of redemption if I am not wrong. It's a little like a revenue ticket system. More miles = easier to redeem. I usually find the cheapest band available.
MH only gives 25-30% elite bonus, which is much less generous than other FFP.
Only MH Gold and Plat will get you lounge access when flying Y. MH silver is useless except for the 25% bonus.
Seat selection for elite members don't exist. Their IT system is a mess.
Don't expect too much recognition onboard unless you are Plat flying in J.
If anyone needs more information I will be happy to help.
May 7, 2013 | 2:21 am
#367
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: homeless 2.0
Programs: A3 Gold, LH FTL
Posts: 1,065
(1) What is your home airport?
MUC
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
20k-35k
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
cheapest economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes I can. Mostly for work.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often
In europe, 1-2 US trips, 0-1 asia trip
(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present
-
(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.)
lounge access
(8) Preferred Airlines
US airways, Air Berlin
I am looking for a OW ffp since US is leaving *A, and AB is sometimes cheaper for europe than LH
Thank you!
MUC
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
20k-35k
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
cheapest economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes I can. Mostly for work.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often
In europe, 1-2 US trips, 0-1 asia trip
(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present
-
(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.)
lounge access
(8) Preferred Airlines
US airways, Air Berlin
I am looking for a OW ffp since US is leaving *A, and AB is sometimes cheaper for europe than LH
Thank you!
May 7, 2013 | 2:34 am
#368
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,937
<snip>
(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.)
lounge access
(8) Preferred Airlines
US airways, Air Berlin
I am looking for a OW ffp since US is leaving *A, and AB is sometimes cheaper for europe than LH
Thank you!
(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.)
lounge access
(8) Preferred Airlines
US airways, Air Berlin
I am looking for a OW ffp since US is leaving *A, and AB is sometimes cheaper for europe than LH
Thank you!
US Airways is to merge with American Airlines(AA) and will be a OW airline, just like AB ^
So consider AA or even AB (little advice on AB here)
Last edited by Mwenenzi; May 7, 2013 at 2:41 am
May 7, 2013 | 3:36 am
#369
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF WP(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,857
(5) Which routes do you fly most often
In europe, 1-2 US trips, 0-1 asia trip
(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.)
lounge access
(8) Preferred Airlines
US airways, Air Berlin
In europe, 1-2 US trips, 0-1 asia trip
(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.)
lounge access
(8) Preferred Airlines
US airways, Air Berlin
You best bet on lounge access would be a (couple of) purchases each year of the (30 day?) AA lounge access package at $99.
Happy wandering.
Fred
May 16, 2013 | 4:11 pm
#372
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: BAEC, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 71
Ok, no...:
http://www.aa.com/arriving/socialfaq.html
Q:
Will I be able to earn AAdvantage miles on US Airways flights?
A:
Not at this time. American and US Airways will remain separate companies and each company will maintain its current loyalty program.
Customers do not earn AAdvantage miles on US Airways today; and there is no immediate impact to the AAdvantage program.
Will I be able to earn AAdvantage miles on US Airways flights?
A:
Not at this time. American and US Airways will remain separate companies and each company will maintain its current loyalty program.
Customers do not earn AAdvantage miles on US Airways today; and there is no immediate impact to the AAdvantage program.
May 22, 2013 | 2:58 am
#373
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: DL SkyClub Lifer
Posts: 10,000
Looking for a program to do very little with...
(1) What is your home airport?
Hilo (ITO)
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
50-100K, economy unless I get upgrades
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Discount Economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Mostly work, has to be cheapest fare or close to it.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often
N/A, I fly all kinds of places.
(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present? What is it?
Silver on UA and DL
(7) What is most important to you in a FFP?
In this particular case, being able to save up miles for redemption, and if possible pool them between family members.
(8) Preferred Airlines
UA, DL
Background: Joined AA way back in 2004, flew them a fair bit until 2005, but ran afoul of the trans-Atlantic "partnership" with BA at the time (no AA miles for BA LAX-LHR, which I did about 3x!) and bailed at the end of the year. Made plat on NW in 2006, held it 'til 2011 before dropping due to a baby. Still have a DL lounge membership until I'm 108. UA introduced mainline service to my town, and no other majors fly there at all, so I've been flying *A a lot.
Scenario: I've got a trip on FJ coming up, and they're partnered with AS (who won't give any miles for the fare class I'm likely to be in), AA (who give 75%) and QF (who give 100%). I'm basically just wondering whether to hold onto my AA account and use it as a dumping ground for the rare, rare OW flight, adding or using a few miles by other means if necessary often enough to keep things from expiring... or get a QF one that would allow once-a-year transfers between family members.
Either way, I have no plans to fly any OW airline enough to earn status - just want to keep the few miles I do earn from a flight or two every few years.
Hilo (ITO)
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
50-100K, economy unless I get upgrades
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Discount Economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Mostly work, has to be cheapest fare or close to it.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often
N/A, I fly all kinds of places.
(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present? What is it?
Silver on UA and DL
(7) What is most important to you in a FFP?
In this particular case, being able to save up miles for redemption, and if possible pool them between family members.
(8) Preferred Airlines
UA, DL
Background: Joined AA way back in 2004, flew them a fair bit until 2005, but ran afoul of the trans-Atlantic "partnership" with BA at the time (no AA miles for BA LAX-LHR, which I did about 3x!) and bailed at the end of the year. Made plat on NW in 2006, held it 'til 2011 before dropping due to a baby. Still have a DL lounge membership until I'm 108. UA introduced mainline service to my town, and no other majors fly there at all, so I've been flying *A a lot.
Scenario: I've got a trip on FJ coming up, and they're partnered with AS (who won't give any miles for the fare class I'm likely to be in), AA (who give 75%) and QF (who give 100%). I'm basically just wondering whether to hold onto my AA account and use it as a dumping ground for the rare, rare OW flight, adding or using a few miles by other means if necessary often enough to keep things from expiring... or get a QF one that would allow once-a-year transfers between family members.
Either way, I have no plans to fly any OW airline enough to earn status - just want to keep the few miles I do earn from a flight or two every few years.
May 22, 2013 | 3:37 am
#374
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,937
Scenario: I've got a trip on FJ coming up, and they're partnered with AS (who won't give any miles for the fare class I'm likely to be in), AA (who give 75%) and QF (who give 100%) I'm basically just wondering whether to hold onto my AA account and use it as a dumping ground for the rare, rare OW flight, adding or using a few miles by other means if necessary often enough to keep things from expiring... or get a QF one that would allow once-a-year transfers between family members.
Either way, I have no plans to fly any OW airline enough to earn status - just want to keep the few miles I do earn from a flight or two every few years.
Either way, I have no plans to fly any OW airline enough to earn status - just want to keep the few miles I do earn from a flight or two every few years.
QF has very poor earn to burn, poor upgrade benefits and extraordinary high cash surcharge on awards. The transfer of points to family is NOT an eligible activity to stop points expiring in an account.
Alaska is also good as they have partners in OneWorld and many others.
Just stay with AA. 75 AA miles has much more value than 100 QF points
Last edited by Mwenenzi; May 22, 2013 at 5:57 am
May 25, 2013 | 12:14 pm
#375
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Singapore
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hh Gold, NH*G, SPGP, SQ-CC
Posts: 1,382
CX Silver Vs QF Gold
About time to reevaluate my O/W strategy.
Firstly about myself,
I am based in SIN and travel to LHR twice a year, I used to fly CX Y but now I fly MH J.
I also travel to HKG/HND once or twice annually with CX.
If I were to travel intra-Asean, I would take Jetstar and earn my points in QFF.
Now, here's the dilemma, CX Silver or QF Gold for me?
If I were to keep crediting my flights to CX, I would only be CX Silver but if I credit my MH J flights to QF, I can easily get QF Gold.
I have evaluated the two programs.
QFF
Easy to get Gold/OWS
High points and fees to redeem flights
Poor earn rate for CX Y
75% Extra points for JQ/3k/QF Flights
Slowly inching to Lifetime Status
CX
Silver gets me into the J lounge whenever I take CX but not OW flights
Damn a lot of miles to get CX Gold
No status tier bonus and only cabin bonus.
Stuck at CX Silver with my flying pattern
I have been thinking that my strategy should be this,
Dump my MH J to QFF and get my QF Gold with a few additional 3k flights
Credit my CX Y flights to the CX Program and drop to Green.
Do ya'll think I am doing it right or you guys have a better opinion?
Firstly about myself,
I am based in SIN and travel to LHR twice a year, I used to fly CX Y but now I fly MH J.
I also travel to HKG/HND once or twice annually with CX.
If I were to travel intra-Asean, I would take Jetstar and earn my points in QFF.
Now, here's the dilemma, CX Silver or QF Gold for me?
If I were to keep crediting my flights to CX, I would only be CX Silver but if I credit my MH J flights to QF, I can easily get QF Gold.
I have evaluated the two programs.
QFF
Easy to get Gold/OWS
High points and fees to redeem flights
Poor earn rate for CX Y
75% Extra points for JQ/3k/QF Flights
Slowly inching to Lifetime Status
CX
Silver gets me into the J lounge whenever I take CX but not OW flights
Damn a lot of miles to get CX Gold
No status tier bonus and only cabin bonus.
Stuck at CX Silver with my flying pattern
I have been thinking that my strategy should be this,
Dump my MH J to QFF and get my QF Gold with a few additional 3k flights
Credit my CX Y flights to the CX Program and drop to Green.
Do ya'll think I am doing it right or you guys have a better opinion?