(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge Access, Upgrades
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
20-40 flights. Mostly trans-atlantic. Some inner european flights
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Premium Economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Work, I can choose myself (given the fare is under cap)
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Transatlantic
(6) What is your home airport?
London 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?
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold, AAdvantage Gold
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Virgin Atlantic

Which OW program fits me?

What is wrong with your AAdvantage Gold status?
Living in UK, the only other option is BA, but you will have no status until earnt. But BA mid-high status will give AA lounge access on USA domestic flights, but that is not much, given the lounge quality.

booking a done4 for a 2 years old. which program allow child to become elite? should have no problem making ba gold as long as we get 4 segments on ba. i know marcopolo wont allow elite until 12.

Hi guys,

I think I will be able to get ~70K EQMs on AA by April this year, and with one more business fare scheduled for December MIGHT be able to hit Platinum on AAdvantage. On the other hand, I might also get highest status on BA even without the December trip, but will have to do 4 sectors on BA/IB for that, since none of the traveling is on their metal/codeshares. Do you think it might be worth for me to credit to BA or better stick to AA? Or maybe try QR/LA? Maybe answers to question below might be helpful to give a good advice.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Free/discounted lounge access, upgrades, award redemption with minimum extra cash spend on YQ and taxes
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
25000-50000 miles - ~25 flights, mostly economy
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Cheapest available, except for reasonably priced business class fares
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
For pleasure only, no work-related traveling, so not constrained to any particular airline
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
~60% intra-Europe, ~40% different transcontinentals with no particular pattern
(6) What is your home airport?
AMS, BRU, DUS
(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?
FlyingBlue Gold
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
KLM/AirFrance, ME3 carriers.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

AAdvantage or Finnair Plus? Or?
 

Hi all & thx for the great forum!
I would really appreciate help in choosing a oneworld FFP.

Best Oneworld Frequent Flyer Program for you?
The answer to this question depends very much on your personal travel profile and objectives.
- what is your definition of best?

Best possibilities to claim flights with miles.

- do you value miles/points (or equivalent) for redemption over gaining status?
To be honest I haven´t fully grasped the concept of miles in this context.

- do you fly enough to gain any meaningful status?
I would assume not

- what do you want to use the miles/points for (award, upgrade, hotels, what ever)?
Flights flights flights

- what sort of flight award is of interest (destination, class of travel)?
Economy/Coach; preferably within Europe but could see spending miles on longer holiday trip to US/Asia.

Mostly interested in flying out for weekends/extended weekends.

- are you interested in topping up by paying cash for miles?
Yes if necessary/good value (but don´t see myself spending more than low 3-digits

- which airline and where do you normally fly?
Cheapest/best connections; all around Europe; no regular destinations

- are you primarily a leisure or business traveller?
leisure

- where do you live?
Helsinki

- do you have other ways of earning points in the various programs, e.g. credit cards, shopping, etc,?
Only reasonable offer I have seen so far would be Finnair Plus Diners but I would think at absolute maximum I´d be capped at around 40k points per year at current terms. To my understanding AAdvantage credit cards are not available in Finland.

Super-rarely stay in hotels (that would be part of a program at least).

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?
Reply: Basically my only goal is to get free/cheap flights. Mostly in within Europe flying out from HEL, but I could see myself using miles on flights to US or Asia.

Baggage, lounge, upgrades, hotels I don´t care about.

(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: 5-10 return/multistep flights in Europe; as far as I can tell <25000. (Have possibility&resources to mileage runs/trips partly motivated by miles so hoping this could be more)

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Economy/cheapest. Often choosing destination and/or time of travel at least partly by fare. Mostly look for discount tickets

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Within oneworld I´m flying out of Helsinki so Finnair dominates lot of the market. Within restrictions of HEL I can choose airline. Do not fly for work.

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

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: HEL (Helsinki)

(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

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: No. Choose by fare. Thinking back last ~5 years mostly flown Lufthansa and Finnair or Finnair affiliates.

OTHER INFORMATION:
Reason I´m asking I have
HEL-MAN-HEL, HEL-LHR-EDI-HEL, HEL-PRG-HEL coming up within next 3 months. I have difficulties estimating what these flights for example would earn me. In addition there´s a special hotel bonus that I will claim that would earn 10-15k Finnair Plus points.

To my understanding there has been relative upgrades in Finnair Plus T&C and AAdvantage is changing their terms which is why I´m a bit confused on the best option even after I´ve tried to do my research.

My current plan is:

1) Join AAdvantage and use the credit the flights (above) there (better program for my purposes long term, Finnair punishes discount/cheap tickets heavily? Though AA will be doing this too very soon? Would I still get these flights (by May) in under the current system?

2) Join Finnair Plus and claim the hotel booking bonus to kickstart my account. Figure out how to earn more point later. (FWIW the same hotel bonus for AA was only 1000 points).
At some point I probably will for example get a special offer on the Finnair Plus Diners right?

Thanks for taking the time, would really appreciate any input to keep me fro second-guessing!

Not an expert here, but given your current travel patterns and the fact that you mostly want flight rewards for as cheap as possible, I would try to put miles to the program that earns the most while being reasonably priced for reward flight. AAdvantage seems like good choice, difficult to say when precisely they turn to revenue-based earnings, but flights till May are most probably safe. But again, you know your booking classes for upcoming flights , so consult wheretocredit.com for optimum choice.

First of all I would like to introduce myself, as I have found this forum very interesting to solve my doubts, now that I am a bit disappointed with Iberia plus program due to a bad customer service I ask you for opinion

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, Lounge access…

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
About 50k miles per year 2-3 transatlantic in Business class and about 10 European flights in economy class

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
When Flying for work in flights over 4 hours Business class, when flying for work in Europe Economy, and when Flying in free time Economy / cheapest

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I can influence if there is not a huge price difference

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

Europe-Argentina/Chile once per year - Iberia/LAN/TAM
Europe-Mexico once per year – AeroMexico/Lufthansa
Europe-NYC once peryear - AA

(6) What is your home airport?
LUG/MXP/LIN
Living in Switzerland closest airport LUG and closest international airport MXP/LIN

(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?
Iberia Plus Silver (about to get gold) and Miles&More Silver

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Iberia, Lufthansa, LAN/TAM

carlosoubina Welcome to FT. Please continue to stay around and post

While knowing nothing about your situation bad customer service is often the traveller expecting more than they are entitled to. Air travel is mass bulk travel for a low price: its not a private jet.

With membership of IB (OneWorld) & Lufthansa (Star Alliance), both with status, you are unlikely to do a lot better with any other ffp. Other than upgrades, what do you use your ff miles for? Upgrades are hard to get on non USA airlines.

USA based airline ffp's tend to be more generous (status benefits/earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s (even after the recently announced changes to some USA ffp’s). But if you do not fly USA based airline tends be of little value, unless looking for awards.

The grass in not always greener on the other side

AAdvantage has no minimum age requirement for status purposes.

she wouldnt make exec plat, so little point.

Hello everyone, Currently AA platinum. Considering joining BA's program because of the changes to AA next month. Based in Belgium, but hate the M&M program for what they charge for award tickets. I use BA and IB for European flights so I'm hesitating.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge access, seat selection, upgrades

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
About 50k miles, mostly in economy class, mostly transatlantic. Some European trips, mostly on BA and IB.

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

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Both. For work, business tickets are allowed only once or twice a year, depending on price.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
British Airways + American, Lufthansa + United on Transatlantic routes. BA and IB on European routes.

(6) What is your home airport?
BRU (DUS, AMS)

(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

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
BA, IB, LH, SN

Thanks!

KipKe Welcome to FT

In post 3 there several AA vs BA and AA vs xx threads started by potential AA refugees
When BA recently announced change there were BA vs xx threads by potential BA refugees.

Like majority of ffp's are doing, benefits are reducing and costs are going up.
The halcyon days of frequent flyer programs a decade ago are gone: just accept reality.

The grass in not always greener on the other side

USA based airline ffp's tend to be more generous (status benefits/earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s (even after the recently announced changes to some USA ffp’s)

Thanks for your answer. I will read the posts you referred to and stick with AA for the time being ;-)

Hi! I am very inexperienced in miles collection (especially with OW) and the forum has given me already a lot of insights! I still have a few questions, so please have a look below if you have time :-)

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Miles redemption

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
25 to 40 flights a year

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

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Mostly for pleasure, and I can always choose the airline (when traveling for work with capped budget)

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
I live in AMS and me and my gf have family in ITA and FRA, so those are the places I fly mostly to

(6) What is your home airport?
AMS

(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?
I recently flew Finnair and banked the miles in my BA FFP.
My company's preferred partners for APAC is Cathay, and I could earn Silver tier in their FFP without the need of actual flights with them. However I do not plan on flying with Cathay anytime soon (I specifically don't have the need to travel to APAC for work).

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
KLM-AF, which is why I almost never use OW.

In March I will fly Qatar AMS-DOH-SGN-DOH-AMS, and I'm wondering where should I collect the miles I will earn? BA? Cathay? Another OW airway?

Additionally, when in VTN I will take between 3 and 5 internal flights. These will probably all be with JetStar, part of Qantas. Will I be able to earn miles with them?

Last question I promise: when I was in Finland I stayed at the Scandic Hotel, which could earn me miles with Finnair. However I don't have a Finnair FFP; is it possible to request these miles with BA (or any other OW)?


Thanks a lot!

I would stay with BA ffp for all your OW flights.
CX ffp is good if you fly premium cabins. There is a recent BA vs CX ffp thread. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...switch-cx.html. 90% sure your need 4 flights with CX for status. BA, QF & AA have the same own airline flights rule for status.

Having multiple ffp’s with low balances is never a good idea. You never get enough miles to be of use before they expires. FFP’s are for the long term.

In Australia you only earn QF points on JQ flights if you buy the add on bundle. JQ Vietnam seem the same. QF ffp is a poor ffp for non Au residents: BA & AA are better

Do you have a SkyTeam ffp? (KLM/AF)
AS has many OW partners including KLM/AF, CX, BA & QF. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...ePlan-partners

Thank you for your reply!

With the bold line above you mean that to earn status on BA, I need to fly BA right?

I am Silver on KLM/AF and indeed I did not consider I could consolidate miles from OW and ST.

Should I then stick to 2 FFPs, one ST (KLM/AF) and one OW (BA), or should I look for something like AS (btw I saw that Qatar is not included in its partners, so I wouldn't know where to redeem the miles of my next flight)? If I decided to change to, let's say, AS, would I be able to transfer my miles balance from BA and KLM?

Yes. 2 flights of the first status level & 4 for the next 2 levels (2 more)

Effectively you cannot move ff miles from one ffp to anther ffp.
To get ff miles for the QF flight you need to be a member of a OW airline ffp or a QF partner.
I would stay with BA ffp for all your OW flights and KLM/AF for Skyteam flights

Within oneworld upgrades can generally only be done on the programs own metal - exception being some AA-BA/IB awards (but only from near full-fare classes eg. Y,B, W, J,C,D,R)
so its probably a tossup between those two.

Hi everyone! Newcomer to the forum here and would appreciate your kind advice! I'm currently a student but will be graduating and starting work this coming summer.

Questions
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
in order of priority: upgrades on travel, good award redemption rates, better award access, priority services when flying the airline, extra baggage allowance, etc...

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
For now I'm still a student so I've been getting the cheapest tickets thus probably the lowest class. When I start working, I think I'll fly around 25000-50000 in a year (VERY rough estimate)

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
business for business trips, cheapest for personal (still a student! but will have to reconsider if getting 25-50% of miles is worth the savings)

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
On business trips it'll most likely be Cathay. On personal trips, I choose the best value for money (i.e. I'd pay 100-200 more for a better airline) and also seek out deals with budget airlines around Asia.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Uncertain as of now, though I see myself flying HKG-YYZ, HKG-SIN, HKG-PEK more frequently. Other ad-hoc personal travels can be anywhere in the world

(6) What is your home airport?
It will be HKG when I start work, but other important airports are SIN and YYZ (Toronto)

(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?
I have around 20k miles in BA as my parents signed me up on that a long time ago. I have 105 points in Marco Polo/Airmiles as I got it through my office. I also have around 22k miles on Aeroplan. I'm all over the place, I know, that's why I need help... :(

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Prefer Cathay, JAL, Singapore Airlines, ANA. Hate Air Canada and United but had to take these more frequently because I'm still a student for now!

Thanks in advance!!

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- Upgrades to Business Class or higher
- Award and redemption rates
- Priority services
- (if possible lounge access)

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
I am still a student, so I am mostly flying economy class on European flight throughout the year. In the summer I often spend my time in East Asia (e.g. TYO, HKG)

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
The second lowest economy fare, which often gives me 50% of the normal miles. I wouldn't mind to pay a little bit more to gain more miles.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
In the past, I often choose the cheapest, comfortable and reliable airline. It had been Emirates or CX for the past few years, but they are getting more expensive. So, I am going to travel with Qatar Airways this year to Asia. On the other hand, I also fly British Airways often to London LGW/LHR. Just for pleasure!

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
AMS-LON, AMS-TYO, AMS-HKG

(6) What is your home airport?
AMS or 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?
At the moment, not really a significant amount of miles on QR Privilege Club and BA Executive Club (Blue).

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Preffered: CX, QR, BA, AY Common: BA

Thanks in advance :D

kevvnn Welcome to FT

With cheap ecomony fares and no status the chances of getting upgrade are nil to extremely low. Low to mid ranage fares are often not eligible for upgrades.
With non USA based airlines always expect to fly in the cabin you buy: upgrades are not given out like with USA based airlines.
Upgrades are usually only available with ffp miles/points on the airline flights of your ffp. Upgrades, with ff miles, upgrade instruments or free due to status on non USA based airlines are not common.

With a few flights it makes no sense yo have multiple ffps' More so if all are Oneworld airlines. Having multiple ffp’s with low balances is never a good idea. You never get enough miles to be of use before they expires. FFP’s are for the long term.

For most people BA would be a better ffp compared to QR for flying with low cost economy fares.

(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.)
--Upgrades, good award redemption, good award access, lounge access
Reply:
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
(<25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles - <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)

80 flights, 200k miles, 179k points

Reply:
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Econ
Reply:
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes
Reply:
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
tokyo to SFO, SYD, SIN, TPE, Lax, ATL, ICN (within OZ, US domestic)
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply:
Asia
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
HND or NRT
Reply:
(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)
Exp American (moved to Tokyo last yr)
Reply:
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Qantas to SYD and AUS travel, JAL to Sin, TPE, ICN, AA or JAL to the US

Also looking at move to Star (but understand there is no star partner in Australia)

How long will you be living in Japan for?

Upgrades on non USA airlines operate very differently to upgrades on USA airlines. For upgrades with airlines based out of the USA always expect to fly in the class you buy.

I would stay with AA, but you need 4 AA marketed flights to keep status.

USA based airline ffp's tend to be more generous (status benefits/earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry/affiliated credit cards/promotions) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s (even after the recently announced changes to some USA ffp’s)

The grass in not always greener on the other side

There is no domestic airline in Australia in the Star alliance (RIP Ansett 2001)

Greetings, o combined wisdom of these great Flyertalk boards!

For a few years I sang praises of the Executive Club program with BA, till it begun to dawn with much sadness that it is not quite where I want to bank my miles earned via travels on One World carriers. Some reasons, the airlines are responsible for, others, based on my own changing needs. Hopefully, the following survey will help you help me find a new program. My instinct is that AA is best suited for me, but I am keen to hear what you all astute minds have to say.

Thanks!

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?
Primarily Award Redemption in Premium cabins (Business mostly). On occasions when not flying Business, access to Priority Lines would be good too.

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

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Business or Premium Economy for International. Economy domestic. Most of my travel is international.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I have freedom to choose. Work and pleasure both.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
US-INDIA twice a year. US-Europe once or maybe twice. Domestic US occasionally

(6) What is your home airport?
NYC (all 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?
BA Exec Club (Bronze/ OW Ruby)

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
A few years ago, I stopped chasing elite status, and buy based on price. But most often I find myself flying BA and LH. Contemplating Finnair and Malaysia for an upcoming trip. I prefer AA for domestic.

Another variable I wanted to point out was that I use SPG, Ultimate Rewards and Membership Rewards to top accounts that I need to redeem from.

-Based in Frankfurt.
-currently Gold with FlyingBlue/Skyteam.
-Expect increased business travel to various destinations in Asia on fully flexible business fare (5-10 round trips per year)
-secretary booked 3 of my upcoming trips to Asia with Finnair/JAL (coincidence?) in business class. wanting to join a OW ffp to not "waste" the sweet miles

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

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: At least 50k miles, 5-10 round trips Europe to Asia/USA

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Business (for intercontinental flights) fully flexible D fares, for personal travel I buy business class sale fare with KLM and Air France

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: no. Travel for work

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Reply: Europe-Asia/USA, 5-10 round trips/year, which airline? i havent figured out the pattern yet. mostly will depend on what the corporate travel agency books for me

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

(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: Flyingblue Skyteam Gold, nothing with OW so far...

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: for personal travel I fly with KLM mostly, for business trips airlines are decided randomly (perhaps the cheapest fare for fully flexible business class)

Thank you in advance for your advice!!

It looks like I'll be moving from NY to Singapore, and am having some trouble figuring which OW FFP would be the best for status for me. I'll probably be flying back home 2-3 times per year, but since it's on my own dime I'll be looking for economy flights. Really appreciate any suggestions.

I've been looking at CX, BA and AA, but all of them seem to be quite difficult to earn status on cheap flights and I'd rather not fly on AA metal.

Thanks!

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Upgrades, 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: Figure 8 sectors, 40k miles. - estimating at least 2-3 round trips each year, each way is about 10k miles and 2 sectors (JFK-HKG-SIN)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Cheapest, but would pay a little extra in economy to earn status
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes (pleasure)
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Transpacific
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: JFK/SIN
(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: No status, under 100k miles at CX
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: CX

Looks like the collective wisdom is taking a hiatus. :D

If you care about getting a status in OW, you either have to do a status match on TopBonus (since you reside in Germany) or you'd better join JL/AY's own FFP. OW airlines have a requirement where in order to qualify for a meaningful status you have to fly their own marketed flights. Reportedly, AY also does a status match if you prove you're about to fly their metal, so you might get some extra tier bonus right away, which might be up to 100% with current promo to Japan. I might consider AAdvantage as well, but since you're mostly flying business, even on your own leisure travel, not sure, how relevant tier benefits for you are.

While I agree that AY or JL would be the most logical choice if you would use those airlines predictably in the future, seeing that any OW miles earned might well be orphaned points and earning them depends solely on the whim of your employers' travel staff, I`d forgo chasing status on OW and focus purely on earning redeemable miles and keeping the balance alive over a longer period of time. Best is to park them in a program with generous expiration policies.
The best programs for this are AA or BA/IB, as those programs have the most liberal expiration policies (ANY activity will keep the whole account balance alive). Decide between the two according to desired redemptions (AA better for longhaul travel, BA better for shorter flights).

If you can plan your trips well in advance and are willing to pay a premium over discounted economy, I`d go with CX and fly them in premium economy - they have (infrequent) sales where these seats go for very affordable prices. I paid under 1,000 USD for an E fare on ZRH-HKG-BKK and back last month, which is significantly cheaper than a YBHK fare yet would earn more elite qualifying points and redeemable miles than those high Y fare classes.

Other than that, if you want to keep flights as cheap as possible while earning a significant number of miles, your only option is going with AA and buying AA codeshares on CX flights.
That is valid as long as AA keeps its current elite qualifying scheme, where even the cheapest fares earn 1 EQM per mile flown. Which may stay or be devalued come 2017 or beyond - they are pretty much the last holdout among major airlines' FFPs to award 1 EQM per mile flown even on the cheapest fares now.

BTW, the AA 773 between DFW and HKG isn't that bad - especially when you have mid-tier and above status which will let you select MCE seats for free.

Hi,

I am OW gold now, and I intend to keep it. I am AB gold, mainly because I used it for short flights and was able to reach the number of flights required.

I just moved to Finland, and I won't be flying air berlin anymore, mostly Finnair. It will take some time to become Finnair gold. During that time, I was wondering if I can still enjoy the OW Sapphire benefits?

So Basically the questions comes down to this.
Is it possible to collect points on Finnair plus, but use the benefetis of AB gold.

my interpretation is yes, because nowhere is said that your status should be on your ticket.

My flights are economy short haul, Business long haul.

Confused on options
 

Hi there, reposted this from the Newbie thread as I've since realised this is probably a more appropriate place:

After looking around a few frequent flyer programs I have decided I would like to focus on oneworld mainly due to my geographical position and the flights and costs on offer. However, I find myself in a bit of a difficult situation as to how I could proceed. I live in Edinburgh but my partner's family lives in Cape Town, and I know I will be making consistent journeys once or twice a year for the foreseeable future. I am a student at the moment and so price will usually be the defining factor for me, but I am interested in building up points to redeem on travel. So I've had a look at how I can earn points and redeem them with Qatar or BA.

AVIOS on BA metal: 33000 avios + £400 surcharges and taxes.
AVIOS on Qatar metal: 100000 avios + £290 surcharges and taxes.
Qmiles on Qatar metal: 98000 qmiles + £290 surcharges and taxes.

So considering flights on the route are generally £400-500 unless in peak times (with Qatar or Turkish) I don't see much value in flying BA, and considering I'm going to struggle to earn 98000 qmiles before they expire (I earnt only 8000 on my first trip recently) I'm finding difficulty seeing how I'm going to get any value out of either frequent flyer program. I'm not particularly bothered about earning status, unless it's going to get me into a better position for lower cost flights. I'm currently considering that I could just fly Qatar, claiming them as avios and spend them on flights around europe. I could also spend them on BA flights during peak times when £400 surcharges could in fact offer a real saving. I suppose ffp's aren't really geared towards infrequent flyers!

Sorry for the long post, just feeling a bit confused over what direction to go in, I have another trip coming up and I don't want to credit the miles to the wrong ffp!

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and could offer some advice?

Thanks very much!

Yes, most benefits, anyway. The key is to have your AY (Finnair) number on the booking, so you build up your status there and have your AB (airberlin) card on you to show at lounges, etc

Priority security might be an issue (as your BP will show no status) but easy to get around. Check in first (online) with your AB number and print out the bp - it will show your OWS status. Then go back to the checkin page, modify your checkin and replace the AB number with your AY number. At security just show your bp with the AB number on it, showing "priority security".

Come over to the Finnair board for more discussion!

Help in decision needed
 

Hey guys, I am just starting working in London from Summer 2016 onwards. This is why I am starting completely new and do not have a status. However, as I will be travelling internationally in business class to NYC approx. 2-3 times a year and within Europe in economy class approx. 10 times a year, I wanted to ask you for you advice on which loyalty programme to choose.

Questions
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: upgrades on travel, lounge access, free reward flights
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: 25000-50000 in business & economy class (50/50)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Business for work; lowest economy for leisure
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: yes, all the time
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Reply: LHR - NYC in business 2-3 times a year; within the EU 10 times a year in economy (mainly LHR/LCY - DUS/FRA)
(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: London LHR/LCY
(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: No status; 50 Tier points and 2000 Avios with BA Executive Club
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: Due to the Routes mainly BA

Philipp_Arthur Welcome to FT
Stay with BA. Living in UK and fly BA routes hard to see other ffp will be better.
Award flights with BA are a long way from free. The infamous BA carrier surcharge.

The airline you fly most or an airline of the country you live is the best ffp for many people. Generally however you are better earning on your primary airline due to greater recognition, better service when flight disruptions, ability to upgrade and possible operation upgrades.

Have a look at the BA forum for information about upgrades on BA. Just do not expect to be getting upgrades. For upgrades with airlines based out of the USA always expect to fly in the class you buy. It is only USA based airlines that give out upgrades for free, by status or upgrade instruments, or with miles-cash co pay.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...tive-club-446/

Please advise
 

Hey all! I am a college student looking for a suitable OW FFP. I have flown with JAL and AA in the past, though have yet to acquired status with any of the two. I am trying to decide to stick to only one FFP, and was wondering whether I should stick with either of the two above or start fresh with something else (i.e. CX). I also plan on doing MR in the future, but probably once every 2 months due to my obligation.


(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
I would say upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, better award access.

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Because I fly back and forth between Asia (HAN) and America (JFK or ORD) RT about twice a year, plus occasional domestic flights, I would say somewhere around ~30,000 - 35,000 miles a year?

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Mostly Econ., a few times Prem. Econ.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I frequently fly for winter & spring break, which has been AA recently. I also fly transcon in summer because home is in Asia.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
PHL-ORD, HAN-JFK, HAN-IAD

(6) What is your home airport?
During summer and sometimes January - HAN
For the most part of the year I would either fly out from JFK or IAD, or for shorter routes from PHL.

(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?
Basic AAdvantage and JAL Mileage Bank.
For AA, I have 1,800 EQMs and 3/30 EQSs.
For JAL, current mileage balance is at 16,700 and lifetime mileage is at 25,400.

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
I mostly fly with JAL and AA.

I am new to this so please bare with me for any confusion in my replies. Please advise on what FFP I should stick with!

MH or CX?
 

I am a Malaysian student studying in Hong Kong. I fly home (KUL) quite often (once a month or even twice) and I travel occasionally to other parts of Asia and even to Australia and Europe. As a MH Silver member (which does not seem to enjoy much privileges), Im having a tough time deciding which OW FFP should I stick with, MH or CX? CX is changing their MPC regulations and accruing sectors on their flights proves daunting after having advice from MPC DMs.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Priority services and most importantly lounge access for I always arrive way earlier than SDT

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
20,000-30,000, pretty much in J and PE

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
J, PEY, and Y (seldom discounted Y as I always want to collect as many miles as possible)

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

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
HKG-KUL on CX but accruing MH, HKG to TPE, KUL to SIN etc.

(6) What is your home airport?
KUL

(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?
MH Silver (approx. 30,000 miles), CX Green (5600+ AM)

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
CX preferred and most flown on (they offer attractive prices for layover flights), MH is always in my pocket list too if the fares offered are reasonable.

Would really appreciate if you could give me a wise word or two, I have few major trips coming up in May, June and July (my CX membership due every August). Much thanks in advance! :)

I am new to this flyer game, and still figuring out how to play it.

Questions
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: free reward flights

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: 50000-75000 in economy class

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

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: mostly work. I can choose to certain degree

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

Syd to Scl
Syd to LAX
Syd to SIN

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: Syd and Scl

(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: I do not understand it. So I guess no. LANPASS says I am PREMIUM (not sure what it means).

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: Due to the Routes very mixed. Probably Lan and Qantas due to the home bases.

What should I do? I now have mileage programs with LAN, AA, Delta, UA, so quite a mess I have created. I will probably choose one from oneworld or starA that has good connections out of Syd, but QF seems bad. So what to do?

transhuman Welcome to FT

Award flights are a long way from free. You pay real taxes on all. Some ffp's, like BA & QF, have carrier imposed surcharges on many awards. AA awards on BA has carrier imposed surcharges. Worth checking on LAN if they have award surcharges.

Having multiple ffp’s with low balances is never a good idea. You never get enough miles to be of use before they expire. FFP’s are for the long term. The airline you fly and the airline ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be the same. This is what ff partners are all about.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...nt-expire.html

USA based airline ffp's tend to be more generous (status benefits/earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry/affiliated credit cards/promotions) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s (even after the recently announced changes to some USA ffp’s

LA & AA are oneworld and partners (as is QF). Pick one. Very little (nil?) comparisons of LA ffp to others. QF is a poor ffp. Unless you get QF points from credit cards and/or fly eligible JQ flights a lot. Look at post 330 here for AA vs QF award cost & surcharges,

LAN premium = Oneworld ruby. The lowest status = AA gold & QF silver. Has some benefits, but not lounge access.
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/my-onew...s-premium#tier
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/ruby-privileges

UA is Star Alliance. You need activity every 18 months to stop miles expiring. Worth keeping as your Star Alliance ffp
DL is Skyteam and a Virgin Australia partner. DL miles do not expire, but refereed to a Sky pesos here on FT.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...29-2016-a.html

Help Pls
 

Hi everyone,

I have a question.

I will soon be flying with Qatar from LHR to DOH to DAR (Round Trip)
afterwards will be flying Cathay Pacific from LHR to HKG then to PEK (One Way)
Then with Qatar from PEK to DOH to LHR (Round Trip)

I have just recently joined Qatar's Privilege Club (lowest tier with no prior points of miles) and I am open to joining other OW FF programs.

So my question is what FF program in OW will get me to OW top tier statuses (ideally Sapphire) (Unlikely Emerald)

Thanks!