new to OW
 

Hello. I have been UA 1K and Lufthansa Senator for several years. I am thinking it would be better to have status in 2 different alliances rather than 2 statuses in the same alliance. I am an expert on Star, but not familiar with OW.
I was QR gold for a couple of years, but didn't not qualify for QR in 2013. Since QR has joined OW, I thought this would be a good time to consider getting OW status. I could easily change back some of my flying to QR. Even though I am based in HKG, I am not a fan of CX.

(1) What is your home airport?
HKG

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?

150k to 200k per year, about 75% in biz and the rest in economy. Usually longhaul in Biz and flights around 3 hours or less in economy. For personal, I fly economy.

When paying my own ticket, I try to fly economy with an upgrade, usually to USA or within Asia, never to Europe.

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

discounted biz class, usually booked 2 to 10 days before travel and rarely make changes.

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

For my work, I can choose the airline and class as long as I stay within a given budget of the total amount spent per year. The budget is a percentage of sales so it is not a set amount. If I use up the budget, the rest of the year is in economy. So I shop for a reasonable priced biz class even with stopovers. CX is usually out of my budget.

For example, I often fly HKG to Europe by HKG-BKK on TG then BKK-Europe on MS with an open jaw in Europe. TG and MS on separate tickets. MS biz class is usually dirt cheap and surprisingly decent and I often stay a night or 2 in BKK in each direction time permitting.

For HKG-China, I generally need to use HX as we have a corporate agreement.


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

For work (% is mileage wise, not number of flights, so the small percentages could still be a lot more actual flights)
65% Asia to Europe
3% within Europe
10% HKG to China or China domestic
12% Asia to USA
10% within Asia

Often my trips to Europe have stops in several cities in Europe for biz and if using non EU airlines I usually have open jaw tickets with separate tickets for the EU cities. Many times I cannot confirm the Europe stops at the same time I buy the HKG-Europe ticket and sometimes buy the intra Europe flights after arriving at my first stop in Europe. When I leave HKG, only my return date back to HKG is firm.

Generally in Europe my work takes me between LHR, MXP, CDG and FLR. Occasionally MAD, AOI, FRA, ZRH and TXL. I take the train whenever reasonably possible.

For personal
50% HKG to USA
50% within Asia



(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present?

No status for OW airlines. I was QR gold for a couple of years but did not qualify in 2013. Also CX green

UA 1k and million mile flyer
LH Senator
HX silver


(7) What is most important to you in a FFP?

In order of priority: Elite Status at airport/telephone, upgrades (mostly for intra Asia, intra Europe, domestic USA, domestic China - in that order), mileage redemption (mostly in Asia), lounge access.



(8) Preferred Airlines

UA (not likely to change from UA when UA is available on route)
QR
HX
LH

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!!!

(1) What is your home airport?

Reply: SEL (ICN or GMP)

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?

Reply:Somewhat more than 50k (Edit: to clarify, these would be the miles that would mostly on One World, separate from my current personal and other business flights on *A, which are about another 40k, but that I would like to keep with *A unless One World completely blows me away)

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

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply:Personally, I fly OZ whenever possible, but new work has me frequently flying with JAL in Y soon. My OW inquiry is exclusively related to travel for work, probably all in Y, and pretty much all JAL.

(5) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: I will almost exclusively be shuttling between GMP and HND. Should I personally fly with OW later on, there might be some ICN-FRA and ICN-SFO flights as well.

(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)
Reply: None so far. In fact, I've never even flown an OW airline before. I've always been a Star Alliance guy and occasionally flown a Sky Team airline whenever they were offered the only reasonable routing/price.

(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.)
Reply: 1. Upgrades
2. Priority services and lounge access
3. Good award program (in terms of both access and redemption rates)
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: I will be flying pretty much exclusively JAL, though if I get enough miles on OW and am happy enough with the program I might occasionally fly AA or BA in the US and Europe, respectively and I've always wanted to try CX for intra-Asia or possibly also to the US.

My personal thoughts at the moment are that it's probably best to go with the JAL service as in my experience you get better treatment in the long run if you are a FFP member of the airline whose metal you are flying, but the earn/burn ratio looks quite bad, so there is a better option after all? Please keep in mind that I'd probably have issues with any requirements to accrue x miles on a specific airline other than JAL.

Thanks in advance for any input and suggestions!

Hello, I recently purchased a Qatar airways ticket to India from Chicago and was planning to sign up for one of the OneWorld programs. I wasn't sure if I should sign up for American Airlines (I live in the US), British Airways (trying to get a free ticket to Europe), Qatar (booked through them so not sure if I would get the most points through them), Asia Airways (I was emailed that they are offering a promotion for double points for Qatar flights)

(1) What is your home airport?
CAK/CLE but for big trips go out to ORD, JFK, EWR

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?

<10,000 3-4 flights per year within the US and possibly 1 international flight per year. Always in economy.

(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?

Travel for pleasure and I have the ability to choose my own airlines.

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

US Domestic

(6) Do you have FFP status of any kind of OW or other airline at present?

No status.

(7) What is most important to you in a FFP?

Upgrades or award flight

(8) Preferred Airlines

American Airlines for domestic, British Airways to Europe, Qatar to Asia.

As a USA resident AA for sure. You can use AA miles for award flights with AA, BA & QR. With AA you get miles from other sources

Do you know what QR fare class you bought (a letter from A to Z)? Low cost fares can have nil or low miles earning.

For upgrades the general rule is you can only upgrade a flight marketed (flight number) and operated (metal) by the airline of your freq flyer programme (no codeshares). 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 (expensive) upgrade exceptions with AA/BA/IB with higher priced economy fares. For airline's not based in the USA, upgrades work differently. Business & First is usually paid or with some occasional upgrade opportunity. Business and First class is not "upgrade" class for everyone who is a FFP.

I am about to have my family relocate to Australia while I stay in the middle east for a few more years. As such I will be effectively commuting and would like to make the most of all the flying.
Questions
For members asking for information please help people to assist you, can you provide:
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: Dubai
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Reply: I expect 50k+
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? ( First, Business, Economy etc.)
Reply: economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: yes/yes pleasure
(5) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Dubai- Sydney
(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)
Reply: no
(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.)
Reply:Upgrades
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply:No real preference. Whoever is offering the best deal at the time. I have used CX, MH and QF in the past.

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to FT & Australia

Have a look at Qatar, a new OW airline. But no idea about QR upgrades
Qantas upgrade method-policy is poor: a lottery. And expensive in QF points
Flying Dubai Aust with a Emirates EK flight number will get QF points, but not QF status credits.
AA has good miles earn to burn ratio. Indeed at times an AA award (with AA miles) can be less than a QF upgrade (with QF points) on the same route

Welcome
Extra questions.
Where to in Australia? Qatar flies to Perth/Melbourne and Sydney is planned.
Are you willing to pay more than the minimum fares to earn points/miles/status and ticketing flexibility?
Where is original home? If trips there are factored in, a different choice might emerge.

Happy wandering

Fred

I am a LH FTL using mostly LH, OS, 4U but now I am not really satisfied anymore due to the last "program enhancements". Will renew my FTL in 2013 for another two years. Qualification as a rule by legs not by miles since M&M awards in particular "long" instead of frequent flyers.

Starting from 2014 I expect increased travel activity from Europe to the Gulf region (most probably DXB). Recently I booked a trip in 2014 from Germany to Australia with QR (ECO Q) and would use this opportunity to start with an OW FFP.
From time to time I use to fly with AB (Germany domestic) and S7 (Russia/ CIS domestic).



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

CGN/FRA, MSQ

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)

status miles
<25K in Economy (but approximately 40-50 legs)
<25K in Business

Expecting an increase starting from 2014 to >50K easily

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

85% Economy (restricted)
15% Business (discounted)


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

airlines: yes, free choice
class of service: when travelling for work starting from four hours flight time Business, otherwise Economy
when travelling private: 95% in Economy

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

within Europe (Germany, Switzerland), Europe-CIS, in the future: Europe- Gulf Region

(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)

LH FTL


(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.)

status validity for a long period (not only one year), priority services, lounge access, award redemption rates/ availability

(8) Preferred Airlines

none in OW

Congratulations on your first post (after 5 years on FT) ^
Not aware of any OW airline that has a very long status period. With QF for example if you get status within your year you keep it until the end on the next. That is if you qualify for example, in month 1 or month 12, it will expire at the end of month 24 (1 year after your aniversary)

With some OW FFP's you only drop 1 level per year if you do not requalify. Others your can drop 2 or 3 levels :( (as AA's recent change)
http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/member-airline-programmes
http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/my-oneworld-tier-status/
http://www.hotels-and-travel.de/ffp/ (may not be up to date)
Lounge access is by status:- http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access/
www.oneworld.com/ffp/my-oneworld-tier-status/

Often you get better service with the airline of your FFP, when you are flying with them. You are always 2nd with other airlines.

AA is the best for many people. Even with QR's recent joining of OW, there has been little comparison of QR with other FFP's.

Thanks - I am not a person of too many words )

Hi everyone I've been United 1k for the last several years. I'm moving to SYD with limited *A so I need to switch. Who has the best economy to business upgrades? I'm going to miss my GPUs.

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: SYD
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Reply: 100k
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? ( First, Business, Economy etc.)
Reply: Economy
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or, class of service?. Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: both but I try for flex when work pays
(5) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Asia, inter-OZ and OZ-US
(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)
Reply: UA 1k for past few years
(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.)
Reply: Upgrades and low redemption
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: none

Welcome to Australia ^

Is SYD permanent or temporary ?

100,000 miles is lot in economy :eek:

If upgrades and low redemption are you main requirements Qantas is not for you. Upgrades on non USA airlines work very differently to common upgrade practice in the USA. You will find it difficult to get upgrades with miles in this region & in Asia. Your credit card will be best to fly business class

Consider AA and in the AA challenge. And if you can put some star alliance flights to US Airways ffp, instead of United ffp, those US Airways miles should convert to AA miles when the merger happens. That is if it does happen, as it subject to legal proceeding, who knows what else, etc

Have a look the linked threads in post 2

No one has any advice?

The only status that seems to fit would be Cathay Silver with 30K miles / year. AA might be an alternative if traveling to the USA every year, but would suffer from the requirement to fly on CX in at least H class (or PEY).

Happy wandering

Fred

Considering wether LANPASS is my best option
 

I switched from AA to LAN about a year and a half ago, and now I'm considering whether it was the right call. Any help would be appreciated!

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
JFK, occasionally EWR, LGA, BDL.

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
60K so far, 70-80K by the end of the year. Always in Economy.

(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?
Get to choose my airlines, not class of service. Although LAN is usually the most convenient way to get to where I'm going.
Travel mostly for work, occasionally for pleasure.

(5) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
4 or 5 trips US to Chile and Peru, 1 or 2 trips to Central America or Argentina.

(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)
LANPASS Premium Silver
AAdvantage 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.)
Ranked in order of importance:
Upgrades on travel.
Good award redemption rates.
Free - discounted lounge access.
All the rest.

(8) Preferred Airlines
LAN, AA.

Thank you!