Deciding on a Oneworld Frequent Flyer Program? Help is here.
Mar 5, 2014, 3:52 am
#616
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,524
I'm overwhelmed by the amount of info regarding FF programs 
, so I've decided to just ask and hope to get pointed in the right direction.
My goal is simple: I take an annual return trip from New York to Sydney, and am looking for the best FF program to bank my miles in so I can get the best deal I can for this route. This also involves signing up for credit card offers and other means of collecting miles (shopping, whatever), but I need to know which program to join first
. I'm currently with QFF but I live in New York so I can't really build up my miles when not flying.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good award redemption rate for my specific route, and travel upgrades if possible
, so I've decided to just ask and hope to get pointed in the right direction.My goal is simple: I take an annual return trip from New York to Sydney, and am looking for the best FF program to bank my miles in so I can get the best deal I can for this route. This also involves signing up for credit card offers and other means of collecting miles (shopping, whatever), but I need to know which program to join first
. I'm currently with QFF but I live in New York so I can't really build up my miles when not flying.(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good award redemption rate for my specific route, and travel upgrades if possible
Only 1 choice: AA. Look at post 330. You will get AA miles on QF flights. But check if an eligible earning booking class. Some cheap fares were not, but with a change to booking class earning last year most (all?) are.
AS is an option as QF, AA & DL are partners: http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...ePlan-partners
Other airlines to Australia (from LAX) are
- United (Star Alliance)
- Virgin Australia (DL & VA are ff partners)
- Delta (DL & VA are ff partners)
- Air NZ (via AKL) (Star Alliance)
- Hawaiian (AA ff partner)
- Fiji Airways (AA ff partner)
and many via Asia or the Middle East
You will need to careful about QF points expiry. 18 months without eligible activity they expire. Use them if you can. Can be keep alive by several non flying ways including hotel, rental car, asking QF for a new ff card(1000 points) or when in Australia signing up to www.everydayrewards.com.au and then spending $31 on food or booze
AS is an option as QF, AA & DL are partners: http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...ePlan-partners
Other airlines to Australia (from LAX) are
- United (Star Alliance)
- Virgin Australia (DL & VA are ff partners)
- Delta (DL & VA are ff partners)
- Air NZ (via AKL) (Star Alliance)
- Hawaiian (AA ff partner)
- Fiji Airways (AA ff partner)
and many via Asia or the Middle East
You will need to careful about QF points expiry. 18 months without eligible activity they expire. Use them if you can. Can be keep alive by several non flying ways including hotel, rental car, asking QF for a new ff card(1000 points) or when in Australia signing up to www.everydayrewards.com.au and then spending $31 on food or booze
The two cheapest QF booking classes earn only 25 % with AA, and the six fare classes one and two steps up the fare price ladder earn a still meager 50%. QF economy fares earning more than 50% on AA get horrendously expensive. I've flown in business on MH for less money than QF wanted for a "H" coded economy ticket that was far away from being full fare!
I don't think QF offers an affiliated cc in the US. AFAIK their relationship with Amex is limited to Australia. Check Amex if they allow MR points transfer to QFF for US-based members, though.
I would switch to AA only if you'd be willing (and able) to play the credit card game in the US. The miles generated by AA (and US! US miles will become AA miles at one point as the merger progresses, and in the meantime applying for US cards just doubles the opportunity for sign-on boni. US cards don't have a spend requirement, either) cc activity more than make up for the lower earning on AA on one flight a year. If you do not want or can not do that, stick with QFF.
Mar 5, 2014, 11:55 pm
#617
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 6
Doing this flight once a year, there's no need to worry about QF points expiry. The QF points expiration counter is reset by any activity once every 18 months only, and one flight within 12 months will keep all points safe from expiring as long as rules don't change.
The two cheapest QF booking classes earn only 25 % with AA, and the six fare classes one and two steps up the fare price ladder earn a still meager 50%. QF economy fares earning more than 50% on AA get horrendously expensive. I've flown in business on MH for less money than QF wanted for a "H" coded economy ticket that was far away from being full fare!
I don't think QF offers an affiliated cc in the US. AFAIK their relationship with Amex is limited to Australia. Check Amex if they allow MR points transfer to QFF for US-based members, though.
I would switch to AA only if you'd be willing (and able) to play the credit card game in the US. The miles generated by AA (and US! US miles will become AA miles at one point as the merger progresses, and in the meantime applying for US cards just doubles the opportunity for sign-on boni. US cards don't have a spend requirement, either) cc activity more than make up for the lower earning on AA on one flight a year. If you do not want or can not do that, stick with QFF.
The two cheapest QF booking classes earn only 25 % with AA, and the six fare classes one and two steps up the fare price ladder earn a still meager 50%. QF economy fares earning more than 50% on AA get horrendously expensive. I've flown in business on MH for less money than QF wanted for a "H" coded economy ticket that was far away from being full fare!
I don't think QF offers an affiliated cc in the US. AFAIK their relationship with Amex is limited to Australia. Check Amex if they allow MR points transfer to QFF for US-based members, though.
I would switch to AA only if you'd be willing (and able) to play the credit card game in the US. The miles generated by AA (and US! US miles will become AA miles at one point as the merger progresses, and in the meantime applying for US cards just doubles the opportunity for sign-on boni. US cards don't have a spend requirement, either) cc activity more than make up for the lower earning on AA on one flight a year. If you do not want or can not do that, stick with QFF.
I was looking at redemption rates for AA as well and saw the meager 25%, thanks for confirming that. I've been looking to play the credit card game though, so I may switch to AA if I can figure out how to do it right. So what should I do with the 39k points in my QFF account right now?
Mwenenzi mentioned AS, where I'd get "actual flight miles", so should I bank my miles with them instead of AA? Because their redemption rate seems better than Qantas (42,500 Miles + $39.60 for New York to Syd compared to 64k points on Qantas)
And just throwing it out there, but would I get better value from switching airlines/alliances? (like the VA/DL partnership, or the Star Alliance)
Last edited by imaltesers; Mar 5, 2014 at 11:57 pm Reason: Added sample redemption for AS
Mar 6, 2014, 2:45 am
#618
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
Compare
AA earnings (even at 25% or 50%) vs the AA miles needed for an AA award and the minimal cash taxes
to
QF earnings (even at 100%) vs the QF points needed for an QF award and the high cash taxes/fees/surcharges
From post 330
LAX-SYD one way
Economy QF 48,000 - AA 37,500
P Ec QF 72,000 - AA n.a
Bus QF 96,000 - AA 62,500
First QF 144,000 - AA 72,500
Plus a lot of $$$ in fees / surcharges to QF
Use your QF 39,000 points on an award in the USA on an AA or AS flight
As imaltesers is looking to boost miles with non-flying activities better to use AA (or AS) as a freq flyer (spender) program
Mar 6, 2014, 5:05 am
#619
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,524
Unless you go all-in with manufactured spending and churning multiple credit cards for sign-on bonus miles, you won't be able to generate enough miles in any program to fly to Australia and back purely on points every year, so some of these miles have to come from flying.
And to not let your existing QFF miles go to waste should you decide to change programs - redeem them for AA flights. Your points should be good to get you anywhere and back within 2,400 miles. Enjoy a nice trip to say, anywhere in the Caribbean, Central America, or even Vegas...
.The AS program looks like it could be a good choice for you, though. They have a large earning partner network and a generous award chart. Plus, as an independent, financially healthy smaller carrier, they might be less inclined to devalue their FFP like it's currently en vogue with the legacy airlines. Current trend with FFPs is to reward spend rather than mileage. UA and DL have implemented changes to their programs in this regard, and it remains to be seen if and how the merged AA will follow suit. Personally, I doubt the current terms will survive much beyond 2015.
Mar 9, 2014, 7:52 pm
#620
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: CMH,BLR
Programs: AA Plat Pro, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Gold, HH Gold, Virgin Atlantic Gold, Taj Gold, Shangri-La Jade
Posts: 32
Permanent Tier membership
Hello Team, I have read through the several pages and could find something that met my criteria.
I have frequent flyer membership with BA and Etihad.
1. I'm currently in US and typically fly domestic to Chicago/NYC 2-3 times a year and one round trip to Bangalore India and back.
2. I have racked up some good avios and miles with both Frequent flyer programs.
3. I typically fly economy for personal trips and business class for official purposes.
4. All i'm looking for is good program where i can earn a permanent tier status which allows me lounge access and several other previleges. I'm not really into earning miles by flying because i have Citi Permiermiles card where i earn 10 miles for every 1 USD (on average its 80 cents). and 4 miles for groceries, entertainment etc.
5. Is there any program where i can get such a tier membership.
Any help here is appreciated!! thank you very much.
I have frequent flyer membership with BA and Etihad.
1. I'm currently in US and typically fly domestic to Chicago/NYC 2-3 times a year and one round trip to Bangalore India and back.
2. I have racked up some good avios and miles with both Frequent flyer programs.
3. I typically fly economy for personal trips and business class for official purposes.
4. All i'm looking for is good program where i can earn a permanent tier status which allows me lounge access and several other previleges. I'm not really into earning miles by flying because i have Citi Permiermiles card where i earn 10 miles for every 1 USD (on average its 80 cents). and 4 miles for groceries, entertainment etc.
5. Is there any program where i can get such a tier membership.
Any help here is appreciated!! thank you very much.
Mar 9, 2014, 8:06 pm
#621
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
lon3volf Welcome to the forum
BA and Etihad are both AA partners.
Be careful about avois/miles expiry. Have you used your BA/EY Avois/miles?
Status/tier level is only by flying for most people. BIS - Butt in seat is the jargon here on FT. And AA status will not get you US domestic lounge access. Chicago/NYC 2-3 times a year and one round trip to Bangalore India and back will not get you that many miles or status earning
BA and Etihad are both AA partners.
Be careful about avois/miles expiry. Have you used your BA/EY Avois/miles?
Status/tier level is only by flying for most people. BIS - Butt in seat is the jargon here on FT. And AA status will not get you US domestic lounge access. Chicago/NYC 2-3 times a year and one round trip to Bangalore India and back will not get you that many miles or status earning
Mar 9, 2014, 8:19 pm
#622
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: CMH,BLR
Programs: AA Plat Pro, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Gold, HH Gold, Virgin Atlantic Gold, Taj Gold, Shangri-La Jade
Posts: 32
lon3volf Welcome to the forum
BA and Etihad are both AA partners.
Be careful about avois/miles expiry. Have you used your BA/EY Avois/miles?
Status/tier level is only by flying for most people. BIS - Butt in seat is the jargon here on FT. And AA status will not get you US domestic lounge access. Chicago/NYC 2-3 times a year and one round trip to Bangalore India and back will not get you that many miles or status earning
BA and Etihad are both AA partners.
Be careful about avois/miles expiry. Have you used your BA/EY Avois/miles?
Status/tier level is only by flying for most people. BIS - Butt in seat is the jargon here on FT. And AA status will not get you US domestic lounge access. Chicago/NYC 2-3 times a year and one round trip to Bangalore India and back will not get you that many miles or status earning
I'm not sure this is something possible. But thank you for your response.
Mar 9, 2014, 9:32 pm
#623
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
Mar 9, 2014, 10:47 pm
#624
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 6
Not really.You choose the QF flight because it was the cheapest option for you, remember? Spending more upfront with another carrier while hoping for better FF points earning for future award ticket doesn't make much sense for a once-a-year flyer at all.
Unless you go all-in with manufactured spending and churning multiple credit cards for sign-on bonus miles, you won't be able to generate enough miles in any program to fly to Australia and back purely on points every year, so some of these miles have to come from flying.
And to not let your existing QFF miles go to waste should you decide to change programs - redeem them for AA flights. Your points should be good to get you anywhere and back within 2,400 miles. Enjoy a nice trip to say, anywhere in the Caribbean, Central America, or even Vegas....
The AS program looks like it could be a good choice for you, though. They have a large earning partner network and a generous award chart. Plus, as an independent, financially healthy smaller carrier, they might be less inclined to devalue their FFP like it's currently en vogue with the legacy airlines. Current trend with FFPs is to reward spend rather than mileage. UA and DL have implemented changes to their programs in this regard, and it remains to be seen if and how the merged AA will follow suit. Personally, I doubt the current terms will survive much beyond 2015.
Unless you go all-in with manufactured spending and churning multiple credit cards for sign-on bonus miles, you won't be able to generate enough miles in any program to fly to Australia and back purely on points every year, so some of these miles have to come from flying.
And to not let your existing QFF miles go to waste should you decide to change programs - redeem them for AA flights. Your points should be good to get you anywhere and back within 2,400 miles. Enjoy a nice trip to say, anywhere in the Caribbean, Central America, or even Vegas...
.The AS program looks like it could be a good choice for you, though. They have a large earning partner network and a generous award chart. Plus, as an independent, financially healthy smaller carrier, they might be less inclined to devalue their FFP like it's currently en vogue with the legacy airlines. Current trend with FFPs is to reward spend rather than mileage. UA and DL have implemented changes to their programs in this regard, and it remains to be seen if and how the merged AA will follow suit. Personally, I doubt the current terms will survive much beyond 2015.
A QF award NYC-SYD will have a high cash fuel surcharge/fees/taxes of USD$386 paid to QF (sample was economy on QF107 on 17 Jun 2014). Have not checked what the cash price is.
Compare
AA earnings (even at 25% or 50%) vs the AA miles needed for an AA award and the minimal cash taxes
to
QF earnings (even at 100%) vs the QF points needed for an QF award and the high cash taxes/fees/surcharges
From post 330
LAX-SYD one way
Economy QF 48,000 - AA 37,500
P Ec QF 72,000 - AA n.a
Bus QF 96,000 - AA 62,500
First QF 144,000 - AA 72,500
Plus a lot of $$$ in fees / surcharges to QF
Use your QF 39,000 points on an award in the USA on an AA or AS flight
As imaltesers is looking to boost miles with non-flying activities better to use AA (or AS) as a freq flyer (spender) program
Compare
AA earnings (even at 25% or 50%) vs the AA miles needed for an AA award and the minimal cash taxes
to
QF earnings (even at 100%) vs the QF points needed for an QF award and the high cash taxes/fees/surcharges
From post 330
LAX-SYD one way
Economy QF 48,000 - AA 37,500
P Ec QF 72,000 - AA n.a
Bus QF 96,000 - AA 62,500
First QF 144,000 - AA 72,500
Plus a lot of $$$ in fees / surcharges to QF
Use your QF 39,000 points on an award in the USA on an AA or AS flight
As imaltesers is looking to boost miles with non-flying activities better to use AA (or AS) as a freq flyer (spender) program
Mar 10, 2014, 2:35 am
#625
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
.....I thought about it and figured that I'm going to start collecting my FF miles with the AS Mileage Plan (since they have lower award redemption rates, and earn 1 point per mile), and I'm also going to hunt for credit cards that'll get me AA and AS miles. Does that sound like a good strategy?
Mar 10, 2014, 4:27 pm
#626
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: CMH,BLR
Programs: AA Plat Pro, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Gold, HH Gold, Virgin Atlantic Gold, Taj Gold, Shangri-La Jade
Posts: 32
Mar 10, 2014, 4:46 pm
#627
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
No tier/status level is permanent, unless you get lifetime status. You have to earn status every year or for a minority of FFP's longer. In some places you can get status associated with a credit card. Based on your travels you can work out (in MS excel) what status you could get. But not easy to do.
Mar 12, 2014, 7:43 am
#628
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Tel Aviv/Yafo
Programs: El Al Matmid, Priority Club, HHonors, Starwood
Posts: 6
Debating IP or BAEC
We live in Tel Aviv and until now we have not flown much on OW planes. As it turns out we will be flying to MAD for a weekend in May - cheapest fare possible and on IB business to JFK in July. We are members of LY Matmid (mainly credit card points), LH M&M and United Mileage Plus and KLM flying blue. What do you think is the best bet for future bonus tickets.
1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Point redemption for bonus flights. I would love to upgrade but I don't want to pay full Y fare to be eligible.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
It's hard to say that there is a "usual" as we fly to attend professional conferences and mix in vacations. I would say 3-4 flights a year. Last year we did TLV-LAX (KLM C) and TLV-JFK (Bonus LY + points for economy plus). This year we have scheduled TLV-MAD, TLV-JFK and TLV-MEL.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Since my wife has a research fund that covers C I will splurge if we can find a good business price on any carrier. Otherwise I'll go LY "cattle class" and use points for economy plus or pay to upgrade to C
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
All open. As I said we mix business with pleasure or pleasure.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
TLV-USA, Europe, Far East, Australia
(6) What is your home airport?
Tel Aviv
(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?
No status. We are members of LY Matmid (mainly credit card points), LH M&M (credit card bonus) and United Mileage Plus (left overs from Continental) and KLM flying blue.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
LY for the direct long haul flights and Turkish for the price.
1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Point redemption for bonus flights. I would love to upgrade but I don't want to pay full Y fare to be eligible.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
It's hard to say that there is a "usual" as we fly to attend professional conferences and mix in vacations. I would say 3-4 flights a year. Last year we did TLV-LAX (KLM C) and TLV-JFK (Bonus LY + points for economy plus). This year we have scheduled TLV-MAD, TLV-JFK and TLV-MEL.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Since my wife has a research fund that covers C I will splurge if we can find a good business price on any carrier. Otherwise I'll go LY "cattle class" and use points for economy plus or pay to upgrade to C
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
All open. As I said we mix business with pleasure or pleasure.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
TLV-USA, Europe, Far East, Australia
(6) What is your home airport?
Tel Aviv
(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?
No status. We are members of LY Matmid (mainly credit card points), LH M&M (credit card bonus) and United Mileage Plus (left overs from Continental) and KLM flying blue.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
LY for the direct long haul flights and Turkish for the price.
Mar 12, 2014, 9:10 am
#629
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 11,803
We live in Tel Aviv and until now we have not flown much on OW planes. As it turns out we will be flying to MAD for a weekend in May - cheapest fare possible and on IB business to JFK in July. We are members of LY Matmid (mainly credit card points), LH M&M and United Mileage Plus and KLM flying blue. What do you think is the best bet for future bonus tickets.
1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Point redemption for bonus flights. I would love to upgrade but I don't want to pay full Y fare to be eligible.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
It's hard to say that there is a "usual" as we fly to attend professional conferences and mix in vacations. I would say 3-4 flights a year. Last year we did TLV-LAX (KLM C) and TLV-JFK (Bonus LY + points for economy plus). This year we have scheduled TLV-MAD, TLV-JFK and TLV-MEL.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Since my wife has a research fund that covers C I will splurge if we can find a good business price on any carrier. Otherwise I'll go LY "cattle class" and use points for economy plus or pay to upgrade to C
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
All open. As I said we mix business with pleasure or pleasure.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
TLV-USA, Europe, Far East, Australia
(6) What is your home airport?
Tel Aviv
(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?
No status. We are members of LY Matmid (mainly credit card points), LH M&M (credit card bonus) and United Mileage Plus (left overs from Continental) and KLM flying blue.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
LY for the direct long haul flights and Turkish for the price.
1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Point redemption for bonus flights. I would love to upgrade but I don't want to pay full Y fare to be eligible.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
It's hard to say that there is a "usual" as we fly to attend professional conferences and mix in vacations. I would say 3-4 flights a year. Last year we did TLV-LAX (KLM C) and TLV-JFK (Bonus LY + points for economy plus). This year we have scheduled TLV-MAD, TLV-JFK and TLV-MEL.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Since my wife has a research fund that covers C I will splurge if we can find a good business price on any carrier. Otherwise I'll go LY "cattle class" and use points for economy plus or pay to upgrade to C
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
All open. As I said we mix business with pleasure or pleasure.
(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
TLV-USA, Europe, Far East, Australia
(6) What is your home airport?
Tel Aviv
(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?
No status. We are members of LY Matmid (mainly credit card points), LH M&M (credit card bonus) and United Mileage Plus (left overs from Continental) and KLM flying blue.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
LY for the direct long haul flights and Turkish for the price.
One other thing, maybe significant, maybe not... For the time being Israel is one of the "cheaper" origin points for Oneworld round-the-world (RTW) tickets. Don't know if you could coordinate some of your trips to the US and to Oz to take place sequentially, but if so you might find that the RTW products can save a lot of money, particularly in business class.
If you haven't, read some of the "sticky" threads in this forum regarding the Oneworld Explorer RTW product and have a look at the RTW ticketing tool on the Oneworld website, just to see the possibilities and limitations. AA's general sales agent in Israel, Tal Aviation, is a seriously competent group who can handle a lot of problems that would send other travel agents screaming; if you get addicted to the RTW game (which is easy to do) you'd have a great resource just across town.
Mar 12, 2014, 12:56 pm
#630
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
briana Welcome to the forum
If "IP or BAEC" was meant to be "IB Iberia or BA" there is little difference. Both use avois as freq flyer currency. Subject to terms & conditions you can move avois from/to IB/BA. Both are owned by IAG
Agree AA is a good choice, especially with US Airways merging/taking over AA and joining OW
Alaska is a good FFP due to its many partners, including some you now fly with. http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...ePlan-partners
Be careful about having too many FFP's with a low balance of miles that will expire. You have 2 FFP's in Star Alliance (LH & UA)
Debating IP or BAEC
We live in Tel Aviv and until now we have not flown much on OW planes. As it turns out we will be flying to MAD for a weekend in May - cheapest fare possible and on IB business to JFK in July. We are members of LY Matmid (mainly credit card points), LH M&M and United Mileage Plus and KLM flying blue. What do you think is the best bet for future bonus tickets.
1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Point redemption for bonus flights. I would love to upgrade but I don't want to pay full Y fare to be eligible.....
We live in Tel Aviv and until now we have not flown much on OW planes. As it turns out we will be flying to MAD for a weekend in May - cheapest fare possible and on IB business to JFK in July. We are members of LY Matmid (mainly credit card points), LH M&M and United Mileage Plus and KLM flying blue. What do you think is the best bet for future bonus tickets.
1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Point redemption for bonus flights. I would love to upgrade but I don't want to pay full Y fare to be eligible.....
Agree AA is a good choice, especially with US Airways merging/taking over AA and joining OW
Alaska is a good FFP due to its many partners, including some you now fly with. http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...ePlan-partners
Be careful about having too many FFP's with a low balance of miles that will expire. You have 2 FFP's in Star Alliance (LH & UA)