Deciding on a Oneworld Frequent Flyer Program? Help is here.
May 3, 2014, 11:38 pm
#676
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
This is quite annoying.
A number of the FF program sites say how many of 'x' is needed to increase status, but don't define what 'x' is.
I am currently Emerald with QF. Have been looking to change due to the changes with the QFF program.
It appears, based on my travel patterns (averaged over the last 4 years), that I could only get to Sapphire (or less) with the other programs.
With what's known about the QF changes, I'll take around a 30% loss in SC, so I'll still make it to QF Platinum, but won't make it to the extra Platinum options like I have the last 4 years. But they still haven't announced all the changes...
A number of the FF program sites say how many of 'x' is needed to increase status, but don't define what 'x' is.
I am currently Emerald with QF. Have been looking to change due to the changes with the QFF program.
It appears, based on my travel patterns (averaged over the last 4 years), that I could only get to Sapphire (or less) with the other programs.
With what's known about the QF changes, I'll take around a 30% loss in SC, so I'll still make it to QF Platinum, but won't make it to the extra Platinum options like I have the last 4 years. But they still haven't announced all the changes...
May 7, 2014, 10:31 am
#677
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Virginia
Programs: AA PLT 1MM
Posts: 57
AA or BA?
I've been on AA forever, bouncing around from GLD to PLT to EXP and back again (lifetime GLD right now). I have a legacy BA account (renewal date is mid-August). My traveling habits are about to change wherein I'll be going to London a couple of times a year and travelling NYC-ROA (on a mix of AA and US) every week. Wondering if I should stick with AA or move to BA where the qualification to Silver might be easier than Plat on AA. Opinions?
What is most important to you in a FFP?
My primary objective is to earn status.
How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
NYC-LHR in premium economy, domestic in economy. 30k miles internationally, 30-40k miles domestic
What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Premium econ/WTP for long haul and Economy for domestic
Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I can chose whatever airline I want within reason for work. Fly for work and pleasure
Which routes do you fly most often
NYC-LHR
NYC-ROA
NYC-ORD
What is your home airport?
NYC (EWR/LGA/JFK)
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 lifetime Gold - about 250k miles in the bank right now.
Preferred Airlines
AA
BA
Cathay
What is most important to you in a FFP?
My primary objective is to earn status.
How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
NYC-LHR in premium economy, domestic in economy. 30k miles internationally, 30-40k miles domestic
What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Premium econ/WTP for long haul and Economy for domestic
Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
I can chose whatever airline I want within reason for work. Fly for work and pleasure
Which routes do you fly most often
NYC-LHR
NYC-ROA
NYC-ORD
What is your home airport?
NYC (EWR/LGA/JFK)
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 lifetime Gold - about 250k miles in the bank right now.
Preferred Airlines
AA
BA
Cathay
May 9, 2014, 8:19 pm
#678
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 9
AA BA or Other?
Hi, sorry I know there are a million threads on this, but it's rather confusing for each persons individual situation. (I've read a ton of these threads.)
I'm from the UK but now living in Canada (van), I still fly home 2-3 times per year (typically via DFW) as well as trips fairly often around north america. I'll be flying OW (AA, US, Alaska AA marketed, AA don't really fly from van/sea much) typically. I'm wondering what program you think would be best for me? I fly back to the UK with BA and I hear great things about their upgrades, however taxes are apparently high.
I'm currently a AA Plat (challenged) and typically fly premium economy back to the UK and economy around the US, however come January I'll be flying even more internationally including Australia and possibly Japan.
I should be AA Plat / BAEC Silver quite comfortably every year, possibly will be close to EXPlat as it requires 1 less round trip to the uk per year than BAEC Gold.
Which FF program do you think will be best for me? Lounge access isn't a huge deal on domestic fights, and out of van their arent that many AA flights so upgrades aren't hugely important (though I connect via DFW quite a bit)
Also, probably a stupid question, but if I fly premium econ and use miles to upgrade to business on BA do I still acquire miles (at the prem econ level or at all)? If so my trip is usually 12914 miles earned, AA offer PE to Business upgrade for 12,500 with BA.
Thank you!
I'm from the UK but now living in Canada (van), I still fly home 2-3 times per year (typically via DFW) as well as trips fairly often around north america. I'll be flying OW (AA, US, Alaska AA marketed, AA don't really fly from van/sea much) typically. I'm wondering what program you think would be best for me? I fly back to the UK with BA and I hear great things about their upgrades, however taxes are apparently high.
I'm currently a AA Plat (challenged) and typically fly premium economy back to the UK and economy around the US, however come January I'll be flying even more internationally including Australia and possibly Japan.
I should be AA Plat / BAEC Silver quite comfortably every year, possibly will be close to EXPlat as it requires 1 less round trip to the uk per year than BAEC Gold.
Which FF program do you think will be best for me? Lounge access isn't a huge deal on domestic fights, and out of van their arent that many AA flights so upgrades aren't hugely important (though I connect via DFW quite a bit)
Also, probably a stupid question, but if I fly premium econ and use miles to upgrade to business on BA do I still acquire miles (at the prem econ level or at all)? If so my trip is usually 12914 miles earned, AA offer PE to Business upgrade for 12,500 with BA.
Thank you!
May 10, 2014, 1:41 pm
#680
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
Josh229 Welcome to FT
As you are now AA Plat I would stay with AA. Especially if living in North America is long term. Do you have BA any avios or BA status?
With upgrades you usually get the miles for the fare class you paid for and not the upgraded class. Note AA does not have premium economy.
As you are now AA Plat I would stay with AA. Especially if living in North America is long term. Do you have BA any avios or BA status?
With upgrades you usually get the miles for the fare class you paid for and not the upgraded class. Note AA does not have premium economy.
May 10, 2014, 2:24 pm
#681
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 9
Josh229 Welcome to FT
As you are now AA Plat I would stay with AA. Especially if living in North America is long term. Do you have BA any avios or BA status?
With upgrades you usually get the miles for the fare class you paid for and not the upgraded class. Note AA does not have premium economy.
As you are now AA Plat I would stay with AA. Especially if living in North America is long term. Do you have BA any avios or BA status?
With upgrades you usually get the miles for the fare class you paid for and not the upgraded class. Note AA does not have premium economy.
The upgrade miles that sounds great, I'll pay for premium economy and use 12,500 miles to upgrade to business hopefully, as my standard run back home YVR -> DFW -> LHR gives me 6457 miles each way, with 100% bonus miles thats 12914, so essentially free upgrades on 15 hours of travel.
Whether or not that's the best thing to spend miles on, I have no idea.
Last edited by Josh229; May 10, 2014 at 2:46 pm
May 10, 2014, 10:17 pm
#682
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Chicago - ORD
Programs: Asiana Airlines Diamond Plus (*A Gold), Korean Air Skypass, and Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank
Posts: 45
I have an upcoming flight with Malaysia Airlines in August. I signed up for Enrich, but have time to change to a different OW program. I will be moving to Houston next year and looking to get a head start in an OW program.
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Priority services when flying the airline.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Currently: 30-60k Economy Next year: 20-30k (OW)
(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?
Pleasure
(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
CRK, BKK, SIN, KUL, SJO, & MDE
(6) What is your home airport?
This Year: ORD
Next Year: IAH
(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?
OW - No
*A - Asiana Club Diamond (*A Gold)
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Prefered: Any Asian airline. I avoid US airlines for international travel and don't have any preference for domestic flights.
Most Common: Asiana Airlines
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Priority services when flying the airline.
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Currently: 30-60k Economy Next year: 20-30k (OW)
(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?
Pleasure
(5) Which routes do you fly most often?
CRK, BKK, SIN, KUL, SJO, & MDE
(6) What is your home airport?
This Year: ORD
Next Year: IAH
(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?
OW - No
*A - Asiana Club Diamond (*A Gold)
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Prefered: Any Asian airline. I avoid US airlines for international travel and don't have any preference for domestic flights.
Most Common: Asiana Airlines
May 10, 2014, 11:05 pm
#683
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
Firestorm1 Welcome to FT
Living in Houston hard to go past AA. For USA domestic flying you may find yourself flying AA.
You will not get many AA miles flying MH, but neither does anyone.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=HOU-CRK...A&MS=wls&DU=mi
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=HOU-SJE...A&MS=wls&DU=mi
While not OW, Alaska is worth considering http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...ePlan-partners
You will not get many AA miles flying MH, but neither does anyone.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=HOU-CRK...A&MS=wls&DU=mi
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=HOU-SJE...A&MS=wls&DU=mi
While not OW, Alaska is worth considering http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...ePlan-partners
May 11, 2014, 9:00 am
#684
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,524
AAdvantage enforcing minimum segemnts rule now?
Saw this in my May AAdvantage summary:
First time I've ever seen a reference to this rule outside of the fine print in the AAdvantage T&Cs. Might well be a hint to AA choosing to finally enforcing their long-standing four-segment-minimum rule for status attainment.
That would be a pretty major change of the OW FFP landscape and bad news for all members with AA status who don't fly AA to the US at least once a year.
First time I've ever seen a reference to this rule outside of the fine print in the AAdvantage T&Cs. Might well be a hint to AA choosing to finally enforcing their long-standing four-segment-minimum rule for status attainment.
That would be a pretty major change of the OW FFP landscape and bad news for all members with AA status who don't fly AA to the US at least once a year.
May 11, 2014, 4:29 pm
#685
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
Saw this in my May AAdvantage summary:
First time I've ever seen a reference to this rule outside of the fine print in the AAdvantage T&Cs. Might well be a hint to AA choosing to finally enforcing their long-standing four-segment-minimum rule for status attainment.
That would be a pretty major change of the OW FFP landscape and bad news for all members with AA status who don't fly AA to the US at least once a year.
First time I've ever seen a reference to this rule outside of the fine print in the AAdvantage T&Cs. Might well be a hint to AA choosing to finally enforcing their long-standing four-segment-minimum rule for status attainment.
That would be a pretty major change of the OW FFP landscape and bad news for all members with AA status who don't fly AA to the US at least once a year.
QF started to enforce the 4 segment for status some years ago
May 11, 2014, 4:50 pm
#686
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,524
this rule definitely is enforced now. There's reports from members in the linked thread (post 44 for example) not getting status despite having attained the requisite number of miles/points because of the newly enforced four-segments-minimum rule.
So this is another one of the "it was good while it lasted" things about AAdvantage.
So this is another one of the "it was good while it lasted" things about AAdvantage.
May 17, 2014, 12:22 am
#687
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 4
Another infrequent flyer
Hi from Auckland. I am keen to hear from some experts how (or if) I can benefit from an upcoming trip (June & July). I read through ten pages but couldn't find a parallel scenario, so my apologies if one does exist.
I am flying (1) Qantas AKL-MEL, (2) Malaysia MEL-KUL-LHR, (in UK for a month) (3) US Airways LHR-PHL and two weeks later (4) US again PHL-LAX. The final leg is on Air NZ (I have an Airpoints card for that leg).
What is most important to you in a FFP?
a) Flights and b) upgrades but beggars can't be choosers. I'll take anything I can get.
The best chance of keeping the miles alive until next time should probably be my top priority.
How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
Some years not at all, but most years 1 or 2 returns NZ domestic (usually Air NZ). Every few years I fly NZ to UK return and will look for a deal.
What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Economy
Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Currently only self directed travel, but I wouldn't rule out my work needing me to do trans-tasman flights in future.
Which routes do you fly most often
NZ domestic
Trans-tasman
What is your home airport?
AKL
Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
None. I had some good A* miles with United but they expired them due to lack of activity. (It would seem that donating miles stopped counting as activity!)
Preferred Airlines
Any
I am flying (1) Qantas AKL-MEL, (2) Malaysia MEL-KUL-LHR, (in UK for a month) (3) US Airways LHR-PHL and two weeks later (4) US again PHL-LAX. The final leg is on Air NZ (I have an Airpoints card for that leg).
What is most important to you in a FFP?
a) Flights and b) upgrades but beggars can't be choosers. I'll take anything I can get.
The best chance of keeping the miles alive until next time should probably be my top priority.
How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class?
Some years not at all, but most years 1 or 2 returns NZ domestic (usually Air NZ). Every few years I fly NZ to UK return and will look for a deal.
What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Economy
Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Currently only self directed travel, but I wouldn't rule out my work needing me to do trans-tasman flights in future.
Which routes do you fly most often
NZ domestic
Trans-tasman
What is your home airport?
AKL
Do you have FFP status of any kind in OW or other airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
None. I had some good A* miles with United but they expired them due to lack of activity. (It would seem that donating miles stopped counting as activity!)
Preferred Airlines
Any
Last edited by chasio; May 17, 2014 at 2:45 am
May 17, 2014, 6:51 am
#688
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
Welcome Chasio.
Alas to answer your questions about the upcoming flights and OneWorld frequent flyer options, we will need to now the fare class in which each segment is booked. Alas this arises due to the variation of how much credit is given for economy fares by each program for its partners. In addition, QF is changing its rules on 01 July. And there are a number of airlines that give no credit for the lower economy fares to some partners (eg CX discount fares with respect to AA accounts)
Normally the eticket receipt will show the fare class for each segment.
Happy wandering.
Fred
Alas to answer your questions about the upcoming flights and OneWorld frequent flyer options, we will need to now the fare class in which each segment is booked. Alas this arises due to the variation of how much credit is given for economy fares by each program for its partners. In addition, QF is changing its rules on 01 July. And there are a number of airlines that give no credit for the lower economy fares to some partners (eg CX discount fares with respect to AA accounts)
Normally the eticket receipt will show the fare class for each segment.
Happy wandering.
Fred
May 19, 2014, 4:59 am
#689
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 4
Welcome Chasio.
Alas to answer your questions about the upcoming flights and OneWorld frequent flyer options, we will need to now the fare class in which each segment is booked. Alas this arises due to the variation of how much credit is given for economy fares by each program for its partners. In addition, QF is changing its rules on 01 July. And there are a number of airlines that give no credit for the lower economy fares to some partners (eg CX discount fares with respect to AA accounts)
Normally the eticket receipt will show the fare class for each segment.
Happy wandering.
Fred
Alas to answer your questions about the upcoming flights and OneWorld frequent flyer options, we will need to now the fare class in which each segment is booked. Alas this arises due to the variation of how much credit is given for economy fares by each program for its partners. In addition, QF is changing its rules on 01 July. And there are a number of airlines that give no credit for the lower economy fares to some partners (eg CX discount fares with respect to AA accounts)
Normally the eticket receipt will show the fare class for each segment.
Happy wandering.
Fred
The QF and MH flights are marked as "N" (so I gather they are not worth a lot!). These are before July 1st.
Post July 1st, I remember that LHR-PHL on US was "flexible economy" but the US Airways confirmation email is silent on fare class.
The PHL-LAX leg on US is also Economy but was booked through an agent and sadly I have not yet received detailed information. I will update as soon as possible.
Thanks again - Chasio
May 19, 2014, 3:30 pm
#690
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,524
The QF and MH flights are marked as "N" (so I gather they are not worth a lot!). These are before July 1st.
Post July 1st, I remember that LHR-PHL on US was "flexible economy" but the US Airways confirmation email is silent on fare class.
The PHL-LAX leg on US is also Economy but was booked through an agent and sadly I have not yet received detailed information. I will update as soon as possible.
Post July 1st, I remember that LHR-PHL on US was "flexible economy" but the US Airways confirmation email is silent on fare class.
The PHL-LAX leg on US is also Economy but was booked through an agent and sadly I have not yet received detailed information. I will update as soon as possible.
As you state that you don't fly regularly and there might even be years without flight activity at all, primary concern should be making sure any points do not expire. So what you need is a program with a generous expiration policy. That rules out all programs with a fixed expiration policy and leaves AA, BA and QF who let points expire based on activity - AA and QF require activity once every 18 months, BA once every 36 months.
Next, the program of choice should let you earn points on NZ domestic flights as you state that's what you fly most often, and - if possible - a way to earn points with non-flying activity to keep the balance from expiring and contribute to your total earnings.
My advice would be to go with QFF - even though there's far more attractive programs out there in oneworld, it's the only program delivering on the last two requirements.
First, you can earn QF points on domestic Jetstar flights. QFF is the only OW program that lets you earn on JQ.
QFF is also the only OW program that offers a co-branded points-earning rewards credit card in New Zealand. Co-branded credit cards are the best source of points for non-frequent flyers, plus by using it you prevent your points from expiring even if not flying for extended periods of time.