I'm far from an expert on JAL's program, but my quick read of it is that it's fairly clunky for attaining high status. Frankly, with your travel patterns, I'd have to suggest AA. You could challenge to Platinum (OW Sapphire) easily, and flying as much as you'll do in premium cabins will undoubtedly get you to Executive Platinum (OW Emerald) quite rapidly. For he time being at least, AA's earn/burn numbers are hard to beat in Oneworld.

Look at the AA Wiki for information about the challenges. You'd probably have to use AA flight numbers on TYO-NYC on JL, or else ride AA metal to the US then switch, but only until you've reached 10K elite qualifying points (6667 butt-in-seat miles in J) at which point you could fly on any Oneworld flight number and still build miles/points to EXP.

Yes, you'll earn AA miles on US flights.

Look at the wiki on the AA board regarding the status challenges. Might work for you.

Infrequent flyer to anywhere!
 

Hi eveyone!
I am mostly a *A flyer but I think I am going to increase the frequency of flights on OW.
Note that I am a NOT so frequent flyer! Around 3 intercontinental flights a year in the cheapest airline I can find!
And life is changing all the time, so I will give you my guesses for near future flights and airports.... I will answer the questions as accurately as possible!

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Main objective: status upgrade. Secondary objectives:redeem miles on seat upgrades long-haul or award flights.

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Around 20-40.000 miles a year in 3 intercontinental flights. (maybe not all on OW)

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

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Both for work and for pleasure, and I am the one deciding.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
On OW: British, TAM
Others: TAP, United
a) USA East coast <-> Portugal
b) Portugal <-> Brazil
c) Portugal/Brazil <-> Japan
d) Within Europe

(6) What is your home airport?
Lisbon, or Fortaleza, or Tokyo

(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 for now.
I have around 13.000 avios on British.
(and 12.000 on United and 19.000 on TAP)

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
In future, probably TAM, TAP


Is the there a program on OW suitable for less frequent fliers like Asiana, Aegean and Turkish in *A?
TAM seems to be decent enough to get "Silver" status (15.000m/1y) - impossible for "Gold" (50.000/y)
British avios seem to be for life which is good! And family pooling is a big factor for not so frequent fliers I think....

Thank you for your help!

Guys need your help! Have some travel booked for rest of the year with my fiance. Trying to figure out a program to credit her flights.

1. She seldom flies alone, and I'm already an AA EXP. So status has no importance.
2. Most travel will be on AA, BA metal. About 40-50k Miles.
3. Leaning towards BA Avios due to household account = the ability to pool. I retain control essentially. :D But will she get more value out of AA miles?
4. She has some 300k in chase points, outside of that no ffp programs.

Thanks!

Since the Chase points can be transferred 1:1 to BA Avios, so that would be my choice. Hopefully you're aware of BA's demon surcharge practices on awards on BA metal or anything transatlantic, but Avios can be good value on transpacific or South America flights, or on shorthaul North America awards.

You might also look at Alaska, however, as their redemption rates are quite good and you can (for the time being at least) also use a number of Skyteam partners with AS miles, such as DL, KL, AF etc.

I don't know if this is the right section, but I wanted to ask.

I have Enrich Silver membership, and I want to use it to book a one way business class flight to USA from KUL. My issue is Malaysia doesn't fly to US anymore, and shares the plane from Tokyo to LAX with AA. I figure I have to call to ask, as I can't check online.

But is it American Airlines cheaper to redeem flights on with MAS enrich points, or is it better to not redeem on One world. I've never redeemed a one world flight, thus I'm not really sure if it's better to stick with MAS flights, or I can go ahead and redeem it for a One world member (does it work on AA tarrifs or MAS tariffs)?

You do not “redeem on Oneworld”. OW is only a marketing organisation.

As you have MAS enrich points you can only redeem with MAS. If you cannot do on line with MAS you will need to phone MAS. You can get award flights with any OW airline with MH points, subject to availability. The cost in MH enrich points will be as the per MH reward table It does not matter what other airline ffp charge.
Without looking as guess the options are
KUL-NRT-LAX (MH & AA/JL
KUL-HKG-LAX (MH & CX)
SIN-HKG-LAX (CX) (find your own way to Sin)
http://www.oneworld.com/flights/where-we-fly

If you are not a US citizen would expect the USA to want a ticket out the country before they will let you in. But do no rely on this forum for passport/immigration advice

That's great because from what I understand, MAS has slightly cheaper redemption rates than others (not including fuel surchages since that I'm not sure about).

which 1w ?
 

Hello,

I need help finding which 1W FFP to bank my travel miles on. I am thinking of also joining a ST FFP and *A FFP other than LH M&M because of their really high mileage status qualifications or what ever they are called.
I was considering AAdvantage as a substitute to BAEC, but I'm not sure will this be the correct strategy.

Thank you.
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 on travel, priority services when flying the airline, extra baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, free - discounted lounge access, etc.)
Reply: Lounge Access, Priority service when flying, extra baggage allowance
(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: <25000
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: cheapest
(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:CAI-ORD, CAI-JFK
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: CAI
(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:LH M&M (base), Etihad Guest (base), both with about 5000 miles banked on each.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply:BA/AA, EY, LH, and I've flown some AZ

Best program for TLL-based occasional flyer
 

Based in TLL and fly occasionally on AY, IB, and (rarely) BA or AB for business on short-haul European connecting flights.

Already have UA Platinum/*G, so am not seeking to maximize my Oneworld flying. My only criteria are:
-Relatively good expiration period for miles earned
-Relatively generous earnings on discounted intra-European fares
-No fuel surcharges for European redemption (I understand AY has now introduced this benefit)

Given these criteria, would you go with AY, the airline whose metal (well, FC/flybe Nordic) I'll be flying most? Or do IB, S7, or even something like MH offer a better fit?

Many thanks for any input!!

Hi,

Can I get some help with this I am very confusing about which OW program for me to go with. CX seem to be easier to get higher tier and have more benefit for low tier member but BA do lifetime tier states while CX doesn't (1185 tier point in account)

- what is your definition of best?
Great Fare
- do you value miles/points (or equivalent) for redemption over gaining status?
NO
- do you fly enough to gain any meaningful status?
Well, Yes if I focus on one program
- what do you want to use the miles/points for (award, upgrade, hotels, what ever)?
Upgrade
- what sort of flight award is of interest (destination, class of travel)?
Class of travel
- are you interested in topping up by paying cash for miles?
NO
- which airline and where do you normally fly?
BA/CX
- are you primarily a leisure or business traveller?
Student
- where do you live?
HKG
- do you have other ways of earning points in the various programs, e.g. credit cards, shopping, etc,?
NO


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:
upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, extra baggage allowance
(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:25000-50000
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply:Y/PEY
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: I can choose
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: HKG-LHR
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: HKG
(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: CX Green (12XXX in account) BA Blue (83XXX in account)
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: BA/CX

You cannot upgrade CX flights with BA avios, only BA flights (and full fare AA/IB flights).
I believe you still can upgrade BA flights with Asia Miles, as well as CX flights.

On that basis, CX may be better for you.

Hi folks, I would love your advice on an OW FFP! Many thanks in advance.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: priority services (business check-in, fasttrack)

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: <25 some years, 25-50 others.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply:
50% personal: cheapest
50% work: cap depending on destination.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: 50% limited choice for personal, more choice for work.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Reply: ZRH return to SFO, PER, SYD. Within Europe.

(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: ZRH

(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: 50k QF. 20k LH. Lowest tier in each.


(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply:
Most common: QF LX SQ LH
Preferred:
- non-US airlines :-)
- My wife prefers Emirates (her legs actually fit in A380 economy there) and SQ for service.
- My wife heard bad things about LX and Thai for long haul with kids... but that's handwavy.

(9) Extra info:

Upcoming flights:
ZRH-CPH-SFO return on SAS class Z.
ZRH-DXB-SYD-PER-DXB-ZRH on QF (emirates operating) class O and Q.

I booked with SAS thinking about *A since Asiana or Turkish status is valid for 2+ years, so less thinking in the future. I got an amazing fare, so I didn't think about it too much, and business class is a luxury for me :)

The QF flight was a case of "I'm not worried about FFP, just give me the best/cheapest flight". no *A flights suited us for that (open jaw routing apparently screwed that up). I almost took Etihad to open the books with Asiana, but the flight timing was bad for the kids. So now I look into it, *A is quite limited for the Kangaroo hop, I'm looking at attempting either *A Gold + OWR, or just OWE.

So, I'm looking at TAM and I can't find much discussion on them. I calculated it as QF: 12.5k miles, 150 points (OWR at 300) TAM: 23k points (OWR at 15k, OWE at 50k).

Then I looked at TAM partners, and they've retained a lot of *A partners which is perfect for flying around Europe - best of both alliances? What's the catch?

First post, thanks to anyone who can help with advice:

First off, the facts:

(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.)

Reply:I want upgrades and baggage allowance in my FFP, 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: I am looking at right now 2 trips per year Brussels to Shainghi, two trips per year Brussels to Austin, two or more US domestic trips. Other EU based travel is possible, but with the price of Ryan Air it's sometimes hard to choose loyalty.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Usually Economy/Cheapest, but will buy Premium Economy when the cost difference is not so much (sometimes on BA's Shanghai flights)

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Living in Brussels Belgium area, but have am a US citizen with EU residence. So I can use my US address for frequent flyer programs. I am flying for work for at least 4 international legs, but as I own the business and we are starting off, the flights are the cheapest/ near cheapest at the moment. As we grow, buying premium economy flights are desirable. I also have family in Canada and the US that we see on an annual basis, so family flight tickets also happen.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Currently I really would like to stick to London as BA can get me to many places I need to travel in a short time, quick trip from BRU to LON, then I can fly direct to Toronto, Austin (LOVE THIS OPTION) and Shainghi, which are three of my most common flights. I also have to planned travel on an annual basis of Las Vegas, Boston (east coast) for most years. As my business grows there are possibly three to four US based trips each year.


(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: Brussels BRU, with AUS Austin Texas my second "Home". most flight will originate from 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?
(AA Executive Platinum, QF Gold, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
Reply: I have some miles banked in an about to merged US Airways account, but no status, been flying the cheapest option for all my international travel on non banking tickets, but as the business grows I want to build some status to make my travel more enjoyable and give me something back for logging air miles.


(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: I prefer BA for my international travel via London, but otherwise, I am not set as of this moment, hence this post.

To expand on the above, I live in the Brussels area, fly from BRU almost always as my starting airport, but will also have AUS in Texas as my "second" home as that is where our US office is located. I run my own clothing company which has our factory in Shanghai China, which I travel to at least twice a year. There is/will be around three plus trips to the US/Canada a year, both personal and business.

I am trying to decide between the AA Advantage verse the BA program. My thoughts are that at first glance the BA FFP program with the BA CC to help earn miles is the logical choice. I can take out a company CC which will help with earning non flying miles.

But I think the ability to earn miles and status will be easier with the AA program. I can still bank miles on the major BA routes when I fly, but I'm not sure if the cheaper rates, especially for Premium Economy are available on the AA site when booking BA flights.

So given these two options, which is the better choice for me? I can be either EU (Belgium) registered or Austin, Texas USA based for my account, either works for me.

Thanks for the help. Gregg

Hi all, I'm *A Gold (TK Miles & Smiles Elite) and can easily re-qualify with my short haul travel (mainly from BRU to other European cities). For my long-haul I'd like to have more choice and my customers often require me to choose the cheapest reasonable option, hence I would like to add oneworld to the mix.

I would like to leverage my *A status to status match to a similar level on a oneworld carrier.

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: Good award redemption, miles do not easily expire, ability to re-qualify
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Doing about 60 shorthaul segments on *A.
Plan on doing minimum of 4 TATL segments in C each year on oneworld. Mybe Asia (HKG, SIN, ...)
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
TATL: C
Short haul: cheapest
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Mostly work but I'm free to choose if price is similar
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Intra-European, TATL (BRU-NYC, BRU-LAX, BRU-MIA)
(6) What is your home airport?
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?
TK Elite (*A Gold)
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Mostly LH. Would do VS or BA to US.

Thanks for your input!