Be kind, be gentle, I'm new.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Racking up as many points as possible for personal use at a later date, and miles that do not expire.

(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
The travel varies.
Reply:I travel to our HQ, Portland, Oregon roundtrip 1-2 times per month (1,676mi - 3,352mi)
There are additional flights to and from new acquisitions such as Dallas, Shreveport, etc.
-Travel to and from HQ (ONT>PDX) 20,112 - 40,224 miles minimum per year.
-Add in acquisition estimates (ONT>SHV) 2,740 - 5,480 miles per month which is 65,760 - 65760 miles per year just for acquisitions.
-That is a yearly combined total of 85,872 - 105,984 miles.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply:Business Class

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Travel is for work, I cannot select the airline, but I can opt for business class, I need the leg room.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Domestic flights, with the possibility of 1 international flight (yet to be determined). Typically ONT>PDX or LAX>PDX, and then ONT or LAX to an acquisition like SHV.

(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: I would prefer my home airport to be ONT, but sometimes they book a flight out of LAX.

(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 have any higher status with my FFP. I've only recently in this last month started a new position which requires frequent travel.

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: AmericanAirlines per company and sometimes JetBlue.

waitingforsanity Welcome to FT
Sign up for AAdavantage & US DM now. US miles will become AA mile some time in the future. I am unsure how long AA have for retro credit, but US has/did allow retro credit up to 6 months before you joined. See post 2 and start claiming retro credit of flights already taken. Many airline ffp's require you to a member at the date of the flight.

Also look at the links in post 1 for the AA challenge: a fast way to status. Probably worth the ~$200 fee for you.

AA miles do not expire if you have eligible activity in 18 months. With AA and living in the USA this is easy even if you do not fly. 18 months no expiry is very common with ffp. Some have 36 months. And then some ffp's have a hard miles expiry, where your miles will expire in 3 years, no matter how often you fly. AA does not have hard expiry.

Well, AA doesn't fly nonstop from ONT to PDX, nor, for that matter from LAX. Alaska airlines flies ONT-PDX nonstop (also code-shared by AA) but uses RJs with no first class. AS has FC from LAX to PDX, or you could fly US/AA in FC ONT-xPHX-PDX if you can afford the extra time.

You probably should sign up for the Platinum Challenge with AA. If you accumulate 10,000 elite qualifying points in 3 months you'll make Platinum (Oneworld sapphire) which will double your mileage earning on AA/US/AS and most Oneworld carriers. ONT-PHX-PDX and back would earn roughly 4000 EQP per round trip in first class, so if you're doing just that, you'd hit Plat halfway through your third trip, or sooner if you fly AA/US to other destinations. (If you fly on AS metal, book under the AA code and that will count too.) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html

With your anticipated flying, you ought to be able to make AA Executive Platinum fairly easily, with all the perks implied. But start with the Plat challenge since one of your aims is rapid accumulation of redeemable miles.

Hi all,

I'm currently a BAEC Silver, although with the recent changes I am not sure I will be able to retain my status and I am thinking to change my FFP.

Qatar Privilege Club seems the most obvious choice.

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

mainly priority services when flying the airline, possibility of using miles for discounts/upgrades and finally lounge access

It is also important to be able to maintain status.

Reply:

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

more than 100k miles in about 60 flights (40 short haul - 20 long haul), 95% of the time in economy cheapest

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

I do get occasionally business class on the short haul (3 or 4 flights in total) the remaining time I'm on the cheapest fare

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

I can choose the airline, i cannot choose the class of service, unless the difference in price is reasonable, I travel 90%of the times for work

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

Mostly in Europe, plus one flight to Australia, 2-3 to far east, 2 to the Americas and 2 the middle east normally with Qatar Malaysia Airlines or Emirates(going east) or BA(going west)

(6) What is your home airport?

LHR, LGW, 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?

BAEC Silver and spent most of my miles, Emirates Skywards Silver with currently 17000 miles

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?

In Europe BA, to the east I try to fly Qatar whenever possible.

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Good award redemption rates, good upgrades to Business from economy, basically around the awards
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: I would fly domestically in India probably 5-10 times a year, and internationally probably 5-20 flights. Depending on time. Probably 25,000km to 100,000km a year - depending on leave
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Lately business, but that's costing a bit so maybe a bit of business and economy, and if there's a really ridiculously cheap flight then maybe that (but that's just for costs, not points if really cheap)
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: 95% pleasure, 5% work
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Reply: Before it was Malaysian/Emirates - but now sometimes Jet Air as well. Routes are generally Delhi to Bangalore domestically, and Delhi to KL or Delhi to Melbourne or occasionally Europe.
(6) What is your home airport?
Reply: DEL (Delhi)
(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: Silver on Malaysian Enrich, but they're about to devalue their points so I need an alternative asap with flights coming up this year. I also have Emirates Skyways - and I just opened Singapore and BA accounts recently as well. Jet airways in India too.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: It used to be Malaysia Airlines, but since their product is not particularity great anymore, and they are massively devaluing their points - it remains any airline right now. There are plans to go to North America and Melbourne thsi year, so I would be looking at One World partner or direct airlines.

Hope this helps.

You can fly one airline and credit the ff miles to another airlines ffp. Too many people assume the airline you fly and the ffp you credit the miles to need to be the same. They do not need to be. But ff miles on partner airlines can earn less.

For good award cost and low co pay fees, (unless on a BA flight) is hard to go past AA. BA is good for short haul awards for some people.

Why did you join the BA ffp (OneWorld)?

Upgrades with miles, if any, are generally only available on the airline of your ffp. Not partner airlines. But there are exceptions. Read post 1

Edit:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...-devalued.html (09 Feb 2015)

Nope I knew this - but no point funneling into MAS anymore - hence I might as well start a new account. I've flown Qatar and funneled it into MAS.

For good award cost and low co pay fees, (unless on a BA flight) is hard to go past AA. BA is good for short haul awards for some people.

Why did you join the BA ffp (OneWorld)? - I thought I was moving to London once, but that changed.

So AA is the best bet right now?

Perhaps only if you can guarantee you can get 4 AA sectors a year. And everyone is wondering about the new AA program once the merger is completed.

Does your location in India permit easy transits through CMB? Half the status earnings for UL needs to be on UL, but otherwise OW Sapphire would seem to be quite easily earned. Can't speak for upgrades or award availability. But Ul does code share with MH to Australia.

Happy wandering

Fred

No I can't guarantee it just yet. Not even 1 a year - it's on a year to year basis. I'd probably stick with Qatar or something then. Unless people don't recommend it?

I have applied for a AB Gold status match based on my SkyTeam Gold and it was approved. Looking forward flying more OneWorld as I will be more flying within Asia this comes handy.

Should I switch?
 

Hi
Right now I´m trying to decide if I should switch from AA because I´m not sure if I can flight 4 segments in AA this year
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 and good offers in redemption
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
Reply:25000-50000
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply:cheapest
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply:travel for pleasure
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
Reply:Transatlantic, interEurope
(6) What is your home airport?
Reply:PAR
(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, no status right now, 80k

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: AA, Iberia Lan

I´m happy with AA, but this year I don´t think I´m going to travel with them. I have these flights already booked

Iberia: ORY-MAD-ORY
Lan: MAD-SCL-IPC-SCL-LIM-MAD
Qatar: CDG-DOH-CPT-DOH-CDG

And also I have to add a flight from Paris to Mexico.
I don´t know if with these flights I can reach gold, but I would hate to waste it because I didn´t flight in AA.
Any suggestion?
Thanks!

Thanks in advance for the help!
 

I can't wait to see what you all think. I am leaning towards flying Cathay Pacific but don't know which one world account to put the miles into (CX, AA or other). I do plan on getting a Chase Saphire CC as well (and possibly AA cc too if AA is the dump site) I plan on over $60k in purchases a year. I wish I could fly Virgin Atlantic due to the wide seats in premium economy but they only fly to Hong Kong so that's out.

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: I am looking for comfort first i.e. lounge access, shorter lines. It is really important to move up the tiers as fast as I can. Second EASY miles redemption for free airfare all over the world for me and my family.
(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 would say over 150k miles per year and 50 flights.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply:All premium economy.
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply:All work travel. I have free reign over what airlines but only premium economy.
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply:Transpacific and inter asia
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply:SFO
(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:Nothing. Starting from zero so speed is important moving up.
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply:Virgin

Hello

Anyone that can give us a hand with the last questions?

Thanks!

Airberlin will likely match your status outright. You should get Gold (oneworld sapphire), which actually has pretty nice benefits.
You can do that online (German only): http://www.airberlin.com/site/landin...ode=TEV4&cat=2

I would go with AA for the time being.
Oneworld partners BA and CX offer premium economy, which earns 1.5 EQP in AAdvantage, same as business class. You'd get to top tier status rather quickly with a few TPAC flights in CX PE...
If you currently have no AA status, sign up for their Platinum challenge (call AAdvantage customer service for this, 1-800-882-8880) which will give you a quick route to mid-tier status (100% bonus mileage, lounge access....). Attention: To my knowledge, CX flights do not count towards the challenges (there are restrictions, and not all partners are eligible for challenges), so buy the AA codeshare which will qualify.