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-   -   Deciding on a Oneworld Frequent Flyer Program? Help is here. (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld/1335378-deciding-oneworld-frequent-flyer-program-help-here.html)

Mwenenzi Sep 2, 2016 8:23 pm

rjhilton56 Welcome to FT


Originally Posted by rjhilton56 (Post 27155101)
I'm new here and just after some advice please... I current travel quite a lot from Manchester, UK to Scandinavia with work and recently decided to capitalise on this. I have one miles and more however when I fly with Finnair or British Airways my miles are not being claimed as they are part of one world.

I’m wondering what you would recommend the best frequent flyer would be for me.
<snip>
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: BA for most internals, SAS, Finnair

As you live in Manchester join the BA ffp. Finnair is a BA partner, so you will get BA avios on eligible flights
BA forum is here. It is very active with many good posts. Have a read of the sticky wiki threads http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...tive-club-446/

The airline you fly most or an airline of the country you live is the best ffp for many people. Generally however you are better earning on your primary airline due to greater recognition, better service when disruptions, ability to upgrade flights and possible operational upgrades. Earning miles from non flying activities is easier with an airline of your home country.

What are one miles?
SAS is part of Star Alliance so to get miles for those flight you need to join a Star Alliance airline ffp.

Award flights are not free. All now have real taxes, which can be insignificant to high (UK APD in business/first class). Some ffp's, like BA, have cash surcharges on award flights. For BA economy awards you need to check the cash BA price, price on other airlines and the BA cash surcharge.

Remcod Sep 5, 2016 7:35 am

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

Award tickets

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

>50.000 <25

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

Business

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

I can choose the Airline, but need to pick reasonable business class rates

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply:

Brussels - Asia (Vietnam, Seoul, Tokyo, Indonesia)
Brussels - USA

(6) What is your home airport?

Brussels

Reply:
(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?

Miles & More Silver
Flying Blue Gold
Skywards Silver

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

I have no preferred airline, because of the variety of destinations, I change airline very often.
I have now flights coming up with Finnair to Seoul in J and to Loas Angeles in J with BA, all from Brussels.
I have miles stocked with Qatar Privilege Club as well: 120 Qpoints and 21K miles (from a flight from Brussels to Jakarta in J)
For my next flights i keep using best the Qatar program or should I consider to start using another program from One World?

Mwenenzi Sep 5, 2016 3:08 pm


Originally Posted by Remcod (Post 27167534)
<snip>
(6) What is your home airport?
Brussels

Reply:
(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?
Miles & More Silver
Flying Blue Gold
Skywards Silver

Reply:
(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply:
I have no preferred airline, because of the variety of destinations, I change airline very often.
I have now flights coming up with Finnair to Seoul in J and to Los Angeles in J with BA, all from Brussels.
I have miles stocked with Qatar Privilege Club as well: 120 Qpoints and 21K miles (from a flight from Brussels to Jakarta in J)
For my next flights I keep using best the Qatar program or should I consider to start using another program from One World?

So you are a member of and have status with
Miles & More -> LH? (Star Alliance)
Flying Blue -> KLM/AF? (Skyteam)
Skywards -> EK (non aligned)
Privilege Club --> QR (Oneworld)

Having multiple ffp’s with low balances is never a good idea. You never get enough ff miles/points to be of use before they expire. FFP’s are for the long term. However at times it makes sense to have a ff membership with an airline in another alliance. (e.g. Oneworld & Star)

Some of those ffp's have a hard expiry. That is use the frequent flyer miles or loose them. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-t-expire.html

When do the QR ff points expire and what will use them for?
You could build up the QR points with the BA & AY flights and then use them.
http://www.wheretocredit.com/ba
http://www.wheretocredit.com/ay
Then credit to the BA ffp. Being Eu based long term BA may be a better ffp. But has savage surcharges on most, but not all, award flights.

USA based airline ffp's tend to be more generous (status benefits/earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry/affiliated credit card ff mile earning/promotions) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s (even after the recently announced changes to some USA ffp’s). But if you are not flying the airline of your ffp the useful benefits are somewhat limited.

Until a few years ago, the default recommendation for many if flying a range of airlines was a USA based ffp. But with the change of most USA based ffp's to revenue based, flying the airline with best fares and best schedule that matches your requirements now has merit. And treating any ff miles as a bonus that may or may not be able to be used.

The airline you fly and the airline ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be the same.

The airline you fly most or an airline of the country you live is the best ffp for many people. Generally however you are better earning on your primary airline due to greater recognition, better service when disruptions, ability to upgrade flights and possible operational upgrades.

Earning miles from non flying activities is easier with an airline of your home country.

Remcod Sep 6, 2016 2:19 am


Originally Posted by Mwenenzi (Post 27169342)
So you are a member of and have status with
Miles & More -> LH? (Star Alliance)
Flying Blue -> KLM/AF? (Skyteam)
Skywards -> EK (non aligned)
Privilege Club --> QR (Oneworld)

Having multiple ffp’s with low balances is never a good idea. You never get enough ff miles/points to be of use before they expire. FFP’s are for the long term. However at times it makes sense to have a ff membership with an airline in another alliance. (e.g. Oneworld & Star)

Some of those ffp's have a hard expiry. That is use the frequent flyer miles or loose them. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-t-expire.html

When do the QR ff points expire and what will use them for?
You could build up the QR points with the BA & AY flights and then use them.
http://www.wheretocredit.com/ba
http://www.wheretocredit.com/ay
Then credit to the BA ffp. Being Eu based long term BA may be a better ffp. But has savage surcharges on most, but not all, award flights.

USA based airline ffp's tend to be more generous (status benefits/earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry/affiliated credit card ff mile earning/promotions) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s (even after the recently announced changes to some USA ffp’s). But if you are not flying the airline of your ffp the useful benefits are somewhat limited.

Until a few years ago, the default recommendation for many if flying a range of airlines was a USA based ffp. But with the change of most USA based ffp's to revenue based, flying the airline with best fares and best schedule that matches your requirements now has merit. And treating any ff miles as a bonus that may or may not be able to be used.

The airline you fly and the airline ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be the same.

The airline you fly most or an airline of the country you live is the best ffp for many people. Generally however you are better earning on your primary airline due to greater recognition, better service when disruptions, ability to upgrade flights and possible operational upgrades.

Earning miles from non flying activities is easier with an airline of your home country.

Thanks a lot for your reply.
I am very much aware it is not a good idea to have all these ffp's running (I haven't even mentioned the ones i use to fly Africa :) )
But being Brussels based and flying to so many destinations for work doesn't give much of a choice.

The miles at QR only expire in 2019, so still have some time to use them.
But for now I am not sure if I should subscribe to the BA ffp for my trips with BA to LAX and Finnair to Seoul, or if I should just stick to the Qatar program. I have the impression the BA ffp is giving more tier points for the trip, or am I wrong?

KCJDiscovery Sep 8, 2016 6:28 pm

Hi new here and I would like to get some opinion:
I am moving to HKG in Oct, although I have Asia Miles, I want to know if I should get MPC at all? Or should I get into JAL or BA?

Questions
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: upgrades on travel, good award redemption rates, better award 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: probably close to 50000 miles <25 flights by October 2017

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Reply: Economy, cheapest

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

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: UA DL CX HKG to LAX/SFO/SEA/ORD, HKG to KIX/CTS
I want to travel much more (anywhere of the world) outside of work.

(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: will be HKG and possibly KIX (Osaka Kansai/Kyoto Japan)

(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: DL almost Gold, Asia Miles basic, UA

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: DL, AA, CX. Anything “non-mainland China”, unless fly into China.

Thank you

pvgman Sep 11, 2016 10:53 am

currently Emerald with AA, non US resident,

I can make Emerald with almost any OW carrier within 12 months (probably not with CX since there is a reset at every tier).

What I value the most is the RDM as I used them for my wife ticket in J, usually 5 RT/ year between Asia - Europe/USA

With the new earning system AA put in place, even while I am flying in discount J I won't earn enough miles on AA flights


Questions
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Earning miles, good award redemption rates, better award 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: 100 000 miles, 40 flights

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

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

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: AA, BA, IB, CX Europe to Asia, Europe to US
Lots of intra Asia and intra Europe


(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: PVG, HKG, BCN

(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: AA EXP, TK E+

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: AA, CX, IB, BA, QR, TK

Thank you

NZbutterfly Sep 13, 2016 6:10 am

might post later

flyer265 Sep 13, 2016 12:51 pm

Best Oneworld FF Program??
 
Hey Everyone,

Just wondering if anyone could help me :confused: 2 of us are travelling with Qatar Airways on the following routes in the next 2 months :

CDG - MLE - CDG Qatar Airways First Class Return

LHR- HEL - LHR Finnair Economy Class Return

HEL - DPS - HEL - Qatar Airways Business Class Return

I was just wondering which FF program would be best to register for to maximise my miles for and which program would give more status?? We are both based in London and would be looking to use the miles for a trip next year. Just wanted to know if there is a better FF program than others. I know this has probably been covered but just wanted some advice.

Thanks for all replies.

Mwenenzi Sep 13, 2016 2:16 pm

flyer265 Welcome to FT

What is your definition of best? Will be different to mine.

Max ff miles is meaningless, as ff miles are not equal to earn or burn. 10,000 ff miles in 1 ffp may get you a longer award flight than 15,000 ff miles in another ffp. And then there is award cash surcharges with some ffp's/routes/airline.

What benefits do you expect from ffp status? If flying paid first or business ffp status tends to give no extra benefits, other than more ff miles.

The airline you fly most or an airline of the country you live is the best ffp for many people. Generally however you are better earning on your primary airline due to greater recognition, better service when disruptions, ability to upgrade flights and possible operational upgrades.

Earning miles from non flying activities is easier with an airline of your home country.

Look and ask here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...help-here.html

Soly Sep 21, 2016 1:30 pm


Originally Posted by Soly (Post 27136973)
Hi guys, I am currently on BA gold. Have been with BA for quite some time. However recently I have started using some of the miles accumulated and noticed that I can barely get any availability and they charge a truck load of miles and on top of that you pay serious $$!!

I usually fly business 90% of the time and the remainder is on first class.

(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: upgrades, priority, baggage allowance. Good award redemption (burn rate) and availability.

(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: about 50k, 90% paid in J and the remainder in F.

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Mostly discounted business if viable otherwise J regular fare. Discounted First when available.

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes, I choose whatever airlines I want and I choose class of travel. Travel is 80% for work and the rest is holidays with family with award redemption most of the time.

(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Twice a year BEY-LHR-PHX or BEY-LHR-SFO or BEY-LHR-IAD in club world. Then 4 or 5 times between BEY and Europe on Club as well. Once or twice From Bey to SYD and another city in far east on Club or F. Lastly 3 or 4 trips from BEY to DXB all Business.

(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: BEY

(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: Gold on BA.

(8) Preferred Airlines? Most common Airlines flown on?
Reply: BA for transatlantic and Europe, AA for US domestic. Any of the Gulf airlines and Qantas to far east/Australia.

I would like to know if switching to AA I can get more upgrade availably to F when flying transatlantic and cheaper and more available redemption on award flights.

Thanks for your help.

Can anyone help please?

Gardyloo Sep 21, 2016 4:04 pm


Originally Posted by Soly (Post 27244033)
Can anyone help please?

Since (presumably) BA is your BEY-LHR+ carrier and you use them for transatlantic segments only, it seems logical to stick with BA, even with their awful surcharge practices.

If you were to switch to AA, under the new AA elite system you might or might not qualify for Platinum (Oneworld Sapphire, equals BA Silver) or Executive Platinum (OW Emerald - BA Gold) depending on how much you fly, but your redeemable miles would depend on how much you spend.

Another option is Qatar's FFP, but I'd spend some time looking at their offering (as well as doing the math on AA's new scheme) before switching from BA. Off the top of my head, I think given your wish list (upgrades etc.) you might well end up better off with BA than by starting new with some other airline.

KipKe Sep 25, 2016 4:41 pm

Hello,

I am currently AA platinum. I am aware of the changes after Aug 1st but I thought the EQM would still depend on the actual miles flown and the redeemable miles would depend on what you spend. Anyway, I don't know if I got it wrong. My EQM posted are low... There are intercontinental and Hawaiian flights, amongst others. If I'm not wrong, before 8/1 this would have been around 50k miles, about 10x what I got now. Did it really become that bad?

Here are my August flights, maybe someone could comment whether this seems right or not. Thanks!

Starting balance 136,187

Ticket # Date EQMs / EQSs Base miles Bonus miles Total award miles

AMERICAN AIRLINES 6267 Y GOT LHR
Method: Fare 8/11/16 652 / 1 50 30 80

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0161 Y LAX OGG
Method: Fare 8/12/16 2,486 / 1 190 114 304

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0109 Y LHR LAX
Method: Fare 8/12/16 5,456 / 1 925 555 1,480

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0620 Y OGG PHX
Method: Fare 8/16/16 2,845 / 1 180 108 288

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0465 Y PHX ORD
Method: Fare 8/17/16 1,440 / 1 95 57 152

AMERICAN AIRLINES 8081 Y ORD TXL
Method: Fare 8/17/16 4,413 / 1 965 579 1,544

AIR BERLIN 8062 Y TXL GOT
Method: Distance 8/18/16 250 / 1 91 0 91

AMERICAN AIRLINES 6503 Y DUS LHR
Method: Distance 8/23/16 500 / 1 156 94 250

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0057 Y LHR MIA
Method: Fare 8/23/16 4,425 / 1 720 432 1,152

Total miles posted 3,372 1,969 5,341

Balance 141,528

Mwenenzi Sep 25, 2016 7:34 pm


Originally Posted by KipKe (Post 27262393)
I am currently AA platinum. I am aware of the changes after Aug 1st but I thought the EQM would still depend on the actual miles flown and the redeemable miles would depend on what you spend. Anyway, I don't know if I got it wrong. My EQM posted are low... There are intercontinental and Hawaiian flights, amongst others. If I'm not wrong, before 8/1 this would have been around 50k miles, about 10x what I got now. Did it really become that bad?

Better to ask in the AA forum. It is now a lot more complicated to determine status earning & what redeemable AA freq flyer miles you will earn.
(Also hard to know which of the many AA threads to post in :confused: )

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ug-2016-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...es-2016-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...2016-a-14.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...un-2016-a.html

JDiver Sep 25, 2016 7:49 pm


Originally Posted by KipKe (Post 27262393)
Hello,

I am currently AA platinum. I am aware of the changes after Aug 1st but I thought the EQM would still depend on the actual miles flown and the redeemable miles would depend on what you spend. Anyway, I don't know if I got it wrong. My EQM posted are low... There are intercontinental and Hawaiian flights, amongst others. If I'm not wrong, before 8/1 this would have been around 50k miles, about 10x what I got now. Did it really become that bad?

Here are my August flights, maybe someone could comment whether this seems right or not. Thanks!

Starting balance 136,187

Ticket # Date EQMs / EQSs Base miles Bonus miles Total award miles

AMERICAN AIRLINES 6267 Y GOT LHR
Method: Fare 8/11/16 652 / 1 50 30 80

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0161 Y LAX OGG
Method: Fare 8/12/16 2,486 / 1 190 114 304

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0109 Y LHR LAX
Method: Fare 8/12/16 5,456 / 1 925 555 1,480

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0620 Y OGG PHX
Method: Fare 8/16/16 2,845 / 1 180 108 288

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0465 Y PHX ORD
Method: Fare 8/17/16 1,440 / 1 95 57 152

AMERICAN AIRLINES 8081 Y ORD TXL
Method: Fare 8/17/16 4,413 / 1 965 579 1,544

AIR BERLIN 8062 Y TXL GOT
Method: Distance 8/18/16 250 / 1 91 0 91

AMERICAN AIRLINES 6503 Y DUS LHR
Method: Distance 8/23/16 500 / 1 156 94 250

AMERICAN AIRLINES 0057 Y LHR MIA
Method: Fare 8/23/16 4,425 / 1 720 432 1,152

Total miles posted 3,372 1,969 5,341

Balance 141,528

Unfortunately, though these were flown in the Y cabin fare, we don't know your actual fare classes. For AA you earn 1.0 EQM on all AA marketed fares and as a statusholder earn minima of 500 EQM per segment.

But on AB, you may earn less than that. E.g. you might earn 0.5 EQM, so 0.5 x 500 = 250. See

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...es-2016-a.html

Mwenenzi Sep 25, 2016 8:14 pm


Originally Posted by JDiver (Post 27262927)
Unfortunately, though these were flown in the Y cabin fare, we don't know your actual fare classes. For AA you earn 1.0 EQM on all AA marketed fares and as a statusholder earn minima of 500 EQM per segment.

But on AB, you may earn less than that. E.g. you might earn 0.5 EQM, so 0.5 x 500 = 250. See

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...es-2016-a.html

Thanks ^
For the AB marketed flight this may help (but may not be 100% accurate).
You need to find the actual fare booking class in the economy (generic Y) cabin.
But (few) AA ff miles you received is likley to to be correct
http://www.wheretocredit.com/air-berlin


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