Help - newbie OW traveller...
Jun 23, 2005 | 8:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Aeroplan, Alaska, American, Emirates, Amex Plat
Posts: 5
Help - newbie OW traveller...
Hello all,
Looking for some advice here...
I'm usually a Star Alliance traveller & have held Gold status for many years. My new contract will require me to fly Vancouver - Dubai - RTN (and on to Kabul - but no points there...) quite a bit in the next 18-24 months and they tend to book W or J class fares on BA and Emirates.
I DO have an AA membership, but its at the lowest level and used only in emergencies, I also have an Alaska Airlines 'MVP' membership and a low level Emirates membership. I also carry a DC and an Amex Plat.
My questions are:
1) Should I get a BA membership? Or just book all this travel on my AA or Alaska memberships?
2) I NEED lounge access. Do you know of any credit cards that offer access to One World lounges? Or a way to just outright buy a lounge pass for the year - until I have enough legs on a One World member airline to qualify for access free?
3) Any tips/tricks with One World I should know? I USED to be a One World member in the good old Canadian Airlines days but I'm sure the computers have dropped me off by now.
Thanks for your help...
PatekPhil
Looking for some advice here...
I'm usually a Star Alliance traveller & have held Gold status for many years. My new contract will require me to fly Vancouver - Dubai - RTN (and on to Kabul - but no points there...) quite a bit in the next 18-24 months and they tend to book W or J class fares on BA and Emirates.
I DO have an AA membership, but its at the lowest level and used only in emergencies, I also have an Alaska Airlines 'MVP' membership and a low level Emirates membership. I also carry a DC and an Amex Plat.
My questions are:
1) Should I get a BA membership? Or just book all this travel on my AA or Alaska memberships?
2) I NEED lounge access. Do you know of any credit cards that offer access to One World lounges? Or a way to just outright buy a lounge pass for the year - until I have enough legs on a One World member airline to qualify for access free?
3) Any tips/tricks with One World I should know? I USED to be a One World member in the good old Canadian Airlines days but I'm sure the computers have dropped me off by now.
Thanks for your help...
PatekPhil
Jun 23, 2005 | 9:16 am
#2
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1) If your flying could be exclusively on BA then I would go with the BA membership if you will be doing sufficient roundtrips to get quite rapidly to Silver or Gold Status. The advantage of this is that BA treats its Golds reasonably well in terms of upgrade possibilities. Having said that, if accruing miles for future award bookings is more important to you than status then AA is generally regarded as a better programme for that, particularly once you get to elite levels, and it is much easier to use AA miles on AA flights than it is to use BA miles.
2) On BA flying in J is sufficient to get you access to their (business class) lounges. In London this means showers, spa, the full works, and the arrivals lounge. Although note that the arrivals lounge now closes too early for you to use it after either of the morning departures from Dubai - this isn't an issue unless you are stopping over in London since you can go to the departure lounge. In Dubai I fear that it is simply a lounge with snacks & drinks but no showers. BA will give you access to some sort of lounge in YVR - I'm not sure if it is their own, CX's or a thrid party, nor what the facilities are. If travelling on W you will not automatically get lounge access until you get to BA Silver (when you will get business lounge access). Someone with more knowledge than me can calculate how many roundtrips YVR-LHR-DXB you would need in W to get to Silver but I'd be surprised if it was more than three. If you do it in J then I would guess two roundtrips to Silver. Once you get to BA Gold then you have access to the First Class lounges where available (which they aren't in DXB, not sure about YVR).
3) Not much that I can think of. Just remember that you can't get BA miles on AA flights between the USA and Europe, or AA miles on BA flights between the USA and Europe. But BA from Canada to London can accrue in either programme.
2) On BA flying in J is sufficient to get you access to their (business class) lounges. In London this means showers, spa, the full works, and the arrivals lounge. Although note that the arrivals lounge now closes too early for you to use it after either of the morning departures from Dubai - this isn't an issue unless you are stopping over in London since you can go to the departure lounge. In Dubai I fear that it is simply a lounge with snacks & drinks but no showers. BA will give you access to some sort of lounge in YVR - I'm not sure if it is their own, CX's or a thrid party, nor what the facilities are. If travelling on W you will not automatically get lounge access until you get to BA Silver (when you will get business lounge access). Someone with more knowledge than me can calculate how many roundtrips YVR-LHR-DXB you would need in W to get to Silver but I'd be surprised if it was more than three. If you do it in J then I would guess two roundtrips to Silver. Once you get to BA Gold then you have access to the First Class lounges where available (which they aren't in DXB, not sure about YVR).
3) Not much that I can think of. Just remember that you can't get BA miles on AA flights between the USA and Europe, or AA miles on BA flights between the USA and Europe. But BA from Canada to London can accrue in either programme.
Jun 23, 2005 | 10:01 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,898
Originally Posted by christep
1) If your flying could be exclusively on BA then I would go with the BA membership if you will be doing sufficient roundtrips to get quite rapidly to Silver or Gold Status. The advantage of this is that BA treats its Golds reasonably well in terms of upgrade possibilities. Having said that, if accruing miles for future award bookings is more important to you than status then AA is generally regarded as a better programme for that, particularly once you get to elite levels, and it is much easier to use AA miles on AA flights than it is to use BA miles.
2) On BA flying in J is sufficient to get you access to their (business class) lounges. In London this means showers, spa, the full works, and the arrivals lounge. Although note that the arrivals lounge now closes too early for you to use it after either of the morning departures from Dubai - this isn't an issue unless you are stopping over in London since you can go to the departure lounge. In Dubai I fear that it is simply a lounge with snacks & drinks but no showers. BA will give you access to some sort of lounge in YVR - I'm not sure if it is their own, CX's or a thrid party, nor what the facilities are. If travelling on W you will not automatically get lounge access until you get to BA Silver (when you will get business lounge access). Someone with more knowledge than me can calculate how many roundtrips YVR-LHR-DXB you would need in W to get to Silver but I'd be surprised if it was more than three. If you do it in J then I would guess two roundtrips to Silver. Once you get to BA Gold then you have access to the First Class lounges where available (which they aren't in DXB, not sure about YVR).
3) Not much that I can think of. Just remember that you can't get BA miles on AA flights between the USA and Europe, or AA miles on BA flights between the USA and Europe. But BA from Canada to London can accrue in either programme.
2) On BA flying in J is sufficient to get you access to their (business class) lounges. In London this means showers, spa, the full works, and the arrivals lounge. Although note that the arrivals lounge now closes too early for you to use it after either of the morning departures from Dubai - this isn't an issue unless you are stopping over in London since you can go to the departure lounge. In Dubai I fear that it is simply a lounge with snacks & drinks but no showers. BA will give you access to some sort of lounge in YVR - I'm not sure if it is their own, CX's or a thrid party, nor what the facilities are. If travelling on W you will not automatically get lounge access until you get to BA Silver (when you will get business lounge access). Someone with more knowledge than me can calculate how many roundtrips YVR-LHR-DXB you would need in W to get to Silver but I'd be surprised if it was more than three. If you do it in J then I would guess two roundtrips to Silver. Once you get to BA Gold then you have access to the First Class lounges where available (which they aren't in DXB, not sure about YVR).
3) Not much that I can think of. Just remember that you can't get BA miles on AA flights between the USA and Europe, or AA miles on BA flights between the USA and Europe. But BA from Canada to London can accrue in either programme.
Jun 23, 2005 | 10:17 am
#4
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Good point (although did you really need to quote my entire post to make it?). The Platinum Challenge is probably the way to go given the importance of lounge access - I'd forgotten about that. Just remember that if, for any reason you need to go through the US then the transatlantic piece will have to be on AA, not BA.
Jun 23, 2005 | 10:56 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: US Gold, AA Gold, *A Gold, *Wood Gold
Posts: 158
Originally Posted by christep
Good point (although did you really need to quote my entire post to make it?). The Platinum Challenge is probably the way to go given the importance of lounge access - I'd forgotten about that. Just remember that if, for any reason you need to go through the US then the transatlantic piece will have to be on AA, not BA.
However, even if that transatlantic piece is on BA, I believe the OP will still have lounge access as a OW Sapphire on a OW flight. There just won't be any elite qualifying miles.
Jun 23, 2005 | 11:22 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London, UK
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Posts: 8,156
[QUOTE=PatekPhil
2) I NEED lounge access. Do you know of any credit cards that offer access to One World lounges? Or a way to just outright buy a lounge pass for the year - until I have enough legs on a One World member airline to qualify for access free?
PatekPhil[/QUOTE]
Can I suggest a Qantas Club membership which allows access to QF, BA and AA lounges for non-status customers when travelling on a QF, BA and AA flight number. More information can be found here:
http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/qantasClub/index
2) I NEED lounge access. Do you know of any credit cards that offer access to One World lounges? Or a way to just outright buy a lounge pass for the year - until I have enough legs on a One World member airline to qualify for access free?
PatekPhil[/QUOTE]
Can I suggest a Qantas Club membership which allows access to QF, BA and AA lounges for non-status customers when travelling on a QF, BA and AA flight number. More information can be found here:
http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/qantasClub/index
Jun 23, 2005 | 1:01 pm
#7
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 12,526
First, welcome to FT, PatekPhil -
I would definitely go with AA for the Plat Challenge, and moreover I would look at making the YVR-DXB runs on Cathay Pacific via HKG as often as via LHR. It's only an hour longer all in, and while the various lounges at LHR are fine, so are the CX lounges in YVR and HKG, plus going westbound rather than eastbound you might have less jetlag issues if that's a concern. Not to mention Cathay's business product is pretty nice...
In addition, if you'll be doing these laps of Ma Earth regularly, then a series of DONE3 RTWs, YVR-HKG-DXB-LHR-YVR, including staging for your flights to KBL (where do you fly from to get there - ISL?) might make a great deal of economic sense, especially compared to point-to-point J fares. If you bought the RTWs outside N. America (maybe in Asia on one of your trips) then you would also have quite a lot of N. America flying you could accomplish while you're in Canada between trips. Note you might run up against the minimum elapsed time rules on the RTWs (10 days?) if your trips are fast ones.
I would certainly crunch the numbers, but in any rate the sheer mileage accumulation you'd get with AA would seem to offer the best deal.
I would definitely go with AA for the Plat Challenge, and moreover I would look at making the YVR-DXB runs on Cathay Pacific via HKG as often as via LHR. It's only an hour longer all in, and while the various lounges at LHR are fine, so are the CX lounges in YVR and HKG, plus going westbound rather than eastbound you might have less jetlag issues if that's a concern. Not to mention Cathay's business product is pretty nice...
In addition, if you'll be doing these laps of Ma Earth regularly, then a series of DONE3 RTWs, YVR-HKG-DXB-LHR-YVR, including staging for your flights to KBL (where do you fly from to get there - ISL?) might make a great deal of economic sense, especially compared to point-to-point J fares. If you bought the RTWs outside N. America (maybe in Asia on one of your trips) then you would also have quite a lot of N. America flying you could accomplish while you're in Canada between trips. Note you might run up against the minimum elapsed time rules on the RTWs (10 days?) if your trips are fast ones.
I would certainly crunch the numbers, but in any rate the sheer mileage accumulation you'd get with AA would seem to offer the best deal.
Last edited by Gardyloo; Jun 23, 2005 at 1:06 pm
Jun 23, 2005 | 9:18 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Aeroplan, Alaska, American, Emirates, Amex Plat
Posts: 5
Originally Posted by Gardyloo
First, welcome to FT, PatekPhil -
I would definitely go with AA for the Plat Challenge, and moreover I would look at making the YVR-DXB runs on Cathay Pacific via HKG as often as via LHR. It's only an hour longer all in, and while the various lounges at LHR are fine, so are the CX lounges in YVR and HKG, plus going westbound rather than eastbound you might have less jetlag issues if that's a concern. Not to mention Cathay's business product is pretty nice...
In addition, if you'll be doing these laps of Ma Earth regularly, then a series of DONE3 RTWs, YVR-HKG-DXB-LHR-YVR, including staging for your flights to KBL (where do you fly from to get there - ISL?) might make a great deal of economic sense, especially compared to point-to-point J fares. If you bought the RTWs outside N. America (maybe in Asia on one of your trips) then you would also have quite a lot of N. America flying you could accomplish while you're in Canada between trips. Note you might run up against the minimum elapsed time rules on the RTWs (10 days?) if your trips are fast ones.
I would definitely go with AA for the Plat Challenge, and moreover I would look at making the YVR-DXB runs on Cathay Pacific via HKG as often as via LHR. It's only an hour longer all in, and while the various lounges at LHR are fine, so are the CX lounges in YVR and HKG, plus going westbound rather than eastbound you might have less jetlag issues if that's a concern. Not to mention Cathay's business product is pretty nice...
In addition, if you'll be doing these laps of Ma Earth regularly, then a series of DONE3 RTWs, YVR-HKG-DXB-LHR-YVR, including staging for your flights to KBL (where do you fly from to get there - ISL?) might make a great deal of economic sense, especially compared to point-to-point J fares. If you bought the RTWs outside N. America (maybe in Asia on one of your trips) then you would also have quite a lot of N. America flying you could accomplish while you're in Canada between trips. Note you might run up against the minimum elapsed time rules on the RTWs (10 days?) if your trips are fast ones.
I'm going to pickup the Qantas club membership for the lounge access and check out this AA Platinum challenge. I'm a little screwed for the first trip as I'm flying OAK-PHX-LHR-DXB-Kabul (The Dubai-Kabul leg has three options 'Ariana' - a novelty airline to say the least, 'Kam Air' - they lost a plane in Kabul last January and have only two planes left, or the UN) and then return DXB-LHR-YVR. So I'll have to check that clause that I can't earn AA points on the BA leg PHX-LHR that count towards my AA Platinum qualifying.
I'll also scope out the DONE3 RTWs - when I'm on break, I often like to stop over in some cities in North America or Europe (Vegas for one...) and that might be cost effective.
Thanks very much for the assistance all!
-PatekPhil
Jun 23, 2005 | 9:48 pm
#9
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I'm not sure about that Qantas Club membership. If you sign up for the Platinum Challenge then at the end of that first trip you will have lounge access for all subsequent OW flights, even allowing for the fact that you won't get credit for PHX-LHR. If that first trip is in J then you will have lounge access anyway.
Qantas Club costs AU$625 for one year for Canadian residents. That's very nearly US$500. That seems a ridiculous amount to pay for pre-flight snacks & drinks once in PHX, and access to the (business class) lounges on two transits in LHR. It doesn't get you anything at all if your first trip is in J.
Qantas Club costs AU$625 for one year for Canadian residents. That's very nearly US$500. That seems a ridiculous amount to pay for pre-flight snacks & drinks once in PHX, and access to the (business class) lounges on two transits in LHR. It doesn't get you anything at all if your first trip is in J.
Jun 23, 2005 | 10:12 pm
#10
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Join Date: Feb 2002
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Originally Posted by PatekPhil
Wow - thanks for all the prompt replies with the info folks - great board!
I'm a little screwed for the first trip as I'm flying OAK-PHX-LHR-DXB-Kabul (The Dubai-Kabul leg has three options 'Ariana' - a novelty airline to say the least, 'Kam Air' - they lost a plane in Kabul last January and have only two planes left, or the UN) and then return DXB-LHR-YVR. So I'll have to check that clause that I can't earn AA points on the BA leg PHX-LHR that count towards my AA Platinum qualifying.l
I'm a little screwed for the first trip as I'm flying OAK-PHX-LHR-DXB-Kabul (The Dubai-Kabul leg has three options 'Ariana' - a novelty airline to say the least, 'Kam Air' - they lost a plane in Kabul last January and have only two planes left, or the UN) and then return DXB-LHR-YVR. So I'll have to check that clause that I can't earn AA points on the BA leg PHX-LHR that count towards my AA Platinum qualifying.l
Book the BA PHX-LHR miles to your AS mileage plan if you have one.
Last edited by Gardyloo; Jun 24, 2005 at 7:38 am Reason: typo
Jun 24, 2005 | 1:15 am
#11
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Also remember that DONE3 (NorthAmerica-Europe-Asia) tickets would be probably a great deal less expensive - and profitable to you if the reimbursement is a fixed amount 
Just add the DXB-Kabul on whoever as an extra ticket....
WF
Just add the DXB-Kabul on whoever as an extra ticket....WF
Jun 24, 2005 | 10:44 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Aeroplan, Alaska, American, Emirates, Amex Plat
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Do any of you have the weblink for the 'Platinum Challenge' details?
The issue is that I have BA (J class) PHX-LHR and LHR-YVR on the return leg, but LHR-DXB and rtn on Emirates.
So - I'm unclear if I can qualify for this 'Platinum Challenge' flying BA legs as opposed to AA legs.
Thanks!
-PatekPhil
(PS -BA is a pain in the butt to register for their program... the website and their call center staff are MOST annoying.)
The issue is that I have BA (J class) PHX-LHR and LHR-YVR on the return leg, but LHR-DXB and rtn on Emirates.
So - I'm unclear if I can qualify for this 'Platinum Challenge' flying BA legs as opposed to AA legs.
Thanks!
-PatekPhil
(PS -BA is a pain in the butt to register for their program... the website and their call center staff are MOST annoying.)
Jun 24, 2005 | 11:58 am
#13
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The definitive link on the challenge is here - old but still accurate. http://members.shaw.ca/fewmiles/AA/
There are sticky threads and other threads by the bazillion referencing the challenges on the AA board. Basically, you get .5 point/mi on discount Y fares, 1 pt/mi on mid-priced Y fares,and 1.5 pts/mi on full Y and above. You earn points on any OW carrier plus AS, except no points on BA metal from the US to London or v.v. - Canada and Mexico OK. (Also you don't earn BA miles or TPs on AA metal to/from LHR or LGW either.) If you challenge to Plat you need 10k points in 3 months; if you challenge to Gold you need 5k in 3 months. Miles don't matter - only points.
So your itinerary would be (don't know carrier/class to PHX; if AA or AS then some points), then PHX-LHR no points (like I said, use AS) then nothing on EK, then 7086 q-pts on LHR-YVR. If you start the Plat challenge just before the LHR-YVR flight, you'd have the balance of three months (might be 90 days, not sure) in which to accumulate another 2914 points to get to the 10k, for instance a RT in F on AS to LAX, or a short mileage run on AS around the neighborhood - 500 minimum q-pts on any leg, easy to manage. Of course if you're heading back to DXB or KBL in that time, if you make your longhaul in J on CX or BA, whatever, the first leg will get you there.
There are sticky threads and other threads by the bazillion referencing the challenges on the AA board. Basically, you get .5 point/mi on discount Y fares, 1 pt/mi on mid-priced Y fares,and 1.5 pts/mi on full Y and above. You earn points on any OW carrier plus AS, except no points on BA metal from the US to London or v.v. - Canada and Mexico OK. (Also you don't earn BA miles or TPs on AA metal to/from LHR or LGW either.) If you challenge to Plat you need 10k points in 3 months; if you challenge to Gold you need 5k in 3 months. Miles don't matter - only points.
So your itinerary would be (don't know carrier/class to PHX; if AA or AS then some points), then PHX-LHR no points (like I said, use AS) then nothing on EK, then 7086 q-pts on LHR-YVR. If you start the Plat challenge just before the LHR-YVR flight, you'd have the balance of three months (might be 90 days, not sure) in which to accumulate another 2914 points to get to the 10k, for instance a RT in F on AS to LAX, or a short mileage run on AS around the neighborhood - 500 minimum q-pts on any leg, easy to manage. Of course if you're heading back to DXB or KBL in that time, if you make your longhaul in J on CX or BA, whatever, the first leg will get you there.
Jun 24, 2005 | 12:05 pm
#14
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For the challenges you could do worse than plough through this thread in the AA forum here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=342145
The Emirates bit is a problem. Does whoever is booking your travel know what they are doing? It is rarely more cost-effective to mix carriers like that when you have the choice of doing the whole itinerary on one.
You can qualify for the Platinum Challenge flying on BA, with the exception of BA flights between the USA and Europe. (Canada & Europe is OK).
If your PHX-LHR ticket is really full-fare J (i.e. it isn't "BA only") then you could get it endorsed over to AA and fly PHX-ORD-LHR on AA which you could then use towards the challenge.
Similarly, if your LHR-DXB-LHR ticket is full-fare J then you could get that endorsed over to BA and get through the Challenge much quicker.
The Emirates bit is a problem. Does whoever is booking your travel know what they are doing? It is rarely more cost-effective to mix carriers like that when you have the choice of doing the whole itinerary on one.
You can qualify for the Platinum Challenge flying on BA, with the exception of BA flights between the USA and Europe. (Canada & Europe is OK).
If your PHX-LHR ticket is really full-fare J (i.e. it isn't "BA only") then you could get it endorsed over to AA and fly PHX-ORD-LHR on AA which you could then use towards the challenge.
Similarly, if your LHR-DXB-LHR ticket is full-fare J then you could get that endorsed over to BA and get through the Challenge much quicker.