Impact of enrolling in multiple OW Airline programs?
 

Hi,

I've flown AA for a while but have seen Cathay Pacific offer some generous awards for asia miles that would be good to participate in.

My concern is that I want to reach EXP each year with AA and typically used some of my cathay pacific flights posted to my account through the OW alliance to meet the 100k requirement.

However I can go over the 100k and once I do I'd like to get Asia miles on my cathay pacific flights but am worried that if I sign up for an Asia miles account all of the cathay pacific flights might post as Asia miles and not AA miles.

If you have an Asia miles account is it still possible to request certian flights you fly with cathay pacific to post as AA miles through the OW alliance?

Thanks, Craig

It's normal to use more than one OW FF program if you fly enough, and it is fairly reliable to post to a different program. At the entire reservation level it is almost 100% predictable (it posts where you specify, for all segments); if you try to have individual segments post to different accounts it gets tricky as some agents change all the segments in the PNR by mistake, but it can be done.

Just remember that each of the OW plans is different, and the CX mile is not equal to the AA mile. It accrues differently (much harder to earn a mile on CX than on AA!). So you have to factor in the earn rate when comparing the cost of the award. Often the AAdvantage award is cheaper (even if costing more miles). There are some good reasons to join the CX plan, but if you think cheaper awards is it then you should crunch the numbers before deciding.

Won't happen.. especially if you CHECK on your boarding pass which number is printed!!!!! You may segment select whatever flight you want to credit on which programme.. I usually credit all my F/J flights to AA, and all the coach flights to CX's MPC. You do know that you have to join MPC if you want your miles as status earning flights...

Is there any recourse if you don't notice the "wrong' program being credited on the boarding pass-- or if you change your mind? If not, I assume it is safer to leave them uncredited at the time and submit the boarding passes later.

If miles credited to your wrong FFP through fault of airline (eg at check-in) it can be painful correcting. If you change your mind about which FFP to credit to after check-in then unless can get changed at lounge or at the gate you will probably be out of luck. YMMV.

One possible strategy - if you have to / want to change the FF number / account at the gate is to simply have the GA REMOVE the FF number.
Something the AA GA was able to do more easily than put a different one in.
Then fax in the boarding pass and ticket copy to your favorite oneworld FF program office.

YMMV

WF