Which Oneworld programme to join?
Sep 9, 2006 | 6:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Oxford, England
Programs: Continental (Silver Elite); American; Virgin
Posts: 9
Which Oneworld programme to join?
Hello,
I normally fly VS out of Heathrow, but it looks like there is quite a bit of BA in my future due to a few upcoming business trips to destinations where VS does not fly.
I'm trying to decide which Oneworld programme I should join. I've read that BA has the world's least generous FF programme and that it takes forever to earn enough miles for an upgrade, much less a free flight -- is this true? I have a few miles with AA but not enough to make it a clear choice.
My main priorities are:
A) Mileage thresholds for FF seats
B) Being able to get FF credit for discount economy class
C) Ability to use miles to upgrade on BA
I fly primarily UK-US and UK-Africa routes.
Cheers,
Julian
I normally fly VS out of Heathrow, but it looks like there is quite a bit of BA in my future due to a few upcoming business trips to destinations where VS does not fly.
I'm trying to decide which Oneworld programme I should join. I've read that BA has the world's least generous FF programme and that it takes forever to earn enough miles for an upgrade, much less a free flight -- is this true? I have a few miles with AA but not enough to make it a clear choice.
My main priorities are:
A) Mileage thresholds for FF seats
B) Being able to get FF credit for discount economy class
C) Ability to use miles to upgrade on BA
I fly primarily UK-US and UK-Africa routes.
Cheers,
Julian
Sep 10, 2006 | 4:00 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Boston
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 240
If you fly BA to the US and back, you can't earn or redeem AA miles on those flights (unless I guess you take the AA codeshare from MAN).
As far as I understand it, in oneworld, you can't use one airline's ff miles to upgrade when flying another airline in the alliance (Star Alliance does let one do this).
For those reasons, I'd suggest just going with BA.
As far as I understand it, in oneworld, you can't use one airline's ff miles to upgrade when flying another airline in the alliance (Star Alliance does let one do this).
For those reasons, I'd suggest just going with BA.
Sep 10, 2006 | 10:22 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Japan
Programs: NH Diamond, JL JGC Diamond, BA Gold Guest List(Gold for life), CX Diamond
Posts: 1,580
Originally Posted by CheVive
If you fly BA to the US and back, you can't earn or redeem AA miles on those flights (unless I guess you take the AA codeshare from MAN).
As far as I understand it, in oneworld, you can't use one airline's ff miles to upgrade when flying another airline in the alliance (Star Alliance does let one do this).
For those reasons, I'd suggest just going with BA.
As far as I understand it, in oneworld, you can't use one airline's ff miles to upgrade when flying another airline in the alliance (Star Alliance does let one do this).
For those reasons, I'd suggest just going with BA.
Some transatrantic restriction is not applied.
By the way, CX's asiamiles program can upgrade AA/BA/KA round trip flights. It is one of exception.
Sep 10, 2006 | 10:38 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Home airports:SRQ,TPA,RSW
Programs: AA 0.4MM, BA G, LH SEN,TK S, HH Dia, Sixt Plat, Hertz Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 2,689
Originally Posted by Wasabi Tofu
QF is another choice.
Some transatrantic restriction is not applied.
By the way, CX's asiamiles program can upgrade AA/BA/KA round trip flights. It is one of exception.
Some transatrantic restriction is not applied.
By the way, CX's asiamiles program can upgrade AA/BA/KA round trip flights. It is one of exception.
I would go for Asia miles. If you do not care about status.To reach status you have to pay a fee $50 IIRC and join Marco Polo, CX program. Beware that there are some restrictions in earning in the lower fare buckets.
Sep 10, 2006 | 10:45 am
#5
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,214
Originally Posted by Jasher
Hello,
I've read that BA has the world's least generous FF programme and that it takes forever to earn enough miles for an upgrade, much less a free flight -- is this true?
I've read that BA has the world's least generous FF programme and that it takes forever to earn enough miles for an upgrade, much less a free flight -- is this true?
Sep 10, 2006 | 12:36 pm
#6
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,441
Originally Posted by Wasabi Tofu
QF is another choice.
Some transatrantic restriction is not applied.
Some transatrantic restriction is not applied.
If the OP can fly AA trans-atlantic then I'd suggest AAdvantage (the non-earning on BA flights only applies trans-atlantic so UK-africa/europe/asia on BA would still earn ok on AAdvantage).
Sep 10, 2006 | 3:38 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,341
Originally Posted by You want to go where?
Round trip trans-atlantic upgrade from WT+ to Club World (business class) for only 25000 miles. I don't think there are any other airlines that really match this.
The disadvantages relative to BAEC are that (1) some BA discount economy fares (i.e., outside K, L, M, R) earn 0 Asia Miles (even 25% miles would be better than 0); (2) availability may be less favorable; (3) it will probably take longer to achieve sapphire or emerald with MPO than BAEC; (4) no status bonus with MPO if OP achieves sapphire or emerald status; (5) no chance to augment mileage-earning with UK-based credit cards or loyalty cards (e.g., Tesco).
Last edited by jjpb3; Sep 10, 2006 at 3:53 pm Reason: oops