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Need advice on which *A FF scheme to join? - please post here

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Old Jan 20, 2016, 10:53 pm
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Last edit by: jtet
A number of threads have been started with members asking for guidance on which mileage programme they should join. In order to help users I have started this thread to allow people to post their requests for information here and to allow people to offer assistance.

For members asking for information please help people to assist you, can you provide:

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Silver, M&M Senator etc)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
(7) Preferred Airlines
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)


GENERAL INFORMATION:


If you fly less than 50k miles per year: it is almost guaranteed that your choice will be between Aegean Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Asiana Airlines. Please look up these airlines' frequent flier programs, and make a decision as to which best suits your needs.

Some considerations to take into account:

Airlines tend to treat members of their own frequent flier program better than members of other frequent flier programs. If you fly one of these airlines, it is recommended that you choose that airline.

Some airlines have better earning/redemption charts for your pattern. For example, if you fly on cheap fares on a certain airline often, Turkish might give you miles for it, while Aegean might not. However, Turkish Airlines might charge much more for the redemption that you want to make than Aegean.

Asiana Airlines offers lifetime Star Alliance Gold for 500k miles over life. The other 2 airlines do not offer this benefit.

Asiana Airlines has a credit card in the USA and some other countries. If you are interested in credit cards, check to make sure that the program that you join has a credit card in your country.
If you still aren't sure which frequent flyer program is for you after looking these up, feel free to ask on this thread.
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Need advice on which *A FF scheme to join? - please post here

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Old Dec 8, 2012 | 9:17 am
  #1036  
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Originally Posted by 100lurker100
The bonus was that with United she could choose the direct flight on TAP Portugal for the CPH-LIS segment, but through M&M its only LH, LX and OS she could choose from (no direct flights obviously).
With M&M you can also redeem for awards with other *A airlines, you just have to call (you cannot book online). M&M is still expensive compared to the US FFP's though....
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Old Dec 10, 2012 | 6:17 pm
  #1037  
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YUL
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(1) What is your home airport?
YYZ

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Y class fares

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
40-60k

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
CX Marco Polo Silver

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Priority Services and Good Redemption Rates

(6) Which routes do you fly most often
Transpacific

(7) Preferred Airlines
CX, KE, AC, UA

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
Pleasure
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 8:23 pm
  #1038  
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Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,773
Originally Posted by Duncan McLeod
Hi everyone, trying to work out my best option for frequent flyer on Star Alliance, but despite a fair bit of research, would greatly appreciate the advice of those more knowledgeable. Have been on AirNZ member scheme for awhile, considering changing to either Thai or possibly Aegean. Now working in SE Asia and will be traveling more.
If you can confidently requalify for TG every year, then TG is the way to go. If you aren't sure that you will fly enough, choose A3
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Old Dec 15, 2012 | 2:54 am
  #1039  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 761
I just wonder if there is any *A airline FFP that provide family programme?
Just like KE or BA, which they allow to group all the family members' miles in order to redeem one ticket.
Thanks!!
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Old Dec 15, 2012 | 10:15 pm
  #1040  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5
Me and my husband have moved to Singapore earlier this year and are considering changing our FFP. We currently hold one Miles & More card (no status) and one United MileagePlus card (one flight away from Premier Silver).

We have been thinking about Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, but perhaps there are better options. Could somebody please advise what would be the best choice considering our flying patter as described below?

(1) What is your home airport?
SIN (Singapore Changi)

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Non-refundable economy

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Over 50k

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
Not yet, but my husband is one flight away from Premier Silver on United.

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
Good award redemption rates

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Singapore - Japan
Singapore - Europe
Singapore - Brazil

(7) Preferred Airlines
Singapore Air, Lufthansa

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
Both, but mostly we can choose which airline to fly with.



Thank you in advance for your help!

Kasia
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Old Dec 16, 2012 | 9:33 pm
  #1041  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 8
Hey FlyerTalk! Been lurking for awhile; been doing serious bizz travel so thought I'd get your thoughts (btw, this FF stuff is pretty addicting!)

(1) What is your home airport?
SFO

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Non-refundable economy for work. Same for personal.

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
>50k

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
UA Premier Gold

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
- Getting frequent complimentary upgrades (since work usually puts me in coach)
- Award tickets to SCL/EZE (visit wife's family, shuttling them back and forth)


(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
SFO - HNL (2x a month for work)
SFO/LAX - SCL/EZE (for pleasure, visiting family once, twice a year)


(7) Preferred Airlines
Open to suggestions! I like UA so far I guess. Currently have ~40k FF left in UA account, ~100k in Avios (from Amex plat transfer during bonus period, I don't fly BA)

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
~75k a year for work
~ 25k a year for fun/family

Going to hit 75k again next year easy for work. Lost of bizz SFO-HNL flights still with a few to DFW and some to the east coast.

Whaddya think? I have the new year coming up and am thinking of staying with UA since I have gold status. I didn't have a good grasp on the FF thing so I had about 25k in Hawaiian that I just moved to HHonors :/

I might make the switch from *A if I can get a status match and if the awards are better/more convenient to South America twice a year. From what I know, LAN/AA is usually better to get to SCL (family in MDZ in Argentina). EZE on UA/Copa is okay but its longer/pricier to get to MDZ.

Any thoughts help. Thanks!!
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Old Dec 17, 2012 | 10:40 am
  #1042  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 9
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)

SFO

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)

Non-Refundable Economy

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)

100k

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)

1K on UA

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)

Frequent upgrades

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)

US Domestic SFO-ORD, 2 long international trips of 4 weeks or so every year to Asia

(7) Preferred Airlines

ANA/Thai

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)

Work

GENERAL INFORMATION:

I fly about 45k Domestic 55k int'l a year mostly for work. I just hit 1k this year, but I rarely get upgrades due to me flying out of SFO. Any options better that UA as I fly to Asia often? Mainly HND/NRT but also to BKK.
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Old Dec 17, 2012 | 12:05 pm
  #1043  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: UA
Posts: 1
Cool Might chagne FF Programs helo

For members asking for information please help people to assist you, can you provide:

(1) What is your home airport? JFK or LGA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Not sure
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? Most likely 25-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? I am losing my UA Silver status on Dec 31
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority services on airline, upgrade status and ability to use miles towards upgrades, other services
(6) Which routes do you fly most often US Domestic
(7) Preferred Airlines - right now I'm flying United, but open to any possibility, since I lose my status debating changing FF programs
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? mostly work, and I have my say on airlines

I am losing my status at the end of the year and recently relocated to Long Island, NY from Washington DC. Almost all my miles are in UA, but since flying UA non-stop anywhere requires hauling to EWR, I am debating switching programs. UA doesn't offer a lot out of JFK. I can fly LGA, but still, not such a great amount of options as UA moved a lot to EWR after the merger as EWR was hub for CO. Overwhelming trying to sort out new program, with the issues going on with AA which is what some of my other miles are on (not many).

Help please!

Last edited by webdevon; Dec 17, 2012 at 12:26 pm Reason: additional info
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Old Dec 17, 2012 | 5:40 pm
  #1044  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2
(1) What is your home airport? LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? COACH
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50K - 75K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Class upgrades, priority check in, lounge access, redemption.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? TransPacific mostly to HKG, BKK
(7) Preferred Airlines - United Airlines, Asiana, Singapore, ANA.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Mostly work, but family vacations at least once or twice per year


Hi fellow fliers, new poster here. Trying to decide which FFP program to join. Based out of LAX, starting next year I will be travelling to HKG atleast 3-4 times per year, and maybe BKK 2-3 times per year. Should I rather join United Mileage Plus, or one of the Asian carriers in Star Alliance. I am also open to the option of joining Marco Polo with Cathay Pacific and the fact that they have direct flight to HKG. But there coach tickets are obviously more expensive on the HKG route then the other asian carriers and hesitant on the fact that Oneworld has less airline partnes then say Star Alliance. Any advice is much appreciated. Happy travels!!
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Old Dec 18, 2012 | 12:03 am
  #1045  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: California
Programs: UA Premier Gold, Asia Miles, MH Enrich, SPG Gold, Marriott Rewards, Hyatt Gold, Le Club Accor
Posts: 35
Need advice on which FF program to switch to

Hi, I'm currently UA Premier Gold, but I'm thinking of switching b/c of UA requiring 50,000 miles per year and 4 flights on UA equipment to retain *Gold status.

(1) What is your home airport? SFO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? cheapest fare that will get me EQM
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? about 50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? UA Premier Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority boarding, lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Transpacific
(7) Preferred Airlines: Asiana, Turkish, EVA (when it joins *A)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? for both, but I'm an independent consultant so I need to be mindful of price.

Thank you for nay advice!! Oh, and I also frequently travel with my young child...thank you!!
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Old Dec 19, 2012 | 3:03 pm
  #1046  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: WAW
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 13
(1) What is your home airport?
WAW and NYC, possibly BRU, SIN or SYD, and NYC next year.

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy?
EKLT/MQ (Y), very occasionally P; i.e. usually deep discount or at least discount.

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
BIS well north of 100K; QM ~100K with FTL bonus

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
M&M FTL, will qualify for M&M SEN on my New Year's trip to SIN

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Op-ups. Priority access (check-in/security/boarding). Excellent award redemption. Lounge access. (in that order)

(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
Currently NYC-WAW, SFO-WAW, but possibly also BRU-NYC and either SIN-NYC/BRU or SYD-NYC/BRU next year.

(7) Preferred Airlines
LX, LO, LH, possibly SQ next year.

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
About 2-4x a month transatlantic for work and conferences. 2-3x a year a trip far away from EU.

I am currently getting it really through with LH. I was upgraded once as an FTL, and majority of my flights is counted at 50% of mileage, what made attaining SEN borderline impossible. Redemption is crap with insane taxes (1000 USD for 2 people to SEA, seriously LH?) and generally bad availability, especially in the season. Turning SEN hopefully will help with the upgrades and availability, but is the grass really greener on the other side? I became unaccustomed to flying as dirt, so the "new" benefits would have to be good. Maybe I should change the alliance and challenge the status altogether?

Currently booked travel for early 2013:
SIN-FRA-WAW - LH in Y on A380
WAW-JFK-WAW - LO in A on B787

Upcoming bookings:
WAW-X-JFK-X-WAW - in C (there) and Y (back)
WAW-JFK-WAW - LO in A on B787

Last edited by promethe; Dec 19, 2012 at 3:16 pm
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Old Dec 21, 2012 | 12:16 am
  #1047  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 761
There's no one replying here LOL
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Old Dec 25, 2012 | 1:33 pm
  #1048  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: London UK
Programs: M&M FTL FB Petroleum / LH Oil & Energy
Posts: 105
Dear all,

I am based in London, but I often travel to POland Germany and Switzerland so as you can guess I have been enrolled into Miles and More about three years ago just after getting bored reading the LH Magazine..

Two years ago I have realized that M&M was doing the Silver promotion: so yeah that wwas the time when I started to do some irrelevant trips RT LCY ZRH GVA during the same per ex. ... just everything in order to get the 30 segments done and get the status.

I fly without luggage most of the time... just a tablet and my laptop or just a backpack... Well I can just say that Silver status is quite high comparred to most of the other ways to travel in Europe (being a student I was quite used to fly in low cost airlines). Now it's hard to realize but even FLT with M&M is a bit of a luxury.

I've had many trips where I was not able to use the Star Alliance extra services like lounge in BUD / SJJ / GDN and this made me wewait outside like a WIzzair traveller...

Now I've requalified for FTL which will lasts me till 2016 or 2015 I think.
Aftrer reading online I realissed that I could be a Gold for few money spent as I will have to say bye bye to my savings if I wanted to reach the 100 000 miles needed for M&M SEN.... beside of upgrades and awards I think it's almost the same; same handfling and lounge access come on gold still gold ..

I am just wondering about the way how to get the status and well, the 18000 miles I need to hit the target.

From what I can see on the Miles&Bonus website, if per ex travelling in E class in LX they will pay 500 miles per segment and 50 percent of the normal miles... am I correct? If yes, a return flight made in one day could give me more than 2000 miles? True or false?

Now, let's say I book the same itinerary LHR ZRH GVA in J or D (business flex) will I get 4 x 1000 and 4 x 2000 miles so in total 12000 miles?

The whole story between accural factor and minimum miles is very confusing for me.

And the last question: is there something nicer than Star alliance Gold ... forgetting about the famous HON ?

Thanks a lot in advance.
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Old Dec 26, 2012 | 6:18 am
  #1049  
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,854
If in doubt about how many miles you will earn on M&M there is: www.meilenrechner.de
And to reach SEN/*G you will need to earn the status miles this calender year, so you need to hurry....
RTW1 is offline  
Old Dec 26, 2012 | 7:31 am
  #1050  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: London UK
Programs: M&M FTL FB Petroleum / LH Oil & Energy
Posts: 105
I was just wondering about the easiest way to get my 18000 remaining miles on A3 in order to get the gold status... I will then suggest you to READ before commenting mate !!!
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