Occasional flyer - which program?
 

Hi guys,

I just discovered this forum on Google, would like some advice regarding which program to join. (of course I have done some of my own research but it's hard to make sense of it all! ;))

I don't fly often at all, I fly AMS-PBM (and back) once every few years and for the rest just vacation flights (might be to the US one year, somewhere in Europe the other year, maybe somewhere in Asia the third year...) Most if not all flights will be booked at the lowest available fare. (I don't even know if it makes sense for me to sign up for a FF program but if I do nothing with the miles then I lost nothing over not signing up at all and if I get to use them that's a nice bonus :D)

The program I join will have to be a Skyteam program, because of my AMS-PBM flights which are on KLM. Since I live in the Netherlands, I already looked into Flying Blue. I also looked into Skymiles because I believe AMS is a hub of Delta's as well (not sure about this though, correct me if I'm wrong...)

This is what I found out so far about both programs:

• On FB, miles expire if there's no accrual at least once every 20 months. On SM, they don't expire. Miles expiring might be a problem on FB, but I think I make a flight once every 20 months, so it probably won't be a problem. (and FB offers miles when shopping with certain Dutch web shops so I can just buy something cheap if my miles are about to expire)
• On SM, I actually earn more miles for discounted KLM flights than on FB. However, I read on some blog I found on Google that SM miles are worth much less than FB miles, is this true?
• I made flights AMS-JFK and EWR-AMS less than two weeks ago, I will be able to claim miles for these flights on both FB and SM after signing up.
• I made a round-trip AMS-PBM a little over half a year ago. On FB miles can be claimed up to 6 months after the flight according to their site, so I guess I might be able to persuade them to give me miles on the phone. I couldn't find how long after the flight you're able to claim miles on SM on Delta's site.
• I read somewhere on this forum that Delta charges a hefty 'international origin fee' when booking flights with miles with an origin outside the US, but I likely won't ever have enough miles for a flight anyway and will only use them for seat upgrades etc.

So I'm really not sure which program I should go with, FB or SM, or maybe a different Skyteam program altogether? (even though I'll probably never fly with that airline)

Any help with this 'problem' is greatly appreciated, of course! :D

Occasional flyer - which program?
 

Go follow a blogger, you will learn everything there.

I wonder if the mods could merge this thread with ones like the below and merge into a "Which ST program should I choose?" sticky:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/skyte...ld-i-join.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/skyte...am-enroll.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/skyte...-i-choose.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/skyte...-skymiles.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/skyte...ld-i-join.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/skyte...dia-miles.html

In terms of DL's international origination surcharge, i think that only applies for bookings from Europe to the US. If you're flying to other destinations from Europe on other carriers, I don't think it applies

Welcome to FT!

If you are chasing the lowest fates and flying so little, it may be a moot point.

Suggest you check into alternative ways to collect points with FB and as lomg as it's not costing too much more, fly with a ST carrier. On long haul flights my cut point is $100-150 more to fly on a OW carrier. That is a purely subjective number and YMMV.

Beware of fares that don't give full credit, or perhaps partial credit.

Depending who you fly with, Alaska Airlines might be an interesting option for you. They have some partners that may allow you to collect some miles based on the limited information you provided.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I've done some more research and found a page on the ST website that says miles from any program can be used for upgrades. (Since I likely won't earn enough miles for award flights and certainly don't fly enough to get higher status I'm just focusing on upgrades here.) However:

Since I don't want to spend hours researching how many miles are needed in each program I think I'll just go with Flying Blue (since I fly KLM the most because of my AMS-PBM flights and AMS is my home airport).

If anyone has any more advice please say so, otherwise I'll sign up for Flying Blue tomorrow.

If you fly at low fares, FB is the only one to work for upgrades. However, it will not work for the lowest fares. No program does.
That said, be aware that it might take you years to earn an upgrade because you will earn only 25% of the flown miles with FB.
And yet, for upgrades from low fares, there is no alternative to FB.