Even if you get the most out of an FFP it wont last more than a year or two after you stop flying

Based on what you said , i can tell you are very very far away from lifetime membership with OZ , so hold on a minute and check the requirements , do the math and come back to us if any questions

if you mean use your miles to buy items from the airline shop , this is the worst way to redeem them

Now all airlines are switching to buy on board on short/middle haul flights

If lounge/food is a main concern , then buy yearly membership with priority pass and/or dragonpass (its nice to have both , 1 with full and 1 with pay per entry in case the other is not working in the lounge)

Prioritypass = europe / north america
Dragonpass = middle east / europe / asia

For the rest of the world , its 50/50

i would suggest to focus on your patterns and plans , then see which airlines you can fly and then come back

As you said you cant really select airline when you fly for work then you are essentially tied to whatever the cheapest , if you are allowed to book it by yourself

In case you will fly mostly with low-costs like ryanair or wizzair you can forget about FFP and forget about this job or your health .

For the record even flight crew has limits on how many flights they can take per period due to health hazards

Also as a beginner , i would recommend to select 1 FFP and stay with it

Besides upgrades , the rest is pretty standard everywhere . Extra legroom is a benefit you will get mostly on the planes of your airline's FFP , otherwise for exit row you pay for it extra

beware that some alliances and/or airlines are completely absent from some parts of the world , therefore this is why i recommend to know your routes pattern upfront (if possible) to better assess the situation and make an early quick wise choice

No , based on what you said later (200 economy flights) you wont even reach next tier with some FFPs , long gone is the time when flying Y (eco) a lot was enough to get status

Yes but what type of flights ? if its 200 domestic flights then it wont help much

So what is this airline ? then maybe you should go with their FFP

If work force you to fly on cheapest eco fares , you wont go anywhere even if you fly 300 times per year with some airlines

Unless if you are flying all the time and living a nomad lifestyle when you stay in one city less than a week , you will have at least 2 cities where you spend most of the time therefore it gives you 2 or 3 airports that you can list as your bases

I'm interested in setting up a ST program for my child (and any future children). I currently have a Delta account (status not expected in the future) and Chase, Amex, and Citi cards for transferring points:

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc.
>>> Reply: Flight & upgrade redemption rates for this account, and ability to "top it off" from CC points if needed. (So pooling with me ala FB or directly - now or in 13 years - by adding child(ren) as additional users)

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc.
>>> Reply: I would guess ~15-20k annually as a family. Maybe 5 r/t flights max, and at least 1 on DL.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply: Economy. I can't see paying for a business ticket for a child...

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: Yes - this is all pleasure. However, I would guess Delta/ST might be at most half those miles.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: Domestic USA / North America. Anticipate one trans-pacific or transatlantic each year, but DL/ST isn't great for the former from NYC.

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: NYC (EWR, JFK, LGA)

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: Not for long.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: United, Delta. (Anything but AA...)

Thanks for the help!

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?

IRROPs support and a large and quality lounge network.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?

I will fly at least two flights a week from Moldova to Romania in business class on TAROM. Outside this I usually book 250k or more BIS miles a year.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?

Business.

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?

I travel for work. I have wide latitude in what I buy.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?

I fly regularly in long haul on both TATL and TPAC routes - at least 20 such flights a year.

I will be flying out of Moldova weekly on TAROM from this year forward.

6. What is your home airport?

KIV.

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?

I am CK and have Airpass on AA, which I will maintain.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?

I prefer to fly OneWorld airlines when possible; out of these, JAL, Cathay and Fiji are my favourite.

I want to find the best status match for my needs and will happily fly a few additional ST routes each year; likely on flights where a OneWorld offering would be less direct or on a notably inferior product.

I am looking to subscribe myself and family to either Delta or KLM FFP and to save the trouble of signing everyone on both, want some advice to pick and stick to one. I am looking to do this before my long trip with 25k miles (from Canada) - I read through previous comparison posts and couldn't pick between the two (some said FB is garbage but some other say the opposite). I see myself flying more within North america, wasn't sure if that point alone is enough to pick SM? Thanks

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc.
>>> Reply: Lounge access, upgrades, baggage allowance.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc.
>>> Reply: 25000 on a single annual trip. Hope to fly another few domestic flights (<5)

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply: Economy

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: Pleasure

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: North America to Asia and domestic within NA

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: YVR

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: No, only miles in Air Canada Aeroplan and TD aeroplan credit card.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: No preference.

While both programs are revenue-based, Flying Blue really sets up to reward either premium cabin flyers or folks who buy more expensive main cabin tickets. Their elite-qualifying points for economy domestic travel are also pretty much rubbish.

25K elite-qualifying miles a year gets you Silver Medallion on Delta. You�re exempt from the Medallion-Qualifying Dollars rule with a non-USA address in your profile. This maps to Sky Team Elite Status, which has a few minor useful things about it.

You don�t quite fly enough for free lounge access in most cases, though if you can get to 50K Medallion-Qualifying Miles in a year with Delta, that maps to Sky Team Elite+ status and at least gets you lounge for economy long haul tickets.

So since you�re a Canada-based value/economy flyer I�d probably go the Delta route since that one big trip will get you Silver Medallion and a couple significant North American tickets can get you the useful Gold Medallion/Sky Team Elite+ benefits.

Also note that on Delta-operated flights, their own medallions are higher on the complimentary upgrade lists than Sky Team partner elites are.

Thank you!

Hello... I wish you luck in making the right decision and offer my view.
A few years ago, I was solving the same question - and I chose Delta.
It was a bit too difficult to figure out how the Flying Blue program works, which booking classes earn what etc., and Delta was straightforward and clear from the beginning.

I have an EU address. I usually fly AF or KLM between Europe and USA two or three times a year and book the flight on AF or KLM web site even though it is in DL metal. That way I earn 100 % MQMs even for the cheapest tickets toward DL status (as opposed to booking with Delta and earn nothing for E class).

Despite flying mostly on cheap economy tickets to earn the status (= free bag + seat selection), the most important thing that made my decision for Dela was that Delta miles do not expire. Not that it is worth stacking them up, but...
In addition, I also earn miles towards Delta Airlines MIllion Milers, which earns a permanent Sky Team status one day.

Silver status is enough for me: with it, I can use the short Business Class check-in line, which saved me time at the airport several times when the lines were long.
And I use credit card with Lounge Key in order to get to the lounges.

Today, I see that Flying Blue does clearly say which booking class earns what:
https://www.flyingblue.com/en/earn-s...elta-air-lines

And also I can see that even Delta Basic Economy (E) class earns 20 %.
BUT it still is not at all clear to me how many XPs I would earn for flights with partners in order to reach FB status.
So, simly put, I just do not choose Flying Blue for my lack of understanding it.

PS: A nice new update with Delta is that I can earn miles even for flying on award ticket. I am not sure if this is also true with FB.

Unless you are talking about the old days (i mean anything older than 8 years) , then i assume you might be right cause i wasnt there

If not then the main problem , as far as i remember , was to find which class you will have by booking a flight with a skyteam airline before purchase . Some made it easy , while others never provided such information before payment and we had to use a magic 8 ball to guess

I can explain, long story short , as long as you book a qualifying flight (means you fly on a revenue ticket and its a skyteam flight operated by skyteam airline) then you earn XP

For miles , they switched to revenue mode (more you spend more you get) , same as delta . However , its still the old method only if you fly with skyteam airlines and flying blue partners

Once you know its a qualifying flight , you just need 3 things to know how much XP you will receive =

1. is it a domestic or international flight ??
2. Is it economy , premium , business or first ??
3. what is the distance of the flight (if not domestic) to use the XP chart ?

There are small exceptions of course but i wont go over all the details cause it will be too long , but no real booby traps like those you can see with other star alliance competitors

The main idea was to make status a bit harder to get for those flying only cheap short european international flights in economy , while on the other hand rewarding customers flying premium/business and/or long haul flights (where the real money is made by airlines)

So it was made to simplify the process for customers , and It removed the burden of "what will be the booking class of my flight" and avoid troubles created by other skyteam airlines changing their charts base on their moods without prior notice

Hope its clear , if you have more question i can explain

Appreciate if I could borrow your wisdom on ST

I am based in HKG and has the top status with CX. I am going to fly VN to SYD via SGN on J class, and thinking where I should credit my points. I have around 60k with DL (no status) which I have accumulated since 20 yrs ago. My travel pattern is mainly ex-HKG and I would like to hear your thoughts whether I should credit to DL or start a new account with VN (I am traveling with 2 other family members so I can pool their miles for redemption under VN�s family program), or other ST member account which I can get easy status.

By the way, to make things a bit more complicated, I just realize my HKG-SGN flight could likely be cancelled and I could potentially be rebooked to VN code shared flight on CX metal.

You should check a FFP if you really have plans for the present or near future to fly a lot . If its just to collect miles once in a while then use your DL account

Also beware of devaluation , so its not good to keep miles sleepy for so many years , so you should think about using them now before they loose value and become worthless or even worse expire

First you should answer these questions , then we can better help you

Questionnaire: Copy and paste into your post
Provide the requested information.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc.
>>> Reply:

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc.
>>> Reply:

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply:

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply:

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply:

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply:

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply:

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: � Show less

Status is good only if it provides the benefit you need. The core elite benefits on most airlines are: additional free luggage, free seat selection, priority check-in line, priority boarding, lounge access(elite plus only), upgrades (depending on individual airlines policy).
Upgrades are rare if you have status from another airlines. Even if you have status with the airlines you are flying, you need to have very high status level to be on higher upgrade priority. Free upgrades on long haul flights are rare.

I am considering about buying an upcoming TPAC flight with KE on business class. Which FFP program shall I credit it to? I'm not with any Skyteam FFP right now.

I'm deciding between DL and FB, but perhaps there's another FFP I'm missing?

Advantage of DL:
1. I'm based in YYZ therefore it is most likely that I will travel with DL among Skyteam airlines
2. I might relocate to US in future therefore I might travel even more with DL (big might though)

Advantages of FB:
1. I think I'll be able to attain silver with this single trip (that has a total of 5 segments RT), OTOH I think KE's business class only credit 100% of mileage to DL? That would only be ~18000 miles
2. Although I might relocate to US in future, I heard that there's so many high level elites at DL hubs that the chance of upgrade is slim? Also I noticed that the flights I take nowadays are usually packed so I guess I shouldn't expect any upgrade anyway?



Answers to questionnaire:

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
upgrades, priority services, baggage allowance, good award redemption rates, better award access, lounge access, etc.
>>> Reply:
upgrades/priority services > lounge access/baggage allowance/good award redemption rate >>> other benefits

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
less than 25000 miles, 50000+ miles and 20-25 flights, etc.
>>> Reply:
My domestic flights will not be with Skyteam, other than those I'll fly perhaps 30000 miles a year. I'm expecting this number to increase gradually though

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
first, business, premium economy, economy
>>> Reply:
Mostly economy unless there's a good deal on very-long-haul business class (< 2.5x economy class price)

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply:
Yes, I mostly travel for leisure

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply:
With skyteam it's probably going to be all leisure travel, except maybe some occasional YYZ-JFK flights

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply:
YYZ, might relocate to US in future

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply:
I'm getting 25K with Air Canada this year for sure, probably 50K if I book this trip on a *A carrier as well

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply:
I will probably travel most frequently with Delta among the Skyteam airlines

May be too late if RedBet has flown.
1 trip in not a good basis of selecting a ffp.
Having (free?) upgrades as a hope/major consideration in a new ffp will lead to disappointment. Realistically is not going to happen. Upgrades usually only on the airline of the ffp. Cross airlines fare less common and usually have onerous t&c's.

KE is a ffp with some non Skyteam airlines.Example AS Alaska
https://www.wheretocredit.com/korean-air/j

Hi,

I'm currently gold on Star(TK) and on OneWorld (BAEC). The latter status will expire in a couple of months and I don't enjoy BA very much. So I booked my next trip on Delta and am now trying to decide where to credit it. I plan to try to status match, I believe I can get Delta Platinum, don't know about Flying Blue.

In the future, I plan to use this secondary program when Star doesn't provide adequate solutions. I am based in TLV, so have access to DL, AF, KL, UX, KE and RO.

Answers:

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
>>> Reply: The benefits of status when flying Y (INOPS, upgrades, lounges, FastTrack, etc.) Good rate of earning miles and good opportunities to use them (especially for companion tickets).

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
>>> Reply: Typically 2 long (transatlantic or Asia) trips plus 4-6 short (Europe) trips per year. Anything longer than 4 hours is usually in business.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
>>> Reply: Business except the shortest routes. Not necessarily refundable.

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: Travel for work (mainly) and have full control.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
>>> Reply: TLV to Europe

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: TLV

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: TK and BA. Gold on both.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: None really. I like TK. Emirates First was good

Thanks a lot!

Shuly
​​​​​​​

I'd expect that Flying Blue is a stronger program for you than SkyMiles: the lounge access has fewer gotchas and it does have more Asian partners.