Thanks a lot,

Shuly

In case you go with AFKL Flying blue , beware they have revenue-based earnings when flying with AF or KL , while flights with other airlines or partners are still distance based

Awards rates are now dynamic, and rates increased significantly during last year and a half , but you can still find many sweet spots

With such pattern , you will quickly reach silver , for gold i think it might be enough also

You are lucky as TLV is slightly over 2000 miles away from CDG , so your CDG-TLV will be under long 1 section of the XP charts, but in the meantime TLV is also considered as europe for awards redemption (if i am correct)

i dont think FB does status match at the moment

Hi
I am a Flying Blue Platinum member (AF/KLM) with enough XP to become a lifetime member.
Are there other Sky Team airlines with which I could become a frequent flyer to get a better yield(including any perks that I do not currently have ) for my airmiles
I normally travel Business class with Aeromexico /AF and KLM.
Any advice you can give would be welcome.

Having attempted my own research and thoroughly confused myself, thought I’d reach out to the experts. Currently BAEC gold, already have flights booked to secure BA GGL next year, spreading my wings, so to speak.

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.
>>> priority services, lounge access, seat selection etc.. journey enhancing aspects

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: 50+ flights, predominantly intra-europe. Flown 24 segments since march, have 40 segments booked through to next march.

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

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

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

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

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: BA, many many avios. No others.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: None

Not really , you would be better looking for a FFP in star alliance as an alternative in case skyteam doesnt not match your criterias

Your best shot would be flying blue due to your location ; as KL and maybe AF fly there

based on your plans you might be able to reach gold until you need to requalify for BA FFP

Hello all,

- Will Fly 4 or 5 short segments in a year (mostly 1 hour to 3 hours duration segments in Central America or Asia) on Sky Team (either AM or VN).
(Will be using Skyteam in these cases only due to schedule / convenience).

- Segments will be in business
- SkyTeam flights will not be from home in Texas.

NO skyteam status whatsoever. However, do have status in Star A and OneWorld.

Goal is to not waste the mileage earned. ANd use the miles somehow in the next couple of years for a short hop somewhere.

In this case - Does it make sense to credit all these segments to AM?? (I think they are also a "dollar-spend" based program)

I know DL set their program on fire recently:D

Do not know anything about VN's program.

ANy suggestions welcome.

Advice between KLM flying blue and Virgin
 

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Airmiles redemption and upgrades
>>> Reply:

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
18 European return flights (typically two legs per flight) 6 long haul return across most continents
>>> Reply:

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Europe in economy, rest of world (long haul) business class


4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure? Yes. Theses will be work. I will then look to use airmiles etc for flights or to book holidays with the family.


5. Which routes do you fly most often?
Europe and US long haul


6. What is your home airport?
Norwich (15 mins from house) May occasionally use London airports (2 to 4 hours in car)

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
Utilise virgin credit card and get circa 30000 points an annum which can unlock flight benefits and virgin holidays.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
KLM as four flights a day to AMS from NWI to then connect. Also enjoy Virgin. I do have BA bronze status but no options from Norwich.

Given nearly all my flights will be with KLM, but I may use Virgin more for holidays and I have their credit card, am I best to use? Or are the surcharges too high? Also which flights will generate the most miles/tiers. I believe Virgin class each leg as tier points but KLM don’t? But KLM seem to have alot cheaper taxes for airmiles….so I’ve no clue what’s best given all my flights will be with KLM? But virgin seem to have better rewards.

For me, the days of trying to find sweet spots in frequent flyer programs is over. I think its best to choose the program on the airline you will fly most, so that the benefits of points and status can most directly be used (and as the programs are devalued / enhanced, the airline you fly on the most still will deem you valuable).

In my case, I've read Flying Blue is the best program in Skyteam for redemptions but because my Skyteam travel is mainly in the US, I use Delta Skymiles for the direct benefits (free checked bag, early boarding, miles for upgrades).

Skyteam FFP for my younger brother
 

Here's the Skyteam alliance version of the same OW FFP question
Here's my dillema for my younger brother if he were to get a Skyteam Alliance FFP? Should he go for Skypass because everyone in the family has an active Skypass account created back in November 2006. First flights for the family Skypass was December 18th 2006 KE086 to KE621. Currently, he has a PR Mabuhay miles non Skyteam alliance FFQ. For the question in the FFP Skyteam thread for him it's this
(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Perks, and priority services. Airline service
(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? How many flights/sectors?
(<25000, 25000-50000, >50000 miles - <25, 25-50, >50 flights?)
Reply: <25,0000. Usually on Economy
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Reply: Economy and if applicable upgrades to Business Class
(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Family has KE FFPs and it's vacation/family trip
(5) Which routes and airlines do you fly most often?
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Reply: Transpacific and Domestic US that means KE/DL/CI
(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
Reply: EWR/JFK Asia Pacific and Australia PER/KIX/MNL/CRK
(7) Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
Reply: None so far. His is banked on a PR Mabuhay Miles that was created for his December 26th-January 9th PR127/126 trip.
(8) What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Has done PR on VX pre-merger with Oneworld member AS. If there is one it's KE
Special note:
Should my younger brother go for Skypass because everyone else in the family had one since November 2006 and was first used on KE086 to KE621 December 18th 2006 or not? If Yes he's exactly matched with everyone else for getting the same skyteam FFP. The exception is his Grandfather due to him having a Dynasty Flyer created for his CI011/701 and CI702/012 trip in the summer of 2006.

Looking answers for my kiddo who has just started FFP journey.

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: priority services, lounge access, seat selection etc.. journey enhancing aspects + points shouldn't expire

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: between Asia & USA ~12

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

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

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

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: USA & Asia

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

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: Any that connects Asia USA - Virgin, KLM, AF, Delta

Using one ST Membership to Access another ST Member's Lounge?
 

Hello FT,

Since I encountered some guff during a few lounge visits last year, I will ask 'round here:

I have SkyTeam Elite Plus with ITA Airways (AZ), but only ever try to Bank ST miles with Aeromexico (AM). Consequently, all of my tickets have my AM ff number, not the AZ one.

Have you ever had issues trying to use one card to get into an ST lounge of a second carrier, even though you're trying to accrue miles with a third carrier?

Some of the lounge agents attempted to change the number on my ticket (as if to say, if you're entering on this card, then you must get miles with this card). What's your take?

Appreciate your responses,
NWAT

Central Europe (BUD / VIE) to SE Asia, USA & Middle East* (TLV, UAE )
 

Hi all, thanks for any possible info!
Also posted on the FF info desk questionnaire and other Alliances forums.

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

Class & seat upgrades, mostly from Economy / PE to Business.
Easy status gain & maintenance.
Optional Status match with current LY Matmid gold,
and possible future status match options from New FFP to other FFP's if I decide to move .
Long term value for miles / points.

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

70000+ Miles, 30+ flights/sectors

3. What fare class do you usually buy?

Business Flex / PE Flex on long haul, economy on short haul

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

Yes. I choose my flights and airlines, can choose business on most long haul flights over 6 hours.

I travel mostly for work.
Some pleasure short haul flights & rail travel in Europe.
Will use rail & air tickets for the domestic leg of a long haul flight when possible.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?

5-6 Europe to SE Asia , varied, such as BKK, SIN, BLR, HKG, SZX Mostly Business class
1-2 Transatlantic Europe to East coast US - Boston / Washington DC Economy / PE
5-6 Central Europe to TLV : mostly BUD - TLV , Vienna - TLV. Low cost / Economy
1-2 Europe to UAE Business / Economy
1 TLV - UAE Low cost / Economy


6. What is your home airport?

BUD / VIE (Plus train)
I may relocate next year in southern / western Europe, and will keep similar international routes.
Some options are: MXP, LIN, AMS, BRU, BCN, MAD

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

LY Matmid Gold ~80000 points , ~2900 / 5200 diamonds.
Miles & More member 31,059 Miles 366 Points.
Small amounts of :
Emirates & Etihad points and old United & Delta miles.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?

KLM, Swiss, Emirates, Etihad, Hainan.
EL AL to TLV

9.
I will travel with / through:
UAE (Emirates, Fly Dubai, Etihad) , Singapore, Azerbaijan, Morocco.

I Avoid traveling with / through:
Qatar Airlines & Doha airport, Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait, Tunisia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Malesia, Indonesia.
Turkey & Turkish Airlines, Jordan, Egypt and Russia.

10.
I'm interested in matching credit card reward programs, can also be american based.

Thanks!

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Priority check-in, free bag, fast track security and lounge access.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
Varies a lot, but 50 sectors on a good year and 50 000 miles.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Economy or premium economy.

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Mixed and not always able to choose.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
Varies, but at least a couple of times a year to the US.

6. What is your home airport?
HEL

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
No significant amounts or "lounge level" status on other airlines in 2026.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Any airline that belongs to an alliance. If I achieve "lounge level" status with Skyteam, then SK, KL, AF.

I have two roundtrips booked in SK premium economy Scnadinavia=>US West Coast for the winter and would like to know which program would get me to Skyteam Elite Plus or as close to it as possible. SK would be most useful, but would require one more such trip. Air Europa seems to require flights with them, which is inconvenient + their status is only valid for 12 months from achieving it, which might be too little value compared to some other program. I'm open to some exotic airlines, like Garuda, even if I would never fly them. Most of my shorter trips are cheap economy flights that earn close to nothing, so status would have to be achieved by a few trips in premium economy or business if a really great fare appears.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
>>> Reply: The ease of becoming Lifetime Gold status in SkyTeam, Star Alliance and OneWorld

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
>>> Reply: Every trip must be Business Class trip. On average 40 sectors per year.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
>>> Reply: Business Class for all flights.

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

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
>>> Reply:Australia to Asia and East/SE Asia to East/SE Asia

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: HKG, SYD and KUL

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

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: Preferred MU on Skyteam, due to the fact that you can pay to become ElitePlus for Life easily.