Sorry for the etiquette breach. Wanted to get a perspective from different forums.

Well, i hope is not too late but consider premium credit card that charge high annual fee, they always get pretty good benefit for economy pax who doesn't travel enough for status.

you are saying skyteam so if you fly a DL flight with the DL Amex Reserve

you get priority boarding, security, companion buy 1 get 1 free cert in first or economy on certain fare), priority check-in, 1 free bag, get an extra one if you earn silver, free skyclub for cardholder

SkyMiles or FlyingBlue?
 

Hi! Thanks in advance for your help for a forum newbie.

I'm currently on Delta's SkyMiles plan, but wondering about switching to FlyingBlue because I am fed up with Delta -- how difficult it is for their computer systems to mesh with KLM in checking in, choosing seats, etc.

My situation:
I am from the US, but currently living long-term in the Netherlands (Amsterdam = KLM). As a international member, the MQD's on Delta's plan don't apply to me, which means I'm only using MQM's to achieve elite status, which is a huge plus. I'm not sure the Amex Card conditions would apply to me, but I nonetheless am not interested in using a credit card to achieve miles or status.

It is most important to me to have access to the lounges, which I have in Europe and Africa with Delta, even at Gold status. However, there are no upgrades possibilities, and even when there are, I have trouble with the Delta/KLM computer interface, meaning that I usually cannot check in and choose seats until I get to the airport, anyway, and am stuck with terrible seats, especially on flights to the US. I am also using miles for my family from the US to visit me in Europe, which they cannot do every year, so not having expiration dates for award miles is important.

In 2015, I missed Platinum status by 102 miles, and I'm generally flying around 50 - 70K miles/year. I fly in and out of Amsterdam, mostly on inter-continental flights to Africa or US, booking through KLM/AirFrance (cheaper!), and somewhat frequently on Kenya Airways (only worth 50% on Delta's mileage plan). I rarely fly within the US Continent, but when I do, I of course the upgrades from Delta, but there is no access to lounges without paying extra, even with Gold (or Platinum?) status and no credit card.

My question is: Is it worth switching to to FlyingBlue, with lower status thresholds for miles? Is there comparable access to lounges with the possibility of upgrades within Europe or international flights?

Thanks for your help, and as directed, I've pasted in the questionaire below, if that's easier.

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.

>>Priority services!

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.

>> 50,000 + miles

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

>>> Economy with effors to upgrade to premium economy (though I fly for work, we must book economy.)

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 mostly.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Europe - East Africa (often Amsterdam - Nairobi with Kenya Airways) and Europe - US (often Amsterdam - Boston)

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Amsterdam

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: Currently on SkyMiles (Delta) with 98,000 K miles banked (missed Platinum this year by 102 miles.)

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: I don't really prefer any airline, they are all mostly terrible, I end up on KLM most of the time. I do enjoy Kenya Airways.

One-Time ST Flight. Which FFP best to get benefit?
 

I'm flying in business RT on KL/AF from Canada to South Africa. I want to join the ST FFP that will give me the most reward for those flights. Details:

I live in Canada. Most important to me is to be able to use the points for a flight award, either within NA or a Trans-Atlantic. I don't expect to fly with ST much at all, except for this flight and the reward, and will not get a credit card. So I don't care about getting to elite levels or lounge access. Rather, I want to earn the maximum points for this flight and have the maximum flexibility to use the points for a flight award. If any of the FFP's are markedly different in their point expiry policies, that would also play a role.

Thanks!

FF miles are not equal to earn or use
One trip may not enough for a descent award flight.

USA based airline ffp's tend to be more generous (status benefits/earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry/affiliated credit cards/promotions) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s (even after the recently announced changes to some USA ffp’s)

Delta is Skyteam and miles do not expire.
Have a look a AS https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...ePlan-partners KLM/AF are partners as are other airlines.

Check the earning for your booking class http://www.wheretocredit.com/ (may not be accurate)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...nt-expire.html

Award cost, but always check the airline web sites and any cash co payments
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...demptions.html
http://www.awardace.com/

Thanks.

While Delta points don't expire, it looks like I will get fewer points from them because it's a Delta-ticketed flight and it looks like Delta is giving points based on spend, rather than distance. Also, from what I'm reading here, Delta's removal of award chart means it's too unpredictable when claiming a reward. Is that true for many?

So that would leave it between Alaska and Flying Blue. Any particular reason to pick one vs other? They both look like they will give me the same points for this trip.

Looks like I'll be better off on Flying Blue - Amsterdam based, lots of intra Europe short hops - 3x to the US - 2 x India.

Now, I have 4 segments this calendar year booked on SkyMiles. Is there anyway to unbook those and rebook them on a FlyingBlues account.

If those flights have not been flown yet, just go in "manage my booking" on Delta website and change the FFP for FB.

There are 4 flown segments.

I have more coming up which I of course will change... was wondering if there was an angle on retroactive flights, 2 in Feb 2016 and 2 in March 2016.

You can't change already credited flights.

KLM suggest I asked customer care. Customer Service already said no.

The 2016 flights already credited to Delta would put me in silver status on Flying Blue. A bit gutted I wasn't earlier on the ball with this one.

USA based flyer with no status in any FF program.

I have an upcoming flight and I am trying to decide where to credit.

IAH-DUB-IAH in a mix of Z and J fares on Skyteam carriers.

According to FlyingBlue calculator this round-trip will earn a total of about 16,000 miles. One of the transatlantic segments is Delta so I'm not sure if that changes the equation other than less redeemable miles.

The goal is to gain status in a Skyteam or partner program (or Alaska? Virgin America?) which could then be used to eventually challenge match to another USA program.

If the mileage calculation from the Flyingblue calculator is correct I would need to earn ~9000K more miles to reach 25K which seems to meet lower status in most programs. If I credited to Delta I could also apply for a credit card and get additional MQMs to negate some of the flying requirements.

I searched for a status challenge not requiring existing status for any of the alliances but couldn't find anything so if anyone is aware of one that would be great.

Any other advice would be appreciated.

Status earning & redeemable miles are not the same. Or earned at the same rate
http://www.wheretocredit.com/ (redeemable miles)

You are being a little optimistic in hoping for status from 1 trip.
A status match and status challenge are not the same. Nowadays very few ffp's status match. And then what do you expect status to do for you?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html

Which SkyTeam FFP should I enroll for?
 

Hi,
I'm a new member of SkyTeam. Should I continue earning miles on Alitalia or should I switch programs?

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 (from Economy class) and good award redemption rates.

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: About 50,000 miles

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: Travel mostly for work -- cannot choose airlines/class and employer prefers Alitalia. Also travel for leisure with family (2 adults +1 child) -- I can choose airline but we normally select cheapest fares on direct flights

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: Travel mostly for work -- x4 per year: Tokyo (NRT or HND) to Milan (MXP or LIN). I typically fly Alitalia NRT-MXP and then return on Air France LIN-CDG-HND
For leisure -- fly from Tokyo to Los Angeles once or twice per year

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: Tokyo (NRT or HND)

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 250 miles away from Alitalia Ulisse, my first time. I also have Premier Silver on United but it expires in September of this year.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: Not really but Air France is much nicer than Alitalia!

Could you clarify because Skyteam is not a program you can be a member of :confused: ?
As you are already a member of miles miglia, you are already enrolled in a FFP program of an airline (AZ) belonging to the Skyteam alliance.

I live in Toronto and mostly fly AirCanada or a StarAlliance member. As such, I don't really fly with SkyTeam airlines very often. However, on a few occasions I have flown with SkyTeam if there's cheap airfare going somewhere (for example, flying with Korean Airlines when going to Asia). I currently have around 18,000 miles with Delta Skymiles. However, I just want to make sure that going forward, if I have to book a flight on a SkyTeam airline, I am putting my miles in the right SkyTeam FFP.

Here are my answers to the questions:

(1) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Miles that don't expire is the most important for me for SkyTeam, since I don't fly ST often enough to get elite status. I would eventually like to be able to redeem the miles for a free flight.

(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?)
<25000 miles, <25 flights

(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
(First, Business, Premium economy, Economy, cheapest)
Economy/cheapest

(4) Can you choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes, I travel for pleasure so I can choose airlines, although I usually just book the cheapest flight available.

(5) Which routes do you fly most often
(US Domestic, Transpacific, Kangaroo, in Asia etc)
Each year, I usually do one round trip from Toronto to Asia or Europe (often multiple destination trips, as I will fly in one city and out of another), and then one round trip from Toronto to the Caribbean or the southern US, and then 2-3 round trip short flights from Toronto to US cities within 2 hours of Toronto.

(6) What is your home airport?
(SFO, SCL, London LHR, HKG, Singapore SIN etc.)
YYZ (Toronto Pearson)

(7) Do you have FFP status of any kind in an airline? What is it? Do you have any miles banked in a FFP?
(AA Executive Platinum, UA 1K, LAN Comodoro, etc)
I don't have FFP status. I just have an Aeroplan membership (that's where most of my miles are), AsiaMiles membership (I used to use this for my Oneworld miles but I have redeemed them all recently and am planning on replacing this with a different Oneworld FFP because the AsiaMiles expire too quickly) and DeltaSkymiles (as mentioned before). I also have some miles with Porter but it's not a part of an airline alliance anyway.

(8) Preferred Airlines
Air Canada in general because of where I live, but I don't really have a preference.

The miles in most ffp's expire. Delta mile do not expire.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-t-expire.html

Airlines have alliance and non alliance partners. http://www.wheretocredit.com/

Awards in most ffp's are a long way from free. All have taxes and some have cash surcharges.

Yes, I already know all of the above. That's not what I was asking.

Right! I'm a member of Alitalia's miles miglia. Should I continue earning miles on Alitalia or should I switch programs? :)

It's always hard to say, but I would tend to say to not bother changing program. Stay with AZ.

hmm.... then let me rephrase my question. Where can I find some comparisons between all the SkyTeam mileage programs? I'm sure some are better than others for things like status vs. upgrades vs. redeemable miles. With Star Alliance, there was a clear difference between mileage programs (Back in 2012 Asiana was better for status but United was better for redeemable miles) so I was hoping to receive some advice on how AZ compares.

Hi,

Just looking for a skyteam FFP to credit to. Seem to fly them once a yearish. From some skim reading it looks like DL miles or points don't expire (just looking to accrue points, not status) and flying blue you need activity every 18 months or so?

Given I fly VA and they credit to Delta it would be easy enough to credit a flight to them maybe once a yr or every 2yrs?

Alitalia expires every 24mo and has just partnered with VA so I could keep the account active also.

I see you can buy miles with Alitalia, Flying Blue and Delta which would be handy for buying an award eg likely to be in Y. Do either have family pooling? Most likely to fly skyteam on personal trips.

Europe and US I'm most likely to fly on price given the short distances so I'm not sure which program will be more valuable but one where we are able to pool miles and do points + pay and where I can easily credit a flight flying from NZ (I think one of the Chinese Airlines flys trans tasman or crediting VA to a skyteam partner is the best option to keep the account alive?)

My parents are taking a big trip to South America in September/October and I was wondering if anyone could help suggest which FFP they might join. As a BA flyer, I know nothing about Sky Team, so any advice would be very gratefully received!

My parents travel profile
They are retired and all their travel is for leisure. They currently have no status with any programme. They don’t fly long haul much – maybe once every couple of years. They tend to fly U2 around Europe (they are very close to LTN), sometimes BA a few times a year. LH they would want to fly J if possible and would consider ex-EU to do so. They have only experienced BA J so far on a couple of US trips.

Where they are based:
Close to London. Nearest airport is LTN (hence using U2 a lot), but also easy access to LHR, LCY and LGW.

Their planned trip
LHR-ATL-UIO on VS and then DL, all in J
SCL-FCO-LCY on AZ J

What they’d value most
Miles to upgrade or short haul redemptions (they’re unlikely to earn enough to get LH ones). Given their travel pattern, I think it’s unlikely they will go out of their way to fly Sky Team a lot in the future. So it’s really about maximising what they can get from this trip to either use towards a future upgrade or get a SH redemption somewhere. If that’s possible with so little flying! Earning status is not really a priority.

Status on other airlines:
They will end up BA Bronze after this trip, due earning 280 tier points on SCL-IPC-SCL in J on LAN.

Their planned trip
LHR-ATL-UIO on VS and then DL J
SCL-FCO-LCY on AZ J

Thanks in advance. I’m happy to reciprocate if anyone has any BA/OW questions, I’ll have a go at answering them!

Knowing what you explained, I think they could forget to sign up for any program because they will never have enough miles to redeem anything (forget about upgrading with miles or things like that : they will never have enough and it usually requires to buy very expensive tickets in the booked class of travel).
Now, if you absolutely want them to sign up for something, knowing the flight plan you gave, go for DL Skymiles. Indeed, you'll be able to credit all flights including the VS-and the AZ-operated flights. If you sign up with any other Skyteam program, the VS flights won't credit.

Thanks for your help. Really interesting that they wouldn't earn enough miles for anything. Had they flown OW (an extra £1k when they booked the trip so that’s why they didn’t do it), they would have gone LHR-MAD-UIO//SCL-LHR in J. They are BA members but have no status so wouldn’t get a tier bonus. However, they would earn 19,333 Avios each. Add in the bit they are doing on OW (SCL-IPC-SCL on LA) that adds another 5,840pp. That would give them 50k in Avios between them. For that they could have quite a few options. I was hoping they might accrue something similar, but it’s not a problem. They won’t mind at all, it would just be a little bonus for them.

Thanks again.

Dear FT oracle,

The Mrs. and I will be flying from Seoul to Nadi on Korean in Business in about four weeks.

We're based in London and about 90% of our travel is on BA (will both be BA Silver in the next couple of months), predominantly to continental Europe with the odd 1-2 intercontinental return flights in between (no region standing out in particular).

Having not looked into Skyteam at all in my flying history ever, does it a) make any sense to sign up to a Skyteam program to put the miles we get from the Fiji trip somewhere (ie. will there be enough to redeem them, even if it's just a European return in Eco to some SkyTeam airport) and b) if so, which one?

Many thanks!

You didn't specify the booking class, so hard to say how many miles you will get, however assuming even on a class Z (100% on Flying blue) you will get roughly 10K miles, which is enough for a one-way redemption for a short EU economy ticket, so between the 2 of you, one r/t, or with promo awards maybe a r/t + one way

All of the above assumes you are flying a r/t ICN-NAN and not just one way.

We are indeed on a return flight. Booking class is D, which I believe earns 125% when credited to KE.

Given the amount of miles and intended use case (European economy award), does it make much of a difference whether to credit to KE's program or another SkyTeam program? I don't see either one of us earning any significant amount of miles on SkyTeam for the next 3-5 years

Yes, it does, since if you intend to e.g. book an award ticket with AF or KLM, you will have more availability doing that with FB miles rather than KE miles.
D earns 125% on FB as well, so with a little luck you might just be able to get 2 r/t on some promo awards, more realistically you are still looking at 3 one-way flights.

Thank you, we'll credit them to FB then.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently FB gold with KL, discovered I would've gotten at least 2x miles and DL platinum with flights from this year. Wondering whether I should switch from FB to DL - any advice?

Some details below:

(1) What is your home airport?
SFO, OAK (expat from AMS)

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Economy (comfort)

(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?
FB (KL) Gold

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- Upgrades to Business for SFO-AMS
- Priority boarding & security

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Transatlantic: SFO-AMS, SFO-DUB
US Domestic: SFO-NYC

(7) Preferred Airlines
KLM due to convenience (direct flight) to Amsterdam.

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
Both, free to choose airlines but budget constrained (business usually too expensive).

Thanks!

Dear SkyTeam gurus - looking for a FF program recommendation. I do have an account with Delta Skymiles (33K "never expiring" miles, regular member), but I will primarily start commuting on Aeroflot starting next week. This will be BRU<->SVO every two weeks for the next year. Wondering how to achieve elite status with the main criteria below. Thanks for any suggestions!

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.
-> Lounge access and award redemption

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.
-> 12000 miles, 12-15 flights

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

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
-> No

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
BRU-SVO

6. What is your home airport?
BRU

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

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
-> I used to fly star alliance primarily, but I need to start doing BRU->SVO with Aeroflot soon, so need a FF program recommendation

Hello,
I am not currently a flyer but am about to embark upon overseas work. I am looking to save money wherever I can while still returning to the US when I receive time off, but only for 30 days out of 365 days, i.e. saving money not paying taxes.

I've provided the copy and paste Q&A, however, I think my issue boils down to choosing between Delta's Sky Miles or Flying Blue and what combo of credit card I should use to purchase airfare. Thank you for participating, generally, and sharing what you know. You people are wonderful.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
>>> Reply (in order): good award redemption rates, better award access, baggage allowance, lounge access
[/B]
2. How many miles do you plan to fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
>>> Reply: 70,000 miles and let's call it 16 flights

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
>>> Reply: Always Economy

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

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
>>> Reply: Dubai to Houston (round trip through KLM/Air France); Houston to Cancun (round trip through AeroMexico although the layover is absurd). Maybe Houston to Cabo (no research, yet)

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

7&8 not applicable

Alaro Welcome to FT

The airline you fly most or an airline of the country you live is the best ffp for many people. Generally you are better earning on your primary airline due to greater recognition, better service when disruptions, ability to upgrade flights and possible operational upgrades.
Earning miles from non flying activities is easier with an airline of your home country (credit card for most people).

USA based airline ffp's tend to be more generous (status benefits/earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry/affiliated credit card ff mile earning/promotions) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s (even after the recently announced changes to some USA ffp’s). But if you are not flying the airline of your ffp the useful benefits are somewhat limited.

Some economy fares do not earn 100% on any airline ffp. Some earn nil ff miles, even if flown on the airline of your fffp. For redeemable miles look at www.wheretocredit.com Determining status earning is much harder.

The airline you fly and the airline ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be the same.

However the frequent flyer game is changing with AA, UA & DL going to a revenue based ffp. Taking the flight that best suits your budget & schedule and treating any ff miles as bonus that may or may not be able to used is now a solid alternative to staying with a single alliance.

As a USA based person I suggest DL may be a better fit than AF/KLM

Alaska AS is another good option. DL, AF/KLM and Aeromexico are AS freq flyer partners. And AA, BA EK & others [15 in total]. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...rline-partners. The AS award chart is limited on routes-partner airlines that can be used.

For Dubai to Houston why AF/KLM? One of the ME3 (Emirates EK, Etihad EY & Qatar QR) can be competitive, but it has been reported on FT EK can be expensive out if home base Dubai DXB.

Look at the award assistance tools to see how may miles are needed for an award. However ff miles are not equal to earn or burn
Use at your own risk. These may not be up to date. (These are not recommendations)
If a multi segment award check the rules/cost carefully. With some ffp’s it can be 2 or more awards or cost more ff miles than a direct flight.
Some awards/airlines/routes can have cash surcharges, in addition to real taxes.
-AwardAce: Compare Award Redemptions Across Airlines In Seconds --> http://www.awardace.com/
-Economical Excursionist's Tools to compare Frequent Flyer Mile Redemptions --> http://www.flyermiler.com/
-http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ast-miles.html --> http://www.awardhacker.com/

The generic "which ffp" thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html

Once signed up for a ffp, like DL's, the amount of miles or lackthere of will be more apparent, correct?

Otherwise, I am thinking that if always flying on AS ffp partners, the best option is to book through delta.com using a Gold Delta Sky Miles AMEX. I do not plan on hitting the $4,000 90-day mark for Chase's offer.

With DL it is a revenue based ffp scheme. There will be information threads on the DL forum on redeemable miles and status earnings. Revenue based ffp schemes are a lot harder to understand and calculate earnings. You need to find the fare booking class. This can be hard to find before paying for a ticket. www.wheretocredit.com/dl redeemable miles
AS is not a revenue based ffp scheme now, but it may change. (No one knows)

You do not need to book freq flyer partners through the airline of your ffp. When you make a reservation it will have a drop down menu where you add your ffp numbers. That is for say Aeromexico book on the Aeromexico web site and add your DL or AS ff number. I have no idea how the DL Amex credit card works with non DL airlines/web sites. A question for the Amex or DL forums. This question will have been asked before.

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

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
>>> Reply: 18,000 miles; 6 round trips; at least 12 sectors.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
>>> Reply: First

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

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
>>> Reply: 80% US Domestic; at least 1 trip EWR to Europe every year

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Reply: 1) ABE 2) EWR

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

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: Delta

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 boarding, baggage allowance, lounge access.

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: 50000 miles, 20-25 flights

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

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: I usually get assigned to whatever the cheapest option is

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
transatlantic, domestic USA, intra-Asia, etc.
>>> Reply: transatlantic and a few flights from Canada to Asia.

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: I have a few miles in Flying blue, not enough to qualify for anything though

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: I have no real preference but I love KLM when I can get in on their sales.

Hey ST forum! Based in Sydney and looking for advice on which programme to join as an adjunct to Qantas as I'm expected to do some flying on Xiamen, China Southern, etc. Currently thinking about Flying Blue or one of the Chinese programs (Sky Pearl?), but open to suggestions.

1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
>>> Mostly interested in getting/maintaining status and therefore lounge access. The ability to redeem miles for some fun J travel with family would be great. Flights ex-Australia to Asia are super-cheap on the Chinese carriers and I'd like to see more of the region.

2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
>>> Don't know about miles, but ~110 flights (i.e., at least a round trip a week). Nearly all of that is domestic in Australia. 3-4 trips to the US, 3-4 trips to NZ/New Caledonia and 5-7 trips to Asia/Europe.

3. What fare class do you usually buy?
>>> Exclusively Y within Australia, mix of Y and J depending on price internationally (though more J now).

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Must fly Qantas in Australia for work. International is both work and pleasure, with J for work and Y/J for pleasure.

5. Which routes do you fly most often?
>>> Aside from Domestic Australia, mostly Australia to US, east Asia.

6. What is your home airport?
>>> Sydney through 2017. Will transfer for work to another country in January 2018, but won't know where for a few months (Hoping for Paris, but could get Lagos, etc.).

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Platinum One on Qantas. Silly number of miles with linked CC for business expenses.

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Meh. Who has good champagne?

laocoon Welcome to FT (Aussie branch)

Skyteam is not well represented by airlines flying to Australia:- Delta, some Chinese airlines and Garuda :eek:
Getting status will be hard. QF is easy to get status compared to other ffp's
Delta has VA as a ffp partner. With Chinese ffp's be weary of off & on line service issues.
Korean KE is an often used ffp. Have read its OK for award cost. Link to AwardAce summary. KE has AS, EK & HA as ff non alliance partners

This may be a better thread. I would be looking for a Star Alliance ffp.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...post-here.html

For redeemable miles look at www.wheretocredit.com. Shows partner earning. Determining status earning is much harder. Frequent flyer programs are generally reciprocal with earn & burn, but there are exceptions.

With QF P1 I would be crediting to another OW ffp (like AA), after QF Plat or even QF Gold. QF has soft landings. QF Plat to Gold, if you do not re qualify. Look at post 330 for QF vs AA award costs. With excess QF points I would be looking to use as soon as possible. They will not increase in value.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...help-here.html

The generic "which ffp" thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html