What Star FF program to join?
May 17, 2010 | 1:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Used to be 'martinnj99'
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: New Jersey/New York
Posts: 101
What Star FF program to join?
I would really appreciate some advice on what program is best to join.
A friend who is Brazil-based is going to be living and going back and forth between South Africa, Germany and the US over the next 2 years with a good deal of frequency. She has not joiend an alliance yet but Star would seem like the natural choice because of SAA and LH for FRA-CPT flights.
Which program would you guys recommend for her to join? She can do a US program if that is the best as far as redemptions and perks. I am EXp with AA and find US carriers tend to be more generous with benefits, status and redemptions than their foreign counterparts. Would it make most sense for her to join UA/CO, LH, SAA or TAM?
Thanks!
A friend who is Brazil-based is going to be living and going back and forth between South Africa, Germany and the US over the next 2 years with a good deal of frequency. She has not joiend an alliance yet but Star would seem like the natural choice because of SAA and LH for FRA-CPT flights.
Which program would you guys recommend for her to join? She can do a US program if that is the best as far as redemptions and perks. I am EXp with AA and find US carriers tend to be more generous with benefits, status and redemptions than their foreign counterparts. Would it make most sense for her to join UA/CO, LH, SAA or TAM?
Thanks!
May 17, 2010 | 1:32 pm
#2
Original Poster
Used to be 'martinnj99'
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: New Jersey/New York
Posts: 101
I should note that what is quite important is to earn as many miles as possible even in discount economy fares. As an AA FF I guess I am spoiled because we earn 100% miles even on the cheapest fares. So we'd liek to preserve that.
May 17, 2010 | 8:03 pm
#3
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,149
To answer your question, most people here recommend UA as the program of choice for people flying discounted economy fares and mainly wanting low redemption values. The biggest downside is the limited award availability which UA makes available to their members (Starnet blocking).
But of course other programs can make sense, too depending on the booking classes flown. AC comes to mind or even M&M.