Hey All, I am considering switching to *A from Delta SkyTeam. I am Gold Medallion on skyteam now, and will be taking four more trips (at least two business) between WAS and ACC this year. I may also have a trip from WAS to JNB as well. Thats about 10K miles each trip which is ~ 40-50K miles for the rest of the year.

I am interested in points redemption to off the beaten path countries, then intl business upgrades, then lounge access. Any recommendations for which *A program to join?

Thanks! JKB
----
Can you provide:

(1) What is your home airport? DCA or IAD
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Z, K, and Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50-75k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Delta Gold (looking to switch given south african air's direct IAD-ACC flights)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good award redemption rates, then Frequent upgrades on travel (int'l upgrades?!)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Trans-Atlantic
(7) Preferred Airlines SA, AC, and United domestically
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work mostly. Can choose the airline, usually a mix of fare types, but often economy or economy comfort with 2-3 business transatlantic per year

United.
USA based airline ffp's are far more genenerous for earn/burn/award cost/award co payment fees/upgrades than non USA airline ffp's

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

Advice on Which Star Alliance FF Program Appreciated
 

Hello, This is my first post as a newbie, so I hope, first of all that I am doing this correctly and in the correct location.

Ok ...with all the down grades and changes in programs, I am really confused regarding which program will give me the biggest " bang for the buck"
I travel now between 25-50 k a year...would like to do more, but that's it at present

Home airport is ROC... Our main hubs are either Toronto or New York. I also have family in Washington and Boston, so we sometimes combine a visit there with a transatlantic trip.

At this point, due to the lower miles, we usually fly the lowest economy fare that we can find and don't end up earning a lot of " metal" qualifying miles. However if I can find a way to boost miles earnings, I would love to be able to upgrade to business class in the future.

As things are now I would say that easily/low redemptions awards are the most important, followed by lounge access and then upgrades.

We fly usually one to two times a year for pleasure to either Europe or South America, and then also within the USA about 5 times ( at least...often more). My husband also goes to an occasional international conference, and I may tag along on my own ticket. However, our daughter lives South Korea and we are likely to be visiting her next year. We have some aspirational trips to take in the future ( Africa on Safari, India, Patagonia) as we are about 3 years--5 years away from retirement. We are on a school/ teachers schedule, so I am freer to try some mileage runs to boost miles in the summer ( just got interested in this) or on school holidays. I absolutely love to travel, my husband is a little more reluctant... I actually really like airports and him...not so much, but he is ok once we get there! He'd be much better about going if I could accrue enough miles to fly business and have lounge access. Me...I will basically travel anywhere and don't mind the travel time so much...just love new places and cultures.

No preferred airlines. However, Toronto is more pleasant and has less weather delays than New York. ...Summer and Winter. If we drive we can see a show, go into town for a nice dinner, and then leave the car at the hotel for free during the trip.If we fly through Boston, we can see our grandson, and stay overnight no cost, so that works too. Similar in DC., with family to stay with overnight.

Most of my points right now are stuck with Delta. However, we do accrue a lot with Chase Sapphire. I also just got the SPG Amex card with the 30 K bonus.
Thinking that I will use the SPG card for Star Alliance transfers. I have some United and Asiana flights right now that I need to deposit somewhere..Have not yet settled on a main program.,

So...not sure if there is a good Star Alliance choice for me. We often will take an inexpensive Air Canada flight to wherever in Europe and then use cheap inter-Europe airlines for connections.

I initially thought that Aeroplan, although devalued, might still be good. ...or at least the best of a bad bunch given where we are situated. Looks like they will further devalue short flights to a 250 mile from 500 mile in 2016. This might be still if they continue to have some airlines with which there are no ridiculous fuel surcharges. We would not be redeeming on Air Canada because of the fuel costs, but there are currently some options, like United without a fuel surcharge.

Another idea would be to go with British Air and accrue some Avios to offset the cost of short haul flights within Europe. We can often get there cheaply, but using a avios would allow us to have an inexpensive " connected" itinerary without the worry re lost connections that cheap European airlines present. Also could use Avios to get to London from Boston very reasonably.

Or.. We could go with either Asian or Agean. However, I'm do not want to deal with huge fuel surcharges.

Sorry for the really long post...any advice would be helpful and much appreciated!

Painterlady Welcome to FT

I gather your main objective from a ffp is awards, preferably with low carrier imposed surcharges (These were called fuel surcharges in the past). That knocks out Aeroplan and BA (for long haul)

I note you in several programs: Aeroplan, American, Delta, Alaska, Southwest, Jet Blue. What is the balance & expiry? Having low balances in many ffp's is never a good idea. You never get enough miles to be really useful.

Alaska has AA & DL as partners http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...ePlan-partners

USA based airline ffp's tend to more generous (earn/burn/upgrades/award cost/award cash surcharges/expiry) compared to non USA based airline ffp’s.
In Star Allaince. UA is still a good ffp. Low award cost.

Can you earn miles from non flying activities? Which ffp's can those be moved to?

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

Hi everyone. I'm currently a BAEC Bronze card holder, but due to a few upcoming trips on non-OW planes I thought I'd post here asking for help as to which *A FF program to join. Any advice is appreciated.

(1) What is your home airport? GLA/EDI
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? usually discounted economy, a few times a year business.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25K in *A
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? no *A status but BA Bronze (OW Ruby)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good redemption rates, and lounge access as second.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often UK to Scandinavia and Germany.
(7) Preferred Airlines. SAS or Lufthansa
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure.

Hi all, first time poster who is drawn to this site while looking at whether Miles & More is still the right FFP for me. I have been FTL for around 5 years. My answers to the standard questions follow below - any advice gratefully received. Thanks!

(1) What is your home airport? BRU, DUS, CGN
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Discount Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-30k or 30 segments
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Miles & More FTL
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access, upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Belgium to various locations in Germany. USA once or twice a year. India once or twice a year
(7) Preferred Airlines - No strong feelings though have tended to fly LH & SN mostly owing to my FTL status
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Primarily business, occasionally travel for leisure with my family

I currently have almost 30K M&M, 6000 Avios, a British Airways credit card...I'm trying to find something better than M&M, at least for Star Alliance flights.

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: 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: 10000-15000

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: Mostly for pleasure/visiting family. I always choose the cheapest airline/class of service (excluding "weird" connections).

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

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

7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
>>> Reply: No status.
30K M&M
6K Avios

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

If you can't break 30k, sticking with your FTL seems to be the best. That's the only *S that gets you access to LH Business Lounges. If you can manage 40k in a year, go for TK Elite. It's much less to renew- you only need 40k to qualify initially. It'll allow you into the nicer Senator Lounges and all *A lounges.

For members asking for information please help people to assist you, can you provide:

(1) What is your home airport? RDU
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y, E/N (Prem Econ)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 20-60k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? No current status
(5) Most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.) Good award redemption, free lounge and upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Transatlantic and domestic US
(7) Preferred Airlines - LH, UA, AA, BA (the but former 2 more affordable out of RDU)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you choose your airlines, class of service?) I can choose airlines, but company pays for flights via concur - not sure if we'd get PQD on UA. Will be flying 4x year to Kiev via FRA/MUC mostly

(1) What is your home airport? (MUC)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (whatever company travel agency books, last 5 classes were (D,Y,J,Z,Q)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (50k - 75k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Platinum)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (lounge access, award redemption rates)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (MUC to EWR, EU domestic)
(7) Preferred Airlines - DE based travel agency books Lufthansa as default
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (work, occasionally with family. International flights in business class)


US expat living in Germany. Currently with United FF program but my ticket class is usually not starting with 016 so I miss out on some miles. Wondering if there is another program that will get me farther or if I should just stick with United.

I recently scored a round trip LAX to Athens for 388 on Air Canada and I am trying to figure out how to maximize my miles. It is a tango fare so I know that is not as good for miles. I am new to the hobby. I am silver with Delta and have primarily flown with them the last 5 years. With the devaluation of miles I am looking to branch out. I am wondering which FF program within Star Alliance I should join to get the most bang for my buck from my upcoming Athens trip?

(1) What is your home airport? LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Discount Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-30k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? Silver Status on Delta
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades and free business class flights
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? LA to Portland 2-3 times a year. Mostly long trips to Europe, East Coast and Hawaii
(7) Preferred Airlines - Delta
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both

Hey all,

This is my first post -- thanks in advance for your help! My big question is that I currently fly United (Platinum status) because I live in Chicago. My husband and I will be moving to Portland, OR, and I need to decide if I want to change over to a different airline. I'm thinking yes, given the devaluation of United miles and perks.

I'm looking at Alaska, given that it has a hub at PDX, but Alaska's flights are obviously more limited in routes than either Delta or American. They seem, however, to treat their customer better than either Delta or United. I know Alaska has partnerships with Delta and American, so does it make sense to go with Alaska and fly others when necessary? Or does it make more sense to go with one of the larger airlines so that I don't have to worry about not having access to perks (e.g. free upgrades) when I'm traveling across the country for work?

All input is appreciated!

(1) What is your home airport?
--> Was ORD. Now moving over to PDX (husband got a new job)

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
--> Whatever gets me from point A to B. Varies, but tends to be V, H, or S class

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
--> More than 75,000

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
--> United Platinum

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
--> Complimentary upgrades. Would love to gain lounge access.

(6) Which routes do you fly most often
--> Right now traveling predominently to BOS, NYC, and DFW

(7) Preferred Airlines
--> None. Not in love with United and would be open to swtiching, given a good status match program. One selling point is if the airline has a co-branded credit card that allows you to earn ELITE QUALIFYING MILES, such as American's Citi Exec card. United doesn't currently offer anything like this.

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
--> Mostly travel for work. Some for pleasure.

Hey guys/gals,

Hopefully you can help a friend of mine out. She's looking to see which *A FFP is best to join.

(1) What is your home airport?
-->TXL/MAD

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy?
-->Cheapest available

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
-->Around 25k

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
-->None

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
-->Good earn/burn rates (and low co-pays).

(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
-->Some intra europe (mostly budget airlines) Some travel to the US and South America. (This year, intraAmericas on CM)

(7) Preferred Airlines
-->No preference, but probably LH/LX/OS due to location.

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
-->Pleasure and school/charity related

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
HAM

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Discount Econ

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
>50k - usually a long trip from HAM-SYD per year plus lots of intra-Europe travel (every week for work)

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
Qantas Silver, Temporary (due to challenge) AA Exec Plat which I might be able to leverage for a status match to *A

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.)
Lounge Access and then redemption rates

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Intra-Europe

(7) Preferred Airlines
No strong preferences but I usually have to fly Lufthansa for work every week.


(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
A return trip with work every week within Germany (usually Lufthansa). Plus pleasure within Europe once a month or so for weekend trips and usually one or two longer holidays per year as well (e.g. Australia, Asia, US etc.) on any airlines I choose

Thanks for all your help!

M&B *G achieved, where to accumulate miles
 

I have followed the advice above but am looking for some additional advice based on my new situation as below. I am already qualified for *G on Aegean/M&B for 2016. To be clear, I achieved gold status first in Nov 2014. This expires in Jan 2016. I just received and email from M&B that I have already accumulated enough miles to stay in Gold tier for the next year as well. Does it make sense to accumulate miles in the same M&B account after achieving gold status for the next year?

(1) What is your home airport? Primarily BRU

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.) Y

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k) 25K

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc) Miles and Bonus Gold *G since Nov 2014; I just received notification that I already qualify for *G Status through 2016 as well

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Frequent upgrades on travel, priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates, free lounge access, etc.) Lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) BRU to Eastern/Central Europe/Turkey mostly (Moscow, Kiev, Sofia, Vienna, Prague, Istanbul)
(7) Preferred Airlines - Brussels Airlines
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service) Work, cannot choose class of service