(1) What is your home airport?
Currently CNF, but moving to BUD

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

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
Don't usually travel, but since I'll be moving I am increasing that to go back and forth between CNF and BUD a couple times a year, so anywhere between 40-80k

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
No

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- good redemption rates
- good redemption availability
- possibility of upgrades

(6) Which routes do you fly most often
I will start to fly between CNF to BUD, most common stops are between GRU-AMS/GRU-CDG/GRU-FRA/GRU-FCO

(7) Preferred Airlines
None preferred, I don't like AZ for a bad experience, but I like TK, LH, KL, LA/JJ, QR

I actually decided prematurely to join M&M thinking it maybe my *A miles account because it serves BUD better than most, but I am not completely 100% this is the best choice

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
Mostly pleasure

Hi All!

This is my first post, so go easy on me :). Could definitely use some insight

(1) What is your home airport?
Currently YOW/YYZ, but will be moving to MEL

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
I'm not sure how to answer this one. I normally fly economy and go for non-refundable fares.

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
I usually fly 10-20k miles per year, but that will significantly increase moving to MEL and flying home to see parents in YYZ. I also travel for conferences (2017 I will be going to DEN and possibly BRN).

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
I don't have any *A status, but I'm currently a member of AC Altitude and will hit 20K miles this year.

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- Becoming *A gold for lounge access
- easy renewal
- seat upgrades

(6) Which routes do you fly most often
My primary flight route will be MEL > YYZ. Most likely with the following *A path: MEL > AKL > YVR > YYZ or MEL > LAX > filler > YYZ

(7) Preferred Airlines
I prefer AC, but that's because that's what I know (and they have better service as compared to when I flew with them as a kid haha). When flying *A in the past couple years, I've been on LH and SK and enjoyed the former.

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
Mostly work (e.g., conferences) but now that I'm moving to MEL, I'll be flying home probably 2x a year to YYZ in addition to my conference flying.

I've done some homework and some are saying TK or AAR might be the best way to go to get *A gold, but would love to hear insights from the smart minds on this forum.

Much thanks in advance!

MLN21

MLN21 Welcome to FT (& MEL)

How long will you be MEL for? Short term (months ~ 2 years) or for ever?
There are no domestic star alliance airlines in Australia.
Your conference trips may not be on star alliance airlines, if paid for by someone else.

That MEL to YYZ looks like on Air NZ. Low priced fares in Air NZ can(will?) earn nil freq flyer miles on any ffp including Air NZ. Air NZ ffp is very poor.

You will not get status on a few low cheapie are fares. Cheap long hauls earn little. You will not be flying enough. Status means more on the airline you have status with

There are others options to get from Aust to Canada. That may mean a separate Au domestic flight up to SYD
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia (not from all airports to all airports)
- American Airlines AA (LAX - SYD) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- Air Canada AC (YYR – SYD, BNE from Jun 2016) [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO IAH YVR via AKL) [Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN (LAX via Tahiti. Last segments on codeshares) (AA & DL partner)
- Delta DL (LAX – SYD) (VA & AS partner) [Skyteam Alliance]
- Fiji Airways FJ (LAX SFO HNL via Fiji) (QF, AA & AS partner)
- Hawaiian HA (HNL – SYD BNE via Hawaii) (AA & VA partner)
- Jetstar JQ JQ (HNL – SYD BNE)
- Qantas QF (LAX SFO JFK DFW HNL YVR*– SYD BNE MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner) {* seasonal}
- United UA (LAX SFO – SYD MEL) [Star Alliance]
- Virgin Australia VA (LAX – SYD BNE) (DL partner) MEL LAX restarting 4 April 2017
And others via Asia & Middle East

I would stay with AC, unless living in Australia is for ever

Edit: Maybe this should be moved to this thread?

Hi,
My first post (after recently discovering FT), please excuse me if I misuse some abbreviations. I'm sure I'll get into it shortly ;).

I recently graduated, now work as a management consultant based in southern Sweden. I expect a bit of business travel the coming years, my company slightly prefers EuroBonus/StarAlliance flights. Personally I try to fit in a few trips to EU-cities a year, these are flights usually booked using Momondo (or similar service) with little regard for FFP. Any and all advice is appreciated, I have tried to fill in the questionnaire as good as possible.

Thank you in advance!

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, ability to convert points to trips

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: Less than 25000 miles, 15-20 flights

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

4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
>>> Reply: 50% yes (pleasure), 50% no (business)

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

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

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

8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
>>> Reply: Not really (I do appreciate leg-room though being ~1.90/6'2'')

P.S. I'm currently shopping for a new CC and have moderate spending levels (~USD 1000/month), if that helps.

Thanks for the welcome! Yes, I'm excited to move to MEL for work; never been to AUS before.

To your point, I will probably be there short term ~2 years, but who knows really lol.

Conference travel is paid by myself, so I get to choose which airline and the itenerary. It's just that biz class fares are probably not going to be reimbursed (or alcohol purchases for that matter, but I digress).

So if I take a "normal" AC to Vancouver and Air New Zealand the rest of the way, could I not put that on TK miles and smiles and get to *A gold quicker? Anyone have experience with TK and not actually flying with them? (Or should I ask this directly in the TK forum?)

Long story short, AC is a good option, but if I can get *A gold 10k miles sooner, I'd like that.

If in Aust on 457 visa you may not be able to extend.

Repeat:
Low priced fares in Air NZ can(will?) earn nil freq flyer miles on any ffp including Air NZ.
You will not get status on a few low cheapie are fares. Cheap long hauls earn little
redeemable ff miles/points www.wheretocredit.com/nz

If you get *A gold then what? What benefit do you expect?

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.

(AUS is Austin, TX. Au or Aust is Australia)

The grass in not always greener on the other side

Which *a program to join with 25-30 Y flights out of FRA?
 

(1) What is your home airport? FRA
(2) Do you currently have any status? TK Gold, Air Baltic VIP
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Discounted Economy
(4) Which airlines/routes do you usually fly? FRA to EU capitals
(5) How many miles do you usually fly each year? No idea, 25-30 flights
(6) Do you mainly fly for work or for leisure? / Do you have any flexibility in choosing the airline/fare bucket etc.? work, limited flexibility on arlines, might be LH
(7) What is most important to you in a FFP? fast track through security after TKG expires. I am looking for a program where not miles but number of segments bring status J Is there only LH FT that is counting segments?
Thanks!

As far as I know there are no FFPs that give *G on segments alone. FTL will only give you fast track access at selected airports (arguably FRA being the one where you *really* want it).

Hi! I'm new here! (first post) great community here, look forward to learning and sharing.

(1) What is your home airport?
SMR(Santa Marta, Colombia), so I'll just say my home airport is BOG (Bogota) and HKG (i go between Colombia/Hong Kong a few times a year.

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Discounted business for anything over 10 hours. I can suffer in economy if less. My flights are bought well in advance so its easier for me to get discounted biz class.

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?

100k+


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

Lifemiles Diamond(highest tier)

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- good redemption rates
- good redemption availability
- possibility of upgrades

(6) Which routes do you fly most often
Between BOG and HKG either through north america(Avianca/United/Air China) or europe (Turkish/Avianca)

(7) Preferred Airlines
None preferred, as long as it goes flat in business class.

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
I travel for lifestyle (digital nomad)


My main reason for posting this:
I am currently the highest level with Avianca, but recently discovered Turkish airlines have really well priced business class fares (eg BOG-IST-LHR return is only $1728, 10.4 cents/mile).

Turkish require less miles for award flights also.

So should i just stick with Avianca as I'm already diamond? Or should i start from scratch next year moving over to Turkish?

The main issue would be that redeeming *A awards on TK is a complicated affair. Since paid TK is so cheap, it would be "a waste" to redeem on TK, and therefore you'd have to spend your TK miles on other partners, and that's difficult.

If you are otherwise happy with LM, I wouldn't switch, provided of course that these deep discount J tickets on TK accrue miles in the program.

Some time ago, M&S was doing a status match/challenge even for people switching from other *G programs.

From the statusmatcher website, it looks in recent weeks, results where mixed: Some people requesting a match where denied.

Might still be worth trying if you decide to go it.

I don't think your conclusion follows. To conclude that redeeming for TK flights is a waste, you'd have to look in detail at the value you get out of reward flights versus the value you get out of redeeming for other things.

But even if we nail that, it would be only half of the story. You'd also need to look at the rate with which you earn miles in both programs. Wheretocredit has incomplete info, but I'd assume TK J earns more when crediting to M&S than when crediting to AV.

Thank you both for your input! It has helped me conclude the following when comparing AV Lifemiles/TK M&S :

Looking at these 2 airlines/programs side by side: TK have the advantage in terms of routes(way more, and to every continent). Avianca on the other hand, the furthest destinations they have are London,Spain,LAX. So although *A redemptions on TK are HORRIBLE, they do offer enough routes on TK metal to make that less of an issue.

So i believe it will be worth the trouble to move over to M&S. Lifemiles a few times a year do a sale where you can get up to 337k miles for .0147/mile, so buying them just for *A redemptions could done instead of bothering with M&S. Lifemiles award redemptions have very low redemption costs.

Plus M&S status appears easier to retain(lasts 2 years and required miles to renew is about half).

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
> SFO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
> Economy, Discount Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
> Less than 25k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
> Don't have any status.
(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.)
> Transfer from Ultimate Rewards and Good Award Redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
> US to Middle East/Asia
(7) Preferred Airlines
> Airlines going to Middle East and Asia: Turkish, Saudia, Emirates, Cathay, Singapore, Thai, etc
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
> Pleasure

Some considerations, I'm flying Avianca this week from SFO to EZE and planning to fly Turkish to Middle East in February. Interested which Star Alliance program to join. I have Sapphire Reserve so it seems best options for transfering are KrisFlyer and United Mileage Plus. Just comparing accrual on my Avianca flight, KrisFlyer will give me 100% on class W & P whereas United will accrue 50%-75% on the same classes.

Is KrisFlyer the way to go then, considering I have UR points, I fly discount economy, and plan to redeem on Turkish airlines or other Star Alliance partners?

A3 v OZ v TK?
 

Just want to get this right, to get *G from scratch with A3, OZ and TK. Each airline has its own rules re which *A flights are eligible.

A3
Qualify: 6 A3/OA flights plus 36k miles, or 2 A3/OA flights plus 60k miles, or 72k miles regardless of *A carrier (get to silver within 12 months, then another 12 months to get to gold).

Re-qualify: 4 A3/OA flights plus 12k miles or 24k miles regardless of *A carrier.

Tier validity: 1 year from qualification.

Miles validity: Non expiring as long as account remains active.

Other points: Can purchase up to 2k tier miles. "Together account" to pool miles with family.

OZ
Qualify: 40k miles or 50 OZ flights within 2 years.

Re-qualify: 40k miles or 50 OZ flights.

Tier validity: 2 years from qualification.

Miles validity: 12 years.

Other points: Upon 1 million miles or 1k OZ flights you get lifetime OZ Platinum.

TK
Qualify: 40k miles within 1 year.

Re-qualify: 25k miles within 1 year or 37.5k miles within 2 years.

Tier validity: 2 years from qualification.

Miles validity: 3 years.

Other points: Can purchase up to 1k status miles. Can earn miles on cheaper booking classes. "Family account" to pool miles with family. Offer status challenge, if you are Skyteam Elite Plus, Oneworld Emerald members, Emirates and Etihad Gold/Platinum and El Al Platinum/Top Platinum.

Is the above correct?

Hey! I'm an Aeroplane *A member but am becoming more and more frustrated with the program. Feeling like I should make the swap to another *A program, but maybe its a general overall change in miles programs and they all are just not as good as they used to be. I have Delta for Skyteam, but can't always be on one of their partner airlines. So here's my details:

(1) home airport is YVR
(2) usually the cheap fare codes: R, N, G, P, E, T, K
(3) flying between 25k-50k/year
(4) I've had aeroplane silver but not this year....
(5) I am mostly interested in using my FFM for flight redemptions, things like status and lounge access would be nice, but honestly i don't fly enough for that to matter too much. Taxes and fees for reward tickets on Aeroplane are awful, so would like a program with lower fees for redemption.
(6) Primarily Canada to US or Canada to other international destination. Occasionally intra-Canada travel.
(7) I actually like Air Canada, they're a fine airline, I just find the mileage program kinda stinks.
(8) I travel for both work and pleasure. I can usually decide on which airline to book, but if the fare difference is really high I'll go with price over a preferred carrier.

Looking forward to hearing input from other Aeroplan folks!