Originally Posted by stifle (Post 16203070)

Is there any handy list of which airlines don't reset your miles/points when you go up a level? BD for example does reset. The reason is that Mrs. stifle may have the opportunity to go from zero to *G this year and would like to get it earlier rather than later :) She is leery about A3 as she has tried to credit a few flights to them but they've failed, and now her account is locked out.

Originally Posted by morgan11 (Post 16174763)

Hello all. My first post.

My wife and I have decided to change from EK Skywards to a *A FFP because of anticipated travel patterns over the next few years. We are Skywards silver but EK seems to be getting fewer and fewer partners and we don't want to have to fly through DXB all the time to get anywhere. The only partners they seem to have which we could utilise out of Oz are JAL and Korean, but we don't particularly like their business class product. We feel that a *A FFP would be more useful and beneficial for us due to its larger variety of routes and partners. We usually take one big trip o/s each year, normally in F or BC, with maybe a little domestic.

We have booked a SYD-LHR return in F on TG in August and am planning to do a BKK-YVR return via either HKG or ICN in mixed First and Business next year, using our EK miles to get to and from BKK. Also we intend to do a RTW in 2013 in business so we can incorporate some touring through the US, and hopefully do a few more o/s trips after that, including through Asia, the Pacific and probably back to Europe. We do not travel Econ except domestically and do not want to book economy tickets in the hope that we may get an upgrade at the last moment.

Status attainment is not of great importance with respect to lounge access as we generally get it anyway on the tickets we normally purchase, but would be useful if it can get us mileage accrual bonuses. We would be more interested in a FFP which we can use to accumulate miles for international flight awards and/or upgrades and which preferably have reasonably long mileage expiry dates. A FFP to which I can convert my SPG points if needed would be useful. Our travel is purely for pleasure since our retirement

My home airport is either SYD or MEL. I've flown TG, EK, CO (many years ago), NH, JAL, SAA, KLM in the past, so I don't really have a preferred airline, although I don't really want QF.

I have looked at quite a few FFP's but the more I look the more I find it harder to make a decision. I would much appreciate any thoughts or opinions from more experienced frequent travellers on what would be considered the most suitable *A FFP's for us given our anticipated travelling patterns.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Originally Posted by Tim M (Post 16138285)

Hi Flyer Talk folks,
I've just bought a round the world fare on Star alliance but am unsure which partner to join.
This trip starts in SYD goes to Bangkok on Thai, Swiss to Nice via Zurich
Swiss Paris to New York
United LAX - Syd
I've been all QF until now but the fare difference has made me join the Alliance, but through which airline - as you can see from the above most of the journey is Swiss, but I start Thai and finish United - I travel between Sydney and LA once or twice a year, and Sydney Europe 1 a year.
Any advice welcome

Originally Posted by YuropFlyer (Post 16162558)

I assume that will all be in Y? If so, you probably will not make SEN with your yearly flights but only FTL (*S) on M&M.

What is most important to you? If lounge access (*G) maybe Aegean is worth a check. Otherwise, probably AC (Air Canada) might be an idea if you can manage 50k per year. Enjoy your trips

Originally Posted by Learnerflyer (Post 16133355)

Hi there, I'm completely new to the FFP world and despite research, am still somewhat lost. I'm thinking an airline within the *A would be best due to the number of airlines within the alliance, but can't make sense of which would be best for me and would really appreciate any help you can give!

My other question I have is that I will be travelling with my partner most of the time: what would be the best way to maximise any FFP benefits given this scenario? Should we both join separately, or is there a way of combining our miles?

(1) What is your home airport? LHR (for preference)

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

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25k ish I think. Maybe 3/4 returns within Europe and the 2 longer flights per year minimum.

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None. I've not been in an FFP before.

(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades, miles accumulation and lounge privileges

(6) Which routes do you fly most often? European mostly, but at least one transatlantic return and one to Asia/Pacific a year

(7) Preferred Airlines: No real preference.

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure.

Many thanks for any help or suggestions!

Originally Posted by Ahaedius (Post 16138027)

My first FT post so hope am putting it in the right spot.

(1) What is your home airport? NYC - any
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Business for > 5 hrs
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BA Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Fast Track security, Lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often NYC <> London, some Asia
(7) Preferred Airlines: SQ, VS, BA
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure: 80% work.

After 10+years at BA gold or silver I'm fed up with BA after two lacklustre Biz class trips JFK<>LHR and the strikes. Am putting together a 6 week RTW tour in business, starting next week, going to Asia among other places.

I want to do that in SQ and VS based on what I've heard about then, and therefore want to switch to *A.

Am based in New York, am British, and being a US-based silver card holder has meant i get fast track and lounge access on AA economy, which seems hard to do for even my high mileage domestic *A friends. That's a nice perk but more important is to earn miles when travelling as much as possible with SQ and VS. Ideally it will also get me lounge access for when am travelling economy domestically, but am also a new Amex platinum member so maybe that'll help with lounge issue.

Thanks

Originally Posted by fenx (Post 16232791)

I figure I'd throw this out there in hopes that I'm overlooking something. Historically miles had been in the 15k a year. However, thanks to the United G fare sale out of Phoenix, I've got around 30k miles already booked in the next year on some MR turned weekend trips. This makes achieving *G a realistic goal.

(1) What is your home airport? PHX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Discounted Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 30-40k in the next twelve months. Summer 2012 will likely bring either a TATL or TPAC
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? In order A) Ease of *G qualification and renewal at projected flight levels. B) domestic lounge access. C)Good crediting on US metal and United G fares D)Standard price domestic rewards
(6) Which routes do you fly most often PHX to DTW/IND/ORD/FNT
(7) Preferred Airlines: Not partial, but I am in a US hub
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure.

I've done some homework, but I've identified gaps in the common 4 cheap *G options
A3 - 50% credit on United G fares
TK - No credit for US metal other than full Y
Aeroplan - Without pineapple juice being served on TATL's there's no chance of flying 10k miles on AC metal
Asiana - US Domestic Rewards are more expensive and range limited. Higher initial qualification and re-qualification levels

Option 5 I've considered is continuing to credit to CO which I have 12.5k miles with and instead buy the 260$ US lounge pass or get an AMEX Platinum.

If I go with A3, I'll still be short 4kish miles even after all this flying and will still be quite short of a domestic award given the 50% credit. Crediting Asiana will still leave me short of goal without an additional MR and will likely not get me status until a year from now at the earliest.

I'm looking for the best option at this point. I appreciate the help and hope there's a creative solution to the problem. Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Darkmarkster (Post 16117632)

Hi all,I currently have a Virgin Atlantic flying club account as my main account and a BMI Diamond club account which I use to collect the miles from my credit card spend,I've just signed up for a Amex gold to start earning membership rewards and decided that now might be the right time to start looking at investing my miles into a better flying program within the Star Alliance.

My reason for this is I take quite a few personal vacation trips (around 6-10 a year) between London and the US & the rest of Europe as well as the occasional trip to asia,I actually have a trip to Shanghai in the planning stages but basically my point is this:

Generally I get around the lack of US destinations served by Virgin Atlantic by booking with US airways and Continental to earn partner points,but more and more of these flights are now showing as being operated by United and Air Canada which obviously will not earn me any flying club miles,basically I want to switch to a Star Alliance airline that has the biggest presence operating out of London Heathrow that would be beneficial in short to medium and also long haul flights that I could also use my Amex membership rewards to boost the account with.

Sorry if that sounds confusing but I tried my best to explain it!

Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks


(1) What is your home airport? London Heathrow
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y & Discounted economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 20k-30k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Only have Virgin Atlantic basic red and BMI Diamond club standard
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrade possibilities or redemption/award flights/companion flights etc
(6) Which routes do you fly most often UK-US transatlantic,US domestic,UK & European & to Asia
(7) Preferred Airlines US airways/Continental
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Totally personal pleasure travel and I generally travel out of the holiday/peak season

Originally Posted by Christy2a (Post 16249112)

Hi all, I'm starting to fly frequently again after a 10 year hiatus. Used to be NW Platinum. Would love any advice as I get myself sorted, thanks so much!

(1) What is your home airport? SIN
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? Will be >50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? No, but have:
SQ - 9,200 elite/35K current miles
TG - 8,000
UA - 21K
DL - 47,500
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
1 - Frequent upgrades on travel
2 - Free lounge access
3 - Good award redemption
4 - Priority boarding
(6) Which routes do you fly most often - SE Asia, India. Trans-pacific + Europe 3-4 times/year; Africa on the horizon.
(7) Preferred Airlines - SQ - usually fly SQ but is it best to load miles here? Harder to build status and use miles?
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Mostly work, must fly Y, can choose airline. Want to be able to upgrade for longer haul flights.

Greatly appreciate the expertise/experience out there!

Originally Posted by YuropFlyer (Post 16249429)

I'm having SIN only as my Asian hub (approx 20 flights per year on SQ in the last 3 years) but from my experience, there is only a very, very low chance ever to score an op-upgrade on them, and even then it's usually because they're massively overbooked which they seldom do (so they would put you into C on the next flight, which might or might not be acceptable)

So, in terms of Op-Up's, EK would be a much better choice. Free upgrades on SQ simply won't happen, and even with miles, their premium planes are hard to get upgrades with miles.

As you can select the carrier, I assume you can book yourself too, so you can book yourself into booking classes giving full milage. Otherwise, taking SQ would be a no-no, as they're probably the most strict airline on earnings, with many, many booking classes earning 0. Not 50%, not 25%, exactly 0.

Now, given that EK might not be the best choice for some regions in Asia when you're departing from SIN but probably the best when flying to Africa/Europe, I would suggest you're splitting your patterns.

With 50k+ per year (Which seems reasonable with full earning Y) I would put 25k into EK for Silver, which gives you lounge access in DXB, and the occassional OP-UP on them, and then take those flights that you'll be much better situated with SQ for intra-asian flights, while putting those miles into a program that will give you *G. Which will be A3 (Aegean) - they give you *G for as little as 19k miles qualification in the first year (3k for Silver, 16k for Gold)

And their status keeps apparently forever as long as you fly once every 3 year with them (Search for Aegean on this forum, you should find more information)