Jan 20, 2016, 10:53 pm
Last edit by: jtet
A number of threads have been started with members asking for guidance on which mileage programme they should join. In order to help users I have started this thread to allow people to post their requests for information here and to allow people to offer assistance.
For members asking for information please help people to assist you, can you provide:
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Silver, M&M Senator etc)
(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.)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
(7) Preferred Airlines
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
GENERAL INFORMATION:
If you fly less than 50k miles per year: it is almost guaranteed that your choice will be between Aegean Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Asiana Airlines. Please look up these airlines' frequent flier programs, and make a decision as to which best suits your needs.
Some considerations to take into account:
Airlines tend to treat members of their own frequent flier program better than members of other frequent flier programs. If you fly one of these airlines, it is recommended that you choose that airline.
Some airlines have better earning/redemption charts for your pattern. For example, if you fly on cheap fares on a certain airline often, Turkish might give you miles for it, while Aegean might not. However, Turkish Airlines might charge much more for the redemption that you want to make than Aegean.
Asiana Airlines offers lifetime Star Alliance Gold for 500k miles over life. The other 2 airlines do not offer this benefit.
Asiana Airlines has a credit card in the USA and some other countries. If you are interested in credit cards, check to make sure that the program that you join has a credit card in your country.
If you still aren't sure which frequent flyer program is for you after looking these up, feel free to ask on this thread.
For members asking for information please help people to assist you, can you provide:
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Silver, M&M Senator etc)
(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.)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
(7) Preferred Airlines
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
GENERAL INFORMATION:
If you fly less than 50k miles per year: it is almost guaranteed that your choice will be between Aegean Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Asiana Airlines. Please look up these airlines' frequent flier programs, and make a decision as to which best suits your needs.
Some considerations to take into account:
Airlines tend to treat members of their own frequent flier program better than members of other frequent flier programs. If you fly one of these airlines, it is recommended that you choose that airline.
Some airlines have better earning/redemption charts for your pattern. For example, if you fly on cheap fares on a certain airline often, Turkish might give you miles for it, while Aegean might not. However, Turkish Airlines might charge much more for the redemption that you want to make than Aegean.
Asiana Airlines offers lifetime Star Alliance Gold for 500k miles over life. The other 2 airlines do not offer this benefit.
Asiana Airlines has a credit card in the USA and some other countries. If you are interested in credit cards, check to make sure that the program that you join has a credit card in your country.
If you still aren't sure which frequent flyer program is for you after looking these up, feel free to ask on this thread.
Need advice on which *A FF scheme to join? - please post here
Nov 2, 2019 | 12:32 pm
#2221
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 6
Miles & More vs MileagePlus and others
(1) What is your home airport? IAD / BWI
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25k-50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? M&M Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access, good award redemption, priority services
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? US-Europe (2-3x/year); US-Asia (1-2x year); some travel to South America and Africa
(7) Preferred Airlines: Swiss, Lufthansa
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Travel for work; can choose airline but not class of service
I am new to FF schemes - previously, flew several different alliances, but primarily *Alliance. Formerly based in Europe, currently out of the US. This year, started banking miles with Lufthansa Miles&More and just hit 35k miles/Frequent Traveller status (* Alliance Silver) within last six months of travel. I'll be traveling roundtrip JFK-NRT in December, and that's it for this calendar year.
Once I got Silver, I started investigating and it seemed like MileagePlus would be a better option to qualify for * Alliance Gold, but with the changes announced this week - would MileagePlus, Aegean, Turkish or Asiana be the better option?
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25k-50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? M&M Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access, good award redemption, priority services
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? US-Europe (2-3x/year); US-Asia (1-2x year); some travel to South America and Africa
(7) Preferred Airlines: Swiss, Lufthansa
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Travel for work; can choose airline but not class of service
I am new to FF schemes - previously, flew several different alliances, but primarily *Alliance. Formerly based in Europe, currently out of the US. This year, started banking miles with Lufthansa Miles&More and just hit 35k miles/Frequent Traveller status (* Alliance Silver) within last six months of travel. I'll be traveling roundtrip JFK-NRT in December, and that's it for this calendar year.
Once I got Silver, I started investigating and it seemed like MileagePlus would be a better option to qualify for * Alliance Gold, but with the changes announced this week - would MileagePlus, Aegean, Turkish or Asiana be the better option?
Nov 2, 2019 | 5:29 pm
#2222
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP ALL Gold
Posts: 4,646
https://www.wheretocredit.com/thai-airways/j
Not what you asked, but UA ff miles now do not expire
UA ff miles to charity https://donate.mileageplus.com/
Would expect to be others
Expiry Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire. Click to open the wiki.
Edit
Another TG https://www.thaiairways.com/en_CA/ne.../Siriraj.page?
But ended 31 Jul 2018
FFP's can have non alliance partners
Not what you asked, but UA ff miles now do not expire
UA ff miles to charity https://donate.mileageplus.com/
Would expect to be others
Expiry Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire. Click to open the wiki.
Edit
Another TG https://www.thaiairways.com/en_CA/ne.../Siriraj.page?
But ended 31 Jul 2018
FFP's can have non alliance partners
Nov 2, 2019 | 5:35 pm
#2223
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,926
Nov 2, 2019 | 7:13 pm
#2224
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,699
Nov 2, 2019 | 7:26 pm
#2225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
If you want to use them and credit miles to another FFP, you need to be super-cautious when using the UA website.
Nov 3, 2019 | 1:28 am
#2226
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 158
Hi all..
1) What is your home airport? Currently LON but moving to ORD in a few months but will live in AUS or SFO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? whatever i can get my hands on. But 80% is in J
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? usually 30-70k but will not be able to travel for 1 year due to visa restrictions when i move over
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BA GOLD. DL platinum
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? mileage earnings and benefits with airlines
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Currently mainly TATL but always worldwide
(7) Preferred Airlines Oneworld
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Although i use oneworld mainly i feel coming over to the US will change my flying habits, i have a flight with UA in P in the next few weeks and as its a hub in ORD looking at UA for FF purposes as will be in ORD for 6 months. Any insights welcome. I should also mention i have done UAstatus match a few years ago but didnt use it as OW came up with a matching fare.. so statusmatch with UA is out.
TIA
1) What is your home airport? Currently LON but moving to ORD in a few months but will live in AUS or SFO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? whatever i can get my hands on. But 80% is in J
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? usually 30-70k but will not be able to travel for 1 year due to visa restrictions when i move over
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BA GOLD. DL platinum
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? mileage earnings and benefits with airlines
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Currently mainly TATL but always worldwide
(7) Preferred Airlines Oneworld
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Although i use oneworld mainly i feel coming over to the US will change my flying habits, i have a flight with UA in P in the next few weeks and as its a hub in ORD looking at UA for FF purposes as will be in ORD for 6 months. Any insights welcome. I should also mention i have done UAstatus match a few years ago but didnt use it as OW came up with a matching fare.. so statusmatch with UA is out.
TIA
Nov 6, 2019 | 4:37 am
#2227
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: YTO/DEL/BOM/GAU
Programs: A few airlines, hotel programs and car rentals
Posts: 1,271
Further, on my trips to and within India, flying Air India on Z (Business) would earn me 200% miles as per EB rules. This applied even when I booked in an economy fare code, then rebooked the same ticket into a Z code business fare (Air India has a very good upgrade policy that allows for very good value paid upgrade and rebooking). Recently, however, Air India's upgraded Z fare is only crediting mileage in the original booking code. I do not know if this is because of a change of policy on SK's part or whether AI is giving them incorrect information. This makes Eurobonus a little bit less appealing for me in the long run.
Nov 24, 2019 | 1:50 pm
#2229
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 119
(1) What is your home airport? IAD
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Y for domestic, J and F for international (all leisure, I usually just buy whenever there's a good deal)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25k-50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? AS MVP Gold, AA Platinum
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Priority services, free lounge access, good award redemption availability and rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? International
(7) Preferred Airlines Oneworld
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Hello. I'm looking to join *A program which will have easiest qualification criteria. My main program is OW, but would like to attain a status with *A program for when I do travel with them. TIA!
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Y for domestic, J and F for international (all leisure, I usually just buy whenever there's a good deal)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25k-50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? AS MVP Gold, AA Platinum
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Priority services, free lounge access, good award redemption availability and rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? International
(7) Preferred Airlines Oneworld
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Hello. I'm looking to join *A program which will have easiest qualification criteria. My main program is OW, but would like to attain a status with *A program for when I do travel with them. TIA!
Dec 4, 2019 | 3:35 am
#2230
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 9
Relocating to Auckland
Hi all. Thanks for your advice on moving to a new alliance.
(1) What is your home airport? (AKL)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (Some business, some premium economy)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (65/70k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (Delta SkyMiles Gold)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Priority services when flying the airline, free lounge access, friendly toward kids, etc.)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Domestic New Zealand, Transpacific)
(7) Preferred Airlines (Air New Zealand)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Both, and can choose airlines)
Am currently based in Amsterdam and fly around 70k miles a year on KLM and Delta. Relocating to Auckland in January. Will be flying business class roundtrip to Europe once a year alone, twice a year to the east coast of the US in premium economy with wife and toddler, three times monthly in economy between Auckland and Wellington on ANZ for work. Have already booked the three of us on individual business class tickets AMS>SIN>AKL on Singapore Air.
(1) What is your home airport? (AKL)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (Some business, some premium economy)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (65/70k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (Delta SkyMiles Gold)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Priority services when flying the airline, free lounge access, friendly toward kids, etc.)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Domestic New Zealand, Transpacific)
(7) Preferred Airlines (Air New Zealand)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Both, and can choose airlines)
Am currently based in Amsterdam and fly around 70k miles a year on KLM and Delta. Relocating to Auckland in January. Will be flying business class roundtrip to Europe once a year alone, twice a year to the east coast of the US in premium economy with wife and toddler, three times monthly in economy between Auckland and Wellington on ANZ for work. Have already booked the three of us on individual business class tickets AMS>SIN>AKL on Singapore Air.
Dec 5, 2019 | 7:49 pm
#2231
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,926
Relocating to Auckland
Hi all. Thanks for your advice on moving to a new alliance.
(1) What is your home airport? (AKL)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (Some business, some premium economy)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (65/70k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (Delta SkyMiles Gold)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Priority services when flying the airline, free lounge access, friendly toward kids, etc.)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Domestic New Zealand, Transpacific)
(7) Preferred Airlines (Air New Zealand)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Both, and can choose airlines)
Am currently based in Amsterdam and fly around 70k miles a year on KLM and Delta. Relocating to Auckland in January. Will be flying business class roundtrip to Europe once a year alone, twice a year to the east coast of the US in premium economy with wife and toddler, three times monthly in economy between Auckland and Wellington on ANZ for work. Have already booked the three of us on individual business class tickets AMS>SIN>AKL on Singapore Air.
(1) What is your home airport? (AKL)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (Some business, some premium economy)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (65/70k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (Delta SkyMiles Gold)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Priority services when flying the airline, free lounge access, friendly toward kids, etc.)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Domestic New Zealand, Transpacific)
(7) Preferred Airlines (Air New Zealand)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Both, and can choose airlines)
Am currently based in Amsterdam and fly around 70k miles a year on KLM and Delta. Relocating to Auckland in January. Will be flying business class roundtrip to Europe once a year alone, twice a year to the east coast of the US in premium economy with wife and toddler, three times monthly in economy between Auckland and Wellington on ANZ for work. Have already booked the three of us on individual business class tickets AMS>SIN>AKL on Singapore Air.
Compared to other ffp's, including the downgrading of USA ffp's, you will find the Air NZ ffp is poor and bad for earn to burn.
Some low cost Air NZ fares can earn nothing to ffp's other than Air NZ Airpoints. UA ffp may be a small limited exception.
And there are limited Skyteam airlines with international flights to/from NZ.
Maintaining DL (Skyteam) status will be a challenge. But the DL ff miles do not expire, unlike many other ffp's
Any ff miles with other ffp's?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellin...tional_Airport
You will get lounge access by class of service(business), mid/top level status or paid Koru lounge/club membership (if flying AirNZ).
Does/can your employer pay for Air NZ Koru club membership?
All domestic flights in NZ are economy. Business class is not offered by any airline.
For your ~45 minute commuter runs AK WLG you have the option of NZ or JQ. JQ has limited service and credits ff points(miles) but no SC's to the QF ffp. In AU JQ flights without a bundle, earn nothing, but in NZ all JQ flights earn a few QF points.
Getting to USA, Virgin Australia VA is a DL (non alliance) ff partner. So you could fly AKL-SYD(VA) and then SYD-LAX(DL)
SQ is also a VA partner (and 20% part owner). With SQ & VA ff miles can be moved from 1 ffp to the other ffp, albeit at a poor 1:1.55 rate. (Was 1:1.35)
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Dec 5, 2019 at 8:58 pm
Dec 6, 2019 | 1:07 am
#2232
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 9
Thanks for the detailed response, Mwenenzi We'll be in Auckland for a few years at least.
I've done a bit of research and was going to go United until the recent updates to their tier qualifications. Looked into ANZ and agree that their program is generally pretty poor. I've since gotten a little more creative and am considering KrisFlyer and Aegean. As I'll be buying a seat for my toddler, I like Aegean's pooling. And our long-haul flights as a family would also qualify my wife for at least silver.
I've done a bit of research and was going to go United until the recent updates to their tier qualifications. Looked into ANZ and agree that their program is generally pretty poor. I've since gotten a little more creative and am considering KrisFlyer and Aegean. As I'll be buying a seat for my toddler, I like Aegean's pooling. And our long-haul flights as a family would also qualify my wife for at least silver.
Dec 6, 2019 | 1:29 am
#2233
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,926
Thanks for the detailed response, Mwenenzi We'll be in Auckland for a few years at least.
I've done a bit of research and was going to go United until the recent updates to their tier qualifications. Looked into ANZ and agree that their program is generally pretty poor. I've since gotten a little more creative and am considering KrisFlyer and Aegean. As I'll be buying a seat for my toddler, I like Aegean's pooling. And our long-haul flights as a family would also qualify my wife for at least silver.
I've done a bit of research and was going to go United until the recent updates to their tier qualifications. Looked into ANZ and agree that their program is generally pretty poor. I've since gotten a little more creative and am considering KrisFlyer and Aegean. As I'll be buying a seat for my toddler, I like Aegean's pooling. And our long-haul flights as a family would also qualify my wife for at least silver.
VA (SQ partner) also has family pooling.
Aegean status has an own airline flight requirement OR collect double the tier miles
https://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbon...rogram/silver/
Just need to crunch the numbers.
Silver membership opens up a range of exclusive benefits such as “Together”, as well as additional privileges before, during and after your flights. Moreover, as a Silver member, you are entitled to the Star Alliance Silver status which ensures an enhanced travel experience within the Star Alliance global network. And if you keep earning those tier miles, you are on the way to becoming a Gold member!
To reach the Silver Tier, all you need to do is fly Aegean or Olympic Air at least twice and earn 12,000 Tier Miles within 12 months or collect a total 24,000 Tier Miles, regardless of which airline you choose to fly with. Whichever you do first will get you there.
To retain your Silver Tier, you have a fixed 12-month period from the date of your upgrade or renewal of your tier to collect 8,000 Tier Miles, including 2 flights with Aegean and/or Olympic Air, or collect a total of 16,000 Tier Miles, regardless of which airline you choose to fly with
To reach the Silver Tier, all you need to do is fly Aegean or Olympic Air at least twice and earn 12,000 Tier Miles within 12 months or collect a total 24,000 Tier Miles, regardless of which airline you choose to fly with. Whichever you do first will get you there.
To retain your Silver Tier, you have a fixed 12-month period from the date of your upgrade or renewal of your tier to collect 8,000 Tier Miles, including 2 flights with Aegean and/or Olympic Air, or collect a total of 16,000 Tier Miles, regardless of which airline you choose to fly with
Same ffp's have a hard expiry. including SQ Krisflyer
Dec 9, 2019 | 12:42 am
#2234
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 8
Where to credit SQ flights?
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.) LHR
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.) Generally Y, sometimes J
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k) Less than 25k most years
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Silver, M&M Senator etc) BA Silver
(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.)
Priority services like seat selection and lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Intra Europe, mostly to scandinavia with the odd long haul trip
(7) Preferred Airlines
Any
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Leisure traveller
Morning,
We travel to Australia every 18 months or so, and like to try and rack up points / status if we can. Would normally choose Qatar from Scandinavia where a J return gets us straight to Oneworld Sapphire, but this year prices werent great, so were doing SQ ARN-CPH(SK operated)-SIN-MEL
Where would we be best off crediting? I have Eurobonus as I got to Scandinavia a reasonable amount, but by my calculations the trip will net 35000 ish basic points so not enough for status in star alliance. Are there any other programs that would serve better? Redemptions are always good but Im more bothered about lounge etc. Happy to do some mileage runs / qualifying flights in Europe to add it up.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.) Generally Y, sometimes J
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k) Less than 25k most years
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Silver, M&M Senator etc) BA Silver
(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.)
Priority services like seat selection and lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Intra Europe, mostly to scandinavia with the odd long haul trip
(7) Preferred Airlines
Any
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Leisure traveller
Morning,
We travel to Australia every 18 months or so, and like to try and rack up points / status if we can. Would normally choose Qatar from Scandinavia where a J return gets us straight to Oneworld Sapphire, but this year prices werent great, so were doing SQ ARN-CPH(SK operated)-SIN-MEL
Where would we be best off crediting? I have Eurobonus as I got to Scandinavia a reasonable amount, but by my calculations the trip will net 35000 ish basic points so not enough for status in star alliance. Are there any other programs that would serve better? Redemptions are always good but Im more bothered about lounge etc. Happy to do some mileage runs / qualifying flights in Europe to add it up.
Dec 14, 2019 | 1:49 am
#2235
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Birmingham
Programs: Mucci (Chevalier de Sagesse), Betty Ford Alumnus, BA Gold, ScaryTeam Elite+
Posts: 400
Hi all,
2 adults and 2 kids flying BHX FRA EWR SJU / SJU EWR BRU BHX all in P.
Tickets are all on UA stock, operating carriers are LH LH UA / UA UA SN. None of us has status or miles in any *A programme.
I had considered crediting the miles to EI to get them over to BA (our principal family miles stash) but the kids cant join that so those potential miles would be wasted. But am I missing something - is there a *A option where kids can earn plus we can pool miles, or a quick route to status? Being a *A noob Id hate to make a rookie mistake.
Thanks, all...
2 adults and 2 kids flying BHX FRA EWR SJU / SJU EWR BRU BHX all in P.
Tickets are all on UA stock, operating carriers are LH LH UA / UA UA SN. None of us has status or miles in any *A programme.
I had considered crediting the miles to EI to get them over to BA (our principal family miles stash) but the kids cant join that so those potential miles would be wasted. But am I missing something - is there a *A option where kids can earn plus we can pool miles, or a quick route to status? Being a *A noob Id hate to make a rookie mistake.
Thanks, all...