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
Dec 1, 2020 | 11:49 pm
#2296
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 27
I am looking for a recommendation of where to put Star Alliance points.
My family are moving to Geneva and we are flying Business Class on Turkish Airlines, but future flights will all be economy and will be on the "lowest logical fare", though always economy, mostly to Asia, with annual family trips to Melbourne, Australia.
(1) What is your home airport? GVA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? One return trip to asia per month, and one annual family trip to Australia.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? N/A
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades, award flights
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? GVA-KBL/RGN/DAC/BKK
(7) Preferred Airlines? "Lowest logical fare" policy
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Mostly work annual family trip to Australia
My family are moving to Geneva and we are flying Business Class on Turkish Airlines, but future flights will all be economy and will be on the "lowest logical fare", though always economy, mostly to Asia, with annual family trips to Melbourne, Australia.
(1) What is your home airport? GVA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? One return trip to asia per month, and one annual family trip to Australia.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? N/A
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades, award flights
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? GVA-KBL/RGN/DAC/BKK
(7) Preferred Airlines? "Lowest logical fare" policy
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Mostly work annual family trip to Australia
Dec 28, 2020 | 6:01 am
#2297
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Delta
Posts: 7
(1) What is your home airport? PVG, wondering if UA or SQ makes more sense for FFP
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? J (international), Y (domestic in China)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >100k
(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? Award earning/redemption, upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? PVG-ORD (4-5x/year), domestic (multiple/month)
(7) Preferred Airlines: SQ, but previously flew UA in USA
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Both, but mainly for work. We can choose airlines. Business for international, coach for domestic travel.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? J (international), Y (domestic in China)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >100k
(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? Award earning/redemption, upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? PVG-ORD (4-5x/year), domestic (multiple/month)
(7) Preferred Airlines: SQ, but previously flew UA in USA
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Both, but mainly for work. We can choose airlines. Business for international, coach for domestic travel.
Dec 30, 2020 | 6:09 am
#2298
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: DE
Posts: 265
mattino24
I think SQ is nice for booking awards. But status benefits are poor, as are earnings from actual flying. While I am KF Gold, I mostly fill my mileage account through transfers from financial partners. Again, SQ elite benefits are really really weak. As you mention upgrades: I think it will be quite rare that you get upgraded on an international flight, be it on UA or SQ metal.
By no means an expert on UA. From my superficial understanding, attaining status in MP is tough. I suppose if you are regularly in high booking classes/on expensive tickets and do the PVG-ORD on UA ticket, MP makes some sense.
I think SQ is nice for booking awards. But status benefits are poor, as are earnings from actual flying. While I am KF Gold, I mostly fill my mileage account through transfers from financial partners. Again, SQ elite benefits are really really weak. As you mention upgrades: I think it will be quite rare that you get upgraded on an international flight, be it on UA or SQ metal.
By no means an expert on UA. From my superficial understanding, attaining status in MP is tough. I suppose if you are regularly in high booking classes/on expensive tickets and do the PVG-ORD on UA ticket, MP makes some sense.
Jan 6, 2021 | 5:53 am
#2299
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 2
(1) What is your home airport? ORD/IND
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? At least 25k. More when the pandemic is over
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None. Looking to earn SA Gold with a program.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access, upgrades, and good redemption rates for transpacific and US routes.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) Transpacific (RT twice a year)
(7) Preferred Airlines: ANA for transpacific, United for US Domestic and Canada
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Air Canada Aeroplan:
I am trying to find a milage program to settle on since I moved bases around last year. I used to fly to Canada often on AC and ANA but my college is now in the USA, so I will be flying UA and ANA more often. Every year, I will fly between Chicago and Tokyo twice since my permanent home is in Japan. I also fly within US 2/3 times a year, which will be United flights. I am not quite sure if I should stick with Aeroplan since I will barely fly any AC flights from now on. If I were to leave Aeroplan, am also not quite sure if I should use Milage Plus or ANA Mileage Club. ANA has better service so I will be using their flight most of the time. I would also appreciate some advice on which program I can earn Star Alliance status faster with. As a sidenote, I am also earning AMEX MR points when booking flights. Thank you very much.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? At least 25k. More when the pandemic is over
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None. Looking to earn SA Gold with a program.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access, upgrades, and good redemption rates for transpacific and US routes.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) Transpacific (RT twice a year)
(7) Preferred Airlines: ANA for transpacific, United for US Domestic and Canada
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Air Canada Aeroplan:
Miles: 44,053 pts, Lifetime miles: 25,967
United Mileage Plus:Miles: 2050, Lifetime miles: 0
ANA Mileage Club:Miles: 0, Lifetime miles: 13,474
--I am trying to find a milage program to settle on since I moved bases around last year. I used to fly to Canada often on AC and ANA but my college is now in the USA, so I will be flying UA and ANA more often. Every year, I will fly between Chicago and Tokyo twice since my permanent home is in Japan. I also fly within US 2/3 times a year, which will be United flights. I am not quite sure if I should stick with Aeroplan since I will barely fly any AC flights from now on. If I were to leave Aeroplan, am also not quite sure if I should use Milage Plus or ANA Mileage Club. ANA has better service so I will be using their flight most of the time. I would also appreciate some advice on which program I can earn Star Alliance status faster with. As a sidenote, I am also earning AMEX MR points when booking flights. Thank you very much.
Last edited by flyerup; Jan 6, 2021 at 5:53 am Reason: Formatting
Mar 13, 2021 | 6:48 am
#2300
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Accor Live Limitless Gold, Hilton Honours Gold, Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,807
Hi all, looking for a bit of advice. I will answer the questions but think that they may be less useful in my instance.
I am simply looking for the best *A program to credit a few occasional *A flights. Dont fly *A often enough to get status at the moment.
1) What is your home airport? LON
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Mix of Y/Y+/J
(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 Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Wont be my main FFP, just for crediting the occasional *A flights like an upcoming SIN-IST-LHR in J
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Europe short haul from LON, LON-JFK-LON once per year, LON-LAX-LON once a year, LON-SIN/KUL-LON twice per year. Mostly on OW carriers but may branch out if *A becomes a better choice.
(7) Preferred Airlines: Normally only fly OW but open to trying *A carriers
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure may be a few (4 or so) work trips per year after COVID
I am simply looking for the best *A program to credit a few occasional *A flights. Dont fly *A often enough to get status at the moment.
1) What is your home airport? LON
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Mix of Y/Y+/J
(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 Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Wont be my main FFP, just for crediting the occasional *A flights like an upcoming SIN-IST-LHR in J
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Europe short haul from LON, LON-JFK-LON once per year, LON-LAX-LON once a year, LON-SIN/KUL-LON twice per year. Mostly on OW carriers but may branch out if *A becomes a better choice.
(7) Preferred Airlines: Normally only fly OW but open to trying *A carriers
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure may be a few (4 or so) work trips per year after COVID
Mar 13, 2021 | 11:45 am
#2301
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,926
UA ff miles do not expire, but look at the earning for non UA Star flights
Look at expiry,
A guide (may not be up to date)--->Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire [click to open the wiki]
May 4, 2021 | 1:29 pm
#2302
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Lisbon
Posts: 2
(1) What is your home airport? LIS
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? <25k (15k is the absolute floor, though)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Nope
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Redemption rates and lounge access; no hopes for decent upgrading, but hey
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Schengen area for pleasure trips; MUC for work; VCP/GRU and/or POA yearly for visiting family and friends
(7) Preferred Airlines None in particular
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both (work travels are booked by myself via corporate tool)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? <25k (15k is the absolute floor, though)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Nope
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Redemption rates and lounge access; no hopes for decent upgrading, but hey
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Schengen area for pleasure trips; MUC for work; VCP/GRU and/or POA yearly for visiting family and friends
(7) Preferred Airlines None in particular
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both (work travels are booked by myself via corporate tool)
May 18, 2021 | 6:41 pm
#2303
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 66
(1) What is your home airport? ITH/SYR occasionally JFK
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Coach
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 33k - 40k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? lounge access, priority check in, upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often ITH/SYR-MNL
(7) Preferred Airlines any, although most flights to Asia would be on TK, BR & NH
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? school & pleasure
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Coach
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 33k - 40k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? lounge access, priority check in, upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often ITH/SYR-MNL
(7) Preferred Airlines any, although most flights to Asia would be on TK, BR & NH
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? school & pleasure
Last edited by afterglow; May 19, 2021 at 2:25 am
May 19, 2021 | 2:26 am
#2304
Join Date: May 2015
Location: RBA / TBS
Programs: AF Platinum / A3 Gold / Accor Silver / Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,949
Most FFPs in star alliance are spending based (ex : few thousand dollars minimum + other requirements) or miles based , so buying cheap Y/coach tickets won't be enough , only full economy , premium economy or business fares are earning something correct
So forget about
.
- redemption rates = don't count much on it unless you can cash lot of miles quickly (eg : credit card) . Otherwise , by the time you will redeem them , there will be a devaluation or two
- lounge access = go with dragonpass or priority pass instead
- upgrades = you need to check in the flyertalk's section of the FFP you want to suscribe , but onboard-upgrades are getting rare nowadays , and paid upgrades (cash and/or miles) depends on lot of factors
- priority check-in = only available from gold level
@El Saico = In your case i guess its TAP or maybe take a look at Aegean Miles+Bonus , only if , in the near future you will fly more often (at least >60k/year) and can plan 2 trips to/via Greece
@afterglow = as you live in the USA , I could suggest to also check with united and get the visa credit card associated with mileage plan , this way you can easily collect miles if you spend a lot by credit card and it doesnt affect negatively your credit score
Last edited by fifty_two; May 20, 2021 at 4:40 am
Aug 26, 2021 | 10:40 pm
#2305
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Miles and Smiles Elite Plus, Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 515
With Asiana being folded into Korean Air soon, am trying to decide btw Turkish and Aegean for an easier qualification for Star Alliance Gold. Any advice btw the 2 programs?
(1) What is your home airport? Singapore
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy or discounted Business. Also buy miles to redeem for premium cabins
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 40-50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Asiana Diamond
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, Baggage, Priority Check in/ Boarding
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Sin-LHR, SIN-BKK, SIN-LAX, LHR-LAX
(7) Preferred Airlines? "Lowest logical fare" policy Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, EVA, ANA
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work and Pleasure
(1) What is your home airport? Singapore
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy or discounted Business. Also buy miles to redeem for premium cabins
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 40-50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Asiana Diamond
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, Baggage, Priority Check in/ Boarding
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Sin-LHR, SIN-BKK, SIN-LAX, LHR-LAX
(7) Preferred Airlines? "Lowest logical fare" policy Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, EVA, ANA
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work and Pleasure
Sep 17, 2021 | 5:49 am
#2306
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: OZ Diamond, QR Gold, HH Gold, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 714
I am an OZ Diamond but am planning on stopping crediting to OZ soon, once I have enough for a nice redemption. This is due to Korean Air's proposed acquisition of OZ. I have a a few flights coming up in November and December which I will credit to OZ them I will look to credit toa new Star Alliance program.
I joined OZ due to it being easy to get Star Gold and I mainly flew economy back then. Now I fly more a mix of business and economy so my needs in a program have changed.
Would appreciate feedback on best programs to consider.
(1) What is your home airport? BHX/JNB/MGQ. BHX is home airport but I seldom visit. Work in MGQ and visit South Africa for R&R.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? 50%J and 50%Y (although my J and Y fares are often discount fares)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >50k (typically 70k to 90k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? OZ Diamond
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Non expiry of miles so can build up for big redemptions. Good multiplier on miles earned for holding status to build up miles quickly.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? I tend to fly within Africa and also Africa to Europe/Americas/Asia.
(7) Preferred Airlines I fly ET and TK the most though they aren't my favourite airlines. I prefer SQ, NH, LH and TG
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both. I fly 12-20 sectors within Africa on Star Alliance in discount economy a year. Normally on ET. I also tend to fly three intercontinental flights a year in J normally on TK or a combination of ET/LH. I also fly a few other short hauls on various Star Alliance carriers in discount Y or J.
I joined OZ due to it being easy to get Star Gold and I mainly flew economy back then. Now I fly more a mix of business and economy so my needs in a program have changed.
Would appreciate feedback on best programs to consider.
(1) What is your home airport? BHX/JNB/MGQ. BHX is home airport but I seldom visit. Work in MGQ and visit South Africa for R&R.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? 50%J and 50%Y (although my J and Y fares are often discount fares)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >50k (typically 70k to 90k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? OZ Diamond
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Non expiry of miles so can build up for big redemptions. Good multiplier on miles earned for holding status to build up miles quickly.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? I tend to fly within Africa and also Africa to Europe/Americas/Asia.
(7) Preferred Airlines I fly ET and TK the most though they aren't my favourite airlines. I prefer SQ, NH, LH and TG
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both. I fly 12-20 sectors within Africa on Star Alliance in discount economy a year. Normally on ET. I also tend to fly three intercontinental flights a year in J normally on TK or a combination of ET/LH. I also fly a few other short hauls on various Star Alliance carriers in discount Y or J.
Last edited by cargueiro; Sep 17, 2021 at 6:01 am
Sep 18, 2021 | 10:15 pm
#2307
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Velocity
Posts: 73
With Asiana being folded into Korean Air soon, am trying to decide btw Turkish and Aegean for an easier qualification for Star Alliance Gold. Any advice btw the 2 programs?
(1) What is your home airport? Singapore
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy or discounted Business. Also buy miles to redeem for premium cabins
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 40-50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Asiana Diamond
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, Baggage, Priority Check in/ Boarding
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Sin-LHR, SIN-BKK, SIN-LAX, LHR-LAX
(7) Preferred Airlines? "Lowest logical fare" policy Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, EVA, ANA
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work and Pleasure
(1) What is your home airport? Singapore
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy or discounted Business. Also buy miles to redeem for premium cabins
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 40-50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Asiana Diamond
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, Baggage, Priority Check in/ Boarding
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Sin-LHR, SIN-BKK, SIN-LAX, LHR-LAX
(7) Preferred Airlines? "Lowest logical fare" policy Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, EVA, ANA
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work and Pleasure
Sep 19, 2021 | 5:22 am
#2308
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: OZ Diamond, QR Gold, HH Gold, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 714
I was denied.
I have since decided I am not going to bother with TK as I don't need their easy qualifying as I fly enough to get Star Gold on most other programs. I also don't like that TK miles expire. I also don't like that TK does not have F. As most of my flights on TK are in J they have nothing to upgrade me to. And I do not see myself redeeming on TK as I prefer SQ, TG, LH and NH in F when it comes to redemptions.
Sep 19, 2021 | 6:28 am
#2309
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Miles and Smiles Elite Plus, Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 515
I applied for a status match from OZ Diamond a few weeks ago. I had just bought a very pricey J class intercontinental flight on Turkish at the time which would have given me 22,000 status miles and I forwarded this too.
I was denied.
I have since decided I am not going to bother with TK as I don't need their easy qualifying as I fly enough to get Star Gold on most other programs. I also don't like that TK miles expire. I also don't like that TK does not have F. As most of my flights on TK are in J they have nothing to upgrade me to. And I do not see myself redeeming on TK as I prefer SQ, TG, LH and NH in F when it comes to redemptions.
I was denied.
I have since decided I am not going to bother with TK as I don't need their easy qualifying as I fly enough to get Star Gold on most other programs. I also don't like that TK miles expire. I also don't like that TK does not have F. As most of my flights on TK are in J they have nothing to upgrade me to. And I do not see myself redeeming on TK as I prefer SQ, TG, LH and NH in F when it comes to redemptions.
Sep 20, 2021 | 7:29 am
#2310
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: OZ Diamond, QR Gold, HH Gold, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 714
For me, I want an easier way to get star alliance gold and that leaves me with only Turkish or Aegean. I think you shld reconsider Turkish, they may not have first class but you can always use your miles to redeem for first class on other carriers. And they have very decent earn rates, once you hit classic plus (25k) miles, your j ticket earns at least 160% of actual miles travelled. Obviously, if you fly more than 50k a year, then probably not Turkish. I am using it mainly for luggage and lounge access and I want something easier to achieve
1) No mile expiry so long as some activity every 18 months
2) Good deals on purchasing miles to arrive at balance for extravagant redemptions
3) 50K a year required for Star Gold, which is achievable for me (I might struggle to make LH Senator)
4) Quite a few non Star Alliance partners for earning / redeeming on
5) No AC metal requirement