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
May 11, 2011 | 3:25 pm
#226
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: EDI
Programs: BA silver, AC *s p, A3, EI, KL, & UA nobody!
Posts: 358
10,000 AC miles or 5 AC sectors may be difficult to achieve
To maintain *G with AC there is requirement effective this year, to earn at least 10,000 status miles on AC or fly at least 5 AC sectors. As an non-Canadian this requirement may be difficult to achieve in future years. AC was my choice of *FF scheme made in 1998 (before BD joined *Alliance) I am not too sure about the future of BD at present. Can anyone suggest an alternative. (I am OK for AC*G through to 28 Feb 2013, as booked AC flights this year will give me 10,000+ miles ^)
(1) What is your home airport? (EDI or GLA)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (Y for UK/Europe or UK domestic, J for intercontinental if possible!)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (35k last year,this year projected at 37k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (AC*G)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (priority services when flying the airline, lounge access)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (UK/Europe x 3 returns, UK Domestic x 4 returns, long haul ex UK 2 returns in J)
(7) Preferred Airlines ( * carriers used in the past year to obtain *G are:- AC,BD,JK,LH,LX,SK & SA)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Recently retired -only travel for leisure!)
(1) What is your home airport? (EDI or GLA)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (Y for UK/Europe or UK domestic, J for intercontinental if possible!)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (35k last year,this year projected at 37k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (AC*G)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (priority services when flying the airline, lounge access)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (UK/Europe x 3 returns, UK Domestic x 4 returns, long haul ex UK 2 returns in J)
(7) Preferred Airlines ( * carriers used in the past year to obtain *G are:- AC,BD,JK,LH,LX,SK & SA)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Recently retired -only travel for leisure!)
May 11, 2011 | 3:39 pm
#227
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2
Hi, I am so lost - I was so happy to come across this post!
I have recently moved to the US (SFO) and since I expect I will be flying home to Israel about once to twice a year and once more to Europe, I would really like to enroll in one of the star alliance programs. I am most interested in being able to redeem miles toward domestic or international airfare.
I also have 2 round trip flights to Israel with CO and another one way flight with Lufthansa from the last 5 months that I would like to credit in whichever program I go with.
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (W)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (25k-50k, closer to 25K)
(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 award redemption rates and credit rates)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (SFO-TLV)
(7) Preferred Airlines(Nothing specific)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Pleasure)
Thank you in advance for your help,
Liat
I have recently moved to the US (SFO) and since I expect I will be flying home to Israel about once to twice a year and once more to Europe, I would really like to enroll in one of the star alliance programs. I am most interested in being able to redeem miles toward domestic or international airfare.
I also have 2 round trip flights to Israel with CO and another one way flight with Lufthansa from the last 5 months that I would like to credit in whichever program I go with.
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (W)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (25k-50k, closer to 25K)
(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 award redemption rates and credit rates)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (SFO-TLV)
(7) Preferred Airlines(Nothing specific)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Pleasure)
Thank you in advance for your help,
Liat
May 12, 2011 | 4:47 am
#228
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Gent, Belgium
Programs: Miles & Bonus *S
Posts: 448
1) What is your home airport? BRU and pretty much anything within a reasonable distance of it (ie: I don't make an issue of having to take the Eurostar to London if the fare is better when I fly ex-LHR)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y or Discounted Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15-ish k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? none
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? mostly lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? intra-European
(7) Preferred Airlines? whichever one is in star and offfers the best value for money
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? only for leisure, so I have full choice of any airlines
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y or Discounted Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15-ish k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? none
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? mostly lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? intra-European
(7) Preferred Airlines? whichever one is in star and offfers the best value for money
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? only for leisure, so I have full choice of any airlines
May 12, 2011 | 6:14 am
#229
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
1) What is your home airport? BRU and pretty much anything within a reasonable distance of it (ie: I don't make an issue of having to take the Eurostar to London if the fare is better when I fly ex-LHR)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y or Discounted Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15-ish k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? none
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? mostly lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? intra-European
(7) Preferred Airlines? whichever one is in star and offfers the best value for money
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? only for leisure, so I have full choice of any airlines
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y or Discounted Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15-ish k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? none
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? mostly lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? intra-European
(7) Preferred Airlines? whichever one is in star and offfers the best value for money
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? only for leisure, so I have full choice of any airlines
May 12, 2011 | 6:16 am
#230
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Hi, I am so lost - I was so happy to come across this post!
I have recently moved to the US (SFO) and since I expect I will be flying home to Israel about once to twice a year and once more to Europe, I would really like to enroll in one of the star alliance programs. I am most interested in being able to redeem miles toward domestic or international airfare.
I also have 2 round trip flights to Israel with CO and another one way flight with Lufthansa from the last 5 months that I would like to credit in whichever program I go with.
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (W)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (25k-50k, closer to 25K)
(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 award redemption rates and credit rates)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (SFO-TLV)
(7) Preferred Airlines(Nothing specific)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Pleasure)
Thank you in advance for your help,
Liat
I have recently moved to the US (SFO) and since I expect I will be flying home to Israel about once to twice a year and once more to Europe, I would really like to enroll in one of the star alliance programs. I am most interested in being able to redeem miles toward domestic or international airfare.
I also have 2 round trip flights to Israel with CO and another one way flight with Lufthansa from the last 5 months that I would like to credit in whichever program I go with.
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (W)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (25k-50k, closer to 25K)
(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 award redemption rates and credit rates)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (SFO-TLV)
(7) Preferred Airlines(Nothing specific)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Pleasure)
Thank you in advance for your help,
Liat
If I understand you correctly, you have flown in the past 5 months but have not credited to any program? remember that most programs may at the most allow 6 months time from flying to crediting to mileage program.
UA will offer you more choices from SFO. So, with 25K you can become UA low-level elite...which gives you free access to economy plus (more legroom).
A couple of SFO-TLV trips should easily get you the mimimum level of elite status.
May 12, 2011 | 10:46 am
#231
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2
With W fares, UA will probably be a good choice for you.
If I understand you correctly, you have flown in the past 5 months but have not credited to any program? remember that most programs may at the most allow 6 months time from flying to crediting to mileage program.
UA will offer you more choices from SFO. So, with 25K you can become UA low-level elite...which gives you free access to economy plus (more legroom).
A couple of SFO-TLV trips should easily get you the mimimum level of elite status.
If I understand you correctly, you have flown in the past 5 months but have not credited to any program? remember that most programs may at the most allow 6 months time from flying to crediting to mileage program.
UA will offer you more choices from SFO. So, with 25K you can become UA low-level elite...which gives you free access to economy plus (more legroom).
A couple of SFO-TLV trips should easily get you the mimimum level of elite status.
I wasn't sure from your answer - in your opinion, with award travel as a first priority, UA will be the best choice?
Thanks for your help,
Liat
May 12, 2011 | 10:50 am
#232
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: EDI
Programs: BA silver, AC *s p, A3, EI, KL, & UA nobody!
Posts: 358
possible move AC to A3
May 12, 2011 | 10:52 am
#233
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Thank you for your answer, and you understood me completely. By UA you mean united airlines, right? Do you know what will happen when they merge with CO though? which FFP of the airlines will win over?
I wasn't sure from your answer - in your opinion, with award travel as a first priority, UA will be the best choice?
Thanks for your help,
Liat
I wasn't sure from your answer - in your opinion, with award travel as a first priority, UA will be the best choice?
Thanks for your help,
Liat
The two mileage programs are already merging (CO and UA). In essence it really does not matter at this moment as to which program you put the miles in. The CO and UA miles can be transferred between the two programs freely. There is a huge discussion in the following thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-tools-69.html
CO has generally been better with partner-airline award inventory compared to UA.
However, CO is stingy with its own inventory.
But, as i said, it does not matter. Since you can transfer miles between the two programs if you find an award in one program and not the other.
Belated welcome to FT!
Enjoy the conversations!
May 12, 2011 | 10:53 am
#234
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
May 12, 2011 | 10:56 am
#235
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Here is one discussion. I could not find the other one, (perhaps its in another forum);
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...000-miles.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...000-miles.html
May 12, 2011 | 2:43 pm
#236
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,774
May 14, 2011 | 3:52 pm
#237
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Netherlands
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 325
Hello all,
Your advice would be much appreciated:
1) What is your home airport? AMS
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Discounted Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? In total around 15.000, one longhaul return and various Intra-european trips, mostly on KLM or whatever offers the best price.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None, but quite some Flying Blue miles collected over the past years.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Long validity time of miles, miles awarded on cheapest booking classes.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Intra-European
(7) Preferred Airlines? No preference with regards to *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I have a LX return flight AMS-ZRH-IST coming up, booking classes are T-T-E-E, so low fares.
Over the past years, I have collected miles on UA and SK's programs but used all the miles in the meantime. Those points came mostly from taking one longhaul flight and than adding some shorthaul points. As I've used all the miles, joining a new program probably gives more sign-up bonus than the (few hundred) remaining miles on either of the programs.
Thanks!
Your advice would be much appreciated:
1) What is your home airport? AMS
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Discounted Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? In total around 15.000, one longhaul return and various Intra-european trips, mostly on KLM or whatever offers the best price.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None, but quite some Flying Blue miles collected over the past years.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Long validity time of miles, miles awarded on cheapest booking classes.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Intra-European
(7) Preferred Airlines? No preference with regards to *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I have a LX return flight AMS-ZRH-IST coming up, booking classes are T-T-E-E, so low fares.
Over the past years, I have collected miles on UA and SK's programs but used all the miles in the meantime. Those points came mostly from taking one longhaul flight and than adding some shorthaul points. As I've used all the miles, joining a new program probably gives more sign-up bonus than the (few hundred) remaining miles on either of the programs.
Thanks!
Last edited by KL895; May 14, 2011 at 4:02 pm Reason: Zurich airport code misspelled
May 14, 2011 | 4:01 pm
#238
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 9,606
Hello all,
Your advice would be much appreciated:
1) What is your home airport? AMS
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Discounted Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? In total around 15.000, one longhaul return and various Intra-european trips, mostly on KLM or whatever offers the best price.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None, but quite some Flying Blue miles collected over the past years.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Long validity time of miles, miles awarded on cheapest booking classes.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Intra-European
(7) Preferred Airlines? No preference with regards to *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I have a LX return flight AMS-ZHR-IST coming up, booking classes are T-T-E-E, so low fares.
Over the past years, I have collected miles on UA and SK's programs but used all the miles in the meantime. Those points came mostly from taking one longhaul flight and than adding some shorthaul points. As I've used all the miles, joining a new program probably gives more sign-up bonus than the (few hundred) remaining miles on either of the programs.
Thanks!
Your advice would be much appreciated:
1) What is your home airport? AMS
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Discounted Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? In total around 15.000, one longhaul return and various Intra-european trips, mostly on KLM or whatever offers the best price.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None, but quite some Flying Blue miles collected over the past years.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Long validity time of miles, miles awarded on cheapest booking classes.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Intra-European
(7) Preferred Airlines? No preference with regards to *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I have a LX return flight AMS-ZHR-IST coming up, booking classes are T-T-E-E, so low fares.
Over the past years, I have collected miles on UA and SK's programs but used all the miles in the meantime. Those points came mostly from taking one longhaul flight and than adding some shorthaul points. As I've used all the miles, joining a new program probably gives more sign-up bonus than the (few hundred) remaining miles on either of the programs.
Thanks!
1000 sign-up miles (also status) means 3k will give you *S, with the chance to reach *G for another 16k (one good long haul R/T) for 3 years!
AMS-ZRH-IST will bring you 2094 miles (50%, minimum 500, IST is 1094)
So all you've to do will be another 906 miles within a year to score *S, then you get another year after qualification to *S to make *G with 16k only, and it's valid 3 years. Go for it ^
May 15, 2011 | 6:26 pm
#240
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: WAW
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 13
(1) What is your home airport? BOS/JFK and WAW
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? W/Q + Y if on full corporate expense (2-3x a year)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? ~40-50k, planning ~75k this year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? *A MM FTL
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access/op-ups/cheap awards (in that order)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? USA-EU
(7) Preferred Airlines? LX/LH ATM (generally LH-owned subsidiaries), can change if necessary
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? 70-30
After noticing recently that *A stopped being so competitive on my usual EUR-USA routes, I am considering moving to 1W, but I'd rather stay with *A -- I like the wide Asian and South American network, and simply the size of *A.
I have an upcoming trip WAW-LHR-SFO-BOS-FRA-WAW via LO/2xCO (UA metal)/LH which should net at the very least 12k QM and shortly after that will be flying at least one more WAW-BOS-WAW. (unclear on layover airport, probably ZRH, VIE or FRA) Definitely willing to put these to good use.
For some reason though I have a feeling LH M&M is one of the stingiest *A FF. Right?
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? W/Q + Y if on full corporate expense (2-3x a year)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? ~40-50k, planning ~75k this year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? *A MM FTL
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access/op-ups/cheap awards (in that order)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? USA-EU
(7) Preferred Airlines? LX/LH ATM (generally LH-owned subsidiaries), can change if necessary
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? 70-30
After noticing recently that *A stopped being so competitive on my usual EUR-USA routes, I am considering moving to 1W, but I'd rather stay with *A -- I like the wide Asian and South American network, and simply the size of *A.
I have an upcoming trip WAW-LHR-SFO-BOS-FRA-WAW via LO/2xCO (UA metal)/LH which should net at the very least 12k QM and shortly after that will be flying at least one more WAW-BOS-WAW. (unclear on layover airport, probably ZRH, VIE or FRA) Definitely willing to put these to good use.
For some reason though I have a feeling LH M&M is one of the stingiest *A FF. Right?
Last edited by promethe; May 15, 2011 at 6:44 pm