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
#2626

Join Date: May 2018
Location: FRA
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 1,937
#2627
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,472
#2628




Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Kiel
Programs: Fying Blue Platinum, KrisFlyer Elite Silver, Bonvoy Gold Elite, Hilton Silver
Posts: 142
#2629
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,472
#2630




Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Kiel
Programs: Fying Blue Platinum, KrisFlyer Elite Silver, Bonvoy Gold Elite, Hilton Silver
Posts: 142
#2631
Join Date: Jun 2025
Posts: 1
(1) What is your home airport? EWR
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Cheapest available economy, sometimes basic economy of UA
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? UA silver, expected gold this year
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? I would like to have access to UA lounge for domestic flights, so I'm seeking to switch to a non-UA star alliance gold next year. The easy use of mileage is also a consideration.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? US domestic, 1~2 round trips of trans-pacific every year
(7) Preferred Airlines: UA
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Thank you all in advance
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Cheapest available economy, sometimes basic economy of UA
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? UA silver, expected gold this year
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? I would like to have access to UA lounge for domestic flights, so I'm seeking to switch to a non-UA star alliance gold next year. The easy use of mileage is also a consideration.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? US domestic, 1~2 round trips of trans-pacific every year
(7) Preferred Airlines: UA
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Thank you all in advance
#2632
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,472
That’s going to be near impossible to do. 25-50k on UA (mostly) BE and hitting SAG elsewhere. May I ask how you make Gold on UA? That requires $10-12k spent which with cheapest available/BE will be near impossible. Are you sure you are booking rock bottom fares? Can you post some common booking classes you fly?
Turkish is usually good for cheaper UA fare classes: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-u...ited-airlines/
You’d still have to hit the thread hold for Elite Plus and if you are only buying 50% earning that’s not going to work.
Turkish is usually good for cheaper UA fare classes: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-u...ited-airlines/
You’d still have to hit the thread hold for Elite Plus and if you are only buying 50% earning that’s not going to work.
#2633
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2024
Programs: UA Premier 1k, AA Executive Platinum, B6 Mosiac
Posts: 4
1. ORD, LIS
2. J for international, Y domestic mainly
3. 25k-50k
4. UA 1k, AA EP
5. all of the above
6. ORD-BKK, JFK-LIS, ORD-ZRH, LIS-FRA
7. no preference
8. both
Im 19
2. J for international, Y domestic mainly
3. 25k-50k
4. UA 1k, AA EP
5. all of the above
6. ORD-BKK, JFK-LIS, ORD-ZRH, LIS-FRA
7. no preference
8. both
Im 19
#2634
Join Date: Jul 2025
Posts: 8
Hi all, thanks for any possible info!
Also posted on the FF info desk questionnaire and other Alliances forums.
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Class & seat upgrades, mostly from Economy / PE to Business.
Easy status gain & maintenance.
Optional Status match with current LY Matmid gold,
and possible future status match options from New FFP to other FFP's if I decide to move .
Long term value for miles / points.
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
70000+ Miles, 30+ flights/sectors
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Business Flex / PE Flex on long haul, economy on short haul
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes. I choose my flights and airlines, can choose business on most long haul flights over 6 hours.
I travel mostly for work.
Some pleasure short haul flights & rail travel in Europe.
Will use rail & air tickets for the domestic leg of a long haul flight when possible.
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
5-6 Europe to SE Asia , varied, such as BKK, SIN, BLR, HKG, SZX Mostly Business class
1-2 Transatlantic Europe to East coast US - Boston / Washington DC Economy / PE
5-6 Central Europe to TLV : mostly BUD - TLV , Vienna - TLV. Low cost / Economy
1-2 Europe to UAE Business / Economy
1 TLV - UAE Low cost / Economy
6. What is your home airport?
BUD / VIE (Plus train)
I may relocate next year in southern / western Europe, and will keep similar international routes.
Some options are: MXP, LIN, AMS, BRU, BCN, MAD
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How many miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
LY Matmid Gold ~80000 points , ~2900 / 5200 diamonds.
Miles & More member 31,059 Miles 366 Points.
Small amounts of :
Emirates & Etihad points and old United & Delta miles.
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
KLM, Swiss, Emirates, Etihad, Hainan.
EL AL to TLV
9.
I will travel with / through:
UAE (Emirates, Fly Dubai, Etihad) , Singapore, Azerbaijan, Morocco.
I Avoid traveling with / through:
Qatar Airlines & Doha airport, Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait, Tunisia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Malesia, Indonesia.
Turkey & Turkish Airlines, Jordan, Egypt and Russia.
10.
I'm interested in matching credit card reward programs, can also be american based.
Thanks!
Also posted on the FF info desk questionnaire and other Alliances forums.
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Class & seat upgrades, mostly from Economy / PE to Business.
Easy status gain & maintenance.
Optional Status match with current LY Matmid gold,
and possible future status match options from New FFP to other FFP's if I decide to move .
Long term value for miles / points.
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
70000+ Miles, 30+ flights/sectors
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Business Flex / PE Flex on long haul, economy on short haul
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Yes. I choose my flights and airlines, can choose business on most long haul flights over 6 hours.
I travel mostly for work.
Some pleasure short haul flights & rail travel in Europe.
Will use rail & air tickets for the domestic leg of a long haul flight when possible.
5. Which routes do you fly most often?
5-6 Europe to SE Asia , varied, such as BKK, SIN, BLR, HKG, SZX Mostly Business class
1-2 Transatlantic Europe to East coast US - Boston / Washington DC Economy / PE
5-6 Central Europe to TLV : mostly BUD - TLV , Vienna - TLV. Low cost / Economy
1-2 Europe to UAE Business / Economy
1 TLV - UAE Low cost / Economy
6. What is your home airport?
BUD / VIE (Plus train)
I may relocate next year in southern / western Europe, and will keep similar international routes.
Some options are: MXP, LIN, AMS, BRU, BCN, MAD
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How many miles do you have banked in each FFP, if any?
LY Matmid Gold ~80000 points , ~2900 / 5200 diamonds.
Miles & More member 31,059 Miles 366 Points.
Small amounts of :
Emirates & Etihad points and old United & Delta miles.
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
KLM, Swiss, Emirates, Etihad, Hainan.
EL AL to TLV
9.
I will travel with / through:
UAE (Emirates, Fly Dubai, Etihad) , Singapore, Azerbaijan, Morocco.
I Avoid traveling with / through:
Qatar Airlines & Doha airport, Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait, Tunisia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Malesia, Indonesia.
Turkey & Turkish Airlines, Jordan, Egypt and Russia.
10.
I'm interested in matching credit card reward programs, can also be american based.
Thanks!
Last edited by R D; Aug 2, 2025 at 10:43 am
#2635

Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 24
4x Business RT fares SFO-China
(1) What is your home airport? SFO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? J
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50K-70K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Comp upgrades - I get enough lounge access with paid J flights, don't care for checked baggage
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? A couple US Domestic or 1 international trip a year (Asia, Europe)
(7) Preferred Airlines: None
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure and Work (see below)
I have the opportunity to fly ~4x round trip flights in business every year SFO - SZX. Unclear what routing/airlines but likely SFO-PVG-SZX via United or China Eastern. Possibility of other routing (i.e. via HND with NH). But for now assuming it's strictly star alliance, and UA/CZ. This routing alone will net me close to 50k miles a year, all in paid J fare.
What *A program should I chase to get the best chance of comped upgrades? Lounge access isn't super relevant but a nice addition.
Is it really directly with UA? Looking at the general guidelines, I'm just around that 50K mark so it's difficult to assess
Thank you all in advance
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? J
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50K-70K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? None
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Comp upgrades - I get enough lounge access with paid J flights, don't care for checked baggage
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? A couple US Domestic or 1 international trip a year (Asia, Europe)
(7) Preferred Airlines: None
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure and Work (see below)
I have the opportunity to fly ~4x round trip flights in business every year SFO - SZX. Unclear what routing/airlines but likely SFO-PVG-SZX via United or China Eastern. Possibility of other routing (i.e. via HND with NH). But for now assuming it's strictly star alliance, and UA/CZ. This routing alone will net me close to 50k miles a year, all in paid J fare.
What *A program should I chase to get the best chance of comped upgrades? Lounge access isn't super relevant but a nice addition.
Is it really directly with UA? Looking at the general guidelines, I'm just around that 50K mark so it's difficult to assess
Thank you all in advance
#2636
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,933
4x Business RT fares SFO-China
<snip>
What *A program should I chase to get the best chance of comped upgrades? Lounge access isn't super relevant but a nice addition.
Is it really directly with UA? Looking at the general guidelines, I'm just around that 50K mark so it's difficult to assess
<snip>
What *A program should I chase to get the best chance of comped upgrades? Lounge access isn't super relevant but a nice addition.
Is it really directly with UA? Looking at the general guidelines, I'm just around that 50K mark so it's difficult to assess
USA and non USA airlines operate a lot different when it it comes to upgrades. Non USA airlines will/do fly with unoccupied business-first seats.
Anyway nowadays are fewer airlines with aircraft/routes with international first class.
As a newbie to a ffp will be others with long term top status that will be way ahead of you on the pecking order.
#2637

Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 24
The chances of a comped upgrade on long haul are very low ~ nil.
USA and non USA airlines operate a lot different when it it comes to upgrades. Non USA airlines will/do fly with unoccupied business-first seats.
Anyway nowadays are fewer airlines with aircraft/routes with international first class.
As a newbie to a ffp will be others with long term top status that will be way ahead of you on the pecking order.
USA and non USA airlines operate a lot different when it it comes to upgrades. Non USA airlines will/do fly with unoccupied business-first seats.
Anyway nowadays are fewer airlines with aircraft/routes with international first class.
As a newbie to a ffp will be others with long term top status that will be way ahead of you on the pecking order.
#2638
Join Date: Jul 2025
Posts: 10
(1) What is your home airport? YUL
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? AC Standard/Flex
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? No
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good redemption (price, partner availability)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often CA domestic, TPAC
(7) Preferred Airlines AC by necessity, other *A if available
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
The main consideration is almost exclusively the ability to use points to book flights. Prior to 2026, we credit almost all our points to AC; after 2026, our TPAC flights via AC become almost worthless (10,000+ miles become ~1,000 miles post programme change) so there's no way we would continue our accrual in AC. P1 is already accruing in TK due to *G, but P2 flies less than *G requirement. We thought about family pooling in TK but from a cursory glance they require a marriage certificate which we don't have (we're common law). So, is there another programme not AC or TK that has mileage-based accrual for AC flights, also with good partner availability & rates? Bonus if points don't have hard expiry, but it's not a requirement.
TIA!
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? AC Standard/Flex
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? No
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good redemption (price, partner availability)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often CA domestic, TPAC
(7) Preferred Airlines AC by necessity, other *A if available
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
The main consideration is almost exclusively the ability to use points to book flights. Prior to 2026, we credit almost all our points to AC; after 2026, our TPAC flights via AC become almost worthless (10,000+ miles become ~1,000 miles post programme change) so there's no way we would continue our accrual in AC. P1 is already accruing in TK due to *G, but P2 flies less than *G requirement. We thought about family pooling in TK but from a cursory glance they require a marriage certificate which we don't have (we're common law). So, is there another programme not AC or TK that has mileage-based accrual for AC flights, also with good partner availability & rates? Bonus if points don't have hard expiry, but it's not a requirement.
TIA!
#2639
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,472
(1) What is your home airport? YUL
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? AC Standard/Flex
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? No
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good redemption (price, partner availability)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often CA domestic, TPAC
(7) Preferred Airlines AC by necessity, other *A if available
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
The main consideration is almost exclusively the ability to use points to book flights. Prior to 2026, we credit almost all our points to AC; after 2026, our TPAC flights via AC become almost worthless (10,000+ miles become ~1,000 miles post programme change) so there's no way we would continue our accrual in AC. P1 is already accruing in TK due to *G, but P2 flies less than *G requirement. We thought about family pooling in TK but from a cursory glance they require a marriage certificate which we don't have (we're common law). So, is there another programme not AC or TK that has mileage-based accrual for AC flights, also with good partner availability & rates? Bonus if points don't have hard expiry, but it's not a requirement.
TIA!
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? AC Standard/Flex
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? No
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good redemption (price, partner availability)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often CA domestic, TPAC
(7) Preferred Airlines AC by necessity, other *A if available
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
The main consideration is almost exclusively the ability to use points to book flights. Prior to 2026, we credit almost all our points to AC; after 2026, our TPAC flights via AC become almost worthless (10,000+ miles become ~1,000 miles post programme change) so there's no way we would continue our accrual in AC. P1 is already accruing in TK due to *G, but P2 flies less than *G requirement. We thought about family pooling in TK but from a cursory glance they require a marriage certificate which we don't have (we're common law). So, is there another programme not AC or TK that has mileage-based accrual for AC flights, also with good partner availability & rates? Bonus if points don't have hard expiry, but it's not a requirement.
TIA!
#2640
Join Date: Jul 2025
Posts: 10
Possibly Avianca. They at least theoretically only have much reduced earnings for Basic, which you do not appear to buy. Their redemptions are pretty good. Now, AC has been notorious for not reporting the expected booking classes to partner airlines and AV does have well-known issues in terms of ease of partner award bookings.



