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 25, 2011 | 10:03 am
#256
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: AP Elite
Posts: 3
(1) What is your home airport? BKK/YYZ
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? it varies from 25k to 45k depending on the year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? AP Elite
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades and lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: YYZ to BKK (that's really the only route I fly)
(7) Preferred Airlines: TG
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I have AP Elite status right now, but I'm not the biggest fan of AC so if I could switch, I would.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? it varies from 25k to 45k depending on the year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? AP Elite
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades and lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: YYZ to BKK (that's really the only route I fly)
(7) Preferred Airlines: TG
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I have AP Elite status right now, but I'm not the biggest fan of AC so if I could switch, I would.
May 25, 2011 | 1:57 pm
#257
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
(1) What is your home airport? BKK/YYZ
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? it varies from 25k to 45k depending on the year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? AP Elite
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades and lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: YYZ to BKK (that's really the only route I fly)
(7) Preferred Airlines: TG
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I have AP Elite status right now, but I'm not the biggest fan of AC so if I could switch, I would.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? it varies from 25k to 45k depending on the year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? AP Elite
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades and lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: YYZ to BKK (that's really the only route I fly)
(7) Preferred Airlines: TG
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I have AP Elite status right now, but I'm not the biggest fan of AC so if I could switch, I would.
You are kind of stuck in a tight spot here. Since you fly only one route almost all the time. I would guess that AP Elite gives you the best chance for any operational upgrades.
You can consider TK (Turkish) or OZ (Asiana)....they have longer expiry dates for the Star Gold Status. However, they wont give you any advantages with respect to upgrades.
No matter what Star Gold Status you have, you will always get lounge access on your routes.
May 25, 2011 | 2:42 pm
#258
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: AP Elite
Posts: 3
Welcome to FT!
You are kind of stuck in a tight spot here. Since you fly only one route almost all the time. I would guess that AP Elite gives you the best chance for any operational upgrades.
You can consider TK (Turkish) or OZ (Asiana)....they have longer expiry dates for the Star Gold Status. However, they wont give you any advantages with respect to upgrades.
No matter what Star Gold Status you have, you will always get lounge access on your routes.
You are kind of stuck in a tight spot here. Since you fly only one route almost all the time. I would guess that AP Elite gives you the best chance for any operational upgrades.
You can consider TK (Turkish) or OZ (Asiana)....they have longer expiry dates for the Star Gold Status. However, they wont give you any advantages with respect to upgrades.
No matter what Star Gold Status you have, you will always get lounge access on your routes.
May 25, 2011 | 3:51 pm
#259
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiana_...lyer_programme
TK = 40K
http://www.turkishairlines.com/en-IN...art_elite.aspx
If Star Gold is all you want, then consider Aegean (A3). You only need 20K miles to get it. And they give you 1000 miles just to sign up.
Several links in this thread about A3. please Read the last few pages
May 26, 2011 | 10:54 am
#260
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4
Hello !
(1) What is your home airport? GRZ, LNZ, VIE
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? it varies from 20k to 35k depending on the year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? No but 9k m&m Status Miles
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades, lounge access, award redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: Mostly in Europe / also one or two Transatlantic per year
(7) Preferred Airlines: LH
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
I will make 2 longhaul flights in the next 2 months
1. GRZ - FRA (H)
FRA - LAX (H)
LAX - FRA (B)
FRA - GRZ (B)
2. GRZ - FRA
FRA - IND
IND - FRA
FRA - GRZ
Here I dont know the booking Class but sure some kine of (Y)
and some flights in Europe - most time with Lufthansa
What would be the best programme for me ?
Thanks in advance
(1) What is your home airport? GRZ, LNZ, VIE
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? it varies from 20k to 35k depending on the year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? No but 9k m&m Status Miles
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades, lounge access, award redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: Mostly in Europe / also one or two Transatlantic per year
(7) Preferred Airlines: LH
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
I will make 2 longhaul flights in the next 2 months
1. GRZ - FRA (H)
FRA - LAX (H)
LAX - FRA (B)
FRA - GRZ (B)
2. GRZ - FRA
FRA - IND
IND - FRA
FRA - GRZ
Here I dont know the booking Class but sure some kine of (Y)
and some flights in Europe - most time with Lufthansa
What would be the best programme for me ?
Thanks in advance
Last edited by luegers; May 27, 2011 at 3:42 am
May 26, 2011 | 11:33 am
#261
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta Skymiles, Hilton Diamond, Platinum Marriott, Avis first,
Posts: 2
I've been top tier Delta for about 6 years. Recent program enhancements are good, but in flight service is still subpar (with some exceptions). Local upgrades happen less frequently despite diamond status (220k skymiles last year alone). I actually got more upgrades before diamond was introduced. Flying thru Atlanta, everyone is platinum and diamond and the new rollover makes it easier for others who don't fly as much as I do which has the effect of diluting the value of the newer benefits. I really like being able to gift out gold status though. I have secured diamond until Feb 2013.
I will be moving to Stockholm in a month or 2 for a 3 year assignment. I'm considering UA membership and primarily flying SAS.
1) What is your home airport? Currently CLT, Soon to be ARN (stockholm). will travel back to CLT frequently
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? lowest fare on 6 hour or less, business for transcontinent (both ways)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 200k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc) Delta Diamond
(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, upgrade ability, lounge access, reward tix to japan
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) 6 - 10 trips to EU and ASIA, Weekly local (when i relocate, will still be the same only flying back to US)
(7) Preferred Airlines...delta? anything asian.. I do not know much about EU carriers other than sas and klm
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) work. lowest fare on 6 hour or less, business for transcontinent (EU or Asia))
I will be moving to Stockholm in a month or 2 for a 3 year assignment. I'm considering UA membership and primarily flying SAS.
1) What is your home airport? Currently CLT, Soon to be ARN (stockholm). will travel back to CLT frequently
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? lowest fare on 6 hour or less, business for transcontinent (both ways)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 200k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc) Delta Diamond
(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, upgrade ability, lounge access, reward tix to japan
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) 6 - 10 trips to EU and ASIA, Weekly local (when i relocate, will still be the same only flying back to US)
(7) Preferred Airlines...delta? anything asian.. I do not know much about EU carriers other than sas and klm
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) work. lowest fare on 6 hour or less, business for transcontinent (EU or Asia))
May 26, 2011 | 2:10 pm
#262
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Kitchener, ON, Canada
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,266
Stick with UA or go to Aeroplan?
Thoughts? I'm not likely to get to Gold with UA... If it weren't for access to the Economy Plus seats I should have probably stuck with Aeroplan, but now I'm wondering:
a) Stick with UA and get Silver status
b) Go to Aeroplan and try to squeeze in (but pay extra for Economy Plus seats.
c) Jump over to something like Aegean just to get easy *G and run my US travel with the economy plus stuff through UA.
1) What is your home airport? Toronto for travel within Canada, Buffalo for travel to the USA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Usually lowest fare
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? About 36 segments, or 25-40k a year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? I'm a rookie, 7k into UA with status miles and a boatload of non-status Aeroplan. I would have stuck with Aeroplan but I bought RCC access with United and prepaid Economy Plus seating... I figured, if I didn't have status, I can try to fake it.
(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.) The ability to work - lounge access at the airport, legroom, space and electrical access in the air. I'm OK with economy service but at 6'4" vastly prefer economy plus or exit row seats.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) US Domestic around the east coast, mostly, plus 3-5 trips a year around Canada. On rare occasion transcontinental to Europe.
(7) Preferred Airlines... In a perfect world, it's hard to beat the personal TV and electrical outlets in Air Canada metal, but throughout the US I'm usually stuck flying UA or CO.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) work. I'm a consultant so I usually price airfare into a proposal, so cost is an issue, but not always the be all and end all.
a) Stick with UA and get Silver status
b) Go to Aeroplan and try to squeeze in (but pay extra for Economy Plus seats.
c) Jump over to something like Aegean just to get easy *G and run my US travel with the economy plus stuff through UA.
1) What is your home airport? Toronto for travel within Canada, Buffalo for travel to the USA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Usually lowest fare
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? About 36 segments, or 25-40k a year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? I'm a rookie, 7k into UA with status miles and a boatload of non-status Aeroplan. I would have stuck with Aeroplan but I bought RCC access with United and prepaid Economy Plus seating... I figured, if I didn't have status, I can try to fake it.
(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.) The ability to work - lounge access at the airport, legroom, space and electrical access in the air. I'm OK with economy service but at 6'4" vastly prefer economy plus or exit row seats.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) US Domestic around the east coast, mostly, plus 3-5 trips a year around Canada. On rare occasion transcontinental to Europe.
(7) Preferred Airlines... In a perfect world, it's hard to beat the personal TV and electrical outlets in Air Canada metal, but throughout the US I'm usually stuck flying UA or CO.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) work. I'm a consultant so I usually price airfare into a proposal, so cost is an issue, but not always the be all and end all.
May 31, 2011 | 3:27 am
#263
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Miles & More FRL, Hilton Silver, Avis, Mileage Plus
Posts: 1
which one?
(1) What is your home airport? LJU
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y/C (40/60)
(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 FTL
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? free lounge access, upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Europe short-haul, 3 world intl trips per year
(7) Preferred Airlines: LH, AUA, JP
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work & pleasure
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y/C (40/60)
(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 FTL
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? free lounge access, upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Europe short-haul, 3 world intl trips per year
(7) Preferred Airlines: LH, AUA, JP
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work & pleasure
May 31, 2011 | 11:49 pm
#264
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 29
(1) What is your home airport? HKG
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? U, W
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 10-25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? none
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Transpacific HKG-SFO
(7) Preferred Airlines none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? pleasure
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? U, W
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 10-25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? none
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Transpacific HKG-SFO
(7) Preferred Airlines none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? pleasure
Jun 1, 2011 | 4:45 am
#265
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 9,606
(1) What is your home airport? HKG
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? U, W
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 10-25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? none
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Transpacific HKG-SFO
(7) Preferred Airlines none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? pleasure
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? U, W
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 10-25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? none
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Transpacific HKG-SFO
(7) Preferred Airlines none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? pleasure
Jun 1, 2011 | 5:39 am
#266
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
With such low flying pattern, reaching status anywhere but with A3 will be close to impossible. Also, miles might devaluate quicker than you can actually use them. It's a really tricky one. Maybe Asiana, if you fly with them and their earnings are ok-ish on your fare ticket, could work out over a 2 year schedule. But not expect much here. Especially if your flying is only once a year.
Jun 1, 2011 | 1:47 pm
#267
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
CO won't exist in a little while, and I'm not sure whether UA miles expire...
Jun 1, 2011 | 3:48 pm
#268
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: LAX, SNA
Programs: AA, BA, WN, HH, CC, MR
Posts: 57
(1) What is your home airport? LAX, SNA (or anywhere easily accessible in California)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? B, H, K, Y, W, T (basically economy or sometimes discounted economy)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15K-40K (2 trips to Asia/SE Asia each year)
(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? Free lounge access, priority services
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Transpacific (North America to Asia/SE Asia)
(7) Preferred Airlines? None (currently enrolled with AA and BA)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure (I can choose any airline and class of service)
I'm leaning towards A3 after reading about it on FT but I welcome your professional advice. Thanks!
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? B, H, K, Y, W, T (basically economy or sometimes discounted economy)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15K-40K (2 trips to Asia/SE Asia each year)
(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? Free lounge access, priority services
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Transpacific (North America to Asia/SE Asia)
(7) Preferred Airlines? None (currently enrolled with AA and BA)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure (I can choose any airline and class of service)
I'm leaning towards A3 after reading about it on FT but I welcome your professional advice.
Thanks!
Last edited by doraemonkerpal; Jun 1, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Jun 1, 2011 | 3:52 pm
#269
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
(1) What is your home airport? LAX, SNA (or anywhere easily accessible in California)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? B, H, K, Y, W, T (basically economy or sometimes discounted economy)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15K-40K (2 trips to Asia/SE Asia each year)
(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? Free lounge access, priority services
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Transpacific (North America to Asia/SE Asia)
(7) Preferred Airlines? None (currently enrolled with AA and BA)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure (I can choose any airline and class of service)
I'm leaning towards A3 after reading about it on FT but I welcome your professional advice. Thanks!
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? B, H, K, Y, W, T (basically economy or sometimes discounted economy)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15K-40K (2 trips to Asia/SE Asia each year)
(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? Free lounge access, priority services
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Transpacific (North America to Asia/SE Asia)
(7) Preferred Airlines? None (currently enrolled with AA and BA)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure (I can choose any airline and class of service)
I'm leaning towards A3 after reading about it on FT but I welcome your professional advice.
Thanks!So, A3 is a strong choice for you..as it requires only 20K (and they give 1000 elite miles just for joining).
Jun 1, 2011 | 3:57 pm
#270
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Thoughts? I'm not likely to get to Gold with UA... If it weren't for access to the Economy Plus seats I should have probably stuck with Aeroplan, but now I'm wondering:
a) Stick with UA and get Silver status
b) Go to Aeroplan and try to squeeze in (but pay extra for Economy Plus seats.
c) Jump over to something like Aegean just to get easy *G and run my US travel with the economy plus stuff through UA.
1) What is your home airport? Toronto for travel within Canada, Buffalo for travel to the USA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Usually lowest fare
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? About 36 segments, or 25-40k a year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? I'm a rookie, 7k into UA with status miles and a boatload of non-status Aeroplan. I would have stuck with Aeroplan but I bought RCC access with United and prepaid Economy Plus seating... I figured, if I didn't have status, I can try to fake it.
(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.) The ability to work - lounge access at the airport, legroom, space and electrical access in the air. I'm OK with economy service but at 6'4" vastly prefer economy plus or exit row seats.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) US Domestic around the east coast, mostly, plus 3-5 trips a year around Canada. On rare occasion transcontinental to Europe.
(7) Preferred Airlines... In a perfect world, it's hard to beat the personal TV and electrical outlets in Air Canada metal, but throughout the US I'm usually stuck flying UA or CO.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) work. I'm a consultant so I usually price airfare into a proposal, so cost is an issue, but not always the be all and end all.
a) Stick with UA and get Silver status
b) Go to Aeroplan and try to squeeze in (but pay extra for Economy Plus seats.
c) Jump over to something like Aegean just to get easy *G and run my US travel with the economy plus stuff through UA.
1) What is your home airport? Toronto for travel within Canada, Buffalo for travel to the USA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Usually lowest fare
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? About 36 segments, or 25-40k a year
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? I'm a rookie, 7k into UA with status miles and a boatload of non-status Aeroplan. I would have stuck with Aeroplan but I bought RCC access with United and prepaid Economy Plus seating... I figured, if I didn't have status, I can try to fake it.
(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.) The ability to work - lounge access at the airport, legroom, space and electrical access in the air. I'm OK with economy service but at 6'4" vastly prefer economy plus or exit row seats.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc) US Domestic around the east coast, mostly, plus 3-5 trips a year around Canada. On rare occasion transcontinental to Europe.
(7) Preferred Airlines... In a perfect world, it's hard to beat the personal TV and electrical outlets in Air Canada metal, but throughout the US I'm usually stuck flying UA or CO.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) work. I'm a consultant so I usually price airfare into a proposal, so cost is an issue, but not always the be all and end all.
However, I suggest you get 20K on A3 as cheap as possible and get your Star Gold. And then pay for the annual E+ scheme on UA.
This way, you get all the priority access and lounge access (including USA domestic travel). You would not need to renew your RCC card (unless you want to), if you have A3 Star Gold.