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
Jun 23, 2011 | 12:28 pm
#301
Join Date: May 2011
Location: OSL
Programs: SK*G, TK*G, AB Silver (OW Ruby), SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 95
Yes, TK also flies to DAC (with stopover in KHI). Am actually waiting in IST for my flight to DAC right now 
It's usually good price on J, not really sure about Y. Definitely a shorter and cheaper option than through BKK or SIN.
So if you're looking for * status, you might want to consider flying TK.
It's usually good price on J, not really sure about Y. Definitely a shorter and cheaper option than through BKK or SIN. So if you're looking for * status, you might want to consider flying TK.
Jun 25, 2011 | 9:50 pm
#302
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1
Best program Shanghai - Europe/Asia
Just got a new job and negotiate with the airlines regarding schemes. Some offered gold cards etc, but I need to earn it in the long run, so this is my travels. What would you suggest?
(1) What is your home airport? SHA/PVG
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access and good award offers
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
STO: 6 trips/year
HKG: 6 trips/year
PEK: 6 trips/year
DEL: 2 trips/year
SIN: 2 trips/year
(7) Preferred Airlines -
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work mainly
Thanks!
(1) What is your home airport? SHA/PVG
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access and good award offers
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
STO: 6 trips/year
HKG: 6 trips/year
PEK: 6 trips/year
DEL: 2 trips/year
SIN: 2 trips/year
(7) Preferred Airlines -
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work mainly
Thanks!
Jun 27, 2011 | 8:48 am
#303
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1
Hi there FT....semi-long time reader...first time poster.....(Had to give myself sometime to read up and learn (and understand!!) the FT lingo...now it's like reading the Matrix ("whoa!"))
This thread is exact perfect for me right now, am fixing to enroll my fiancee as I am current UA M+ (with a measly 27k accrued), but she is virgin to any FF program and I would much appreciate your awesome offering of the brilliance of the FT masters!
(1) What is your home airport? HKG
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y/(As cheap as we can find)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? usually ~25k, (this year have 4 TPAC flights, but are CA S class sadly so 50% mileage on all *A partners sadly as far I can see???)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? nope
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Easy Award Earnings, somewhat long mileage longevity (~3yrs if possible?), ability to transfer/consolidate like M&M is nice, and if all else fails, the A3 benefits of a *G might be our last resort?
(6) Which routes do you fly most often HKG/LAX, HKG/PEK, TPE/SEA
(7) Preferred Airlines - Whatever is cheap (so for *A that usually means AC or CA )
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? fun fun fun (♫♪♫ till daddy takes the FF Miles away... ♫♪)
(right now looking at award charts, UA seems by far the lowest with only 65k needed for a RT HKG/LAX flight...any advice if another program would be better?)
Huge Thanks in advance FT, you guys rock! ^
This thread is exact perfect for me right now, am fixing to enroll my fiancee as I am current UA M+ (with a measly 27k accrued), but she is virgin to any FF program and I would much appreciate your awesome offering of the brilliance of the FT masters!
(1) What is your home airport? HKG
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y/(As cheap as we can find)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? usually ~25k, (this year have 4 TPAC flights, but are CA S class sadly so 50% mileage on all *A partners sadly as far I can see???)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? nope
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Easy Award Earnings, somewhat long mileage longevity (~3yrs if possible?), ability to transfer/consolidate like M&M is nice, and if all else fails, the A3 benefits of a *G might be our last resort?
(6) Which routes do you fly most often HKG/LAX, HKG/PEK, TPE/SEA
(7) Preferred Airlines - Whatever is cheap (so for *A that usually means AC or CA )
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? fun fun fun (♫♪♫ till daddy takes the FF Miles away... ♫♪)
(right now looking at award charts, UA seems by far the lowest with only 65k needed for a RT HKG/LAX flight...any advice if another program would be better?)
Huge Thanks in advance FT, you guys rock! ^
Jun 27, 2011 | 10:07 am
#304
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
Hi there FT....semi-long time reader...first time poster.....(Had to give myself sometime to read up and learn (and understand!!) the FT lingo...now it's like reading the Matrix ("whoa!"))
This thread is exact perfect for me right now, am fixing to enroll my fiancee as I am current UA M+ (with a measly 27k accrued), but she is virgin to any FF program and I would much appreciate your awesome offering of the brilliance of the FT masters!
(1) What is your home airport? HKG
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y/(As cheap as we can find)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? usually ~25k, (this year have 4 TPAC flights, but are CA S class sadly so 50% mileage on all *A partners sadly as far I can see???)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? nope
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Easy Award Earnings, somewhat long mileage longevity (~3yrs if possible?), ability to transfer/consolidate like M&M is nice, and if all else fails, the A3 benefits of a *G might be our last resort?
(6) Which routes do you fly most often HKG/LAX, HKG/PEK, TPE/SEA
(7) Preferred Airlines - Whatever is cheap (so for *A that usually means AC or CA )
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? fun fun fun (♫♪♫ till daddy takes the FF Miles away... ♫♪)
(right now looking at award charts, UA seems by far the lowest with only 65k needed for a RT HKG/LAX flight...any advice if another program would be better?)
Huge Thanks in advance FT, you guys rock! ^
This thread is exact perfect for me right now, am fixing to enroll my fiancee as I am current UA M+ (with a measly 27k accrued), but she is virgin to any FF program and I would much appreciate your awesome offering of the brilliance of the FT masters!
(1) What is your home airport? HKG
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y/(As cheap as we can find)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? usually ~25k, (this year have 4 TPAC flights, but are CA S class sadly so 50% mileage on all *A partners sadly as far I can see???)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? nope
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Easy Award Earnings, somewhat long mileage longevity (~3yrs if possible?), ability to transfer/consolidate like M&M is nice, and if all else fails, the A3 benefits of a *G might be our last resort?
(6) Which routes do you fly most often HKG/LAX, HKG/PEK, TPE/SEA
(7) Preferred Airlines - Whatever is cheap (so for *A that usually means AC or CA )
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? fun fun fun (♫♪♫ till daddy takes the FF Miles away... ♫♪)
(right now looking at award charts, UA seems by far the lowest with only 65k needed for a RT HKG/LAX flight...any advice if another program would be better?)
Huge Thanks in advance FT, you guys rock! ^
Jun 28, 2011 | 11:06 am
#305
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1
Want free/discounted flights
(1) What is your home airport?
GEG - Spokane, WA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Coach - cheapest available
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
<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?
I would like to be able to get free/discounted flight with miles that don't expire or are long to expire. If a credit card will keep them active by using the card I'm open to that as well.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
I'd say equal overseas and domestic but no specific routes
(7) Preferred Airlines
don't really care what airline
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
pleasure
Any advice you can give would be appreciated. Thanks
GEG - Spokane, WA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Coach - cheapest available
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
<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?
I would like to be able to get free/discounted flight with miles that don't expire or are long to expire. If a credit card will keep them active by using the card I'm open to that as well.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
I'd say equal overseas and domestic but no specific routes
(7) Preferred Airlines
don't really care what airline
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
pleasure
Any advice you can give would be appreciated. Thanks
Jun 28, 2011 | 11:43 am
#306
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 9,606
scrouch, if you can get a M&M credit card with the condition that 1x usage per month will keep the miles from expiring in your country, they might be a choice as 20k travelling in cheap eco might not even be enough to make *G on A3 (Aegean)
Jun 28, 2011 | 12:29 pm
#307
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
if you have *S on A3 (4k miles), then your miles don't expire. So A3 is probably the best bet for you, because you can theoretically get *G with your flying.
Jun 28, 2011 | 1:09 pm
#308
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 9,606
Ah, miles on A3 don't expire when having at least Silver there? I thought that was one of the things no one yet had found out about A3, including how long status will be valid and what you need to renew. Do you know anything more detailed about this too? ^
Jun 28, 2011 | 4:41 pm
#309
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
Yeah, miles don't expire. No clue about how long status is valid, since I easily requalified this year anyway.
Jul 2, 2011 | 8:18 am
#310
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2
Hi!
I'm quite new to this business, so some help getting started would be much appreciated. I know of one friend regularly using discounted dividend miles on his flights to get them rather cheap and business or first class and another one spending a lot of money using his miles&more credit card to achieve similar effects. Now I don't really know which program to join, but I figured it would make sense to join one.
(1) What is your home airport? MUC
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy, so far.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? < 25k (roughly 11k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? No.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Primarily upgrades and good redemption rates. Additional luggage would be a nice plus.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Intercontinental. From Europe as far away as possible to varying destination with a recurring pattern of visiting Japan.
(7) Preferred Airlines? LH, Emirates
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure. Business trips run on a different FF account. (At least I suppose so. Haven't tried or clearly figured out the details, yet.)
I'm quite new to this business, so some help getting started would be much appreciated.
I know of one friend regularly using discounted dividend miles on his flights to get them rather cheap and business or first class and another one spending a lot of money using his miles&more credit card to achieve similar effects. Now I don't really know which program to join, but I figured it would make sense to join one.(1) What is your home airport? MUC
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy, so far.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? < 25k (roughly 11k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? No.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Primarily upgrades and good redemption rates. Additional luggage would be a nice plus.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Intercontinental. From Europe as far away as possible to varying destination with a recurring pattern of visiting Japan.
(7) Preferred Airlines? LH, Emirates
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure. Business trips run on a different FF account. (At least I suppose so. Haven't tried or clearly figured out the details, yet.)
Jul 2, 2011 | 6:55 pm
#311
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
Hi!
I'm quite new to this business, so some help getting started would be much appreciated. I know of one friend regularly using discounted dividend miles on his flights to get them rather cheap and business or first class and another one spending a lot of money using his miles&more credit card to achieve similar effects. Now I don't really know which program to join, but I figured it would make sense to join one.
(1) What is your home airport? MUC
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy, so far.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? < 25k (roughly 11k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? No.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Primarily upgrades and good redemption rates. Additional luggage would be a nice plus.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Intercontinental. From Europe as far away as possible to varying destination with a recurring pattern of visiting Japan.
(7) Preferred Airlines? LH, Emirates
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure. Business trips run on a different FF account. (At least I suppose so. Haven't tried or clearly figured out the details, yet.)
I'm quite new to this business, so some help getting started would be much appreciated.
I know of one friend regularly using discounted dividend miles on his flights to get them rather cheap and business or first class and another one spending a lot of money using his miles&more credit card to achieve similar effects. Now I don't really know which program to join, but I figured it would make sense to join one.(1) What is your home airport? MUC
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy, so far.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? < 25k (roughly 11k)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? No.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Primarily upgrades and good redemption rates. Additional luggage would be a nice plus.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Intercontinental. From Europe as far away as possible to varying destination with a recurring pattern of visiting Japan.
(7) Preferred Airlines? LH, Emirates
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure. Business trips run on a different FF account. (At least I suppose so. Haven't tried or clearly figured out the details, yet.)
Jul 2, 2011 | 8:27 pm
#312
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2
Jul 4, 2011 | 2:48 am
#313
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1
Need advice
My data provided:
(1) What is your home airport? HAM
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Cheap non flex Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? Differs, about 5000-15.000
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Skywards (Emirates) Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Europe different routes, to UK and holiday locations
(7) Preferred Airlines: Cheapest
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I would like to reach Star Alliance Silver easily...
(1) What is your home airport? HAM
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Cheap non flex Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? Differs, about 5000-15.000
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Skywards (Emirates) Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Europe different routes, to UK and holiday locations
(7) Preferred Airlines: Cheapest
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I would like to reach Star Alliance Silver easily...
Jul 4, 2011 | 5:23 am
#314
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 9,606
My data provided:
(1) What is your home airport? HAM
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Cheap non flex Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? Differs, about 5000-15.000
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Skywards (Emirates) Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Europe different routes, to UK and holiday locations
(7) Preferred Airlines: Cheapest
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I would like to reach Star Alliance Silver easily...
(1) What is your home airport? HAM
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Cheap non flex Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? Differs, about 5000-15.000
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Skywards (Emirates) Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Europe different routes, to UK and holiday locations
(7) Preferred Airlines: Cheapest
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
I would like to reach Star Alliance Silver easily...
Jul 5, 2011 | 10:56 pm
#315
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 27
Hello
I've been a member of ANA mileage club, but wondering if I should change to Singapore (which then I would need to get an Amex card with membership rewards to be able to earn miles)
Fly mostly LAX NRT
109,000 miles on ANA now
50,000 points in Starwood program
(1) What is your home airport? LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? coach (restricted and upgradeable)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15,000 - 25,000
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? No
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: LAX - NRT
(7) Preferred Airlines: ANA or SQ
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure both, more work
I've been a member of ANA mileage club, but wondering if I should change to Singapore (which then I would need to get an Amex card with membership rewards to be able to earn miles)
Fly mostly LAX NRT
109,000 miles on ANA now
50,000 points in Starwood program
(1) What is your home airport? LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? coach (restricted and upgradeable)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 15,000 - 25,000
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? No
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: LAX - NRT
(7) Preferred Airlines: ANA or SQ
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure both, more work