OK, so 200K for the example quoted.

Thanks.^

Will take another look and decide if I want to make the switch or carry on with UA and hope the coming changes aren't too painful.

Mark

UA vs LH
 

Thank you for starting up this thread. I've been researching the benefits of M&M versus Mileage Plus but need some help. Below is the data that you requested:

(1) What is your home airport? ORD
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C Class
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >300k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? UA Global Services and LH Senator
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
- Long haul upgrades (business to first class)
- Award travel
- Lounge access

(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Long haul international (rarely fly US domestic)
(7) UA and LH almost exclusively.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work.

I'm currently accumulating points on both programs. There was a small glitch the programs that allowed me to get miles on both but they've closed that loop hole. I'm looking to consolidate onto one program. If I consolidated onto LH, I would probably be HON Circle. If I consolidate onto UA, I stay Global. My main priorities are upgrades to first, booking travel for the family, and lounge access.

Award travel- definite advantage to UA. Compare award charts to see the difference.
Also don't forget US, they have no nonstop TATL flights ex ORD but they do fly PHL-FRA and their Envoy Suites are very competitive and probably the best business class transatlantic. Also they are better in terms of award redemptions (although they do not offer one way awards, their award charts are more generous and their routing rules more liberal).

Yes, UA requires less miles per award ticket, but LH, once you get to FTL status, gives your more miles per flight. There was also some rumblings on other blogs about UA blocking *A partner TATL award tickets but I haven't seen anyone else post on it.

Oh *net blocking is a big issue. It definetely did happen, whether it continues is up for debate...

If the rumoured Mileage Plus changes are true then it should swing the equation even more in UA's favour-especially when flying paid C, the class of service mileage bonuses increase dramatically, as well as upgrade priority.

Mileage Plus versus Miles & More
 

So I did a bit more research and though it might be worth sharing my findings. I've been flying a bunch on LH and thought it might be worth switching to M&M as my primary loyalty program. For a frequent business traveler, the best program I think is Mileage Plus. Here's the comparison for the top status (UA = 1k, LH = SEN) which both require 100k status miles

Earning rate:
- LH: 225% of flight mileage for award and status miles
- UA: 225% of flight mileage for award, 150% for status miles

Redemption rate (round trip):
- LH: 30k dom eco, 55k dom bus; 50k TATL eco, 105 TATL bus
- UA (saver): 25k dom eco, 50k dom bus; 60k TATL eco, 100k TATL bus

Upgrades
- LH: 2 free segments for SEN, 6 free segments for HON, 50k per route thereafter
- UA: 6 free routes for 1K, 2 free routes for every 50k increment, 20k per route


In summary, you can get status on LH easier so if you're close, it may be the better program. However, if you're a road warrior and 1K or SEN are attainable, then both program earn at the same rate (unless you are buying first class tickets in which case LH earns at 325%). Redemption is nearly identical. However, upgrades are dramatically easier to get on UA than LH. If you like to upgrade to first, you'll burn a lot of miles on LH but UA will give them to you.

(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
Frankfurt, Taipei
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
25k-35k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
China Airlines Gold
(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.)
Upgrades with miles, * Alliance Gold
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
Frankfurt-Taipei x2, New Zealand-Frankfurtx1 per year... Intra Asia+Intra Europe
(7) Preferred Airlines
Air China
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Pleasure, can choose my airline

A3 is for you.

Unless you don't care about redemption and fly OZ, in which case OZ is for you!
If you fly TK (do they fly there?), then TK is for you (lounge in IST is amazing).

What's so bad about the redemption of OZ?
And what are the renewal qualifications for A3?
Can I use my miles to upgrade with A3? If I remember correctly I can do that OZ...

I'm not familiar with upgrades, so I don't know if A3/OZ/TK allow upgrades using miles. Please check that out... (and let me know please, it's useful knowledge).

The OZ redemption table is bad - they charge more miles than many other carriers, and they have a high YQ.

However, with OZ, you also have the chance for lifetime *G (which would be great for you).

If you fly OZ, I definetely suggest their mileage program.

OZ allows *A upgrades for 37.000 miles for a sector within 7000 miles. But they only allow it if your Y ticket is booking class Y or B, which are normally very expensive. I personally have never bought Y before.
A3 doesnt allow upgrades at all.
I actually want to try *G, but I'm afraid that they will discontinue *G lifetime, before I even make it ;)

Sorry to be dense but is OZ Austrian Airlines?

OZ = Asiana airlines

OS = Austrian airlines

Want Gold ASAP
 

(1) What is your home airport?
BKK Thailand

(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Y - or other Economy Fares

(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?

30K-40K, varies, depends

(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?

THAI TG, Silver. i used to travel a lot, but didn't bother with FFP program...now regretted for many many over continental flights!!

at the same time, i am fed up with Thai Airway's FFP, earned the silver after one Asia-europe Round trip. They put a lot of discounted Eco fare to zero mileages and does not have airline partners other than SA. Thai Airway's fare is either very expensive or if they are slightly discounted, there is 0 mileage.


(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Priority Services (Check in / Stand by) and Free Lounge Access and Possible Upgrade

(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
1-2 over continental travel, Asia-europe/US/africa, the rest are within Asia pacific

(7) Preferred Airlines
SQ, EK, qatar, ethiad, (but all these middle eastern airlines are not in SA!)

(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
primarily work - Yes, Can Choose Airlines

(9) What is the most important aspect of a scheme for you?
Lounge Access, extra luggage allowance


****
i want a Star Alliance Gold as soon as possible,
maybe 1 FFP from skyteam as well.
so someone told me Aegean Airline from Star Alliance is the easiest to obtain Gold, with 20000miles. if that's the case i guess i am going to ditch my Thai Silver. can someone confirm me this? and is there any issues that i need to foresee with Aegean?

i just finished a trip bkk-london-edi-london-bkk. damn Thai only gave me half of the miles.
i have 1 trip BKK-taipei-bkk, about 3000 miles
still deciding whether to fly KLM or Thai (more expensive)
1 trip bkk-capetown-bkk, over 12000 miles
still can't decide to fly SQ or qatar,
i thought if qatar then it's worth to get a UA millage plus since they are partner with qatar and millage do not expire?

can someone help me???