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
Oct 20, 2011 | 9:31 pm
#526
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
Okay, so it seems like A3 is the way to go - I doubt I'll get 60 segments in 2012, that's quite a lot. But when does the clock run on A3 segments, is it flights within a year, or all within a calendar year? It looks like I'll have at least 7 by early December on *A airlines in the US. If I used UA, then I have to do 30 in 2012 (with no credit for status for the 7 from 2011). Even if I do a status-match, I need to fly 15 segments within 90 days or 10,000 miles.
Does the same rule apply to A3 - that is, do I need to do the 26 segments in a calendar year to make gold?
Thanks.
Does the same rule apply to A3 - that is, do I need to do the 26 segments in a calendar year to make gold?
Thanks.
A3 operates does not operate on a calendar year basis - if you qualify for blue on November 12, you have to get 16k miles before Nov 12 2012...
US airways credits 100% to all fare classes, including discount ones, but they don't have a 500 mile minimum. COUA have a 500 mile minimum, but lots of 50% fares. Therefore, it's best to fly COUA on short hops, and US on transcons...
Oct 21, 2011 | 9:27 am
#527
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: WAW
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 13
I did inquire about this issue in a separate topic in the AC forum, but now I realized it's a broader question that relates to Star Alliance in general. (please delete the question in AP forum if you see fit; I'm actually more interested in a general miles pushing, in case anyone ever needs to switch programs WITHIN a year)
So, to keep the question short and to the larger point:
If one realizes that another program within the *A would serve him better, is it possible to cancel all the credits from the last six months and move them to another program with no penalties (i.e. M&M to AeroPlan in my case)? If so, what kind of penalties one is looking into? Is it worth it, if one can get *G with mileage on the "new" program, but would stay *S with mileage on the "old" program?
So, to keep the question short and to the larger point:
If one realizes that another program within the *A would serve him better, is it possible to cancel all the credits from the last six months and move them to another program with no penalties (i.e. M&M to AeroPlan in my case)? If so, what kind of penalties one is looking into? Is it worth it, if one can get *G with mileage on the "new" program, but would stay *S with mileage on the "old" program?
Oct 21, 2011 | 10:37 am
#528
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
I did inquire about this issue in a separate topic in the AC forum, but now I realized it's a broader question that relates to Star Alliance in general. (please delete the question in AP forum if you see fit; I'm actually more interested in a general miles pushing, in case anyone ever needs to switch programs WITHIN a year)
So, to keep the question short and to the larger point:
If one realizes that another program within the *A would serve him better, is it possible to cancel all the credits from the last six months and move them to another program with no penalties (i.e. M&M to AeroPlan in my case)? If so, what kind of penalties one is looking into? Is it worth it, if one can get *G with mileage on the "new" program, but would stay *S with mileage on the "old" program?
So, to keep the question short and to the larger point:
If one realizes that another program within the *A would serve him better, is it possible to cancel all the credits from the last six months and move them to another program with no penalties (i.e. M&M to AeroPlan in my case)? If so, what kind of penalties one is looking into? Is it worth it, if one can get *G with mileage on the "new" program, but would stay *S with mileage on the "old" program?
Oct 22, 2011 | 5:52 am
#529
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 5
LH is not a great program for you to credit miles to.
Q fares do earn 100% I believe.
Check out Turkish and Aegean. See if your ticket classes earn miles on them.
If they do, then pick one. Turkish may be a better choice for you. Since you fly more than 20K. Also you could use TK on certain Asia routes from Europe.
With upgrades, I am not sure if VLML makes a difference. I have never really been op-upgraded (except once). So, Cant say much.
Dont know about credit card earnings.
Q fares do earn 100% I believe.
Check out Turkish and Aegean. See if your ticket classes earn miles on them.
If they do, then pick one. Turkish may be a better choice for you. Since you fly more than 20K. Also you could use TK on certain Asia routes from Europe.
With upgrades, I am not sure if VLML makes a difference. I have never really been op-upgraded (except once). So, Cant say much.
Dont know about credit card earnings.
Oct 22, 2011 | 8:00 am
#530
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
The IST lounge is incredible (check out the TK forum for pics), and the city is nice to visit too...
Oct 22, 2011 | 1:44 pm
#531
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO/OAK
Programs: WNRR, AA, CO/UA
Posts: 13
Advice sought
Trying to focus on * Alliance carriers:
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
SFO and/or STS (AS flys out of STS, F9 may in the future, I know those are not *A)
(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)
None
(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.)
good award redemption rates; free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
SFO-MSY 5 x/year. Plus myself & spouse going from SFO to Nice, France in fall 2012 and would like to use miles for at least one passenger. My *A balances are 55K on US, 40K COUA.
(7) Preferred Airlines
WN, AS, CO
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you choose your airlines, class of service?)
Work for myself can choose; like a great deal & not very loyal; would like to focus on one or two other airlines besides WN
Suggestions? Just got the CO Onepass MC, just got the US Premier MC. Open to other FF card offers to boost miles.
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
SFO and/or STS (AS flys out of STS, F9 may in the future, I know those are not *A)
(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)
None
(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.)
good award redemption rates; free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
SFO-MSY 5 x/year. Plus myself & spouse going from SFO to Nice, France in fall 2012 and would like to use miles for at least one passenger. My *A balances are 55K on US, 40K COUA.
(7) Preferred Airlines
WN, AS, CO
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you choose your airlines, class of service?)
Work for myself can choose; like a great deal & not very loyal; would like to focus on one or two other airlines besides WN
Suggestions? Just got the CO Onepass MC, just got the US Premier MC. Open to other FF card offers to boost miles.
Oct 22, 2011 | 8:42 pm
#532
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
Trying to focus on * Alliance carriers:
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
SFO and/or STS (AS flys out of STS, F9 may in the future, I know those are not *A)
(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)
None
(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.)
good award redemption rates; free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
SFO-MSY 5 x/year. Plus myself & spouse going from SFO to Nice, France in fall 2012 and would like to use miles for at least one passenger. My *A balances are 55K on US, 40K COUA.
(7) Preferred Airlines
WN, AS, CO
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you choose your airlines, class of service?)
Work for myself can choose; like a great deal & not very loyal; would like to focus on one or two other airlines besides WN
Suggestions? Just got the CO Onepass MC, just got the US Premier MC. Open to other FF card offers to boost miles.
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
SFO and/or STS (AS flys out of STS, F9 may in the future, I know those are not *A)
(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)
None
(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.)
good award redemption rates; free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
SFO-MSY 5 x/year. Plus myself & spouse going from SFO to Nice, France in fall 2012 and would like to use miles for at least one passenger. My *A balances are 55K on US, 40K COUA.
(7) Preferred Airlines
WN, AS, CO
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you choose your airlines, class of service?)
Work for myself can choose; like a great deal & not very loyal; would like to focus on one or two other airlines besides WN
Suggestions? Just got the CO Onepass MC, just got the US Premier MC. Open to other FF card offers to boost miles.
Oct 22, 2011 | 11:14 pm
#534
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI / SFO
Programs: UA*G, AC*S, Marriott LTP, National Exec
Posts: 3,893
Trying to focus on * Alliance carriers:
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
SFO and/or STS (AS flys out of STS, F9 may in the future, I know those are not *A)
(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)
None
(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.)
good award redemption rates; free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
SFO-MSY 5 x/year. Plus myself & spouse going from SFO to Nice, France in fall 2012 and would like to use miles for at least one passenger. My *A balances are 55K on US, 40K COUA.
(7) Preferred Airlines
WN, AS, CO
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you choose your airlines, class of service?)
Work for myself can choose; like a great deal & not very loyal; would like to focus on one or two other airlines besides WN
Suggestions? Just got the CO Onepass MC, just got the US Premier MC. Open to other FF card offers to boost miles.
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
SFO and/or STS (AS flys out of STS, F9 may in the future, I know those are not *A)
(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)
None
(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.)
good award redemption rates; free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
SFO-MSY 5 x/year. Plus myself & spouse going from SFO to Nice, France in fall 2012 and would like to use miles for at least one passenger. My *A balances are 55K on US, 40K COUA.
(7) Preferred Airlines
WN, AS, CO
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you choose your airlines, class of service?)
Work for myself can choose; like a great deal & not very loyal; would like to focus on one or two other airlines besides WN
Suggestions? Just got the CO Onepass MC, just got the US Premier MC. Open to other FF card offers to boost miles.
He means crediting your flights to the A3 (Aegean Airlines) FFP.
Oct 23, 2011 | 2:45 am
#535
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 plan to definitely fly 35k this year and if you go to Canada at least a couple of times, AC is a decent option although bear in mind that there are no unlimited free upgrades like on American carriers. A3 is the easiest, but TK and OZ are also good ways to get *G easily. I think I would favour OZ as you can build towards million-miler status with them in case your travel picks up in the future. I would have actually suggested you pick UA or CO as your FFP up to this year for UDU and E+ but 2P/Silver will be such a worthless status next year that it's not worth it with your amount of travel.
He means crediting your flights to the A3 (Aegean Airlines) FFP.
He means crediting your flights to the A3 (Aegean Airlines) FFP.
Air Canada requires you to fly them a certain amount of times, so it is a bad option if you want flexibility.
Turkish and Asiana also work, but Turkish has a shorter status period, and Asiana has ridiculously high redemption rates...
Oct 24, 2011 | 3:58 am
#536
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,489
(1) What is your home airport? BHX, MAN or LHR
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C longhaul, Y in EU.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >100k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? DC Gold.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Atlantic & Asian intercontinental
(7) Preferred Airlines-LH,LX,AC,
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? mainly work, and I have full choice of airlines, price dependant.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C longhaul, Y in EU.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >100k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? DC Gold.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Atlantic & Asian intercontinental
(7) Preferred Airlines-LH,LX,AC,
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? mainly work, and I have full choice of airlines, price dependant.
Oct 24, 2011 | 4:15 am
#537
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
(1) What is your home airport? BHX, MAN or LHR
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C longhaul, Y in EU.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >100k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? DC Gold.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Atlantic & Asian intercontinental
(7) Preferred Airlines-LH,LX,AC,
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? mainly work, and I have full choice of airlines, price dependant.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C longhaul, Y in EU.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >100k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? DC Gold.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority services when flying the airline, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Atlantic & Asian intercontinental
(7) Preferred Airlines-LH,LX,AC,
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? mainly work, and I have full choice of airlines, price dependant.
Oct 24, 2011 | 5:24 am
#538
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LED
Programs: A3*G, AF/KL Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 168
No, there is no segment rule on A3 - it is completely miles based. if you fly UA, you get a 500 mile minimum per flight (so if you connect, you would get 1000), so in a sense you have to fly 40 segments.
A3 operates does not operate on a calendar year basis - if you qualify for blue on November 12, you have to get 16k miles before Nov 12 2012...
US airways credits 100% to all fare classes, including discount ones, but they don't have a 500 mile minimum. COUA have a 500 mile minimum, but lots of 50% fares. Therefore, it's best to fly COUA on short hops, and US on transcons...
A3 operates does not operate on a calendar year basis - if you qualify for blue on November 12, you have to get 16k miles before Nov 12 2012...
US airways credits 100% to all fare classes, including discount ones, but they don't have a 500 mile minimum. COUA have a 500 mile minimum, but lots of 50% fares. Therefore, it's best to fly COUA on short hops, and US on transcons...
Oct 24, 2011 | 5:31 am
#539
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
That said, OP said that they use cheap fares (definetely not Y)..
The rest of what you posted is right on..
Remember, 2012 is a leap year, so you have 1 day less than you think
Oct 24, 2011 | 9:35 am
#540
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: PVG SHA
Posts: 2
Need advice
Now i'm looking for changing FF program, need help for suggestion
(1) What is your home airport? PVG, SHA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? D for cross continental, discount Y for domestic or flight in Asia
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50-60k.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? UA Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access and good award redemption program
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Usually I may have 1-2 trips to Europe, 2-3 trips PVG-SIN, 1 trip to Australia and several domestic trips in China annually.
(7) Preferred Airlines
LH for most of the flight to Europe, SQ and TG for most of the flight in Asia and try to fly CA in China.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you choose your airlines, class of service?)
Both, for work can choose the airlines but usually need to have cheaper freight.
I used to use UA MP for many years, but according to the latest UA/CO new program the premier membership has to fly at least 4 or more UA/CO flights annualy, i normally fly to US once for 2-3 years, so I have to look for a new FF program. Now is reviewing the one for OZ, easy to achieve *G, but no idea about the redeem award.
(1) What is your home airport? PVG, SHA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? D for cross continental, discount Y for domestic or flight in Asia
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50-60k.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? UA Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge access and good award redemption program
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Usually I may have 1-2 trips to Europe, 2-3 trips PVG-SIN, 1 trip to Australia and several domestic trips in China annually.
(7) Preferred Airlines
LH for most of the flight to Europe, SQ and TG for most of the flight in Asia and try to fly CA in China.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you choose your airlines, class of service?)
Both, for work can choose the airlines but usually need to have cheaper freight.
I used to use UA MP for many years, but according to the latest UA/CO new program the premier membership has to fly at least 4 or more UA/CO flights annualy, i normally fly to US once for 2-3 years, so I have to look for a new FF program. Now is reviewing the one for OZ, easy to achieve *G, but no idea about the redeem award.