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
Nov 4, 2011 | 6:00 pm
#586
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI / SFO
Programs: UA*G, AC*S, Marriott LTP, National Exec
Posts: 3,893
Echo this sentiment. Unless you are consistently flying premium fares on SQ (and even then...) KF is pretty much a rubbish programme compared to LH M&M and UA MP. If you plan on flying UA on their Asia flights it is definitely an option to consider. I would also recommend against choosing CA even if you end up moving to SHA, Chinese FFPs are utter rubbish.
Nov 5, 2011 | 2:18 am
#587
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: England
Posts: 411
Echo this sentiment. Unless you are consistently flying premium fares on SQ (and even then...) KF is pretty much a rubbish programme compared to LH M&M and UA MP. If you plan on flying UA on their Asia flights it is definitely an option to consider. I would also recommend against choosing CA even if you end up moving to SHA, Chinese FFPs are utter rubbish.
So it might be worth keeping an account with them and dumping the occasional shorthaul or hotel stay there just to keep it alive.
Nov 6, 2011 | 3:23 am
#588
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Switzerland
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium (LTG), IHG Amb, OW Sapphire
Posts: 1,675
Oh crap, I already started putting like 25K miles on SQ.... 
Maybe I should really reconsider and start an OZ account... but crappy award booking doesn't sound that appealing either...
Dilemma...
Maybe I should really reconsider and start an OZ account... but crappy award booking doesn't sound that appealing either...
Dilemma...
Nov 6, 2011 | 9:48 pm
#589
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1
(1) What is your home airport? HAM
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(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? Delta Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades and Good Award Redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? HAM to Norway, Sweden, Finland and occasionally to the states
(7) Preferred Airlines?
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Majority work
Moving to HAM and looking for best program. Currently I use Delta in the US but I am trying to determine if a switch to one of the Star Alliance airlines would be better. Thanks for the help.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(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? Delta Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades and Good Award Redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? HAM to Norway, Sweden, Finland and occasionally to the states
(7) Preferred Airlines?
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Majority work
Moving to HAM and looking for best program. Currently I use Delta in the US but I am trying to determine if a switch to one of the Star Alliance airlines would be better. Thanks for the help.
Nov 6, 2011 | 10:25 pm
#590
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? HAM
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(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? Delta Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades and Good Award Redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? HAM to Norway, Sweden, Finland and occasionally to the states
(7) Preferred Airlines?
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Majority work
Moving to HAM and looking for best program. Currently I use Delta in the US but I am trying to determine if a switch to one of the Star Alliance airlines would be better. Thanks for the help.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(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? Delta Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades and Good Award Redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? HAM to Norway, Sweden, Finland and occasionally to the states
(7) Preferred Airlines?
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Majority work
Moving to HAM and looking for best program. Currently I use Delta in the US but I am trying to determine if a switch to one of the Star Alliance airlines would be better. Thanks for the help.
Only you can pick what fits your plans the best...
Another thing to look for is whether one of the airlines has a credit card in your country, if you are interested in those types of things.
Nov 7, 2011 | 12:13 am
#592
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
Nov 7, 2011 | 1:18 am
#593
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 5
Alright I saw the news bulletin on the website that says it's 500K for lifetime.
So my plan is to ditch SQ KF program (since I just managed to renew *G for this year) and start crediting all my miles to OZ to attempt to get the 500K lifetime membership.
I was considering the LH Miles & More Program, as advised by someone and it seemed pretty great since I could credit Qatar Airways miles along with a whole bunch of other partners on it but it seems much tougher to attain *G status needing to hit 100-130k? miles in 2 years.
In essence I would have to maintain the same amount of mileage as SQ KF program of 50K miles per year but I guess the benefit is that I could credit from a larger range of partners and get more luggage allowance on more partners too but since I am still mainly flying out of Singapore, it seems better to credit on KF (if I wasn't choosing OZ) just because I would get a bonus tier factor of 25% now.
Does this seem logical?
So my plan is to ditch SQ KF program (since I just managed to renew *G for this year) and start crediting all my miles to OZ to attempt to get the 500K lifetime membership.
I was considering the LH Miles & More Program, as advised by someone and it seemed pretty great since I could credit Qatar Airways miles along with a whole bunch of other partners on it but it seems much tougher to attain *G status needing to hit 100-130k? miles in 2 years.
In essence I would have to maintain the same amount of mileage as SQ KF program of 50K miles per year but I guess the benefit is that I could credit from a larger range of partners and get more luggage allowance on more partners too but since I am still mainly flying out of Singapore, it seems better to credit on KF (if I wasn't choosing OZ) just because I would get a bonus tier factor of 25% now.
Does this seem logical?
Nov 7, 2011 | 4:07 am
#594
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
Alright I saw the news bulletin on the website that says it's 500K for lifetime.
So my plan is to ditch SQ KF program (since I just managed to renew *G for this year) and start crediting all my miles to OZ to attempt to get the 500K lifetime membership.
I was considering the LH Miles & More Program, as advised by someone and it seemed pretty great since I could credit Qatar Airways miles along with a whole bunch of other partners on it but it seems much tougher to attain *G status needing to hit 100-130k? miles in 2 years.
In essence I would have to maintain the same amount of mileage as SQ KF program of 50K miles per year but I guess the benefit is that I could credit from a larger range of partners and get more luggage allowance on more partners too but since I am still mainly flying out of Singapore, it seems better to credit on KF (if I wasn't choosing OZ) just because I would get a bonus tier factor of 25% now.
Does this seem logical?
So my plan is to ditch SQ KF program (since I just managed to renew *G for this year) and start crediting all my miles to OZ to attempt to get the 500K lifetime membership.
I was considering the LH Miles & More Program, as advised by someone and it seemed pretty great since I could credit Qatar Airways miles along with a whole bunch of other partners on it but it seems much tougher to attain *G status needing to hit 100-130k? miles in 2 years.
In essence I would have to maintain the same amount of mileage as SQ KF program of 50K miles per year but I guess the benefit is that I could credit from a larger range of partners and get more luggage allowance on more partners too but since I am still mainly flying out of Singapore, it seems better to credit on KF (if I wasn't choosing OZ) just because I would get a bonus tier factor of 25% now.
Does this seem logical?
OZ sounds like a good fit for you
Nov 7, 2011 | 4:10 am
#595
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,489
Nov 15, 2011 | 1:57 pm
#596
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 52
Hi all,
Thanks for the help in advance!
(1) What is your home airport?
FRA, DUS and SYD, BNE
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Economy class
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Rountrip Europe/australia, at least twice a year plus regional/local flights, maybe every 6-8 weeks
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
CX MPC Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge on stopover
upgrade to business
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
Asia - europe
(7) Preferred Airlines
I do like Cathay, but also, Singapore, Emirates
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Work but I can chose whatever I want
Additional info: I have German/Chinese/Australian/US Bank accounts. I would be willing to have 1 max to CC but I do not want to sign up for a bunch of cards. Just personal preference.
Thanks for all the help!!!
Thanks for the help in advance!
(1) What is your home airport?
FRA, DUS and SYD, BNE
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Economy class
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Rountrip Europe/australia, at least twice a year plus regional/local flights, maybe every 6-8 weeks
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
CX MPC Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge on stopover
upgrade to business
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
Asia - europe
(7) Preferred Airlines
I do like Cathay, but also, Singapore, Emirates
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Work but I can chose whatever I want
Additional info: I have German/Chinese/Australian/US Bank accounts. I would be willing to have 1 max to CC but I do not want to sign up for a bunch of cards. Just personal preference.
Thanks for all the help!!!
Nov 17, 2011 | 3:49 am
#597
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1
Any advice would be a great help. In addition to tho info below, I am trying to schedule a flight in J BKK-PDX-BKK in January. I am basically starting over with FF programs, so any advice on which airline/program before I make reservations would be greatly appreciated.
(1) What is your home airport? LGW
(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? UA Premier, TG Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? TransAtlantic
(7) Preferred Airlines - none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work--discounted Y fares
(1) What is your home airport? LGW
(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? UA Premier, TG Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? TransAtlantic
(7) Preferred Airlines - none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work--discounted Y fares
Nov 17, 2011 | 7:27 am
#598
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Nov 17, 2011 | 7:30 am
#599
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Any advice would be a great help. In addition to tho info below, I am trying to schedule a flight in J BKK-PDX-BKK in January. I am basically starting over with FF programs, so any advice on which airline/program before I make reservations would be greatly appreciated.
(1) What is your home airport? LGW
(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? UA Premier, TG Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? TransAtlantic
(7) Preferred Airlines - none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work--discounted Y fares
(1) What is your home airport? LGW
(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? UA Premier, TG Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? TransAtlantic
(7) Preferred Airlines - none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work--discounted Y fares
First off, what about getting to Star Gold on TG? Its not a great program. But, if you fly them often for your UK-Asia trips, you increase chances for operational upgrades.
Otherwise TK (Turkish) may be a good option.
one last option will be OZ (Asiana).
Do not go for UA status again....it wont be worth it at your level of flying and your pattern of flying.
Nov 17, 2011 | 7:33 am
#600
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Hi all,
Thanks for the help in advance!
(1) What is your home airport?
FRA, DUS and SYD, BNE
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Economy class
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Rountrip Europe/australia, at least twice a year plus regional/local flights, maybe every 6-8 weeks
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
CX MPC Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge on stopover
upgrade to business
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
Asia - europe
(7) Preferred Airlines
I do like Cathay, but also, Singapore, Emirates
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Work but I can chose whatever I want
Additional info: I have German/Chinese/Australian/US Bank accounts. I would be willing to have 1 max to CC but I do not want to sign up for a bunch of cards. Just personal preference.
Thanks for all the help!!!
Thanks for the help in advance!
(1) What is your home airport?
FRA, DUS and SYD, BNE
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
Economy class
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Rountrip Europe/australia, at least twice a year plus regional/local flights, maybe every 6-8 weeks
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
CX MPC Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Lounge on stopover
upgrade to business
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
Asia - europe
(7) Preferred Airlines
I do like Cathay, but also, Singapore, Emirates
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
Work but I can chose whatever I want
Additional info: I have German/Chinese/Australian/US Bank accounts. I would be willing to have 1 max to CC but I do not want to sign up for a bunch of cards. Just personal preference.
Thanks for all the help!!!
Star Gold gets you lounge access throughout the system.
Also, in a matter of few years you can reach 500K elite miles and lifetime Star Gold via Asiana!
A second alternate for you will be Turkish (TK).