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 17, 2011 | 10:42 am
#601
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Ireland
Programs: BD Gold, EK Gold, QF Silver
Posts: 3
(1) What is your home airport? DUB
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C
(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? (BA S, BD S, EK G, QF S
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Want to regain G in *A - just dropped down in BD because too many flights on EK & BA)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (mainly Far East, now also SAfrica (Emirates) and Caribbean (BA good fares in C from Dublin)
(7) Preferred Airlines EK A380 otherwise good value C class in *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work - my choice
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C
(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? (BA S, BD S, EK G, QF S
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Want to regain G in *A - just dropped down in BD because too many flights on EK & BA)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (mainly Far East, now also SAfrica (Emirates) and Caribbean (BA good fares in C from Dublin)
(7) Preferred Airlines EK A380 otherwise good value C class in *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work - my choice
Last edited by Dropthedeaddonkey; Nov 20, 2011 at 11:51 pm
Nov 17, 2011 | 1:03 pm
#602
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LED
Programs: A3*G, AF/KL Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 168
(1) What is your home airport? DUB
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C
(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? (BA S, BD S, EK G, QF S
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Want to regain G in *A - just dropped down in BD because too many flights on Frequent upgrades on EK & BA)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (mainly Far East, now also SAfrica and Caribbean
(7) Preferred Airlines EK A380 otherwise good value C class in *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work - my choice
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C
(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? (BA S, BD S, EK G, QF S
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Want to regain G in *A - just dropped down in BD because too many flights on Frequent upgrades on EK & BA)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (mainly Far East, now also SAfrica and Caribbean
(7) Preferred Airlines EK A380 otherwise good value C class in *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work - my choice
Nov 17, 2011 | 6:54 pm
#603
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? DUB
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C
(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? (BA S, BD S, EK G, QF S
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Want to regain G in *A - just dropped down in BD because too many flights on Frequent upgrades on EK & BA)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (mainly Far East, now also SAfrica and Caribbean
(7) Preferred Airlines EK A380 otherwise good value C class in *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work - my choice
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C
(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? (BA S, BD S, EK G, QF S
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Want to regain G in *A - just dropped down in BD because too many flights on Frequent upgrades on EK & BA)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (mainly Far East, now also SAfrica and Caribbean
(7) Preferred Airlines EK A380 otherwise good value C class in *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work - my choice
Nov 18, 2011 | 6:11 am
#604
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 58
(1) What is your home airport? ZRH / FRA
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y, all flights over 4h: C
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 80k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? bmi DC Silver, AF Flyblue Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, Upgrades and Award Redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? A lot in central europe and europe <> USA
(7) Preferred Airlines? LX, LH, TG (*A)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? 80% work
Any idea to which (*A) programm to switch to when bmi will be taken over by BA in Jan 2012? :-/
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y, all flights over 4h: C
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 80k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? bmi DC Silver, AF Flyblue Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, Upgrades and Award Redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? A lot in central europe and europe <> USA
(7) Preferred Airlines? LX, LH, TG (*A)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? 80% work
Any idea to which (*A) programm to switch to when bmi will be taken over by BA in Jan 2012? :-/
Nov 18, 2011 | 6:12 am
#605
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 flying 80k, of which at least 20k is in C, then go for Miles & More. SEN status is treated well on LH/LX.
Nov 18, 2011 | 7:40 am
#607
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? DUB
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C
(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? (BA S, BD S, EK G, QF S
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Want to regain G in *A - just dropped down in BD because too many flights on Frequent upgrades on EK & BA)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (mainly Far East, now also SAfrica and Caribbean
(7) Preferred Airlines EK A380 otherwise good value C class in *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work - my choice
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C
(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? (BA S, BD S, EK G, QF S
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? (Want to regain G in *A - just dropped down in BD because too many flights on Frequent upgrades on EK & BA)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (mainly Far East, now also SAfrica and Caribbean
(7) Preferred Airlines EK A380 otherwise good value C class in *A
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work - my choice
For *A FF, and your liking of A380 combined with flying in C and your routes, I would suggest M&M: SEN can be had for 100k, which is actually just around 45k miles flown in C (a bit less if you have some hops in Europe) given you'll earn 225% when flying with LH&friends..
South Africa is also serviced by A380 from LH, as are several places in the far east (PEK, SIN, maybe NRT..)
As a SEN, you'll have only to requalify every second year, so as you're able to choose, you might even be better able to figure out your flying patterns in the way you like them. If you fly 25k-50k in C, SEN definitely should be doable and renewable..
Nov 19, 2011 | 5:30 pm
#608
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: FA
Posts: 6,485
Does anyone know which FFP besides UA/CO & US does not have a fixed mileage expiration (ie: life of miles can be extended with activity other than flights)? I am trying to help a friend who doesn't fly too often earn some miles. It's better earning slowly rather than letting them go to waste. TIA.
LAX
LAX
Nov 19, 2011 | 6:45 pm
#609
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
Does anyone know which FFP besides UA/CO & US does not have a fixed mileage expiration (ie: life of miles can be extended with activity other than flights)? I am trying to help a friend who doesn't fly too often earn some miles. It's better earning slowly rather than letting them go to waste. TIA.
LAX
LAX
Nov 20, 2011 | 7:24 am
#610
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ACC
Programs: milesandsmiles elite+
Posts: 70
(1) What is your home airport?
ACC (WORK 70%) NRT (HOME 20%) IAH (PARENT/FAMILY 10%)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
<80K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present?
TK E+ (for lounge access 4 years, good service, good food etc)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Comp Upgrades to J for intra-Asia and Domestic US
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
ACC-NRT-IAH ACC-BKK-HKG-NRT
(7) Preferred Airlines.
NH or other Asian carriers- I hate UA- but route structure is good
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
60% work 40% pleasure
I generally fly to Japan 3 times a year to visit family. From Japan we then go on holiday in Asia/Pacific (GUM, HNL, HKG, TPE, BKK etc). Before I was Continental silver and we would get upgrades to business in intra-Asia. My mom is aging and I would like to visit her in IAH more often- TK was rumored to start flying IST-IAH but it hasn't happened yet. I need second FFP that will get me upgrades from Y to J in US domestic and intra- Asia. Any help would be great...I will split my miles between TK and my secondary *A FFP account maintaining my E+ with TK and earning at least gold on the other program. Any help appreciated....
ACC (WORK 70%) NRT (HOME 20%) IAH (PARENT/FAMILY 10%)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy?
Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
<80K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present?
TK E+ (for lounge access 4 years, good service, good food etc)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Comp Upgrades to J for intra-Asia and Domestic US
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
ACC-NRT-IAH ACC-BKK-HKG-NRT
(7) Preferred Airlines.
NH or other Asian carriers- I hate UA- but route structure is good
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
60% work 40% pleasure
I generally fly to Japan 3 times a year to visit family. From Japan we then go on holiday in Asia/Pacific (GUM, HNL, HKG, TPE, BKK etc). Before I was Continental silver and we would get upgrades to business in intra-Asia. My mom is aging and I would like to visit her in IAH more often- TK was rumored to start flying IST-IAH but it hasn't happened yet. I need second FFP that will get me upgrades from Y to J in US domestic and intra- Asia. Any help would be great...I will split my miles between TK and my secondary *A FFP account maintaining my E+ with TK and earning at least gold on the other program. Any help appreciated....
Nov 20, 2011 | 8:26 am
#611
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'd suggest US for this purpose.
It's really hard to get upgrades on COUA, with the massive amount of elites that they have today. US by comparison has a decent shot at getting comp upgrades at both Silver and Gold level.
I'm not aware of any intra-asia airline which does comp upgrades.
It's really hard to get upgrades on COUA, with the massive amount of elites that they have today. US by comparison has a decent shot at getting comp upgrades at both Silver and Gold level.
I'm not aware of any intra-asia airline which does comp upgrades.
Nov 21, 2011 | 12:35 pm
#612
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ACC
Programs: milesandsmiles elite+
Posts: 70
I'd suggest US for this purpose.
It's really hard to get upgrades on COUA, with the massive amount of elites that they have today. US by comparison has a decent shot at getting comp upgrades at both Silver and Gold level.
I'm not aware of any intra-asia airline which does comp upgrades.
It's really hard to get upgrades on COUA, with the massive amount of elites that they have today. US by comparison has a decent shot at getting comp upgrades at both Silver and Gold level.
I'm not aware of any intra-asia airline which does comp upgrades.
If I used M&M would Lufthansa get free upgrades in the US when flying UA/CO?
Nov 21, 2011 | 2:47 pm
#613
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 9,606
Nov 21, 2011 | 8:06 pm
#614
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Switzerland
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium (LTG), IHG Amb, OW Sapphire
Posts: 1,675
Regardless of any other rules/requirements, which *A offers the best value for money when redeeming award flights?
I'm thinking: lowest fuel surcharges and "fees"?
Lounge access is one thing, award tickets is another important thing to my eyes.
Any inputs?
I'm thinking: lowest fuel surcharges and "fees"?
Lounge access is one thing, award tickets is another important thing to my eyes.
Any inputs?
Nov 23, 2011 | 8:44 pm
#615
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Australia
Programs: LHSen UA1K VAGold QFSilv HHon Diamond ShangrilaJade Radisson Gold SPG Gold Marriott Gold Hertz Presi
Posts: 1,050
I feel UA Mileage Plus is best - its easy to get mileage upgrades and awards within USA if you are vigilant and use something like KVS tool. Had 13 flights with United last week - all my UDUs came through (4 out of 4), they recognize your elite status and the staff are great, despite what else you may read here. The other major advantage is that its dead easy to book mileage awards through the UA website with Lufthansa using your United miles, with low low low taxes. Fancy a trip to TLV in C or F ex MUC or FRA? Tryout United
If your not flying so many miles and would like Star Gold then A3 is great - their network is good within EU, their lounges are fantastic, and the Star Gold lounge access and additional baggage are available for little cost in terms of flying if you choose your fares well
LH Senator is great - they block seats next to you (IME with 20 flights with LH the past summer travelling in Y and C), allow access to exit rows at checkin and generally superior service onboard
If your not flying so many miles and would like Star Gold then A3 is great - their network is good within EU, their lounges are fantastic, and the Star Gold lounge access and additional baggage are available for little cost in terms of flying if you choose your fares well
LH Senator is great - they block seats next to you (IME with 20 flights with LH the past summer travelling in Y and C), allow access to exit rows at checkin and generally superior service onboard