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 24, 2011, 1:21 am
#616
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Switzerland
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, IHG Gold, BAEC Silver, TP Silver
Posts: 1,493
Reaching *G is not my main concern as I will fly 100,000 to 150,000 miles per year, mostly within Asia or Asia-Europe and all in Y.
I really don't like M&M that much... they are only good if you fly LH Group a lot, which is absolutely not the case for me. My main carriers are SQ, TG, CX, BR or OZ.
Maintaining *G is therefore not a big issue. I just want easy and "relatively cheap" award tickets.
I really don't like M&M that much... they are only good if you fly LH Group a lot, which is absolutely not the case for me. My main carriers are SQ, TG, CX, BR or OZ.
Maintaining *G is therefore not a big issue. I just want easy and "relatively cheap" award tickets.
Nov 26, 2011, 5:48 am
#617
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Middle East
Programs: BA & THY Gold
Posts: 36
(1) What is your home airport? JED & LHR
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C & Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 40-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BD Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Free Lounge Access, miles not expiring, priority services, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Saudi Arabia to UK, intra Europe and transatlantic to west coast USA
(7) Preferred Airlines BMI, occasionally LH & TK
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure mainly if work flights always Y but can chose airline (cheapest)
Just re qualified BD Gold but looking for options ? Have award flights JED-LHR returns booked for Christmas/New Year and and again at end of January, so no rush to decide before I start earning again in 2012. The replies suggest A3, OZ or TK but what suits me if I jump ship next year.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C & Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 40-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BD Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Free Lounge Access, miles not expiring, priority services, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Saudi Arabia to UK, intra Europe and transatlantic to west coast USA
(7) Preferred Airlines BMI, occasionally LH & TK
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure mainly if work flights always Y but can chose airline (cheapest)
Just re qualified BD Gold but looking for options ? Have award flights JED-LHR returns booked for Christmas/New Year and and again at end of January, so no rush to decide before I start earning again in 2012. The replies suggest A3, OZ or TK but what suits me if I jump ship next year.
Nov 26, 2011, 7:00 am
#618
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: 7,763
(1) What is your home airport? JED & LHR
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C & Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 40-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BD Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Free Lounge Access, miles not expiring, priority services, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Saudi Arabia to UK, intra Europe and transatlantic to west coast USA
(7) Preferred Airlines BMI, occasionally LH & TK
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure mainly if work flights always Y but can chose airline (cheapest)
Just re qualified BD Gold but looking for options ? Have award flights JED-LHR returns booked for Christmas/New Year and and again at end of January, so no rush to decide before I start earning again in 2012. The replies suggest A3, OZ or TK but what suits me if I jump ship next year.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C & Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 40-50K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BD Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Free Lounge Access, miles not expiring, priority services, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Saudi Arabia to UK, intra Europe and transatlantic to west coast USA
(7) Preferred Airlines BMI, occasionally LH & TK
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure mainly if work flights always Y but can chose airline (cheapest)
Just re qualified BD Gold but looking for options ? Have award flights JED-LHR returns booked for Christmas/New Year and and again at end of January, so no rush to decide before I start earning again in 2012. The replies suggest A3, OZ or TK but what suits me if I jump ship next year.
But yes, A3, OZ, and TK are the choices that you are probably looking at.
Nov 27, 2011, 4:50 pm
#619
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 8
(1) What is your home airport? LHR
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Mostly J, a bit of Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 80k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BD Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good earn/burn
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? LHR - DME/IST/other random eastern european places
(7) Preferred Airlines? Usually fly TK, LH or OS.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
Thanks in advance!
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Mostly J, a bit of Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 80k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BD Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good earn/burn
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? LHR - DME/IST/other random eastern european places
(7) Preferred Airlines? Usually fly TK, LH or OS.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
Thanks in advance!
Nov 27, 2011, 5:44 pm
#620
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
(1) What is your home airport? LHR
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Mostly J, a bit of Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 80k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BD Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good earn/burn
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? LHR - DME/IST/other random eastern european places
(7) Preferred Airlines? Usually fly TK, LH or OS.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
Thanks in advance!
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Mostly J, a bit of Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 80k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? BD Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Good earn/burn
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? LHR - DME/IST/other random eastern european places
(7) Preferred Airlines? Usually fly TK, LH or OS.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
Thanks in advance!
Nov 28, 2011, 1:58 am
#621
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,451
doctor_j: It's quite a hard one.. if you have a lot of longer European flights, the programs offering fixed earning rates for European flights would probably be less good than those with real milage ratio (especially for flights Ex-London to Istanbul, Russia, and the like..)
On the other hand, SEN on M&M is probably the best status you could get, and definitely possible in your case (100k status miles, which is not that much if you fly mostly J, as each J European flight will net you 2k+25% Bonus)
On the other hand, London to Istanbul would give you more miles on those programs calculating it miles*2 in J - like A3. You could achieve much more worthwhile status than A3, of course, but I would definitely be looking for a program which gives the "best bang for your flown miles". I'm not such an expert which program would be the best indeed then, but I would be looking for one which gives 2*real milage on European flights in C, and 1*real milage in Economy, for those flights you'll have in Y. I guess someone else could advise you better which program is ideal.
On the other hand, SEN on M&M is probably the best status you could get, and definitely possible in your case (100k status miles, which is not that much if you fly mostly J, as each J European flight will net you 2k+25% Bonus)
On the other hand, London to Istanbul would give you more miles on those programs calculating it miles*2 in J - like A3. You could achieve much more worthwhile status than A3, of course, but I would definitely be looking for a program which gives the "best bang for your flown miles". I'm not such an expert which program would be the best indeed then, but I would be looking for one which gives 2*real milage on European flights in C, and 1*real milage in Economy, for those flights you'll have in Y. I guess someone else could advise you better which program is ideal.
Nov 28, 2011, 3:46 am
#622
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 8
I really appreciate the detailed replies!
It's possible. By the end of this year, I'll have flown around 115-120...
That's my thinking to - I'm leaning to M&M or TK's programme, for no particularly reason. I fell into BD by luck and have never really thought too hard about the best programme before...
Interesting. Hadn't thought about United. I assumed that US-based airlines go out of business every other week! I will look into it, but not sure given I never fly to the states...
Nope!
Not at all! Thanks for all your help!!
Which are those?
Status isn't so important to me... the most important thing is good earning rates and reasonable award rates on award tickets to Asia...
Cheers all!
United's MileagePlus @100k Gets you 1k (Next year it will be Premier 1k) and 6 SWU's + 100% bonus non-eqm miles.
Also, are you a resident of Germany?
Also, are do you want to stay within *A? Sorry if I'm asking too much!
doctor_j: It's quite a hard one.. if you have a lot of longer European flights, the programs offering fixed earning rates for European flights would probably be less good than those with real milage ratio (especially for flights Ex-London to Istanbul, Russia, and the like..)
Cheers all!
Nov 28, 2011, 5:56 am
#623
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: (EK) Skywards Gold
Posts: 47
Need advice please - looking to move from Emirates Skywards
(1) What is your home airport? DXB
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-30k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Skywards Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, priority services, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Dubai-Australia, Dubai-Western Europe, Dubai-West Coast USA
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ, LX
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-30k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Skywards Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, priority services, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Dubai-Australia, Dubai-Western Europe, Dubai-West Coast USA
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ, LX
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Nov 28, 2011, 7:14 am
#624
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: 7,763
(1) What is your home airport? DXB
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-30k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Skywards Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, priority services, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Dubai-Australia, Dubai-Western Europe, Dubai-West Coast USA
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ, LX
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25-30k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Skywards Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Lounge Access, priority services, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Dubai-Australia, Dubai-Western Europe, Dubai-West Coast USA
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ, LX
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure
Take your pick.
Nov 28, 2011, 6:16 pm
#625
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Even if a carrier files for bankruptcy, it seldom (if ever) affects a frequent flyer program. Unless the airline disappears (Like our beloved BD) your FF programs would stay intact. An airline's bankruptcy is just a restructuring of capital. In its darkest days, UA's FF program was not at risk.
The path of least resistance (and subsequent stress), may be to use Miles & More since so much of your travel is in Europe. LH isn't going to be thoroughly impressed with you being a UA 1k. But if you are a Senator, you'll notice the difference.
You may be able to see this again if American Airlines files for Chapter 11 protection.
Whats nice with United, you get the 6 SWU's (System Wide Upgrades), and you should be able to use them on LH for any LH long haul trips you take. What I dont know the answer to is if your residency/country citizenship affects you getting some of UA's benefits. But a call to UA should quickly address those things.
Nov 30, 2011, 12:40 pm
#626
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LED
Programs: A3*G, AF/KL Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 168
Whats nice with United, you get the 6 SWU's (System Wide Upgrades), and you should be able to use them on LH for any LH long haul trips you take. What I dont know the answer to is if your residency/country citizenship affects you getting some of UA's benefits. But a call to UA should quickly address those things.
Nov 30, 2011, 10:45 pm
#627
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: always on vacation.
Posts: 118
(1) What is your home airport? TPA.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? regular economy. >3hrs flights - business.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 2012 I will begin flying mostly California & New York..some Texas and North Carolina. expected to fly over 2 dozen flights.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? None. Just what comes with my AMEX Platinum. (I can open an airline specific card to gain more miles after I guess)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Mainly looking to gain *A status to get upgrades on travel. If I axe the AMEX Plat. then lounges would be important as well.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Mostly domestic (FL to West Coast/NY), though I will have 3 flights that will be international (Canada, Caribbeans, Europe)
(7) Preferred Airlines - whichever airline has the best service, ease in upgrading/award redemption, sensible routes based on my hometown airport, also airplanes used (I am 6'5", small airplanes and I don't get along unless it's absolutely necessary)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Mostly work - will have to be economy, but hoping I gain status and get the ability to get upgrades.
-somewhat off topic but based on my hometown airport and where I would be flying to, should I even fly with *A or should I fly DL?
Thanks!!
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? regular economy. >3hrs flights - business.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 2012 I will begin flying mostly California & New York..some Texas and North Carolina. expected to fly over 2 dozen flights.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? None. Just what comes with my AMEX Platinum. (I can open an airline specific card to gain more miles after I guess)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Mainly looking to gain *A status to get upgrades on travel. If I axe the AMEX Plat. then lounges would be important as well.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Mostly domestic (FL to West Coast/NY), though I will have 3 flights that will be international (Canada, Caribbeans, Europe)
(7) Preferred Airlines - whichever airline has the best service, ease in upgrading/award redemption, sensible routes based on my hometown airport, also airplanes used (I am 6'5", small airplanes and I don't get along unless it's absolutely necessary)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Mostly work - will have to be economy, but hoping I gain status and get the ability to get upgrades.
-somewhat off topic but based on my hometown airport and where I would be flying to, should I even fly with *A or should I fly DL?
Thanks!!
Last edited by overgrownegyptian; Nov 30, 2011 at 10:51 pm
Dec 1, 2011, 1:56 am
#628
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: 7,763
(1) What is your home airport? TPA.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? regular economy. >3hrs flights - business.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 2012 I will begin flying mostly California & New York..some Texas and North Carolina. expected to fly over 2 dozen flights.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? None. Just what comes with my AMEX Platinum. (I can open an airline specific card to gain more miles after I guess)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Mainly looking to gain *A status to get upgrades on travel. If I axe the AMEX Plat. then lounges would be important as well.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Mostly domestic (FL to West Coast/NY), though I will have 3 flights that will be international (Canada, Caribbeans, Europe)
(7) Preferred Airlines - whichever airline has the best service, ease in upgrading/award redemption, sensible routes based on my hometown airport, also airplanes used (I am 6'5", small airplanes and I don't get along unless it's absolutely necessary)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Mostly work - will have to be economy, but hoping I gain status and get the ability to get upgrades.
-somewhat off topic but based on my hometown airport and where I would be flying to, should I even fly with *A or should I fly DL?
Thanks!!
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? regular economy. >3hrs flights - business.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 2012 I will begin flying mostly California & New York..some Texas and North Carolina. expected to fly over 2 dozen flights.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? None. Just what comes with my AMEX Platinum. (I can open an airline specific card to gain more miles after I guess)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Mainly looking to gain *A status to get upgrades on travel. If I axe the AMEX Plat. then lounges would be important as well.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often? Mostly domestic (FL to West Coast/NY), though I will have 3 flights that will be international (Canada, Caribbeans, Europe)
(7) Preferred Airlines - whichever airline has the best service, ease in upgrading/award redemption, sensible routes based on my hometown airport, also airplanes used (I am 6'5", small airplanes and I don't get along unless it's absolutely necessary)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Mostly work - will have to be economy, but hoping I gain status and get the ability to get upgrades.
-somewhat off topic but based on my hometown airport and where I would be flying to, should I even fly with *A or should I fly DL?
Thanks!!
On DL and UACO, if you aren't flying 75k miles a year, your upgrades will be rare...
As a US Airways Gold, you are basically guarenteed an Exit Row or bulkhead if you don't get an upgrade.
I'd suggest you go to the US forum and find out about a "challenge" that might help you out...
Cheers.
Dec 1, 2011, 10:03 am
#629
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: always on vacation.
Posts: 118
I'd recommend US..
On DL and UACO, if you aren't flying 75k miles a year, your upgrades will be rare...
As a US Airways Gold, you are basically guarenteed an Exit Row or bulkhead if you don't get an upgrade.
I'd suggest you go to the US forum and find out about a "challenge" that might help you out...
Cheers.
On DL and UACO, if you aren't flying 75k miles a year, your upgrades will be rare...
As a US Airways Gold, you are basically guarenteed an Exit Row or bulkhead if you don't get an upgrade.
I'd suggest you go to the US forum and find out about a "challenge" that might help you out...
Cheers.
Dec 4, 2011, 7:00 am
#630
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite Gold
Posts: 42
(1) What is your home airport? (SFO, LAX, MCO, etc.)
I work at sea, so I get flown home r/t twice a year by my employer. It's hard to say what my home airport is, as I'm a bit homeless and tend to travel a fair bit during my 3 month 'off' periods. I was born in New Zealand though and spent a decade in London too, so AKL and LHR figure highly. During my Nov-Jan leave period I'll typically disembark at PMI or BCN, get my own flight to London, visit friends, then fly LHR to LAX or AKL on my boat's allowance. At the end of my 3 months off I'll get flown to SXM (Jan/Feb) or NCE (Jul/Aug) to rejoin the boat. Sorry, cr*ppy answer to a simple question...
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
I can only afford Economy. I've only ever flown biz once and it was an award ticket on SQ.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Between 50k and 65k, the latter if I do a random trip like AKL-CPT. So let's say 50-52k to be on the safe side.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
Oh god, this is a mess because I don't have a lot of control over what airline my boat chooses to fly me on. I've ended up so many FFPs but I'm basic-level in all of them. I have:
SQ = 890 miles: I didn't feel I was getting much value
NZ = $358 (142 status pts): Switched to this from SQ. Regretting it!!
BA = 4096 (10 status pts)
Air Berlin = 4490 (3990 status pts): joined this cos my g/f wanted a cheap fare PMI to JFK, so that's what we went with... sigh
QR = 11966, (50 status pts): similar reason to above... nice airline tho :-)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
This might be really unrealistic given my annual mileage, but I would love more upgrades! Sick of Y class - I'm 6'6" tall and sick of the hassle of getting enough leg-room. I (perhaps wrongly) believe that higher status = chance of op-ups plus of course award upgrades etc. Lounge access is great too, especially if the boat's booked me a dog-awful 40-hour AKL-LAX-JFK-SXM flight or something. I love little things like priority check-in, being able to bypass the throngs of other Y travellers etc. That last one isn't a show-stopper tho.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
I probably answered this in question 1. A fair amount of Europe to New Zealand, via either Asia or LAX. Dribs and drabs of PMI-BCN and PMI-London but usually on budget carriers. Domestic NZ. Occasional NZ to SYD or MEL.
(7) Preferred Airlines
For me it's mostly about Y-class leg-room, but other than that I'm easy. As you can see from my various FFP miles I'm not really heavily invested in anything.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
As you can see, I get two free return 'home port' flights a year from wherever the boat is. The boat - in theory - gives me no choice of airlines, but sometimes I can try to influence the alliance - i.e. OneWorld or Star. Pleasure flights obviously I have total control over but it's probably only about 10k/year of my 50-65k miles. Class-wise - it's always Y. IMPORTANT NOTE: the marine industry always gets 'marine fares' - these are fully refundable, sometimes cheaper (sometimes more expensive) and come with a 40kg (or 2x23kg) baggage allowance. This means our boat has a more narrow choice of airlines, because not all airlines do marine/seaman's fares. I don't know at this point what airlines exactly but so far they've flown me on Thai, Cathay, BA, Air France and Air NZ. I can try to get a full list from our boat's travel agent tomorrow.
So it's a bit of a tough call really, because I don't have total control over the airline chosen. Is there any FFP that can do 'catch-all' and get me miles on most airlines? Am also thinking of getting a UK credit card with some kind of miles accrual - any advice on which are the best? I spend about 15k (UK pounds) a year on my card (flights, hotels, online purchases, etc).
Any advice appreciated... I just want to make the most of all the travel & spending I do, as I'm sure I must be missing out on a lot of rewards simply because I don't know which way to run / join / book...
mucho thanks in advance!!
I work at sea, so I get flown home r/t twice a year by my employer. It's hard to say what my home airport is, as I'm a bit homeless and tend to travel a fair bit during my 3 month 'off' periods. I was born in New Zealand though and spent a decade in London too, so AKL and LHR figure highly. During my Nov-Jan leave period I'll typically disembark at PMI or BCN, get my own flight to London, visit friends, then fly LHR to LAX or AKL on my boat's allowance. At the end of my 3 months off I'll get flown to SXM (Jan/Feb) or NCE (Jul/Aug) to rejoin the boat. Sorry, cr*ppy answer to a simple question...
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, Y, etc.)
I can only afford Economy. I've only ever flown biz once and it was an award ticket on SQ.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Between 50k and 65k, the latter if I do a random trip like AKL-CPT. So let's say 50-52k to be on the safe side.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (UA Premier, M&M Senator etc)
Oh god, this is a mess because I don't have a lot of control over what airline my boat chooses to fly me on. I've ended up so many FFPs but I'm basic-level in all of them. I have:
SQ = 890 miles: I didn't feel I was getting much value
NZ = $358 (142 status pts): Switched to this from SQ. Regretting it!!
BA = 4096 (10 status pts)
Air Berlin = 4490 (3990 status pts): joined this cos my g/f wanted a cheap fare PMI to JFK, so that's what we went with... sigh
QR = 11966, (50 status pts): similar reason to above... nice airline tho :-)
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
This might be really unrealistic given my annual mileage, but I would love more upgrades! Sick of Y class - I'm 6'6" tall and sick of the hassle of getting enough leg-room. I (perhaps wrongly) believe that higher status = chance of op-ups plus of course award upgrades etc. Lounge access is great too, especially if the boat's booked me a dog-awful 40-hour AKL-LAX-JFK-SXM flight or something. I love little things like priority check-in, being able to bypass the throngs of other Y travellers etc. That last one isn't a show-stopper tho.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)
I probably answered this in question 1. A fair amount of Europe to New Zealand, via either Asia or LAX. Dribs and drabs of PMI-BCN and PMI-London but usually on budget carriers. Domestic NZ. Occasional NZ to SYD or MEL.
(7) Preferred Airlines
For me it's mostly about Y-class leg-room, but other than that I'm easy. As you can see from my various FFP miles I'm not really heavily invested in anything.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?)
As you can see, I get two free return 'home port' flights a year from wherever the boat is. The boat - in theory - gives me no choice of airlines, but sometimes I can try to influence the alliance - i.e. OneWorld or Star. Pleasure flights obviously I have total control over but it's probably only about 10k/year of my 50-65k miles. Class-wise - it's always Y. IMPORTANT NOTE: the marine industry always gets 'marine fares' - these are fully refundable, sometimes cheaper (sometimes more expensive) and come with a 40kg (or 2x23kg) baggage allowance. This means our boat has a more narrow choice of airlines, because not all airlines do marine/seaman's fares. I don't know at this point what airlines exactly but so far they've flown me on Thai, Cathay, BA, Air France and Air NZ. I can try to get a full list from our boat's travel agent tomorrow.
So it's a bit of a tough call really, because I don't have total control over the airline chosen. Is there any FFP that can do 'catch-all' and get me miles on most airlines? Am also thinking of getting a UK credit card with some kind of miles accrual - any advice on which are the best? I spend about 15k (UK pounds) a year on my card (flights, hotels, online purchases, etc).
Any advice appreciated... I just want to make the most of all the travel & spending I do, as I'm sure I must be missing out on a lot of rewards simply because I don't know which way to run / join / book...
mucho thanks in advance!!
Last edited by smashingly; Dec 4, 2011 at 7:06 am