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
Dec 28, 2011 | 9:09 am
#736
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: BA
Posts: 199
Other airlines with lower threshold are Turkish and Asiana.
Cheap fares almost earn nothing on Asiana.
I would suggest reading through Turkish's loyalty program and see if the fares you buy will earn miles on them.
For low mileage flyers, yes Aegean is the fastest way to Star Gold.
Cheap fares almost earn nothing on Asiana.
I would suggest reading through Turkish's loyalty program and see if the fares you buy will earn miles on them.
For low mileage flyers, yes Aegean is the fastest way to Star Gold.
I dunno, what do you guys in the know think: are there many huge differences between asiana and aegean that should sway me either way?
Dec 29, 2011 | 6:52 am
#737
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: HHonors Diamond; Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum; BA Exec. Club Silver
Posts: 1,841
Now BMI's departure from *A is imminent i need to look for a new home. ROP and SQ KF are not for me.
(1) What is your home airport? SIN
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, And Y)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25k on * which is usually enought to reach status with class multipliers)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (9 years of BD*G)
(5) What is most important to you in a ffp? (Class if service multiplier Cx2 Fx3, miles dont expire, low treshold to Gold)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Asia-europe)
(7) Preferred Airlines (TG, SQ)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (both, i can make my own choices.)
Any advise?
Thanks,
Globalist
(1) What is your home airport? SIN
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? (C, F, And Y)
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? (<25k on * which is usually enought to reach status with class multipliers)
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? (9 years of BD*G)
(5) What is most important to you in a ffp? (Class if service multiplier Cx2 Fx3, miles dont expire, low treshold to Gold)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (Asia-europe)
(7) Preferred Airlines (TG, SQ)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (both, i can make my own choices.)
Any advise?
Thanks,
Globalist
Dec 29, 2011 | 8:36 am
#738
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Miles expire in almost all programs these days. So, it is almost essential to have a credit card associated with your chosen program..to keep it active.
Some programs (example: UA/CO), the miles never expire as long as there is some activity once every 18 months or so.
Whereas some other programs, each mile has an expiry date.
The features offered by BD were indeed pretty nice combined with a low star Gold threshold. So, you are kind of stuck now.
You already said you dont want to go with TG.
Aegean may be your only other option. They do offer 2X for F fares I think.
20K qualifying miles = Star Gold for three years.
Dec 29, 2011 | 8:37 am
#739
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
I took at a look at the earning tables, and it seems like most of the cheap tickets on the airlines I normally fly earn equivalent miles as they currently do in diamond club. I could easily get 40k miles in 24 months, but then I could really use a *gold card for 2012 (my bd card expires in july, but then it likely won't be star alliance for all that time anyway!). I gather neither status match?
I dunno, what do you guys in the know think: are there many huge differences between asiana and aegean that should sway me either way?
I dunno, what do you guys in the know think: are there many huge differences between asiana and aegean that should sway me either way?
Seems like Aegean is currently a better deal than Asiana.
Dec 29, 2011 | 8:40 am
#740
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
(1) new home - LHR
(2) mileage - 100K
(3) Economy fare
(4) Work travel, can choose airline
(5) Future R/T destinations: AMS (6x), YVR(4x), YYZ(4x), IAD(3x), RTM(3x), ZHR(3x), HEL(2x), HKG(1x), LAS(1x) -- some domestic travel once I'm in Canada, USA, NL, and FI
(6) current status: UA Gold (37,9 on UA and 3,6 on CO in 2011, so think I'll lose status for 2012, right? ), BA Bronze (13,7)
(7) MOST IMPORTANT: upgrades on travel and free lounge access
I realise I've made the mistake of not consolidating my air miles in the past - ready to be loyal to one airline, but not sure which. Thinking BA since I'm flying out of LHR...?
So grateful for this forum! Thanks in advance.
(2) mileage - 100K
(3) Economy fare
(4) Work travel, can choose airline
(5) Future R/T destinations: AMS (6x), YVR(4x), YYZ(4x), IAD(3x), RTM(3x), ZHR(3x), HEL(2x), HKG(1x), LAS(1x) -- some domestic travel once I'm in Canada, USA, NL, and FI
(6) current status: UA Gold (37,9 on UA and 3,6 on CO in 2011, so think I'll lose status for 2012, right? ), BA Bronze (13,7)
(7) MOST IMPORTANT: upgrades on travel and free lounge access
I realise I've made the mistake of not consolidating my air miles in the past - ready to be loyal to one airline, but not sure which. Thinking BA since I'm flying out of LHR...?
So grateful for this forum! Thanks in advance.
I dont know anything about the BA program. You could ask in the OneWorld forum. They have a similar thread as well.
However, for your flying patterns: Lufthansa / United will offer you quite a bit of value.
Being Europe based (and not in Germany), I would suggest Lufthansa in the Star Alliance.
I would suggest you to read about the United and Lufthansa programs and compare with the BA program. Then make a choice.
Yes, its much better to consolidate in one program, especially when you are flying 100K miles a year.
The benefits will be great.
Dec 31, 2011 | 11:28 am
#741
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3
Thanks snod08! My first FT posting, really appreciate your reply. I'll ask in OneWorld, too. Based on your response, though, sounds like it's not a big deal to have a loyalty program that isn't the primary airlines out of the hub? If I'm United *Gold, does it makes sense to shift to M&M?
Dec 31, 2011 | 12:26 pm
#742
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Thanks snod08! My first FT posting, really appreciate your reply. I'll ask in OneWorld, too. Based on your response, though, sounds like it's not a big deal to have a loyalty program that isn't the primary airlines out of the hub? If I'm United *Gold, does it makes sense to shift to M&M?
From 2012 year onwards, if you want to keep any status on United, you have to fly four qualifying segments on united. That means, you need to literally take four flights (of any distance) on united.
if you doubt that will happen, then choose LH; Otherwise, you can still stick to UA.
I would say switch to LH, if you think most of your trans-oceanic travel will be on LH rather than on United.
Jan 1, 2012 | 11:59 am
#743
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? SFO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Bus Class Int, Coach Domestic
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 120k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? UA 1k
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Domestic upgrades and easy award redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often SFO to Asia and Latam and some Europe
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Mostly work (business class intl) and some personal travel
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Bus Class Int, Coach Domestic
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 120k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? UA 1k
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Domestic upgrades and easy award redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often SFO to Asia and Latam and some Europe
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Mostly work (business class intl) and some personal travel
Jan 1, 2012 | 12:02 pm
#744
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?
SFO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Y, but often C
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
100k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
I do not. VX mostly to use their cheap F upgrades
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Frequent upgrades and award redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
Domestic: SFO to JFK/BOS/ORD/DAL 5-7 per year
International: SFO to LHR/FRA, SFO to BOM/BLR, SFO-NRT, 3-4 such trips per year
(7) Preferred Airlines
I love Virgin, but their international options are non-existent. I have been hoping and waiting to see if they will join one of the alliances, but looks unlikely. And they are not a good fit going forward since I will have more international travel.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
Work mostly
Suggestions? If (as likely) the suggestion is going to be UA, any comments on how easy are upgrades especially for international flights out of SFO?
Thanks!
S
SFO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ?
Y, but often C
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
100k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
I do not. VX mostly to use their cheap F upgrades
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Frequent upgrades and award redemption
(6) Which routes do you fly most often
Domestic: SFO to JFK/BOS/ORD/DAL 5-7 per year
International: SFO to LHR/FRA, SFO to BOM/BLR, SFO-NRT, 3-4 such trips per year
(7) Preferred Airlines
I love Virgin, but their international options are non-existent. I have been hoping and waiting to see if they will join one of the alliances, but looks unlikely. And they are not a good fit going forward since I will have more international travel.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure?
Work mostly
Suggestions? If (as likely) the suggestion is going to be UA, any comments on how easy are upgrades especially for international flights out of SFO?
Thanks!
S
However, if you fly in Business on international flights, I suggest you keep using Virgin on domestic (they really are incredible) and use Swiss on international. They give 200% miles for flying international and treat their SEN members really well...
Jan 1, 2012 | 12:05 pm
#745
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
Jan 2, 2012 | 12:02 am
#747
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SIN
Posts: 23
KF or not?
I usually fly SQ for work and only achieved KF Gold status last year because of an additional US trip. I'm thinking of switching to another FF program where it's easier to achieve & maintain Gold status. Any help or suggestions are appreciated!
(1) What is your home airport? SIN
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Usually Y within Asia & 1 long haul in C per year
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25k-50k with approximately 1 trip / month or every 6 weeks.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? KF Gold but it's very unlikely to be renewed
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority services when flying the airline, waitlist priority, free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often almost exclusively within Asia
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ, TG, OZ, CX
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
(1) What is your home airport? SIN
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Usually Y within Asia & 1 long haul in C per year
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25k-50k with approximately 1 trip / month or every 6 weeks.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? KF Gold but it's very unlikely to be renewed
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority services when flying the airline, waitlist priority, free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often almost exclusively within Asia
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ, TG, OZ, CX
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
Jan 2, 2012 | 1:02 am
#748
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 usually fly SQ for work and only achieved KF Gold status last year because of an additional US trip. I'm thinking of switching to another FF program where it's easier to achieve & maintain Gold status. Any help or suggestions are appreciated!
(1) What is your home airport? SIN
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Usually Y within Asia & 1 long haul in C per year
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25k-50k with approximately 1 trip / month or every 6 weeks.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? KF Gold but it's very unlikely to be renewed
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority services when flying the airline, waitlist priority, free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often almost exclusively within Asia
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ, TG, OZ, CX
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
(1) What is your home airport? SIN
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Usually Y within Asia & 1 long haul in C per year
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 25k-50k with approximately 1 trip / month or every 6 weeks.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? KF Gold but it's very unlikely to be renewed
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? priority services when flying the airline, waitlist priority, free lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often almost exclusively within Asia
(7) Preferred Airlines SQ, TG, OZ, CX
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work
Jan 2, 2012 | 11:00 am
#750
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG Plat, HH Gold, CX DM, A3 Gold
Posts: 49
My home airport is Singapore, and I'm interested in transferring SPG pts to FF programs to redeem C or F tix from SIN to destinations in Europe or US. Which FF programs offer the best redemption rates?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!