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
Jan 22, 2012 | 7:38 pm
#796
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NBO, KTM
Programs: A3 Gold, DL
Posts: 13
Help me pick a Frequent Flier Program within *A
I am moving to Nairobi, but I will traveling around the continent of Africa 50-70% of the time. Obviously, I will be taking Kenya Airways majority of the time, but I will also be taking Ethiopian Airlines and South African sometimes. I will also be taking Lufthansa and Swiss to get to Nairobi from Boston.
I am debating between US Airways, Continental, United, but also am curious about South African and Ethiopian. I really have not found much feedback about the later two on Flyertalk. I also am unaware which fare classes I will be booked in for work.
Any advice would be helpful, thank you.
I am debating between US Airways, Continental, United, but also am curious about South African and Ethiopian. I really have not found much feedback about the later two on Flyertalk. I also am unaware which fare classes I will be booked in for work.
Any advice would be helpful, thank you.
Last edited by seminomad; Jan 22, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Jan 22, 2012 | 8:29 pm
#797
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NBO, KTM
Programs: A3 Gold, DL
Posts: 13
(1) What is your home airport? NBO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy?
unknown work is paying
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
I will be traveling 50-70% of time I am not sure how many miles. I will be taking Kenya Airways more often, but will need a *A FFP to cover miles earned on Ethiopian and South African when applicable. If I am going to earn status it will be with Flying Blue or SkyMiles (and that is a whole other conversation about whether I should switch). Thus my main goal is just to collect the miles because I doubt I will be able to get status.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
I have no status
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
good award redemption rates and credit for miles flown as many fares as possible
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
all over Africa, if a country has refugees, there is a chance I could be going there (with the exception of North Africa). I will earn miles when I work in South Africa and Ethiopia and fly routes not covered by Kenya Airways
(7) Preferred Airlines
I do not like Egyptair's program nor Lufthansas, however I am pretty open to all others. I have looked at American Carriers and African ones, South African's Voyager seems at initial glance to be better than Ethiopian's Shebamiles. Neither airline has a lot of codeshare agreements with other African airlines though.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Most of my miles will come from work, though I do travel for pleasure.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy?
unknown work is paying
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
I will be traveling 50-70% of time I am not sure how many miles. I will be taking Kenya Airways more often, but will need a *A FFP to cover miles earned on Ethiopian and South African when applicable. If I am going to earn status it will be with Flying Blue or SkyMiles (and that is a whole other conversation about whether I should switch). Thus my main goal is just to collect the miles because I doubt I will be able to get status.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
I have no status
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
good award redemption rates and credit for miles flown as many fares as possible
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
all over Africa, if a country has refugees, there is a chance I could be going there (with the exception of North Africa). I will earn miles when I work in South Africa and Ethiopia and fly routes not covered by Kenya Airways
(7) Preferred Airlines
I do not like Egyptair's program nor Lufthansas, however I am pretty open to all others. I have looked at American Carriers and African ones, South African's Voyager seems at initial glance to be better than Ethiopian's Shebamiles. Neither airline has a lot of codeshare agreements with other African airlines though.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Most of my miles will come from work, though I do travel for pleasure.
Jan 22, 2012 | 10:54 pm
#798
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Family RTW
Programs: Amex Plat, Chase Sapphire, A3 Gold, Alaska Air, UA, Virgin Atlantic, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 186
(1) What is your home airport? LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? <25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? NONE
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel if I qualified, which seems doubtful, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often US Domestic
(7) Preferred Airlines - UA - I am accumulating miles to transfer to UA through Chase Sapphire
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure - I choose
Additional: I am about to go on a RTW in C on Star.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? <25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? NONE
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel if I qualified, which seems doubtful, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often US Domestic
(7) Preferred Airlines - UA - I am accumulating miles to transfer to UA through Chase Sapphire
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure - I choose
Additional: I am about to go on a RTW in C on Star.
Jan 23, 2012 | 6:06 am
#799
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
(1) What is your home airport? NBO
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy?
unknown work is paying
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
I will be traveling 50-70% of time I am not sure how many miles. I will be taking Kenya Airways more often, but will need a *A FFP to cover miles earned on Ethiopian and South African when applicable. If I am going to earn status it will be with Flying Blue or SkyMiles (and that is a whole other conversation about whether I should switch). Thus my main goal is just to collect the miles because I doubt I will be able to get status.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
I have no status
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
good award redemption rates and credit for miles flown as many fares as possible
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
all over Africa, if a country has refugees, there is a chance I could be going there (with the exception of North Africa). I will earn miles when I work in South Africa and Ethiopia and fly routes not covered by Kenya Airways
(7) Preferred Airlines
I do not like Egyptair's program nor Lufthansas, however I am pretty open to all others. I have looked at American Carriers and African ones, South African's Voyager seems at initial glance to be better than Ethiopian's Shebamiles. Neither airline has a lot of codeshare agreements with other African airlines though.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Most of my miles will come from work, though I do travel for pleasure.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy?
unknown work is paying
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year?
I will be traveling 50-70% of time I am not sure how many miles. I will be taking Kenya Airways more often, but will need a *A FFP to cover miles earned on Ethiopian and South African when applicable. If I am going to earn status it will be with Flying Blue or SkyMiles (and that is a whole other conversation about whether I should switch). Thus my main goal is just to collect the miles because I doubt I will be able to get status.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
I have no status
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
good award redemption rates and credit for miles flown as many fares as possible
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
all over Africa, if a country has refugees, there is a chance I could be going there (with the exception of North Africa). I will earn miles when I work in South Africa and Ethiopia and fly routes not covered by Kenya Airways
(7) Preferred Airlines
I do not like Egyptair's program nor Lufthansas, however I am pretty open to all others. I have looked at American Carriers and African ones, South African's Voyager seems at initial glance to be better than Ethiopian's Shebamiles. Neither airline has a lot of codeshare agreements with other African airlines though.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Most of my miles will come from work, though I do travel for pleasure.
(1) What is your home airport? LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? <25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? NONE
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel if I qualified, which seems doubtful, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often US Domestic
(7) Preferred Airlines - UA - I am accumulating miles to transfer to UA through Chase Sapphire
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure - I choose
Additional: I am about to go on a RTW in C on Star.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? <25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? NONE
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel if I qualified, which seems doubtful, good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often US Domestic
(7) Preferred Airlines - UA - I am accumulating miles to transfer to UA through Chase Sapphire
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Pleasure - I choose
Additional: I am about to go on a RTW in C on Star.
That could make a difference on the program you choose.
Otherwise, your only bet is Aegean.
Jan 23, 2012 | 8:21 am
#800
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Family RTW
Programs: Amex Plat, Chase Sapphire, A3 Gold, Alaska Air, UA, Virgin Atlantic, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 186
Jan 23, 2012 | 8:18 pm
#802
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Family RTW
Programs: Amex Plat, Chase Sapphire, A3 Gold, Alaska Air, UA, Virgin Atlantic, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 186
Short Haul - LX, CA, TK, SK, TG
I could easily swap out LX or NH for another carrier, say UA, though that would be a step down in service!
Jan 24, 2012 | 2:09 am
#803
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 means that A3, OZ, or even TK is probably your best choice.
LX and US are the other 2 choices that might make sense if you want to capitalize on this RTW.
Jan 25, 2012 | 5:04 am
#804
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,255
1) What is your home airport? -- Kolkata ( CCU)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? -- Always lowest available Y class.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? hmmm.. between 20-30k
This year, I now have a project that will take me very frequently to bangkok ( bkk) from kolkata (ccu)..I guess it will be about 15 round trips with each trip giving between 1500 - 2k miles.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
LH M&M FTL valid upto Feb 2014.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good award redemption rates , credit for miles flown as many fares as possible..
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
Till now mostly flew India - Europe, this year going to be CCU - BKK mostly.
(7) Preferred Airlines
Pretty open to all ..
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Most of my miles will come from work, and redeem them for pleasure trips..
Note -- Thai Airways ( TG) has daily direct connections between CCU - BKK and at decent timings..My issue is whether I should fly TG ( as *S) and credit the miles to M&M or should I register for TG ROP and start from scratch ( considering I can get silver and maybe Gold this year) or should I open a A3 account. I want to accumulate as many miles I can to redeem for personal trips so thats the number one consideration for me.
I also hv a Jet Airways account and they too have daily direct flights in this route.. But there redemption options and availability is nothing great and hence confused as to what to do...
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? -- Always lowest available Y class.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? hmmm.. between 20-30k
This year, I now have a project that will take me very frequently to bangkok ( bkk) from kolkata (ccu)..I guess it will be about 15 round trips with each trip giving between 1500 - 2k miles.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
LH M&M FTL valid upto Feb 2014.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good award redemption rates , credit for miles flown as many fares as possible..
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
Till now mostly flew India - Europe, this year going to be CCU - BKK mostly.
(7) Preferred Airlines
Pretty open to all ..
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Most of my miles will come from work, and redeem them for pleasure trips..
Note -- Thai Airways ( TG) has daily direct connections between CCU - BKK and at decent timings..My issue is whether I should fly TG ( as *S) and credit the miles to M&M or should I register for TG ROP and start from scratch ( considering I can get silver and maybe Gold this year) or should I open a A3 account. I want to accumulate as many miles I can to redeem for personal trips so thats the number one consideration for me.
I also hv a Jet Airways account and they too have daily direct flights in this route.. But there redemption options and availability is nothing great and hence confused as to what to do...
Jan 25, 2012 | 5:19 am
#805
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? -- Kolkata ( CCU)
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? -- Always lowest available Y class.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? hmmm.. between 20-30k
This year, I now have a project that will take me very frequently to bangkok ( bkk) from kolkata (ccu)..I guess it will be about 15 round trips with each trip giving between 1500 - 2k miles.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
LH M&M FTL valid upto Feb 2014.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good award redemption rates , credit for miles flown as many fares as possible..
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
Till now mostly flew India - Europe, this year going to be CCU - BKK mostly.
(7) Preferred Airlines
Pretty open to all ..
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Most of my miles will come from work, and redeem them for pleasure trips..
Note -- Thai Airways ( TG) has daily direct connections between CCU - BKK and at decent timings..My issue is whether I should fly TG ( as *S) and credit the miles to M&M or should I register for TG ROP and start from scratch ( considering I can get silver and maybe Gold this year) or should I open a A3 account. I want to accumulate as many miles I can to redeem for personal trips so thats the number one consideration for me.
I also hv a Jet Airways account and they too have daily direct flights in this route.. But there redemption options and availability is nothing great and hence confused as to what to do...
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy? -- Always lowest available Y class.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? hmmm.. between 20-30k
This year, I now have a project that will take me very frequently to bangkok ( bkk) from kolkata (ccu)..I guess it will be about 15 round trips with each trip giving between 1500 - 2k miles.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it?
LH M&M FTL valid upto Feb 2014.
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Good award redemption rates , credit for miles flown as many fares as possible..
(6) Which routes do you fly most often?
Till now mostly flew India - Europe, this year going to be CCU - BKK mostly.
(7) Preferred Airlines
Pretty open to all ..
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Most of my miles will come from work, and redeem them for pleasure trips..
Note -- Thai Airways ( TG) has daily direct connections between CCU - BKK and at decent timings..My issue is whether I should fly TG ( as *S) and credit the miles to M&M or should I register for TG ROP and start from scratch ( considering I can get silver and maybe Gold this year) or should I open a A3 account. I want to accumulate as many miles I can to redeem for personal trips so thats the number one consideration for me.
I also hv a Jet Airways account and they too have daily direct flights in this route.. But there redemption options and availability is nothing great and hence confused as to what to do...
However, make sure you book the Q fare - it's usually ~2k rupees more expensive than the cheapest W fare, but the W fare doesn't earn miles. Q earns 100%.
Jan 25, 2012 | 5:25 am
#806
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,255
I don't usually have an option of selecting the fare as thats given by the company agent and no negotiations there
Jan 25, 2012 | 5:37 am
#807
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
If they always buy W-fares for you, then, it may be worth to not fly TG at all, and just focus on 9W.
Unless your travel desk gets you Q or above, dont fly TG.
Another option is ...after ticketing a W-fare through your travel desk, can you possibly call Thai and re-issue in Q-class. Dont know if TG allows that kind of stuff...they may charge a penalty....so, it may not be worth your while.
Jan 25, 2012 | 8:39 am
#808
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,255
This is a real problem. W-fares DO NOT earn miles even with TG!! If they always buy W-fares for you, then, it may be worth to not fly TG at all, and just focus on 9W.
Unless your travel desk gets you Q or above, dont fly TG.
Another option is ...after ticketing a W-fare through your travel desk, can you possibly call Thai and re-issue in Q-class. Dont know if TG allows that kind of stuff...they may charge a penalty....so, it may not be worth your while.
Unless your travel desk gets you Q or above, dont fly TG.
Another option is ...after ticketing a W-fare through your travel desk, can you possibly call Thai and re-issue in Q-class. Dont know if TG allows that kind of stuff...they may charge a penalty....so, it may not be worth your while.
On the other hand, 9W gives me 100% miles on all available classes ( other than G).. I guess should go with 9W based on the above..
Jan 25, 2012 | 9:13 am
#809
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
Oh.. this is the deal breaker for me.. I did some dummy ticketing from our corp agent site and seems TG flights from CCU have W class availabilty even if ticketing only 3-4 days in advance.. this means no miles regardless of ffp..
On the other hand, 9W gives me 100% miles on all available classes ( other than G).. I guess should go with 9W based on the above..
On the other hand, 9W gives me 100% miles on all available classes ( other than G).. I guess should go with 9W based on the above..
If that doesn't work out, then 9W is (sadly) your best bet it seems.
Also, is there any way that you can pay your company the fare difference and book in the more expensive fare class? Or could you hold off on booking until the day before?
Jan 25, 2012 | 10:52 am
#810
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Always on the move
Programs: Something lifetime here and there
Posts: 1,873
Ok....in the process of re-evaluating..need some help
(1) What is your home airport? LAS
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Refundable Domestic, Premium INTL
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? Around 250K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Lifetime 1K (former GS) EXP
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel if I qualified, which seems doubtful, good award redemption rates Award redemption for 2
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: 20-25% domestic 75-80% intl based on # of trips..not dollars
(7) Preferred Airlines - UA - used to be across the board, now OW for INTL trips.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? 95% Work - I choose
Additional: Recovering GS at UA. Now Lifetime 1K. Have returned to EXP status after a break via mostly OW INTL trips. Is this still the best way to go? having both of them? or?
Many thanks....
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Refundable Domestic, Premium INTL
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? Around 250K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? Lifetime 1K (former GS) EXP
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Frequent upgrades on travel if I qualified, which seems doubtful, good award redemption rates Award redemption for 2
(6) Which routes do you fly most often: 20-25% domestic 75-80% intl based on # of trips..not dollars
(7) Preferred Airlines - UA - used to be across the board, now OW for INTL trips.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? 95% Work - I choose
Additional: Recovering GS at UA. Now Lifetime 1K. Have returned to EXP status after a break via mostly OW INTL trips. Is this still the best way to go? having both of them? or?
Many thanks....