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 18, 2013 | 10:03 pm
#1261
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PBI / JFK, ISP, LGA
Programs: AA, AS, AV, B6, DL, F9, WN
Posts: 868
I would like upgrades but I don't want to get killed by redemption costs because I pay for most of my travel. I believe I will be flying about 50,000 or 60,000 miles during the next two years in the US and Latin America.
Nov 18, 2013 | 10:53 pm
#1262
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Upgrades will be tough no matter what program since it looks like you are based in NYC. Even after the meltdown of MileagePlus last week, it still seems to be a viable option. Especially since they really didnt damage their redemption chart for UA flights. You can look at something like Avianca, but that will do you virtually no good for travel within USA. 50k gets you United Premier Gold which gives you some chance at upgrades and a 50% award miles bonus, and some free checked luggage.
Nov 18, 2013 | 11:34 pm
#1263
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Los Feliz-Los Angeles (BUR/LAX) Arun Baheti
Programs: UA MM/Gold; HH something depending; Marriott Gold; other opportunistic statuses
Posts: 1,945
Upgrades will be tough no matter what program since it looks like you are based in NYC. Even after the meltdown of MileagePlus last week, it still seems to be a viable option. Especially since they really didnt damage their redemption chart for UA flights. You can look at something like Avianca, but that will do you virtually no good for travel within USA. 50k gets you United Premier Gold which gives you some chance at upgrades and a 50% award miles bonus, and some free checked luggage.
Nov 19, 2013 | 12:17 am
#1264
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Thats true, 50-60k miles could run that much. Just 10 $500 transcon fares would do it...at least thats what I've been used to paying from GRR.....
Nov 19, 2013 | 1:32 am
#1265
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 2
which star alliance program should i join???
I am an expat working in the netherlands but i am from kuwait
so i will be frequently flying with my wife back and forth between kuwait and the netherlands ( once a month maybe using turkish airlines or lufthansa)
i also go to the US for a vacation once a year
i was wondering what would be the best suitable airline program for me in star alliance?
so i will be frequently flying with my wife back and forth between kuwait and the netherlands ( once a month maybe using turkish airlines or lufthansa)
i also go to the US for a vacation once a year
i was wondering what would be the best suitable airline program for me in star alliance?
Nov 19, 2013 | 11:28 am
#1268
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Berlin
Programs: LH FTL, BA Silver, Sixt Platinum, HH Silver
Posts: 51
Hi,
Im just sitting in LHR T1 in a pub because Im not eligible for the Star Alliance lounge, though Lufthansa FTL status.
My recommendation: dont fly star alliance at all.
Im just sitting in LHR T1 in a pub because Im not eligible for the Star Alliance lounge, though Lufthansa FTL status.
My recommendation: dont fly star alliance at all.
Nov 19, 2013 | 2:22 pm
#1269
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
You don't fly enough to qualify for lounge access, so you tell others not to fly *A?
Nov 19, 2013 | 3:56 pm
#1270
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Berlin
Programs: LH FTL, BA Silver, Sixt Platinum, HH Silver
Posts: 51
I fly enough to know that e.g. with my BA executive club status (also silver, resp. One World Sapphire) I would sit in the great gallery lounge enjoying a glass of champagne now.
Nov 19, 2013 | 4:05 pm
#1271
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,931
khulaifi Welcome to the forum
Better to ask here : http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...post-here.html
Better to ask here : http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...post-here.html
Nov 20, 2013 | 1:32 am
#1272
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 2
Hello i am an expat from kuwait living in the netherlands
my wife is usualy with me on most of my flights so am looking for a program where we could maybe pool miles togather
(1) What is your home airport? amsterdam schipol
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? me around 60k, my wife around 40k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? joined turkish program 2 weeks ago now i have 13k miles
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrade rewards (specificaly for my once a year trip to the US), and ticket rewards
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (europe to kuwait once a month, within europe once a month, europe to USA once a year)
(7) Preferred Airlines. turkish since its very cheap
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? mostly pleasure but a few buisness trips a year
i need help to know which star alliance program should i join for best rewards and fastest status and a good family pooling option.
my wife is usualy with me on most of my flights so am looking for a program where we could maybe pool miles togather
(1) What is your home airport? amsterdam schipol
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? me around 60k, my wife around 40k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? joined turkish program 2 weeks ago now i have 13k miles
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrade rewards (specificaly for my once a year trip to the US), and ticket rewards
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (europe to kuwait once a month, within europe once a month, europe to USA once a year)
(7) Preferred Airlines. turkish since its very cheap
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? mostly pleasure but a few buisness trips a year
i need help to know which star alliance program should i join for best rewards and fastest status and a good family pooling option.
Nov 20, 2013 | 10:03 am
#1273
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,553
However, you obviously don't know LH FTL is only star silver, which means you can't access any partner lounge except LH's Business lounge.
Nov 20, 2013 | 11:39 am
#1274
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Berlin
Programs: LH FTL, BA Silver, Sixt Platinum, HH Silver
Posts: 51
Hi,
that's my point. In Oneworld, silver grants you access almost everywhere. It's a little harder to achieve than *a silver but offers much more.
Somewhere in a small town's airport I wouldn't mind, but Lufthansa sees also LHR as a secondary hub.
But that has been discussed very often in this forum, so let's leave it there.
Have a nice evening...
that's my point. In Oneworld, silver grants you access almost everywhere. It's a little harder to achieve than *a silver but offers much more.
Somewhere in a small town's airport I wouldn't mind, but Lufthansa sees also LHR as a secondary hub.
But that has been discussed very often in this forum, so let's leave it there.
Have a nice evening...
Nov 20, 2013 | 4:33 pm
#1275
Moderator, All Nippon Airways and Japan
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: NH SFC (*G), JL JGC (OWS), AS MVP, WOH E, IHG SE
Posts: 3,920
which star alliance program should i join???
You're comparing apples and oranges. BA Silver and *A Silver are different levels.
BA Silver = OW Sapphire = *A Gold = LH SEN
BA Bronze would correspond to *A Silver.
BA Silver = OW Sapphire = *A Gold = LH SEN
BA Bronze would correspond to *A Silver.