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 12, 2013 | 9:15 am
#1291
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 101
which frequent flyer program ?
I'm trying to decide where to put my miles into . I'm new to this and have just started earning frequent flyer miles for Aegean air Miles and Bonus program. But the only reason I put them in their is because of the access to lounges . ( if there is an easier way , let me know ) .
Aside from that , I don't know where to put my miles. I frequently travel to Asia from the US. I don't travel much domestically in the US. I was thinking of United for a bit but after the announcement of the devaluation of the miles, I'm not sure. It doesn't even have to be Star alliance, just which frequent flyer program should I put my miles in ?
Aside from that , I don't know where to put my miles. I frequently travel to Asia from the US. I don't travel much domestically in the US. I was thinking of United for a bit but after the announcement of the devaluation of the miles, I'm not sure. It doesn't even have to be Star alliance, just which frequent flyer program should I put my miles in ?
Dec 12, 2013 | 9:51 am
#1294
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Posts: 3,344
Originally Posted by agb1a
I'm trying to decide where to put my miles into.
At the top of this forum is a 'sticky' thread titled 'Need advice on which *A FF scheme to join? - please post here'. Rather than start a new thread, that might be a good place to ask your question.
cheers,
Henry
Dec 12, 2013 | 11:26 am
#1295
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Munich, Taipei
Programs: AB Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 179
(1) What is your home airport? MUC, TPE
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Cheap Y fares of if I fly BR I buy Elite
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? About 25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? A3 Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? good redemption rates in one way C
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)? I fly 2/3 a year from Munich to Taiwan. a few domestic within Germany, which are so short that it doesn't matter how many miles I earn. Also a few trips within Asia from TPE.
(7) Preferred Airlines Usually fly Air China the most since they are so cheap, but they only earn 50% on any ffp. Or times Eva Elite if they have a decent fare. But the cheaper Elite class booking class only earns 50% on A3 as well.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Pleasure only
So basically all the FFP only give 50% for CA flights, which I fly the most. Since I already have the *G from A3, I just want the best airline with best redemption rates.
Or are there any other suggestions?
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Cheap Y fares of if I fly BR I buy Elite
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? About 25K
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? A3 Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? good redemption rates in one way C
(6) Which routes do you fly most often (US Domestic, Transpacific etc)? I fly 2/3 a year from Munich to Taiwan. a few domestic within Germany, which are so short that it doesn't matter how many miles I earn. Also a few trips within Asia from TPE.
(7) Preferred Airlines Usually fly Air China the most since they are so cheap, but they only earn 50% on any ffp. Or times Eva Elite if they have a decent fare. But the cheaper Elite class booking class only earns 50% on A3 as well.
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? (Can you chooose your airlines, class of service?) Pleasure only
So basically all the FFP only give 50% for CA flights, which I fly the most. Since I already have the *G from A3, I just want the best airline with best redemption rates.
Or are there any other suggestions?
Dec 12, 2013 | 6:18 pm
#1297
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: CX MPO, TG ROP, SPG,
Posts: 1
Bangkok-based advice appreciated
Hi all, have followed FT for years but posting for the first time! Appreciate any help from members:
(1) What is your home airport? BKK
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C for Business travel, Y for leisure.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? CX Silver,
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades and priority services when flying.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Within Asia (C & Y), Asia-Europe (C)
(7) Preferred Airlines CX, SQ, TG, TK
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both and I can choose my airlines subject to reasonable routings and budgets.
I have been CX elite for the last 10 years and will now need to fly *A network frequently on business class long-haul for the next year. Am curious to know whether it would be more advantageous for me to start *A with TG ROP or TK M&S (most business class flights will be BKK-Eastern Europe-BKK). Thanks in advance.
(1) What is your home airport? BKK
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? C for Business travel, Y for leisure.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? CX Silver,
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Upgrades and priority services when flying.
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Within Asia (C & Y), Asia-Europe (C)
(7) Preferred Airlines CX, SQ, TG, TK
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both and I can choose my airlines subject to reasonable routings and budgets.
I have been CX elite for the last 10 years and will now need to fly *A network frequently on business class long-haul for the next year. Am curious to know whether it would be more advantageous for me to start *A with TG ROP or TK M&S (most business class flights will be BKK-Eastern Europe-BKK). Thanks in advance.
Dec 13, 2013 | 8:19 am
#1298
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: Marriott LT Plt
Posts: 7
(1) What is your home airport? PHL
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy and sometimes upgrade to Economy/business
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? ~50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? UA Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Security lines and seat upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often US domestic
(7) Preferred Airlines: American, United, US Air, (but open to others)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work, but I can choose (with preference to cheapest flight).
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy and sometimes upgrade to Economy/business
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? ~50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? UA Silver
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? Security lines and seat upgrades
(6) Which routes do you fly most often US domestic
(7) Preferred Airlines: American, United, US Air, (but open to others)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Work, but I can choose (with preference to cheapest flight).
Dec 13, 2013 | 12:29 pm
#1299
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 9
1. TLV
2. Y
3. That's a very good question. It's very hard to know. In the beginning of the year I was expecting to fly only few thousand miles - just a trip to Europe. But eventually I flew two times to Europe and two times to N. America. Not enough for gold in most companies (Aegean wouldn't give me full miles for most tickets), but still quite a lot
4. Nope. Used to have Aeroplan silver 2 year ago.
5. Status would be nice, but I realize that it's quite impossible to obtain it with the amount of miles that I do. Therefore, award tickets will be nice.
6. Don't have those.
7. I don't care. I try to avoid Lufthansa, because their Y cabin sucks, and I hate FRA, but that's it.
8. Mostly pleasure. If it's business, than I'm from academia, so I can't really go in business, but occasionally I can choose the booking class in the economy.
My short list is Ethiopian, Singapore, Thai, Turkish, Aegean and Asiana. These were chosen on the basis that they (except Aegean) give 100% miles to most booking classes. Of all those Asiana looks like the best chance to get a status, but it seems from their site that I can't really do anything with their award miles from Israel. I am thinking Turkish, but I'll be happy to hear your opinion.
2. Y
3. That's a very good question. It's very hard to know. In the beginning of the year I was expecting to fly only few thousand miles - just a trip to Europe. But eventually I flew two times to Europe and two times to N. America. Not enough for gold in most companies (Aegean wouldn't give me full miles for most tickets), but still quite a lot
4. Nope. Used to have Aeroplan silver 2 year ago.
5. Status would be nice, but I realize that it's quite impossible to obtain it with the amount of miles that I do. Therefore, award tickets will be nice.
6. Don't have those.
7. I don't care. I try to avoid Lufthansa, because their Y cabin sucks, and I hate FRA, but that's it.
8. Mostly pleasure. If it's business, than I'm from academia, so I can't really go in business, but occasionally I can choose the booking class in the economy.
My short list is Ethiopian, Singapore, Thai, Turkish, Aegean and Asiana. These were chosen on the basis that they (except Aegean) give 100% miles to most booking classes. Of all those Asiana looks like the best chance to get a status, but it seems from their site that I can't really do anything with their award miles from Israel. I am thinking Turkish, but I'll be happy to hear your opinion.
Dec 14, 2013 | 8:13 pm
#1300
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 101
1) What is your home airport? JFK
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y fare
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? <25K (approximately 16,000 miles )
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? I don't have any status with an airline
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often ? To and around Asia ( China, Korea, Hong Kong )
(7) Preferred Airlines ? none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? both
I'm trying to decide where to put my miles into . I'm new to this and have been earning frequent flyer miles for Aegean air Miles and Bonus program. But the only reason I put them in their is because of the access to lounges . ( if there is an easier way , let me know ) .
Aside from that , I don't know where to put my miles. I frequently travel to Asia from the US. I don't travel much domestically in the US. I was thinking of United for a bit but after the announcement of the devaluation of the miles, I'm not sure. It doesn't even have to be Star alliance, just which frequent flyer program should I put my miles in ? I want to use my miles for free flights .
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y fare
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? <25K (approximately 16,000 miles )
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? I don't have any status with an airline
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? good award redemption rates
(6) Which routes do you fly most often ? To and around Asia ( China, Korea, Hong Kong )
(7) Preferred Airlines ? none
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? both
I'm trying to decide where to put my miles into . I'm new to this and have been earning frequent flyer miles for Aegean air Miles and Bonus program. But the only reason I put them in their is because of the access to lounges . ( if there is an easier way , let me know ) .
Aside from that , I don't know where to put my miles. I frequently travel to Asia from the US. I don't travel much domestically in the US. I was thinking of United for a bit but after the announcement of the devaluation of the miles, I'm not sure. It doesn't even have to be Star alliance, just which frequent flyer program should I put my miles in ? I want to use my miles for free flights .
Dec 15, 2013 | 5:19 pm
#1301
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 2
Hey Folks!
First the questions:
(1) What is your home airport? LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? I don't know the fare class, but I generally fly the cheap options.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >50K, last 2 years have been >100k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? United 1K
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? No real priority, lounge is nice, maybe upgrades?
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Transpacific (LAX to NRT mostly)
(7) Preferred Airlines Has been United only because of account status
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work, but I decide how to fly
OK, so my current situation is that I'm 1K on United because I commute from LAX to NRT all the time. I also fly regularly to Boston and to some parts of Europe. With the announcement that United is changing how they classify status to $ spent not miles flown I'm guessing my always buying cheap tickets isn't going to help me keep my 1k status. Also, slightly annoying is that I can't use Global Upgrades on LAX to NRT flights which is what I fly most often. I like Star Alliance but I'm not locked into anything, so willing to consider whatever. Just trying to figure out what I should do in 2014. Thanks.
First the questions:
(1) What is your home airport? LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? I don't know the fare class, but I generally fly the cheap options.
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? >50K, last 2 years have been >100k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? United 1K
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? No real priority, lounge is nice, maybe upgrades?
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Transpacific (LAX to NRT mostly)
(7) Preferred Airlines Has been United only because of account status
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? work, but I decide how to fly
OK, so my current situation is that I'm 1K on United because I commute from LAX to NRT all the time. I also fly regularly to Boston and to some parts of Europe. With the announcement that United is changing how they classify status to $ spent not miles flown I'm guessing my always buying cheap tickets isn't going to help me keep my 1k status. Also, slightly annoying is that I can't use Global Upgrades on LAX to NRT flights which is what I fly most often. I like Star Alliance but I'm not locked into anything, so willing to consider whatever. Just trying to figure out what I should do in 2014. Thanks.
Dec 16, 2013 | 2:00 am
#1302
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1
(1) What is your home airport? - AMS / SJC
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? - Around 50k next year
(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, award redemption rates to buy tickets
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Transatlantic
(7) Preferred Airlines - Star alliance
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? - 90% work. Can steer airline that'll be booked, all economy though.
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Economy
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? - Around 50k next year
(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, award redemption rates to buy tickets
(6) Which routes do you fly most often Transatlantic
(7) Preferred Airlines - Star alliance
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? - 90% work. Can steer airline that'll be booked, all economy though.
Dec 18, 2013 | 3:11 pm
#1304
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: dc/la
Programs: bonvoy lifetime titanium, UA 1k, BR gold
Posts: 158
sorry for the bump but would really like some pointers as we head into 2014.....
(1) What is your home airport? DCA.IAD.LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50k+ willing to break 100k doing mileage runs if need be.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? EVA gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades, lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often 50-50 between dc-lax routes and us-asia routes... so maybe 2-3 trips to asia a year, 5-6 trips to lax a year
(7) Preferred Airlines: probably united/us airways domestic, and EVA for trips to tw
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? mostly pleasure
trying to figure out if united would match my gold status, and if it would be difficult to upgrade to business class seats on eva flights using united miles... since i live in the states, figured that it would be easier accumulating united miles with credit cards and such.... thinking about switching over to united because eva gold and *a gold pretty much has the same benefits, but with united, i think i will get better perks when i fly domestic?
thanks!
(1) What is your home airport? DCA.IAD.LAX
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? 50k+ willing to break 100k doing mileage runs if need be.
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? EVA gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? upgrades, lounge access
(6) Which routes do you fly most often 50-50 between dc-lax routes and us-asia routes... so maybe 2-3 trips to asia a year, 5-6 trips to lax a year
(7) Preferred Airlines: probably united/us airways domestic, and EVA for trips to tw
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? mostly pleasure
trying to figure out if united would match my gold status, and if it would be difficult to upgrade to business class seats on eva flights using united miles... since i live in the states, figured that it would be easier accumulating united miles with credit cards and such.... thinking about switching over to united because eva gold and *a gold pretty much has the same benefits, but with united, i think i will get better perks when i fly domestic?
thanks!
Dec 23, 2013 | 1:05 am
#1305
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 12
considering if i should make a switch
i thought perhaps getting some of your inputs would be helpful. i'm currently a UA gold but i'm thinking about whether a switch to another *A or even going back to delta might make sense, given that UA has upped the award redemption amounts and i dont think UA upgrades happen that frequently and i need to take 4 UA flights a year but the good thing about UA is that the taxes on redemptions is relatively low.
(1) What is your home airport? -- SGP
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? -- Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? -- usually can squeeze in enough trips to make it to 50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? -- UA Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? -- Extra baggage, priority baggage, lounge access and upgrades (if possible)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often -- No fixed routes really.
(7) Preferred Airlines -- SQ (because of the connections given that SGP is the home airport, but Krisflyer charges alot more in taxes for award redemptions hence I left Krisflyer)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both but largely pleasure
Thanks !
(1) What is your home airport? -- SGP
(2) What types of fares do you usually buy ? -- Y
(3) How many miles do you usually fly each year? -- usually can squeeze in enough trips to make it to 50k
(4) Do you have any kind of status at present? What is it? -- UA Gold
(5) What is most important to you in a FFP? -- Extra baggage, priority baggage, lounge access and upgrades (if possible)
(6) Which routes do you fly most often -- No fixed routes really.
(7) Preferred Airlines -- SQ (because of the connections given that SGP is the home airport, but Krisflyer charges alot more in taxes for award redemptions hence I left Krisflyer)
(8) Do you travel for work or pleasure? Both but largely pleasure
Thanks !