Is showing a valid *G card sufficient to get the benefits (lounge, baggage, etc.), or does my FFN need to be in the system?

The reason I ask this is because I'd like to use benefits from one program and claim miles for another. Instead of having to go through the headache to get both FFNs into the system (since even I don't know if that's still possible), can I just roll up to check-in desk and flash my *G card and expect to get benefits? Then I can just have my other FFN imputed into the system.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

If only there was a simple answer to your question. I'm working through the same problem and it's not just one simple answer for each benefit, nor for each airline.

Here are some threads that I suggest reading:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/aegea...-benefits.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/aegea...other-ffp.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...credit-a3.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...-programs.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...iple-ffns.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...r-airline.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/aegea...programme.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/aegea...th-hassle.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...-ac-elite.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...ff-number.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/aegea...-statuses.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...-benefits.html

As you can see, I've spent a lot of time trying to collate threads that have information regarding switching FF programs and how to do all of this. I have a number of other relevant threads, but this is enough to get started. I know that there are some (many?) FTers who have done this (it's obvious) but the real gurus of switching FF programs for the most part don't seem to share much wisdom.

If you can give me the specifics of your situation, your plan for change, etc. maybe I can provide some specific help? I suggest browsing some of the threads I've listed above as there is a lot of information in them.

Hahahahaha... Reading this made me laugh.

Does everyone hate AE that much? Looks like the people in half those threads, you, and me are working on AC*G --> A3*G.

Basically, I'm plan on getting A3*G in 2013, but I also have AC*G. I want to credit a few flights to A3, mostly long-haul on non-AC metal. Since these credits would be about 7K per flight, I want to make sure that I get this done properly.

I'd like to have A3 written on the BP, but show my AC*G card to get *G benefits. The only really benefit I'm concerned about is getting free/excess baggage. Is showing the card sufficient, or does my AC*G number need to be in the system? If showing the card is sufficient, I can just leave A3 on the itinerary the whole time.

I haven't actually tried to use benefits with AE and credit to A3 (or MP) on AC flights yet (partially because of the Tango fares, I am simply flying a lot less with AC). The typical situation from reading the threads, is that people make their reservation, then do OLCI with the *G FF#, then try to change the FF# after check in at the airport (typically by asking a gate or lounge agent to make the change). This is the procedure I have used on UA flights, and there is considerable evidence on these threads that it will work with AC. Obviously, you have to be cautious because as reported in threads above, there are certainly cases where AC agents (gate or lounge or otherwise) have refused to change FF#s.

Obviously, you can leave the A3 number in the reservation and then try to obtain benefits with your AE*G, but there are many instances where FTers seem to report that this is less successful, or frowned upon (perhaps with the exception of lounge access, where it seems that it doesn't really matter as long as you have *G and a valid *A BP).

As far as I can tell, the reason for this is because if you have used your *G FFP for baggage, priority seating, upgrades, etc. it is far less likely that you will be denied a switch in FF# after the fact, whereas trying to do so upfront with a different FF# on the reservation/BP appears to agents to be more "suspicious".

One thing I've learned in trying to navigate this, is that while the perception on FT is that the need to switch FFPs is a 'big deal', it is not the case from the agents of the various airlines point of view. Despite all this attempted migration from one FFP to another, most agents have never been asked to change FF#s, and most that have, have not been asked all that often. Further, in both the case of UA & AC, very few agents (lounge or otherwise) appear to have ever seen A3 cards or are even aware of Aegean's existence. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence for this on the forums, but it is also my own experience at least 10 times with UA, AC & US - both in lounges and with other agents. The rarity of these types of requests from the agents' point of view, makes it all look suspicious.

If you read the threads I posted above in detail, you will note that carriers across *A theoretically have access to two fields on the reservation: FQTV and FQTS. These fields are for FF#s - one for benefits and the other for mileage accrual. The problem is that some airlines have a policy not to use them (ie. US) and UA's post-merger systems (inherited from CO) have removed them. I believe AC still has them, but it may be very hard to get AC phone agents to input the proper FF#s in your reservation because they likely will have no idea what you're talking about when you phone, but I suppose it is worth calling and trying a few times. If your booking is with a travel agent, they may be able to access the fields.

The next time I fly US, knowing their policy, I will NOT input FF# at booking and try to keep my BPs blank so as to attempt retro-crediting and obtaining benefits by using my card during the actual trip, as I am reasonably certain thats they will refuse to make any changes (certainly, they persistently refuse mid-itinerary, unlike UA).

I know the anxiety this causes when you are trying to make the change, using benefits that you've clearly earned in the previous term/year/whatever, but you just have to try your best and then report back here with the results. I, at least, will be interested to know the results of your efforts.

This changing FFP # back and forth is not advisable. Either keep your booking void of a FFP # or stick to one number all the way. Changing it in the departure control system after checkin may result in some unexpected results which are irreversible.

Could you please explain in a bit more detail?

From what I've experienced, in large part you can get in with your card

Something that you might want to consider is booking your trips as two one-ways rather than a RT so that you don't need to change the FF account number after flying the first segments. Increasingly, at least for domestic USA trips, the RT price equals the price of two one-ways, so there's no difference in the total fare, while of course there are differences in cancellation/rebooking fees, IROPs, etc.

Could you provide some evidence, even if anecdotal, rather than vague comments like "not advisable" and "unexpected results..."? If you spend some time reading the threads I've collected and linked above, you will see that there are many, many, many people who have done this with different airlines including UA and AC. In my own personal experience, (and others on FT) after check-in with UA, it is easy to change the FF# yourself on the united.com website or at a United kiosk and then have the BPs reprinted either at kiosk or in the lounge or gate or whatever. I have examples of this on the current trip I am on to South America and the miles have already credited to A3. I even kept original check-in BPs that have my AC*G and then the next ones with A3 that still show premier access, seating group and seating assignment (moved to E+ at check-in).

In the case of AC, their upgrade policy even *specifically* states that flyers may change their FFP after the upgrade is confirmed (at the gate for instance) In reviewing threads I point out the following posts:

Which at least answers the matter of the matter of the FQTV and FQTS fields for the OP, who I would guess is asking principally about AC flights (or at least partially about AC flights)

From the same thread:

Air Canada specifically instructs that nominees (at the least) can change their FFP AFTER receiving an upgrade at the gate.

I would suggest calling AC and making every attempt to get the FQTV and FQTS fields properly filled. Your travel agent may also be able to make the changes. It should be noted that some members of *A (SQ) even list 2 FF#s on the BP.

My comments were based on the logic how most *A airlines operate in order to feed the Starnet database that keeps track of all the flights you took and reports them to the crediting FFP. Most airlines have a CRS to sell and administer tickets, including the coupons they get send from codeshares etc. When checkin opens, the information of the flight is tranferred to a DCS which may or may not reside within the greater system that also hosts the CRS. LH for example uses Amadeus (a customised version of the GUI called guideRes) for CRS and Amadeus Altea Inventory for RM, but a Unisys modification based on a 40 year old system for DCS (the GUI is called Pictures). LO & OS is similar, SN & LX use the EDS/HP axsRes and axsControl.

Some information is pushed back and forth between the CRS and the DCS and updated in a final version after the flight is closed and accounted for, but not all *A partners update all the fields, and FFP numbers are not on top of their priority lists. LH for example will pull the FQTS and FQTV information into Unisys one time only and changes there will not always come back to the CRS, unless the agent checks you out from the flight, updates the original PNR in the CRS and check you in again. Most agents will just change the number in the DCS and reprint you a BP that shows the new number, but not the one that will be reported back to the Starnet database. US is a prime example of this too.

So yes, I'm certain the examples you cite may work again, but not for all *A carriers and FFPs. *A is working on a solution and most carriers are migrating to the full Amadeus Altea suite to harmonise the system. UA has clearly opted out after the merger with CO since the Shares customisation CO had running gave them an instant upgrade, but the effort to migrate to that in 2012 and then to Altea in 2015 would have been too much.