Would *A be suitable for me, and which carrier?
Mar 27, 2018, 2:18 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Melbourne, AU
Programs: *A Gold, QF (ex-QP), AA, TG, A3 Gold, VA, SQ
Posts: 358
@timster, i know, but the topic to which I replied was about re-qualification...
I admit it was getting confusing, so I just spelled out the different a3 qualification requirements with/without a3 flights. Sorry ... no drama. 
Mar 27, 2018, 8:28 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Tokyo
Programs: IHG Spire, DL Gold (SkyTeam E+), OZ Silver
Posts: 14
As for the Aegean idea: I dont transit through Athens and dont particularly plan to. Obligation to fly Aegean metal for easier requirements is not very interesting in my case.
Turkish Airlines: it seems similar to Asiana for the requirements, but in this case I still think Asiana is going to be better as I'll be flying them metal more often.
@dvs7310
Thanks a lot for your insights, it's very informative. JCB Asiana Gold card is available, but doesnt seem to offer any kind of lounge access.
Mind if I send you a PM later so we can go further in the credit card topic discussion?
Turkish Airlines: it seems similar to Asiana for the requirements, but in this case I still think Asiana is going to be better as I'll be flying them metal more often.
@dvs7310
Thanks a lot for your insights, it's very informative. JCB Asiana Gold card is available, but doesnt seem to offer any kind of lounge access.
Mind if I send you a PM later so we can go further in the credit card topic discussion?
Mar 27, 2018, 9:21 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,679
As for the Aegean idea: I dont transit through Athens and dont particularly plan to. Obligation to fly Aegean metal for easier requirements is not very interesting in my case.
Turkish Airlines: it seems similar to Asiana for the requirements, but in this case I still think Asiana is going to be better as I'll be flying them metal more often.
@dvs7310
Thanks a lot for your insights, it's very informative. JCB Asiana Gold card is available, but doesnt seem to offer any kind of lounge access.
Mind if I send you a PM later so we can go further in the credit card topic discussion?
Turkish Airlines: it seems similar to Asiana for the requirements, but in this case I still think Asiana is going to be better as I'll be flying them metal more often.
@dvs7310
Thanks a lot for your insights, it's very informative. JCB Asiana Gold card is available, but doesnt seem to offer any kind of lounge access.
Mind if I send you a PM later so we can go further in the credit card topic discussion?
Apr 2, 2018, 8:14 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAX, TPE, NYC
Programs: TK Miles&Smiles, AAdvantage, Flying Blue
Posts: 295
One thing I would like to note that JAL's JGC and ANA's SFC seem to give residents in Japan with co-branded credit cards more ways to keep their status almost indefinitely once they reached threshold.
At least for JGC, I know it is possible to reach OneWorld (OW) Emerald and Sapphire with some domestic mileage runs.
The program has become increasingly popular even among Taiwanese travellers here in Taiwan. Many just spent a few days working on those MR flights in Japan and get their status. Their is a theory that the status will almost never expire. I won't go into the details here.
I just want to point out that, since you are based in Japan, and if you would also have some domestic travels, for leisure or for business, maybe JGC or SFC could be an option, too?
P.S Air China and China Eastern seems to have quite a few discounted Business Class fare from Japan to Europe from time to time. I also found that ICN usually has good Business Class deals to Europe.
At least for JGC, I know it is possible to reach OneWorld (OW) Emerald and Sapphire with some domestic mileage runs.
The program has become increasingly popular even among Taiwanese travellers here in Taiwan. Many just spent a few days working on those MR flights in Japan and get their status. Their is a theory that the status will almost never expire. I won't go into the details here.
I just want to point out that, since you are based in Japan, and if you would also have some domestic travels, for leisure or for business, maybe JGC or SFC could be an option, too?
P.S Air China and China Eastern seems to have quite a few discounted Business Class fare from Japan to Europe from time to time. I also found that ICN usually has good Business Class deals to Europe.
Apr 2, 2018, 8:32 pm
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
If you can't fly JAL or ANA, I'd go back to SkyTeam and think about using KE for flights within Asia and AF or KE for flights back to Europe. Then the question is whether to accrue miles on AF or KE, so you need to compare the programs carefully.
Apr 2, 2018, 10:44 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Tokyo
Programs: IHG Spire, DL Gold (SkyTeam E+), OZ Silver
Posts: 14
Hello,
Thanks for the advice.
Indeed, flying JAL and ANA is unlikely: they are far from being the cheapest options in Asia. Additionally, flying partner airlines is also not that advantageous, as to acquire status in JAL/ANA you need to fly at least half of your miles "metal".
This is a problem for the SFC or JGC cards: you need to get a status there first before being able to apply for the cards.
Recently came to my attention that on SkyTeam (thanks to @dvs7310 for the info), there is in Japan a Delta Skymiles AmEx Gold card that grants gold medallion/SkyTeam E+ status.
Would it be worth to continue the grinding on ST (on Delta, not AF) instead of Asiana/*A ?
Thanks for the advice.
Indeed, flying JAL and ANA is unlikely: they are far from being the cheapest options in Asia. Additionally, flying partner airlines is also not that advantageous, as to acquire status in JAL/ANA you need to fly at least half of your miles "metal".
This is a problem for the SFC or JGC cards: you need to get a status there first before being able to apply for the cards.
Recently came to my attention that on SkyTeam (thanks to @dvs7310 for the info), there is in Japan a Delta Skymiles AmEx Gold card that grants gold medallion/SkyTeam E+ status.
Would it be worth to continue the grinding on ST (on Delta, not AF) instead of Asiana/*A ?
Apr 11, 2018, 8:52 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Tokyo
Programs: IHG Spire, DL Gold (SkyTeam E+), OZ Silver
Posts: 14
Update.
Got the Delta Skymiles AmEx Gold that grants me automatically the Gold Medallion on Delta, and the SkyTeam ElitePlus status.
Looks like I'll continue flying on SkyTeam for a while!
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
Got the Delta Skymiles AmEx Gold that grants me automatically the Gold Medallion on Delta, and the SkyTeam ElitePlus status.
Looks like I'll continue flying on SkyTeam for a while!
Thanks to everyone for the advice.