Hi all

I've been a frequent sky-team flyer have decided to try a set of trips on *A airlines for the first time. I am trying to figure out which FF program to put the miles to maximize the earn rate.

This fall I am flying:
SAS business (C class) on SAS TRF-CPH-PVG
Air New Zealand from SFO-AUK-SDY-AUK-SFO in a T class fare
and DTW-CLT-SFO-DEN-DTW on United

since i have no current *A miles I could put the miles on:
lufthansa (200% on the SAS flight but only 50% on the air new zealand)
US AIR 150% on SAS 100% on AZ
United 125% on SAS 100% on AZ

The big question: do United or US Air give bonus miles to elite members when they fly air new zealand (as i'll hit elite status on the way to australia)? NWA gives elite members bonus miles on all sky team members...do United and US Air have similar policies for * alliance? Their web sites seem to say elite members only get bonus miles on United or US Air flights, respectively if this is true then US Air looks like the best bet.

maybe another * Alliance FF program is better?

Thanks for your help!

There are a number of threads about choosing the right *A FFP... some of them are even linked on the sticky

Can't answer for US, but UA does not. You only get UA tier bonuses when flying on UA, US, and LH (USA <-> Europe).

Thanks for the info on the elite bonuses...i'll check out the stickies for the rest.

:-)

Star Alliance members never were into giving elite bonuses on all star carrier flights. Very few even offered it (BD and AC only? on all star carriers). Air Canada gave these bonuses up to the end of February of this year but now gives no elite bonues on many star carriers or only 25% bonus miles on a select few. Most other Star members give only on their group of airlines or a few select partners. See my Star Alliance Comparison Chart (link below) elite bonuses line for the full scoop.

BMI are probably the best. They give generous mileage for business/first travel (tho not as good as LH) and they usually give 1x mileage for longhaul economy travel.

Also, they have the best redemption rates in the whole *A. They also do miles + cash awards, which are excellent for first/business travel. They are the closest thing to *A wide upgrades that exist.

But, Diamond club membership is only open to residents of the U.K.,Republic of Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, India, Saudi Arabia and Spain.
Don't know why

Also, they have the best redemption rates in the whole *A. They also do miles + cash awards, which are excellent for first/business travel. They are the closest thing to *A wide upgrades that exist.[/QUOTE]