Hi.

Due to the circumstances surrounding the UA SFO-AKL "mistake" fare, I find myself in the enviable position of trying to figure out where to deposit tons of miles.

Here's my situation:

I am LH FTL with about 135K banked miles.

*A is my secondary alliance/FFP, because let's face it, I mostly fly within the U.S., and for that, I want the free U/Gs that NW/CO give me.

I am taking two trips to AKL within the next 12 months (not all before 2008). I am using one of these to start an F RTW, and using that to start at least one CMB run (also in F, if I can swing it).

So lots of F mileage, on mixed metal.

I do not have a *A credit card, seeing as the American LH one seems like a crappy deal.

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I am already planning on depositing SQ segments into KrisFlyer, hoping for some sort of silly PPS card that will make me feel better.

But were to go with the bulk of the miles?

Should I choose UA, or stay with LH, or perhaps even go with BD?

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Advantages of UA:


-Economy Plus. Basically, like NW First, minus the food. (Okay, NW ain't that bad, but it's getting there).

-Possibility of op ups (from what I understand, these DO happen on UA if you're a UA elite).

-Dealing with a company in my own country of residence. Just seems like it would make it easier.

-Better SWUs than LH (am I correct in assuming this?)


Advantages of LH

300% miles for F! 375% miles for F on M&M carriers!

*G for two years instead of two

Adding to the miles I already banked/not spreading my miles around too many programs (not a big fan of that)

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Like I said, need to be realistic - I mosty fly within the US (even though NYC-HNL feels like an intercontinental flight )

So UA would make most sense, because they would hook me up here and now. But, OTOH, that would mean wasting the huge mileage bonuses that LH gives out. What is one to do???

Any thoughts, additional advantages/disadvantages, would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Gaetano

While I'm certainly no *A expert and I'm sure thats what you're looking for, I'm in a somewhat similar situation. I'm more of a SkyTeam and OneWorld guy, in fact, I can't even remember the last time I flew on a *A carrier. What I'm going to do is probably credit to BMI. They give a 2x miles for C flights for both redeemable and elite miles, meaning the LAX-AKL flight for me will net over 35,000 miles. Going from no status, thats enough for at least silver in their program and almost enough to do a miles+cash C redemption to Europe from the US. I might try a status match to at least start with Gold and use this trip to requalify in almost one shot.

Hope that helped.

I would do LH for this reason alone.

Why not do Asiana for three then?

I second LH, cos you'll get those 25% bonus status miles on UA flights.

Why does that matter? These are C tickets, not F.

'Cause the bulk of the miles will come from an F RTW and an F CMB fare.

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Thank you all for the answers. I am inclined to stick with LH, but I must admit that UA seems appealing since they seem to treat their own elites so much better than regular *G. (Not that that's saying much )

Actually it is 325% in F on some airlines (others at 300%) and 225% in C (others incl NZ at 200% and yeah operating airline counts).

Assuming you can get to SEN (100k status miles in a calendar year, COS & FTL status bonuses from 35k included), then I'd go for M&M.

You'd have decent award options - availability on M&M seems much better than UA. Earning is much better on M&M, partly offset by higher awards on M&M (but with a US address a SEN gets an award discount each year and companion awards are also good value).

Lasts 2 years minimum, with soft landing (so further 2 years as *S). To requalify SEN only need 100k in either of the following calendar years.

How many total miles in F do you calculate you'll be flying within the next year? If you can get BD to status match you to Gold, then you'll be earning 325% right off for F and 625% after reaching 55K, which should be quick on the F flights. I think you'll likely end up with lots more miles on BD, but whether UA or LH would be better based on other perks is certainly debatable.

I say it would also depend on how many miles you currently have in LH. If the miles there are minimal, then BD would seem like a good choice.

The BD and LH programs seem like a logical choice for your upcoming trips. Furthermore, it also depends what booking class you typically fly in domestic US. That could change who you bank your miles with.

If one had booked the SFO-AKL fare, riding EK and QF trans-taz, so only had trans-pac flights on * Alliance - and assuming no current miles on a * carrier (well, I have 10K miles in US), what would be the best place to put these miles in terms of bonus miles for paid C and ease of using those miles after. Would it be BD? Would it be roughly 28,000 miles (100% C bonus?)? The BD site gives very little info.

Would be pleased to make * Alliance Silver in one trip and have enough redeemable miles for a domestic ticket to boot. What is the US bonus?

Thanks

wait until the 14th of may - Star's Birthday and see if there is any promos that may help out. before going to one or the other. Or join all the programs now just in case it is targetted.!

yes you'd end up with around 30K miles which is nearly enough to get a miles and cash C ticket to Europe (cost to you in cash around $500 rtn as a complete guess) which is nice