Which *A program is best for status
 

Hi folks,

Just wondering if someone can recommend which *A FFP I should join based on the sole concern of achieving / maintaining gold status. I really don't care too much about miles / points and redemption.

Secondly, I'm looking at whether any of them might comp Gold status due to my existing level with Qantas / Oneworld.

I've had a read through Blondebomber's guide but I can't see the TG program there.

My apologies if this has been answered thousands of times but I just can see it after trawling through some of the other threads.

I have been told AC is the easiest to achieve status, not sure how they compare to other *A carriers in terms of benefits.

There are lots of threads on this subject.

Just do a search for "program" in the title of post only in the Advanced Search feature in the Star Alliance forum.

TG is on the second page of my guide. It is one of the lower ranked (IMO) programs in terms of benefits received.

If all you care about is *G, AC only requires 35K EQMs. If you're buying F and C fares, BD might be quicker, as it requires 57K miles, but has 200% EQM bonus for paid F, and 10% EQM bonus for paid C. So, 19K miles in paid F should qualify you for *G.

Chris

I assumed OP is not flying paid F & C tickets since he/she is interested in *G benefits. I am not sure what *G benefits a paid F or C ticket doesn't provide.

LAX

Depending on place/program, but off the top of my head:

• *G checkin, where available (if in C, *G may give access to F checkin and/or separate *G checkin )
• access to Scandinavian lounges in CPH/ARN, even with a C ticket -- I assume that it may be similar elsewhere too?
• probably some priority-waitlist-thing
• in general, "more miles"

I am sure that there may be some lounge-thing-in-the-US-when-traveling-domestic, but I can't figure it out ;) I think, though, that a non-US *G is recommended since US *G means no lounges within the US when flying domestic.....

Well for that matter, I'm not quite sure why one would want *G status if they don't care about points, miles, or redemption. Maybe the fancy card you get?

Chris

Thanks all. Much appreciated.

What I meant was if OP is only interested in *G benefits such as lounge access, priority boarding/check-in, etc., he/she might be flying in Y. Otherwise, there is no need to obtain *G.

LAX

Air Canada Star Alliance Gold status will be obtainable at 35K status miles/EQMs (on a combination of any Star Alliance carriers - one does need to fly on a single AC flight, to get AC *Gold status).

One can get priority boarding, priority line check-in, lounge access (even in lounges in USA for US domestic flights). Air Canada (on its own metal) also allows its own Star Alliance Golds (ie SE or Es) upto 4 checked bags per passenger per flight (even if one is flying the cheapest AC economy fare, which earns no status miles/EQMs).

With Star Alliance Golds, one can get upgrade certificates, for the cheapest upgradeable economy fares (ie tango plus fares), as well as "full-fare" economy fares (ie latitude fares). With AC's Star Alliance silvers, one only gets upgrade certs for the latitude fares.

FGII -- can you point me to the area on the AC website where it says you need one flight on AC to qualify for top tier (E or SE). I can't find anything in the overview or terms of conditions to that effect. I know it has been talked about but . . . :confused: