Which * program should I join?
 

Hi All,

I need advice on what Star Alliance program to join. I’m based in MOW these days, doing much of my flying to LHR. I’ve been basically flying BA and AY and some AA and am a BA Gold (520 TP) and AA Plat (22,601 EQP).

I also have accounts with UA (no status, 120K or so miles) and BD (something like 3K miles).

I’m currently planning a trip MOW-SIN-HKG and back for business and was told SQ’s business product is the best, to have decided to take them. I don’t want to waste my mileage earning opportunities, so am going to credit this to a *Alliance program, but just don’t know what the best one would be.

I basically fly MOW-LON 2-3x a month in flexible Y, 2-3 times to NYC every year (mostly redemptions or cheap business fares), a few times a year to HEL and ARN. I also do 2-3 trips a year to the Russian regions on SU. I’ll hopefully do more Asia travel, but only likely next calendar year.

I want the ability to redeem miles for premium cabins and especially want access to good lounges (one of my main reasons for loyalty to BA).

What program should I focus on within Star?

Thanks in advance.

I'm biased as a BD*G but I would go with BD.

Firstly, BD have a regular run to Moscow (some codeshare with Transaero that only gives destinations miles, but also some operated by BD that give status miles too). BD performed very well in a recent survey by the top UK consumer magazine Which? for its long haul flights. Though MOW LHR is medium haul the service is still quite good.

There are many one-stop BD status earning options to NYC with *A from MOW. For HEL and ARN you'll probably find it convenient to use SAS and again that gives earning on BD. You can collect destinations but not status points internally on some Transaero flights too, if you want to switch from SU.

If redemptions to NYC are very important, BD are pretty good at getting flights on other *A airlines and they would also offer redemptions via LHR with Virgin (not *A but a BD partner) to JFK. Though this is not quite as economical on points as a *A carrier, it would be one stop. You can also claw back some points by as you'll only be charged economy on the LHR sector on BD metal. You'll also get four upgrade coupons per year for any BD flights that you need to buy with cash.

BD lounges are fine at LHR and you'd access *A most other places if you get to BD*G.

Last but not least, its a lot easier to reach BD*G than to get *G with most other *A carriers. You need 54k to get *G but only 38k to keep it. I assume your MOW-SIN-HKG trip will allow you to travel back with a *A airline (TG or LH) or that you are going back via SIN with SQ, so that will get you to 22k and each LHR trip will get you 4700 in flexible Y (1.5x) so you'll easily get your first BD*G in a year and if you keep travelling to London you'll have no problem keeping it.

Miles & More is a good option, too. Connections in MUC, ZRH and VIE and much better than LHR. M&M includes LH, LX, OS, LO, JP...

Hi Guys, thanks for your replies. I've narrowed down to BD and M&M as suggested, and was also considering Aeroplan.

Which would be the best of these 3 for me? How do redemption rates/opportunities compare? Most of my redemption would be to places like the US, where I'd like to fly in J or (if there's a big diff as in BA) in F.

Does BD participate in *A upgrades? Does LH status match if I have BA gold and AA Plat?

As far as Aeoplan is concerned, I wasn't considering it very strongly as not mentioned here and since I don't fly AC, just thought what you'd think about it.

One thing to keep in mind is the lower earning rates for premium cabins that you get on Aeroplan (usually 125% of distance flown for C, 150% for F) vs. either M&M (200% in C, 300% in F) or bmi (same as LH on many carriers, but some exceptions).

Also, there is a difference on how many miles you earn on SQ Business Class flights between bmi (150% of distance flown) and M&M (200% of distance flown). However, the lower *G qualification threshhold and the more attractive redemption rates (especially when using cash&miles) still tilt the balance to bmi in my book.

Bottom line - if you see your self earning at least 100K miles in one year, every other year, go with LH. Otherwise, BD might be a better bet.

Oh, and if you do go the bmi route, make sure you get a status match to BD*G off your BA Gold. Details on how to do this can be found in the bmi forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=486 )

Aeroplan would be a poor choice given your frequent travel in J and F. It has the lowest qualification threshhold but as mentioned you don't get much of a bonus for travelling up front.

Since you wouldn't be flying on AC often, if at all, the upgrade certificates would be absolutely useless to you (as opposed to wallpaper for more people ;) ).