Which frequent flyer program is best?
Jul 26, 2013 | 3:43 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,939
the University of Miami is by far my number one choice! It is a really beautiful school. I plan on majoring in Business (either Finance or Management) and I would like to go into consulting because I know how much consultants travel (my uncle owns a car service and says he shuttles consultants to/from Logan all of the time.
Jul 26, 2013 | 3:47 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9
Jul 26, 2013 | 3:50 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Tulsa, OK
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,264
Your airport will largely dictate which airline you fly most often..
Newark: UA
PHL: US soon to be AA. Though some make it work on UA
JFK: Pick your poison but AA and DL are the strongest there.
ABE: Limits your non stop choices and if you need to get home in a hurry limits your flights to reroute.
If you do PHL and end up at MIA then that'll be 2 AA hubs so naturally AA will be best. If you do BOS and EWR then naturally UA will work
There's no right answer here.
Newark: UA
PHL: US soon to be AA. Though some make it work on UA
JFK: Pick your poison but AA and DL are the strongest there.
ABE: Limits your non stop choices and if you need to get home in a hurry limits your flights to reroute.
If you do PHL and end up at MIA then that'll be 2 AA hubs so naturally AA will be best. If you do BOS and EWR then naturally UA will work
There's no right answer here.
Jul 26, 2013 | 3:53 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 21,129
Jul 26, 2013 | 3:55 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
To the OP: Agree that travel shouldn't be the main factor in looking for a career (there are several threads on FT about that), but you seem to know that already and have other reasons. Consulting is good. Can you tell us why you want elite status (upgrades, extra redeemable miles, etc)? Also, what are you most common destinations?
Jul 26, 2013 | 4:00 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM/MM, Marriott Plat Premier, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,081
IMO, it is waaayyy to early to think about dedicating your life to a particular FFP. It would not be surprising if you choose one this year, only to find that next year another is better for you, not to mention there will be a totally different environment when you finally finish school. Even now, your desirable "least expensive flights" and "large network" don't necessarily go hand in hand.
By all means stick with DL in the short run if you think that works for you. Hang out here, learn more about this and the other FFPs, and when you are ready to really fly the friendly skies regularly, then find what works for you at that time.
Oh, and welcome to FlyerTalk!
By all means stick with DL in the short run if you think that works for you. Hang out here, learn more about this and the other FFPs, and when you are ready to really fly the friendly skies regularly, then find what works for you at that time.
Oh, and welcome to FlyerTalk!
Jul 26, 2013 | 4:12 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9
the biggest perk to elite status for me is without a doubt upgrades. You have all been there-is there too much of a better feeling than finding out you got an upgrade on a cross-country redeye? also, my destinations vary but it will only be domestic for a while as I still get tickets through Swiss internationally because my father works for them
I should actually say primarily domestic because it is still possible I fly a US airline
I appreciate everyone's opinion on this...the only reason I am flying delta now is because they are the only ones who fly JFK-MVY. I usually fly United (really miss Continental though)
I should actually say primarily domestic because it is still possible I fly a US airline
I appreciate everyone's opinion on this...the only reason I am flying delta now is because they are the only ones who fly JFK-MVY. I usually fly United (really miss Continental though)
Last edited by JY1024; Jul 26, 2013 at 8:14 pm Reason: Merged consecutive posts - please use multi-quote or edit function
Jul 26, 2013 | 4:21 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,939
Jul 26, 2013 | 4:25 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9
Jul 26, 2013 | 4:41 pm
#26
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PBI/FLL/MIA
Programs: DL DM/360 2.8MM, MR Ambassador, National EE
Posts: 1,616
the University of Miami is by far my number one choice! It is a really beautiful school. I plan on majoring in Business (either Finance or Management) and I would like to go into consulting because I know how much consultants travel (my uncle owns a car service and says he shuttles consultants to/from Logan all of the time.
My grandfather was in the airline industry for 40 years. My dad has been in it for 25. I've been flying since I was a baby. Airports have often been considered a second home for me, and I can still spend hours watching planes go by. Flying to me is more of a passion than just a mode of transportation, and I figure that there is no better goal for me than shooting for that near-impossible 10mm
My grandfather was in the airline industry for 40 years. My dad has been in it for 25. I've been flying since I was a baby. Airports have often been considered a second home for me, and I can still spend hours watching planes go by. Flying to me is more of a passion than just a mode of transportation, and I figure that there is no better goal for me than shooting for that near-impossible 10mm
Jul 26, 2013 | 4:44 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta DM 1M, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 539
like others have said. Way, Way, Way too early to go after status. Personally, I think hitting elite status in college means you are missing out on the college experience because you are not there enough. If you end up with a job later that requires heavy travel, you will have more than enough time to make your selection.
Jul 26, 2013 | 5:12 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: DL DM, HH Gold, SPG Platinum 100, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,687
Which frequent flyer program is best?
I disagree with some of the other posters above. I'm 20 going to a top school but I've been GM the past two years and on my way to hit PM this year. However my family my friend and I all enjoy traveling so having status has been very helpful in many situations. At the same time Delta has simply generally offered some of the best fares to and from my destinations and I've let the status build up except for a two day MR. However I'll say that it's no point having status unless you're going to use it. And there's no point building status now for the future.
Jul 26, 2013 | 6:08 pm
#29
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium AA PL Not chasing status Retired!
Posts: 2,777
I have flown 40 week per year domestically for 30 years, other than 3 years of heavy international travel when I was in technical support for a computer company. I am at 3.4 MM. 10 MM miles is 250K miles for 40 years give or take MQM for AMEX etc. Run the numbers get a life do not do it.
Jul 26, 2013 | 6:14 pm
#30
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta DM 1M, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 539