Banking Star Alliance Miles on TK or UA?
Jul 7, 2023, 9:30 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 73
Banking Star Alliance Miles on TK or UA?
I fly periodically for business long haul, in business class, on TK. The most likely use of those earned miles are for leisure flights on United... therefore, I have been banking the miles on my United FF account. I'm starting to wonder though, would I be better of banking on M&S, and still use them on United?
Jul 8, 2023, 3:07 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Big advantage is complimentary access to UA Clubs for TK*G - even while flying on UA domestic itinetaties and even on Basic Economy fares. Yes - these Clubs are mediocre, but still better than waiting for your flight at the gate.
But please be careful - there is a dedicated thread on this forum about totally idiotic and cumbersome process of redeeming TK miles on non-TK flights.
Choices, choices...
But please be careful - there is a dedicated thread on this forum about totally idiotic and cumbersome process of redeeming TK miles on non-TK flights.
Choices, choices...
Jul 8, 2023, 4:08 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,056
M&S has a "use or lose" hard expiry policy. Miles expire at the end of the third year after being earned. So there is no such thing as "banking" miles with M&S.
It is also excruciatingly difficult to use TK miles. Long-haul J awards on TK are now like unicorns and UA award flights are really hard to book.
Perhaps you should look in the direction of Aeroplan if you are looking for a better home for crediting your *A flights.
It is also excruciatingly difficult to use TK miles. Long-haul J awards on TK are now like unicorns and UA award flights are really hard to book.
Perhaps you should look in the direction of Aeroplan if you are looking for a better home for crediting your *A flights.
Jul 9, 2023, 10:08 am
#4
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,667
M&S has a "use or lose" hard expiry policy. Miles expire at the end of the third year after being earned. So there is no such thing as "banking" miles with M&S.
It is also excruciatingly difficult to use TK miles. Long-haul J awards on TK are now like unicorns and UA award flights are really hard to book.
Perhaps you should look in the direction of Aeroplan if you are looking for a better home for crediting your *A flights.
It is also excruciatingly difficult to use TK miles. Long-haul J awards on TK are now like unicorns and UA award flights are really hard to book.
Perhaps you should look in the direction of Aeroplan if you are looking for a better home for crediting your *A flights.
I am a free agent so I don’t care much about status but AC Aeroplan is great for crediting my Star Alliance long haul J trips to. UA also just devalued their awards so they aren’t worthwhile to me.
Jul 9, 2023, 5:05 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,127
if leisure flights on UA are in coach ... good plan. In J ... hard to redeem. No expiry and depending what you mean by 'infrequent', it might just work for you. If you fly frequent enough to conceivably get Elite status ... that is worth another look to see how your usual airline and booking classes earn elsewhere on *A relative to Elite thresholds
Jul 13, 2023, 1:26 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,100
UA for redeeming award flights - no YQ and you can easily see the availabilities and do the whole thing online. However, beware of the luggage allowance displayed by UA as it is not always right.
TK for UC access
TK for UC access
Jul 15, 2023, 2:57 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,056
Jul 22, 2023, 12:54 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,865
Well, if the intention is to book UA domestic flights for cheap with TK M&S I suggest you read through the various recent posts from US credit card milers transferring the points to TK M&S and trying to book award seats they see online on the UA website....good luck!
Jul 22, 2023, 5:01 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,100