FlyerTalker70

I'm wondering if a good strategy for OP might be to get top-tier normal status across all three airlines (i.e. 1K with UA, Exec Plat with AA and Diamond Medallion with DL). That way OP will be able to sample what the various airlines have to offer, picking and choosing whatever routes work best for them. N.B. is there a significant difference between top tier and super-top tier (i.e. 1K vs GS)?

Another topic not brought up in this thread but may be worth examining is whether attaining status with a US domestic airline FFP makes sense regardless of whether they fly them that often. For instance, would OP be more advantageous getting HON Circle on LH since they have reciprocity with UA? This would also give him access to things like the FCT/FCL when travelling in Europe and would ensure he can access all the lounges he wants in the US when flying UA domestically. Similarly if OP was to credit miles to OZ, they would get lifetime Gold status after flying 500,000 miles across any of the *A airlines.

For the OP, it is possible to be a member of a FFP you don't regularly fly with so long as they're in the same alliance. UA won't be angry nor bite your head off if you credit all that precious flying with them to a different program. I'm a Canadian and fly other airlines all the time, but always insist on crediting to UA which I would argue I fly most of the time.

Safe Travels,

James

windhund

True - but if one flies enough to get GS (with the exception of those who get through a contract and maybe don't actually travel as much) - you probably have enough RDM to spend on a membership to get it without paying cash.

jsloan

99 times out of 100, it's better to be a member with the program that you actually fly. Although I understand that you, personally, value lounge access more than most people, the truth is that the value of domestic UC access is capped at $650, because that's what you could buy it for with no status. A GS is easily going to get $650 more value from GS than from being a generic *G.

So, if OP flies LH much, much, much more frequently than UA -- or is in a position to do so -- then, sure. But, flying LH much more frequently than UA makes it nearly impossible to earn GS status anyway.

findark

And $450 is more realistic because of the Club Card. HON makes you much better treated on LH Group of course, but that is obviously only helpful if you'd rather fly them. OAL *G is treated quite poorly on UA other than the lounge loophole.