Same mileage, different value
Nov 09 '00
This section is devoted to tips and opinions on maximizing frequent flyer miles. What I've found is that when frequent flyer programs from all over the world are considered, it's not so much a question of maximizing the points themselves as it is getting the most value out of the points. All the international airline alliances that are popular nowadays make using a program of an airline you may not ever fly an option, and give people who fly frequently the choice of hundreds of programs.
Firstly, of course, you need a program that's useful to you. To begin with, it's no longer so much the airline you choose as the alliances. Since I live in Singapore, and do not intend to fly Singapore Airlines all the time, I need a program that can take me around Asia, to Australia and to Canada (those are the places to which I fly most often). Choosing the program takes this first into account.
Next, though, it pays to take a look at all the mileage award levels. Not all programs work on the standard lines followed by almost every American airline. I've seen wide disparities between programs in terms of award redemption on the routes I prefer. Example: a return upgrade Economy to Business class between Singapore and Toronto varies between 50,000 and 90,000 miles in programs with identical earning opportunities. I'm more likely to use the program with the lower point level (here, Mileage Plus) as the program with the expensive awards (here, KrisFlyer).
Some programs give 125% of mileage for Business Class...some give 200% (for example, Golden Falcon). On some airlines, this extra mileage counts for elite status, and on some it doesn't. Sometimes there's a tier bonus, usually 25% extra mileage for a low tier, and sometimes there isn't.
Most importantly, though, many programs give the opportunity to spend fewer points to redeem a restricted ticket, and more points to redeem an unrestricted ticket. That needs to be taken into consideration as well.
The program I use most often is Mileage Plus, because of what I mentioned above: its partners can take me anywhere in Asia, Australia or Canada, it has cheaper award redemptions for upgrades (and regular tickets too), it gives a class of service bonus and an elite tier bonus. The end result is that it isn't difficult at all for me to earn free tickets.
When considering frequent flyer programs, there are times when quality does matter more than quantity.
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Epinions.com ID:
singaporeboy
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Location: Illinois
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Just someone who's lucky enough to have lived in several corners of the planet
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