WHICH IS THE BEST/WORST FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAMME?

POST Goldcardsaplenty

DATE Aug 24, 03:02

Are there any thoughts on the best Frequent Flyer Programmes? I hold a BA Gold card, a KLM/AF Platinum card, SIA Gold card and have just lost my Emirates Gold Status and SAS Gold status. My BA Gold card qualification period starts in May and I’ve already passed the 1,500 tier points mark so even if I don’t take another flight with BA, I’ll get another card next year, which will be valid until June 2015.

As I see it, my choices are to stick with BA and see if I can go through the 5,000 threshold, concentrate my schedules around Skyteam to renew my KLM/AF Platinum status or Star Alliance to renew Singapore Airlines Gold, or return to Emirates and get my gold card back. Alternatively, I could give my allegiance to another carrier that I haven’t had any status with before – Virgin perhaps.

I commute between the UK and Australia every four weeks and make a lot of trips to the US. I also take domestic flights in the UK, Europe, US and Australia so there are plenty of routes/carriers I can utilise.

I agree with a lot of the comments regarding BA’s rapid, and seemingly unstoppable, downward spiral so I’m keen to take my not inconsiderable business elsewhere despite having had a gold card in the Executive Club for many, many years. It used to be one of my prized possessions – now it is an object of ridicule.

REPLIES

Martyn Sinclair Aug 24, 04:54

It really depends where you intend on travelling. Virgin points, while providing excellent lounges in London and New York, usually reward bookings limited to VS.

Longhaul bookings are a challenge whichever airline you are using, but for shorthaul, Avios are absolutely brilliant for European travel, as are Miles & More.

You could always avoid the FFP cards and choose a cheaper ticket option. For my travel pattern – mainly the Far East, US and Europe – nothing beats Avios or BA. Okay, longhaul is a challenge, but the gold card and the European Avios make the programme very attractive. Interesting question Goldcardsaplenty, but I don’t think there is a ‘one card fits all’ solution.

Tomin Scotland Aug 24, 06:22 For me, flexibility is a major consideration. I just had to cancel two European Avios bookings due to changed plans. No charges made, Avios recredited within five minutes and

what they call ‘tax’ credited to my card within two days. Oh yes, and the telephone on the BA Gold line picked up after one ring…

Formerly DoS Aug 24, 06:35

I find that Miles and More is the most useable scheme overall, as there is good availability. BA’s Executive Club is good for reward flight savers, but long-haul availability is very poor compared to M&M. My favourite FFP is cash: get your flights at the best price possible for the schedule required, pocket the difference, then buy the flights you want.

LuganoPirate Aug 24, 08:12

I recall ages ago my Gold/Platiunum cards would give benefits such as membership of Avis’ President’s Club. Does this still happen today? If so that would be one of the deciding factors for me.

Goldcardsaplenty

Aug 24, 08:38

Good point, LuganoPirate. Most schemes used to have strong affiliations with other providers such as hotels, car hire and so on. While it is true that they still have partner schemes I find you can get almost identical perks, albeit much diluted, with all the Gold/Platinum schemes.