Comments on: Top 10: best frequent flyer programs to join in 2018

By: Ken Carr

Ken Carr — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 20:36:41 +0000

I am a 1 K ( Flew over 100,000 miles) as well as a Million Miler on United Airlines. United Recently changed their program to a “Plus Points”. I have NEVER been able to use this to directly book an Upgraded flight. On every attempt to upgrade, I am put on a Wait list. When I book, I want to know immediately if the Upgrade was available. I had over 580 points ( It takes only 40 Points to upgrade for European Flight)) but over 200 points expired. This is the Worse prog ever for Upgrades despite my 1 K Status and being a Million Miler

By: Adrian

Adrian — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:34:11 +0000

I don’t like flying British, KLM and Air France have worse services than most of Star Alliance members.
I used to have (I stil have it but not using it anymore) a Miles and More account and Gold status on Miles and Smiles. The reason I am using Miles and Smiles(Turkish) instead of Miles and More is because it was so much easier to reach Gold at Turkish. in 1 and a half years I am almost Platinum, an almost impossible task if using M&M.
Other than that I can get my family to Istanbul Lounge at Ataturk(the best lounge ever and I am not turkish, btw…:)), gift an elite status, 2 business class upgrades per year and so much more benefits. Plus Turkish flies all over the world and they have very good services on both economy and business. Another program I would consider is Qatar’s.

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 00:58:41 +0000

I am surprised Aegean Airlines’ Miles&Bonus did not make it onto this list. It is a Star Alliance member and you reach your first Gold status with as little as 36.000 miles + 4 legs with Aegean Airlines. After this you just need 12.000 miles per year to retain your Gold status and miles never expire as long as there is one activity on your card every 18 months. It is perfect for anyone that travels to Europe or live there.

By: Gordon Maul

Gordon Maul — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 15:44:22 +0000

UNITED’s MileagePlus is the stingiest program I have encountered in my life. I was awarded 36 miles once for a Mexico City/Houston flight. At that rate I would need to fly the route over 485 times to earn a free ticket for the same route. Think about it.

By: M. Cenan

M. Cenan — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 14:21:55 +0000

I was poyal tp miles and smiles. Turkish airlines.

Once i read abut buying bonus miles, i called to ask will these miles increase my status . Amswer yes . Wrong info. They refused to refund or to upgrade my status . O e employee als asked me to recall exact date and hour of call i made to inquire which was 4 months earlier.

Second thier log in password policy is stricter than my credit card or my european digital id login for passport , license etc… Isues.

By: Reggie Mason

Reggie Mason — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 12:01:15 +0000

In reply to humphreym.I agree but if don't fly much it's very difficult to keep FB miles from expiring. Any tricks on how to keep them from expiring. Expiring miles is not listed as a con and it should be. It's the only reason I don't transfer my chase points to FB.

By: humphreym

humphreym — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 10:20:31 +0000

I am a member of flying blue and can say it’s amazing!

By: Hugo Guajardo Martinez

Hugo Guajardo Martinez — Wed, 16 May 2018 13:42:36 +0000

American Airlines used to give me around 26,000 miles for a round trip from MTY to CDG, now they just give 6,700 miles!, that does not sound like the best Award Program to me.

By: Airport Fast Track Services

Airport Fast Track Services — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 09:23:41 +0000

Great share, thank you for the list.

By: Clive Viegas Bennett

Clive Viegas Bennett — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 12:23:18 +0000

Hi. Good article. I have gold cards for TAP Air Portugal (Star Alliance) and British Airways (One World). The former is way, way better and seems to be better than Lufthansa’s Miles & More, (also in StarAlliance).

Some key benefits I get from TAP gold status:

– Gaining/keeping status is much easier. Once you gain your first Gold card (75,000 earned miles), they reduce the renewal level to only 50,000 miles (including cabin and status bonuses). The BA level for Gold status is 1500 Tier Points (which are only loosely related to Avios = Air miles, what a messy system!) and is equivalent to around 200,000 air miles and massive step up from Silver at 300 Tier Points = c. 40,000 air miles)

– I get a free second TAP gold card for a nominated person (in my case, my wife).

– Dedicated TAP Gold phone lines (English and Portuguese) are much quicker, friendlier, more helpful and much easier to find on their website.

– Much better availability for reward flights and upgrades. BA availability for upgrade from Business to First Class is, I have found, useless – I have yet to manage a SINGLE upgrade in the last three years!

– I find onboard service on TAP to be excellent, with significantly better food and wines in Business than on BA and certainly than Iberia, AA or United. And they are honestly friendly, not just plastic “have a nice day” stuff. Some of their aircraft are getting a bit old but they are modernising (no A380s yet…) but big partners Lufthansa and Singapore have very good fleets (not true of tired old United). Avoid BA’s partner Iberia, they are just consistently awful – online, on the ground and in the air.

Otherwise the benefits are the same as everyone else. You earn the same air miles (including bonuses) whichever Star Alliance airline you use. There are some differences with non-TAP Star Alliance members for rewards/upgrades.

I had thought about trying Sky Team more seriously but all comments suggest it’s not good and anyway most of their airlines are pretty unfriendly these days.