Air Travel » Air Travel Flight » Best Airline Mileage Program
Question:
My experience has been that the level of service on U.S. carriers’ overseas flights is much different than on their domestic services. The problme is that people tend to assume that the service level on a one hour domestic flight is what can be assumed on a 10 hour international one. While in many cases non U.S. carriers provide a higher standard of inflight service, this is not always the case, and should not be assumed. And Northwest’s international service, while arguably not as good as some other airlines, is quite satisfactory and probably better than others. Jeff
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> USE KLM but do not use Northwest Airlines, especially for overseas travel. > Most American carriers suck on International flights, NW is a prime example. > I’ve used both KLM and NW for various New York to Europe routes. > I had decent and courteous service every time. > Now, it looks like I’ll be using NW to go from Asia back to the > US, so I’m curious if standards will remain the same… > /EJS
Response:
It would be great if there was some objective way to rate the programs. Here’s a start: With Northwest, I’ve been able to take 2 trips to asia (from USA) and got the 3rd one free, with their mileage program….then 2 more and the 3rd one free again. That seems pretty good. The trips that I do pay for average about $1000 from east coast USA.
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> It would be great if there was some objective way to rate the > programs. Here’s a start: With Northwest, I’ve been able to take 2 > trips to asia (from USA) and > got the 3rd one free, with their mileage program….then 2 more and > the 3rd one free again. That seems pretty good. The trips that I > do pay for average about $1000 from east coast USA.
If you going to far east, Korean and China airlines are partners of Delta Skymiles. You don’t have to stick with one airlines.
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> 3. The airplanes have always been old. FUcking rickety flights to > serve the 3rd world passengers.KLM flights on the other hand have been > newer.
I can hardly believe that there is worser than KLM
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> USE KLM but do not use Northwest Airlines, especially for overseas travel. > Most American carriers suck on International flights, NW is a prime example.
I’ve used both KLM and NW for various New York to Europe routes. I had decent and courteous service every time. Now, it looks like I’ll be using NW to go from Asia back to the US, so I’m curious if standards will remain the same… /EJS
Response:
> > 3. The airplanes have always been old. FUcking rickety flights to > serve the 3rd world passengers.KLM flights on the other hand have been > newer. > I can hardly believe that there is worser than KLM
Try NW to Bombay…When landing, the plane body literally shakes like it is going to fall apart Northwest sucks to Asia…period.
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> > > 3. The airplanes have always been old. FUcking rickety flights to > > serve the 3rd world passengers.KLM flights on the other hand have been > > newer. > I can hardly believe that there is worser than KLM > Try NW to Bombay…When landing, the plane body literally shakes like > it is going to fall apart > Northwest sucks to Asia…period.
maybe from AMS but from SEA, it’s perfectly fine (albeit in WBC)
Response:
> > Most American carriers suck on International flights, NW is a prime example. > I flew on United Airlines from Hong Kong to New Delhi, and United > seemed pretty good. > Regards, SCORP.
I have flown Amsterdam to Bombay 3 times on NW 1. bad service, NW staff was always rude 2. They DO NOT WASH BLANKETS ON NW FLIGHT TO BOMBAY. I found hair on blankets every time. I have confronted them about it. The air hostess (bitch) took it personally, but finally confessed that they don not wash them in Bombay, but wait for flights to turn back to amsterdam because they have no washing contracters in Bombay 3. The airplanes have always been old. FUcking rickety flights to serve the 3rd world passengers.KLM flights on the other hand have been newer. Like I said, poor maintenance, rude staff, old equipment…. Never again NW…. Maybe I extrapolated my exp with NW to all american airlines….
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> Alaska gets you American, Continental, Northwest and British Airways;
don;t forget KL, QF and LA
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> 3. The airplanes have always been old. FUcking rickety flights to > serve the 3rd world passengers.KLM flights on the other hand have been > newer. > Like I said, poor maintenance, rude staff, old equipment…. > Never again NW….
Just flew NW trans-Pacific. 747-200s were just fine as were the 747-400s.
Response:
: USE KLM but do not use Northwest Airlines, especially for overseas travel. : Most American carriers suck on International flights, NW is a prime example. Hmm, my flights last September to Paris/from Amsterdam on NW (not KLM codeshare) were terrific. Andrew — —-> Portland, Oregon, USA <—- —-> http://www.bizave.com <—- Photo Albums and Portland Info —-> To Email me remove "MYSHOES" from email address
Response:
> Most American carriers suck on International flights, NW is a prime example.
I flew on United Airlines from Hong Kong to New Delhi, and United seemed pretty good. Regards, SCORP.
Response:
> Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I > am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main > interest would be to travel within the US and to India. > Has anybody tried points.com? Is it worth it?
My take is you’re not going to get objective opinions here. Unless there are people who have flown all the airlines with sufficient frequency. I very much doubt such people exist. I can only tell you what I like because I fly the particular carrier consistently. Others I don’t do it unless necessary therefore I don’t accumulate mileage on them and really can’t say much about them. I have FF with NW, AA and Delta but fly very little with them. My main FF program is with Continental. I am happy. But you won’t notice the difference until you attain silver elite and up. Yaofeng
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> Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I > am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main > interest would be to travel within the US and to India. > Has anybody tried points.com? Is it worth it?
You may want to check out Asia Miles at www.asiamiles.com but I am not sure whether you need to be living in Asia to be a member. I usually stick with Delta. With an AmEx Delta card and a few business trips, you can rack up your miles pretty quick.
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> You may want to check out Asia Miles at www.asiamiles.com but I am not > sure whether you need to be living in Asia to be a member.
Only if you earn enough miles within 3 years to use it. Asiamiles expires 3 years after earning. No renewal possible (currently).
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> Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I > am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main > interest would be to travel within the US and to India. > Has anybody tried points.com? Is it worth it?
It depends on where you live, where you travel more often to, how often and what level of service you use. For example, I live in Boston, I only travel about 2-3 times a year in economy, and most of my flights are to Germany/Austria, and Denver, CO. So picking United’s Mileage Plus was a no brainer. If you’re looking to do most of your travel to India, find out which airlines provides you with the better service from your city to India, and go with that airline’s FF program. - Manuel.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I > am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main > interest would be to travel within the US and to India. > Here’s my take. It may be similar to or different from yours. > I don’t fly enough to earn status on any airline, but I do fly (and > spend!) enough to earn some free trips. Most of my flying is within > the US, and from Boston to the UK. The airlines vary widely. > I looked at the available airline programs, and came to the conclusion > that the best airline points program is Alaska, and that 95% of my > flying can earn me miles on either Alaska or Delta — so that’s what > I’m doing. > Alaska gets you American, Continental, Northwest and British Airways; > Delta gets you United and Virgin Atlantic.
Earning miles on Delta’s program and flying United (or vv) only works for domestic flights, not internationally. Chris
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> Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I > am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main > interest would be to travel within the US and to India.
Here’s my take. It may be similar to or different from yours. I don’t fly enough to earn status on any airline, but I do fly (and spend!) enough to earn some free trips. Most of my flying is within the US, and from Boston to the UK. The airlines vary widely. I looked at the available airline programs, and came to the conclusion that the best airline points program is Alaska, and that 95% of my flying can earn me miles on either Alaska or Delta — so that’s what I’m doing. Alaska gets you American, Continental, Northwest and British Airways; Delta gets you United and Virgin Atlantic. The only major US airline who doesn’t accumulate miles in these two is US Airways; if Virgin got round to joining Star, I’d switch to accumulating miles on United instead of Delta. (A round-trip to the UK earns about 6,500 miles, and I go at least once a year, so it’s well worth accumulating!) I’ve signed my parents up with Alaska, and suddenly they’re accumulating mileage for all their transatlantic trips on BA and AA. It’s just important to remember that just because you don’t ever fly on a particular airline it doesn’t mean that that airline isn’t the best mileage program for you. Before switching to Alaska, my wife and I earned more than 50,000 miles between us on Continental — and we’ve never stepped on a Continental plane. (And we don’t have their credit card either!)
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> Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I > am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main > interest would be to travel within the US and to India.
My opinion is that there is no ‘best’ mileage program. The best program for you would be one which agrees with your air travel. And your specific travel goals. I can generally get flights at the price I can afford, and I prefer to use my mileage to upgrade to business or first class on longer flights. For myself, this is a preference over cashing in miles for a free flight. And whichever program you select has to agree with the airlines which provide service in your community.
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>No, I would probably be interested in getting as many trips as >possible, so it is economy. Supposing every airline will give me one >point for each mile flown in coach class, other differentiating factors >might be (a) getting points through other channels (credit card, phone >companies, etc), (b) generous non-expiration policy, (c) fewer miles >required for international trips (US-India in my case). Thanks.
You may also want to find out what airline alliances cover the largest number of airlines that you are likely to fly on your routes, so that you can the greatest choice of airlines while being able to concentrate your air miles on one program. — Timothy J. Lee Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome. No warranty of any kind is provided with this message.
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Where in the US and where in India? How many miles in the US, and how many to/from India? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I > am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main > interest would be to travel within the US and to India. > Has anybody tried points.com? Is it worth it?
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have definitely discovered that BA’s FF program is crap, especially if you > only fly economy. I’ve had lots of flights with them in the past year but > it’ll take me about 3 years at this rate until I even have enough points for > a free domestic return flight within the UK. > On the other hand, KLM’s program (Flying Dutchman) has been great. I took > one round-trip from Edinburgh to Stockholm, one transatlantic EDI-AMS-BOS > and one BOS-MSP internal flight in the USA and I had enough points for a > free round-trip from EDI-AMS with about 4,000 miles left over! They are > great. You’d get plenty of points using Northwest/KLM to get from the US to > India and if you can use NW’s flights internally in the US, you’ll do well, > too. > Fraser > Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I > am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main > interest would be to travel within the US and to India. > Has anybody tried points.com? Is it worth it?
USE KLM but do not use Northwest Airlines, especially for overseas travel. Most American carriers suck on International flights, NW is a prime example.
Response:
Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main interest would be to travel within the US and to India. Has anybody tried points.com? Is it worth it?
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> >Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I >am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main >interest would be to travel within the US and to India. > The best will depend on many factors. Quite a major issue is what type > of tickets you are buying. If travelling 1st or Business, then BA/QF > are , imo, the best
No, I would probably be interested in getting as many trips as possible, so it is economy. Supposing every airline will give me one point for each mile flown in coach class, other differentiating factors might be (a) getting points through other channels (credit card, phone companies, etc), (b) generous non-expiration policy, (c) fewer miles required for international trips (US-India in my case). Thanks.
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I have definitely discovered that BA’s FF program is crap, especially if you only fly economy. I’ve had lots of flights with them in the past year but it’ll take me about 3 years at this rate until I even have enough points for a free domestic return flight within the UK. On the other hand, KLM’s program (Flying Dutchman) has been great. I took one round-trip from Edinburgh to Stockholm, one transatlantic EDI-AMS-BOS and one BOS-MSP internal flight in the USA and I had enough points for a free round-trip from EDI-AMS with about 4,000 miles left over! They are great. You’d get plenty of points using Northwest/KLM to get from the US to India and if you can use NW’s flights internally in the US, you’ll do well, too. Fraser
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Which airline has the best (however you define it) mileage program? I > am reconsidering all of my enrolments across the board. My main > interest would be to travel within the US and to India. > Has anybody tried points.com? Is it worth it?
no comment untill now