Credit mileage to where?

[lcpteck]

Hi folks,

Need some suggestions and advise.

I plan to do a longhaul to US once a year to visit family. Thinking of flying AA Ex-HKG to IAD/DCA (about 18.5k miles roundtrip). The cheapest fare on AA earns 100% mileage to both AA and CX. Which should I credit to? I'm in SIN but will probably take a cheap flight to HKG to connect.

AA have no expiry as long there's activity once every 18 months and CX I believe expires 3 years from earn date. Since I fly once a year, my miles would not expire in AA. For CX, I'll have to redeem at least once every 3 years.

My CCs earn both AsiaMiles and Krisflyer miles so the additional miles would complement my CC earnings. However, AA Partner Award chart seems cheaper than AM's partner award chart. For AA, 110k miles for J award from Asia to USA while AM needs at least 145k depending on airline and routing.

Wonder if it's a good idea to bank into AA, though of course I wouldn't be able to redeem a J award roundtrip at least another 5-6 years later. Or just go with AM as I'll be able to redeem sooner if needed.

I have no status with any airline and I'll be MH Silver starting next year and will be MH Gold by next year end. Due to the cheap tickets, MH was the obvious choice so I'm earning by sectors.

I have thought about going the other way, fly UA Ex-SIN to IAD and credit 100% mileage to KF. UA award chart is pretty expensive for partner award flights (160k roundtrip in J between SIN and US) so crediting to UA (fly NH) won't be useful.

In terms of pricing, flying AA Ex-HKG would be slightly cheaper overall (probably S$100-200 cheaper). Do note I fly on cheapest tickets.

Thanks for reading this long winded post.

Flight History

[HUGE AL]

http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1621

I always thought the thread belonged someplace else…perhaps in the SQTalk Community section since not everyone would look for it under the KF PPS area…


To address your inquiry:

Are you sure, "The cheapest fare on AA earns 100% mileage to…CX"? Many times, CX is quite restrictive on their accrual of AsiaMiles on discounted fares.

Would it be less expensive for you to fly ex-CGK?

If you're banking on redeeming miles 5-6 years later, I promise you the rates will be COMPLETELY different by that time. Take it from a professional regretter, mileage is an ever depreciating currency -- BURN THEM!

Since you are getting status on MH, is there any way to credit the miles there? That seems more logical.

Your KF scenario doesn't sound bad at all.

[lcpteck]

Thanks for the reply HUGE AL!

Apparently the AA N/Q fares (which are the cheap ones I found) earns 100% to CX AM but earns 0% on MH.

Unfortunately flying ex-CGK would be similar as flying ex-SIN in terms of pricing.

Yeah the other idea is via the KF scenario. Unfortunately using KF Miles to fly to IAD/DCA would require partner airline awards which is more expensive than AM Miles (in J). Hence was thinking to go with AM.

I guess I should also consider which of the 2 airlines I should fly, UA (803/804) or AA (137/138). Or both are equally on par in Economy?

UA flies B772ER and AA flies B77W/B738.

[HUGE AL]

That's a lot of "unfortunatelys"

Unfortunately using KF Miles to fly to IAD/DCA would require partner airline awards which is more expensive than AM Miles (in J).

Then just fly to JFK and take a cheap commuter flight down to IAD/DCA.

I guess I should also consider which of the 2 airlines I should fly, UA (803/804) or AA (137/138). Or both are equally on par in Economy?

They are NOT. For now, AA is always going to be better than UA (which I'm famous for hating). But give Doug (Parker) some time, he will soon destroy AA. And I guess, if you're looking at many years down the road, it's a crapshoot.

[9V-JKL]

Then just fly to JFK and take a cheap commuter flight down to IAD/DCA.

Agree. B6 on some days is 'only' $69

[HUGE AL]

Agree. B6 on some days is 'only' $69

Hey, someone agreed with me! LOL