Questions and Answers

I am a long-time loyal Star Alliance Miles and More member. We mostly fly SA when we go longhaul. However, M&M basically is horrible. I’m still in my teens (>16), and have a fair amount of flying before me… I live in South America, and will be going to university in the UK, besides GCSE’S… all in all, for the next 6-8 years, we’ll be flying more than usual.

How would you folk compare M&M to United’s Mileage Plus? I hear from my grandparents that miles don’t expire if there is account activity — that would be important to me.

Cheers

Cant tell you how those two compare, but i can confirm that United’s miles dont expire as long as there is account activity. Which means you fly, buy miles, deposit miles from a points earning credit card, and any other way.

In general UA will charge you more miles, especially in premium cabins and Miles and More will require greater cash outlays. Have you considered AA or another OW carrier if you are going to be traveling to the UK a lot and I assume BA is going to be your best choice for non-stops?

Cole — thanks

Gurav — as long as they don’t expire, that’s good for us.

I wish! BA scrapped CCS-LHR years ago… I was born a year too late to see a BA 747 in the most beautiful livery in the world fly into Maiquetia.

Realistically, unless AA has some great sales, we’re more likely to go on Star Alliance metal. Besides, our AA and DL cards are both going revenue, and we’re not big spenders on flights. Hopefully Oscar doesn’t do the same sh*t and go revenue.

We basically have seven realistic choices.

CCS-MAD on Conviasa in the 747. NO THANKS! Not trusting Conviasa…

CCS-MAD-LHR on IBE and BA; earn AA miles

CCS-MIA-LHR on AA / BA; earn AA miles

CCS-MAD-AMS-BFS on Air Europa / KLM; earn DL miles

CCS-ATL-DUB on Delta; earn DL miles

CCS-IAH-EWR-BFS on UAL; earn UAL / M&M

CCS-FRA-DUB on DLH; earn UAL / M&M

Personally, since UAL miles don’t expire yet, (I can do some mileage running in my spare time during university — unless UAL goes revenue!), I’d go for UAL miles, especially since I can earn miles on Star Alliance and partners. Am I wise?

[USER=93]@JMR[/USER], UA went revenue about the same time as DL so unless you are flying partner metal in a fare class that earns a reasonable number of miles you’re going to be earning based on revenue there as well.

Well, sh**. How did I not notice that?!
So the main three airlines… all are revenue… with NEARLY the exact same mileage rates?!

BA miles… another option, IF we fly OW…
Well, if we fly United another time, I will sign up and ditch the M&M.