Enhance your points and miles accumulation: A guide on selecting the best program for flight crediting

When flying with a major U.S. airline, it might be tempting to earn points or miles through that airline's loyalty program. Many of us recognize programs such as American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, and United MileagePlus.

Nevertheless, when deciding where to credit your flights, it's crucial to take into account the different airline alliances and partnerships, as international airlines might present a more advantageous offer.

While most U.S.-based programs reward miles based on the ticket price, certain foreign programs still allocate miles based on the distance traveled. Depending on your flight specifics, you might earn more miles by crediting to a distance-oriented program. However, other considerations like the importance of elite status and your redemption goals are also essential.

This guide will assist you in identifying the most suitable programs for crediting your miles according to airline alliances, ensuring you get the best value for your flights.

Factors to take into account

Before choosing a frequent flyer program for crediting your miles, there are several aspects to keep in mind:

• Elite status: If you're aiming for elite status, it may not be wise to solely concentrate on the airline you use most often. For instance, Turkish Airlines could provide more accessible qualification criteria (with no spending thresholds) for Star Alliance Gold status than United Airlines. However, consider the airline-specific benefits you might miss out on by switching your focus.
• Lounge access vs. upgrades: As a mid- or top-tier elite member with a foreign carrier, you might have lounge access even on domestic U.S. flights. However, complimentary upgrades are typically reserved for the airline's own elite members. You'll need to weigh whether the lower qualification standards and lounge access of a foreign program are more valuable to you than the upgrade potential with a domestic one.
• Redemption objectives: Think about which program's miles will be most beneficial for your travel ambitions. For example, if you're aiming for a business-class flight across the Atlantic, accumulating Air Canada Aeroplan points could be more advantageous than United miles, as Aeroplan offers lower saver award rates.
• Fare eligibility: Not every fare qualifies for miles with partner airlines. Deeply discounted and basic economy tickets may not earn partner miles. You might need to credit miles directly to your airline if you often book these fares. Utilize tools like wheretocredit.com to estimate mileage accrual. Additionally, verify the earning rates on airline websites for the most current details.

Taking these factors into consideration will assist you in selecting a program that suits your travel preferences and aspirations.

Which program should you choose for crediting flights on Oneworld airlines?

For travelers in the U.S., Alaska and American Airlines are the primary carriers in the Oneworld alliance. Each offers a distinct loyalty program with different structures. American awards miles based on ticket cost and employs dynamic pricing for redemptions, while Alaska still calculates miles based on distance traveled and maintains award charts. When flying Alaska on non-saver tickets and crediting to its Mileage Plan, you'll earn at least one mile for each mile flown, which is quite generous.

Alaska miles are highly valuable, and the program provides attractive earning rates, making it a top choice for crediting Oneworld flights. Furthermore, Alaska elite members enjoy reciprocal elite benefits when flying American, including upgrade opportunities. Thus, the elite status experience remains quite similar. However, keep in mind that basic economy fares on American Airlines do not qualify for upgrade benefits.

Alaska also boasts valuable partnerships beyond the Oneworld alliance, including those with Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. When booking a partner airline through an Alaska Airlines ticket, you can typically earn 100% of the base miles flown.

One drawback is that elite members of the Alaska Mileage Plan do not gain lounge access on domestic flights. If access to airline lounges is important to you, you'll need to purchase lounge access, possess a credit card that includes it, or aim for elite status with a foreign Oneworld airline like Japan Airlines. Oneworld Emerald members can even enjoy American Airlines Flagship First check-in when flying domestically.

While the JAL Mileage Bank award charts may appear intricate at first glance, they present numerous excellent redemption opportunities, such as a round-trip from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Dubai International Airport (DXB) for 110,000 miles in Emirates business class.

Nonetheless, American AAdvantage can still be a viable option for your travels, particularly with the introduction of Loyalty Points. You can earn points beyond just flying — through credit cards, online shopping, and even dining — bringing you closer to achieving AA elite status. Most other Oneworld programs restrict elite qualification solely to flights.

Which program should you choose for crediting flights on SkyTeam airlines?

For U.S. travelers who prefer flying with Delta, the SkyMiles program is typically the top choice for crediting SkyTeam flights. You earn 5 SkyMiles for every dollar spent on Delta flights — in the main cabin or higher — excluding bonuses for elite status. Mileage earnings on partner flights usually adhere to the partner airline's rules. Be sure to visit Delta's partner page to see how many miles you can earn on those flights.

Although the SkyMiles program lacks award charts and is notorious for unexpected devaluations, it does provide benefits such as ongoing promotions and flash sales.

Staying loyal to the program enhances your chances of receiving elite benefits like seat upgrades. To boost your account, you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, by holding the right Delta American Express card, you can enjoy at least 15% off Delta-operated award flights.

Alternatively, the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a good choice if you prefer a program with distance-based mileage accrual and published award charts. Now that Virgin Atlantic is part of SkyTeam, Flying Club elite members can expect a full range of SkyTeam elite benefits, including priority ground services and lounge access on eligible itineraries when flying these airlines.

Which program should you choose for crediting flights on Star Alliance airlines?

For U.S. travelers flying with Star Alliance, opting to credit flights to Turkish Miles&Smiles instead of United MileagePlus can be a wise decision.

Turkish Airlines awards miles based on fare class, elite status level, and distance traveled. Moreover, Turkish features lower thresholds for elite status qualifications with no spending requirements. You can reach Classic Plus status (Star Alliance Silver) with just 25,000 status miles. The Elite tier (Star Alliance Gold) requires 40,000 status miles, while Elite Plus (also Star Alliance Gold) necessitates 80,000 status miles.

In comparison, United usually requires spending between $4,000 and $24,000 (before taxes and fees) to achieve elite status, alongside flying requirements.

By earning Star Alliance Gold status through Turkish, you gain access to United Clubs and partner lounges. However, you will not qualify for upgrades on United flights.

Turkish miles can offer greater value than United miles, with domestic flights starting at only 7,500 miles in economy and 12,500 miles in business class. You can also transfer points from Bilt Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One to Turkish Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

For those seeking status, Asiana Club is another viable option, providing a 24-month qualification period and allowing miles to be redeemed for flights on non-Star Alliance airlines like Etihad. Alternatively, if you want more valuable rewards with a published award chart, consider crediting your Star Alliance flights to Air Canada Aeroplan. This can often present a better redemption option compared to United MileagePlus.

Bottom line

Selecting the right frequent flyer program for crediting your miles is just as crucial as using the appropriate airline credit card for purchases. This choice can greatly influence your rewards earnings. Crediting miles to a partner airline usually results in earning more miles for the same flight.

Make sure to include your chosen program in your reservation before your flight departs. While some airlines may permit retroactive crediting of flights, transferring miles between programs after they've been credited is generally challenging.