{"id":42,"date":"2015-12-03T02:38:02","date_gmt":"2015-12-03T02:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thetravelingmillennial.com\/?page_id=42"},"modified":"2018-12-20T00:08:58","modified_gmt":"2018-12-20T00:08:58","slug":"pick-an-airline","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/thetravelingmillennial\/pick-an-airline\/","title":{"rendered":"Step 2: Pick an Airline"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you anticipate flying over 25,000 miles over the next calendar year you’ll want to consider flying exclusively with one airline so you can reach an elite status with that airline. \u00a0Elite status comes with cool benefits such as free upgrades, checked bags, and aisle row seats. \u00a0When choosing a primary airline to fly, you’ll want to consider several factors. \u00a0It’s also important to keep in mind that elite miles and redeemable miles are two different types of miles. \u00a0Elite miles<\/a><\/span> are used toward reaching elite status and are usually earned per mile flown. \u00a0Redeemable miles<\/a><\/span> are used toward free flights are are usually earned based on the fare of purchased tickets (and though shopping portals and dining programs).<\/p>\n

Elite Program Benefits<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

benefits can range from free checked bags (~$30 value) to free international business class upgrades ($2,000+ value). \u00a0Given this disparity, not all airline elite programs are created equal. \u00a0It’s also important to\u00a0weigh the cost of achieving elite status with the value of the benefits. \u00a0I discuss each program in greater depth on the Elite Miles page<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

American<\/strong>: American is my personal favorite elite program. \u00a0There are no minimum spend requirements and you can accrue elite miles while flying on OneWorld partners. \u00a0You may wonder, what’s a One World? \u00a0It’s an alliance of airlines (American, British Airways, LAN, JAL, etc.) that share routes and allow you to credit miles to any frequent flier program in the alliance. \u00a0You can reach the first tier of elite status, Gold, by flying 25,000 miles (EQMs) in a calendar year and by spending over $3,000 on airfare. \u00a0If you strategically buy cheap plane tickets, you can achieve this with 2.5 round-trip flights to Rio de Janiero ($1,350) or 5 round-trip cross-country flights (JFK-LAX) ($1,250).\u00a0 To achieve Gold status with cheap flights, you will also want to meet the minimum spend on an American Airlines credit card that will waive the $3,000 minimum airfare spend requirement.<\/p>\n

Benefits<\/strong>: Gold status\u00a0comes with pretty cool benefits including complementary upgrades (space permitting) on flights of 500 miles or less, 500-mile upgrades that are used to upgrade flights over 500 miles (cost $40 per 500 mile upgrade), one free checked bag, complimentary preferred seating ($10-50 per flight), and a discount on main cabin extra seating.<\/p>\n

Alaska<\/strong>: with American Airlines’s devaluation in elite status and frequent flier mile redemption levels, Alaska may have the best frequent flier mile program. \u00a0First, you still acquire frequent flier miles based on miles flown. \u00a0Second, you can redeem them with really cool airline partners. \u00a0Alaska may not belong to an alliance (such as One World, Sky Team, or Star Alliance) but it partners with American, Delta, and Emirates. \u00a0Alaska Airline’s frequent elite\u00a0program benefits are very similar to American Airlines’s elite benefits. \u00a0You need to fly either 20,000 miles with Alaska or a combination of 25,000 miles per calendar year with Alaska and its partners. \u00a0You can achieve this with 2.5 round-trip flights from Anchorage to Orlando (~$1,250).<\/p>\n

Benefits<\/strong>: MVP status comes with benefits on Alaska, some of which are available when MVP members fly Delta and American airlines. \u00a0You should consult the chart below.<\/p>\n

Southwest<\/strong>: Southwest offers a different top-tier elite status than other airlines: the Companion Pass. \u00a0It’s lower elite tiers are fairly unremarkable, offering mainly priority boarding and a point bonus. \u00a0The Companion Pass <\/a>is pretty awesome. \u00a0For 110,000 points, you can fly a companion with you on any Southwest route for the low price of $11.20, round trip. \u00a0You need to acquire 35,000 points to reach the lowest tier of Southwest’s elite status–A-List. \u00a0Points\u00a0can be acquired through signing up for the Southwest Visa<\/a><\/span>, buying Southwest airline tickets (6 points per dollar), and through the Southwest shopping portal and dining program. \u00a0A Companion Pass requires 110,000 points and allows a companion to travel with you for free (well for $11.20).<\/p>\n

Benefits<\/strong>: aside from the Companion Pass, which can have tremendous value, the A-List status comes with\u00a0priority check-in, boarding, and standby benefits.<\/p>\n

United<\/strong>:\u00a0the United\u00a0elite\u00a0program is very similar to the American Airlines elite program.\u00a0 United\u00a0requires its members to spend at least $3,000 (depending on the desired elite tier) on United\u00a0airfare per calendar year. \u00a0Similar to the American Airlines, the United\u00a0program requires 25,000 elite miles which are earned by miles flown, as opposed to dollars spent.<\/p>\n

Benefits:\u00a0<\/strong>the benefits are listed below. \u00a0It’s important to note that the complimentary upgrades are more extensive than those offered by American Airlines. \u00a0Premier Silver members are eligible for complimentary upgrades on most flights within the United States and from the United States to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n

Delta<\/strong>: the Delta elite\u00a0program is very similar to the American Airlines elite program.\u00a0 Delta requires its members to spend at least $3,000 (depending on the desired elite tier) on Delta airfare per calendar year. \u00a0Similar to the American Airlines, the Delta program requires 25,000 elite miles which are earned by miles flown, as opposed to dollars spent.<\/p>\n

Benefits<\/strong>: in addition to the benefits listed below, Delta Silver Medallion members receive waived baggage fees, priority check-in, and priority boarding. \u00a0It’s important to note that the complimentary upgrades are more extensive than those offered by American Airlines. \u00a0Silver Medallion members are eligible for complimentary upgrades on most flights within the United States and from the United States to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.\u00a0 \u00a0
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Redeemable Miles<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

Redeemable miles can be used for award flights on the airline and it’s partners. \u00a0The best value for redeeming these miles\u00a0(cents per mile) is usually international business and first class flights.<\/p>\n

American<\/strong>: Earning American AAdvantage miles is fairly easy, fliers receive at least five redeemable miles (varies by elite status) per dollar spent on airfare. \u00a0Unfortunately American Airlines no longer awards miles based on miles flows. \u00a0You can also earn miles from American’s shopping portal, dining program, and others partners. \u00a0On the bright side, American has a fairly generous award redemption chart. \u00a0You can also redeem miles on any of its\u00a0partners which includes Etihad First Class, showers included<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Alaska<\/strong>: Alaska still uses a miles-flown approach to accruing redeemable miles. \u00a0This approach makes Alaska the most lucrative redeemable mile program in the United States. \u00a0You can also earn miles from Alaska’s\u00a0shopping portal, dining program, and partners. \u00a0Alaska also\u00a0has a fairly generous award redemption chart. \u00a0You can also redeem miles on any of its\u00a0partners which includes Etihad First Class, showers included<\/a>! \u00a0Alaska publishes award charts by carrier and region<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Southwest<\/strong>: \u00a0Southwest uses a revenue-based approach, were members get points\u00a0based on the cost of the airline fare. \u00a0You can also earn points\u00a0from Southwest’s\u00a0shopping portal, dining program, and partners. \u00a0Unlike American, Southwest does not use a set redemption chart for redeeming points for award flights. \u00a0Redemption levels vary based on the time of travel and Southwest does not allow redeeming points for award flights\u00a0on partner airlines.<\/p>\n

Delta<\/strong>: \u00a0Delta\u00a0uses a revenue-based approach, were members get miles based on the cost of the airline fare. \u00a0You can also earn miles from Delta’s\u00a0shopping portal, dining program, and partners. \u00a0Unfortunately, Delta no longer publishes an award chart and will likely transition to a redemption system similar to Southwest’s, varying by the cost of the fare of the airline ticket.<\/p>\n

United<\/strong>:\u00a0 Similar to American, United\u00a0uses a revenue-based approach, were members get miles based on the cost of the airline fare. \u00a0You can also earn miles from United’s\u00a0shopping portal, dining program, and partners. \u00a0United, similar to America, publishes award redemption charts but varies the receptions amounts based on which airline the ticket is redeemed on. \u00a0In addition, United offers less generous redemption levels that either American or Alaska.<\/p>\n

Destinations Flown<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

If you live near a hub, you’re more likely to receive cheap fares to a large number of cities.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 American<\/strong>: American has hubs in DC, Chicago, New York, Dallas, Miami, Phoenix, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Alaska<\/strong>: Alaska has hubs on the west coast–Anchorage, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Southwest<\/strong>: Southwest has hubs in Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Chicago.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Delta<\/strong>: Delta has hubs in Cincinnati, Detroit, Atlanta, New York, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, and Seattle.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 United<\/strong>: United has hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington D.C.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Step 3: Pick a Credit Card<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you anticipate flying over 25,000 miles over the next calendar year you’ll want to consider flying exclusively with one airline so you can reach an elite status with that airline. \u00a0Elite status comes with cool benefits such as free upgrades, checked bags, and aisle row seats. \u00a0When choosing a primary airline to fly, you’ll want to consider several factors. \u00a0It’s also important to keep in mind that elite miles and redeemable miles are two different types of miles. \u00a0Elite miles are used toward reaching elite status and are usually earned per mile flown. \u00a0Redeemable miles are used toward free…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"yoast_head":"\nStep 2: Pick an Airline – The Traveling Millennial<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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