Using miles from different airlines

[True Blue]

Hi


I have miles with United, Lufthansa and Turkish. All Star Alliance.


How do I combine them to make if more efficient for me to use them?


It would suit me to use them all on TK.


Thanks

[mixture]

How do I combine them to make if more efficient for me to use them?

Should have thought about that before you signed up to all three !

The normal way of doing things is you pick one give the others in the alliance your membership details for that one so they can log your points there.

I rather suspect the answer to your problem is you can't, or if you can its going to be a tedious experience involving convincing call-centre operators !

UPDATE:

Look at the Star Alliance FAQ here, I quote :

Q. Can I transfer miles or points between Star Alliance airline member programmes?
A. No. Once you have earned miles / points in one programme, you are not able to transfer that balance to another programme within the alliance. All programmes remain independent.

[True Blue]

Thanks Mixture

[tdracer]

True Blue, one option you might try is to use miles to book two one-way trips. At least some airlines let you book one way for half as many miles.

[Metro man]

Try using them for other reward redemptions such as hotel nights. Stick to one program for each alliance in future, I made the same mistake my self but luckily didn't let it get too far.

[PAXboy]

In choosing your main loyalty programme, look at the listings of other ways to collect points. You can have your credit card, hotel bookins, car rentals etc. all contribute to the sameaccount. Since the amount you get from each purchase is small, amalgamating them is the best way to make them useful.

It has been often said in this forum that buying an Economy ticket with cash and then upgrading with points is the best value for redeeming.

[Metro man]

The problem is that depending on the airline, the cheapest economy tickets can't be upgraded using miles. Singapore Airlines require a full priced economy ticket be used for upgrade and the number of miles required isn't much lower than a business class redemption.

The best value per mile is in long haul business class on leisure routes, where the airline is quite happy for you to sit in a seat at the front which would otherwise be empty. Attractive redemption rates are usually offered to encourage you to burn up your miles. They are much less keen on redemptions on prime routes where you would be displacing a premium fare payer.

[PAXboy]

Very true Metro man. With some carriers, the 'upgradeabble' economy ticket is between the lowest and the fully flexible so it is always best to check all the options for the carrier. Also, they often change the amount of miles that are needed for an upgrade. There are Upgrades but if two are travelling, Companion seats bought with miles can be better value. I've had some very good usage out of 'miles' and continue to collect when opportunity provides.

There is a discussion forum dedicated to those collect loyalty points but (for my taste) it's way over the top. Many of the posters seem to spend money just to earn points and that is not a good thing to do. If you use the 'search' in here you will find other threads on this topic.

[mixture]

There is a discussion forum dedicated to those collect loyalty points but (for my taste) it's way over the top.

I know the forum to which you refer and I agree ! They've all got a large dose of "air miles OCD" over there !

[PAXboy]

mix - You're being unusually polite this morning? I think they're all totally crackers. (and that's being polite ...)

[mixture]

You're being unusually polite this morning?

I am always impeccably polite, a fine specimen of the internet community.

But given "that" forum is owned by the same company that owns "this" forum, I thought it probably best de-minimis.

I think they're all totally crackers. (and that's being polite ...)

BA sent an email round at 12:16 re: changes in the Avios programme.

Just for a giggle, I meandered to said forum for the first time in a very long time ... and by 12:20, there were already 40 posts bemoaning the changes with people expressing sentiments such as "Heartbroken", "Omnishambles", Demoralising".

[PAXboy]

Thanks for the tip, when I need a giggle, I'll mosey over there. Thanks for tip off about ownership.

[mixture]

when I need a giggle, I'll mosey over there

There's also currently a 9 page debate on there about people's inability to go to the toilet before they board.

Oh dear... right. Time to forget about that site for a while, think I've had my quota for the year... too easy to while away the time....