Is it better to earn frequent flyer miles through one airline or multiple airlines?

Question

By the way, when I say "multiple airlines," I am referring to airlines between which you CANNOT transfer saved-up miles.
At first glance, it seems as though accumulating frequent flyer miles through one single airline would be better. You would just rack up miles and miles, and then there would be more to use when you did finally redeem them. On second thought, however, maybe it's not so good to "put all of your eggs in one basket" in this way. What are your experiences with and thoughts on this?

Answer 1

Depends which routes you fly and how often. Generally, I think it's better to try to keep all of my miles on 1 or 2 accounts, but I only have to fly maybe 6-8 roundtrips per year. In this day of airline alliances and codeshares and miles being honored on partner airlines flights, I was most recently able to use miles from my Northwest account, earned on Northwest, Continental, Delta, and KLM flights, for a roundtrip operated by Continental. I could also accrue, and redeem, them on some Air France flights, and other "Skyteam" members. So... try to keep 1 account, unless 1 just won't do.

Answer 2

You can join as many frequent traveler programs as you wish. Many airlines will "expire" your miles if you do not earn miles within a particular time period. The program information on each airline's web site will give you the particulars. American Airlines requires that you have account activity (either earning or redeeming miles) at least once every 18 months. Southwest expires each flight credit two years after you earn it. I am a frequent flier with American, Delta, and Airtran.

Answer 3

I try to keep most my miles distributed over 4 different airlines. I find that it's better to be an elite or premier member on all 4 airlines, than to be some kind of super platinum member on one, 'cos I don't want to limit my travel options just to enjoy the benefits like upgrades, etc.

Answer 4

After earning a lot of miles on a lot of airlines, I would say that it is best to earn as many miles as you can with one airline, providing they fly to the places you most frequently visit or have great codeshares with other airlines that you can earn miles with for your airline.

Answer 5

i think its easier to just earn them on one airline. i really only fly continental but the more and more you fly and the more and more miles you get, you'll start to get more bonuses after you reach 25,000 miles and you'll be able to get a trip faster. if you do multiple airlines it takes more time and more flying to rack up the miles

Answer 6

I agree w/Eurotrip Don...It's better to have a large bank of miles in 1 or 2 accounts, than to have it all dispersed between multiple accounts. You can't transfer or combine accounts, so if all of your accounts don't have enough to take miles for a single award from one individual account, then they are really useless.