Airmiles

[swamp]

I collect BA airmiles with American Express credit card and Tesco Clubcard. When I went to buy a flight the other day it wasn't worth using the airmiles as most of the price was taxes and other charges. I also have no chance of getting any tier points to get into the business lounges, so I don't really see why I bother.

[Moscow Mule]

Does anyone actually find buiness travel enjoyable, even with good flights/hotels?

For 1 or 2 weeks a month on a weekly commute I quite enjoy it, if there's other people in the city whom I know.

But traveling every week is a nightmare. I get very tired, and very grumpy. Friday evening is usually a write-off and Sunday evening is spent sorting yourself out for the flight the next day...

[Spacecadet]

I book all flights through expedia

how can you tell if it's full priced economy or not?

when you've found the flight on expedia, check it on the airlines own booking website. I've frequently found direct booking is cheaper.

[Mich the Tester]

Does anyone actually find buiness travel enjoyable, even with good flights/hotels?

I prefer the high speed trains to get around Europe. Much more comfortable and usually just as quick as you arrive in the centre of town. Alternatively, take a night train and get your own sleeping compartment.

[Tensai]

BA Silver, agree the T5 BA lounge is good, on a par with the Virgin lounge at Heathrow (or is it Gatwick, it's been a while since I flew with them...?)

Rapidly approaching Gold tier, but all this travel is playing havoc with Mrs T and the little t's....

Does anyone actually find buiness travel enjoyable, even with good flights/hotels?

[Sysman]

Ah, the demise of Swiss Air. The best airline in the world, run into the ground by kleptocrats with MBAs. It should have served as a warning for what's happened in the last year or so.

Now that was a place to work for totty in the canteen!

Its demise was very sad to see, and I knew several contractors who got burnt financially at the time.

[Mich the Tester]

When Lufthansa took over Swiss, they transferred my miles across, 1 for 1. What they didn't mention was that to get free flights from Lufthansa you need more than twice as many miles.

Oh well - I've got one free flight now.

Ah, the demise of Swiss Air. The best airline in the world, run into the ground by kleptocrats with MBAs. It should have served as a warning for what's happened in the last year or so.

[NotAllThere]

When Lufthansa took over Swiss, they transferred my miles across, 1 for 1. What they didn't mention was that to get free flights from Lufthansa you need more than twice as many miles.

Oh well - I've got one free flight now.

[chef]

I book all flights through expedia

how can you tell if it's full priced economy or not?

[expat]

If it's anything like BA exec club, you get miles and tier points. Miles are available on most flights in varying amounts depending on how much you paid for your ticket. Tier points are only available on Full-price economy and above.

Still got my silver (free lounge) for another year, and managed a free business class flight to Bermuda and New york in '07. Need to get another contract in Moscow to really start ramping the points again...

On the subject of good lounges, BA in T5 is nice, as is the new Star Alliance (ex BA) in T1.

That's right. Lufthansa is very similar.

Now, Full-price economy is not something I am liable to see on my own money, so I can forget "tier points".

And the "miles" themselves do depend on how much you paid for your ticket. Heathrow to Frankfurt gives me this (one-way):

1.250 Booking Class B Y
750 Booking Class G H K M Q S U V W
125 Booking Class E L T

so it is hard to see how someone who is paying a regular flight out of his own pocket, who judiciously books 3 weeks in advance to get the best fare, will ever get anything worthwhile out of MilesnMore.

[Moscow Mule]

I guess I would need to be chucking money away on more expensive tickets to get there.

If it's anything like BA exec club, you get miles and tier points. Miles are available on most flights in varying amounts depending on how much you paid for your ticket. Tier points are only available on Full-price economy and above.

Still got my silver (free lounge) for another year, and managed a free business class flight to Bermuda and New york in '07. Need to get another contract in Moscow to really start ramping the points again...

On the subject of good lounges, BA in T5 is nice, as is the new Star Alliance (ex BA) in T1.

[Pondlife]

KLM do it based on number of flights as well as mileage with gold membership after 30 flights. Since I have four a week as I go via AMS it takes me a couple of months only.

[expat]

Platinum with KLM for the past few years.

It's quite quick to get through the tiers if you're flying each week.

As for lounges, it's very much airport dependent. The crown lounges at Schipol aren't too bad. Plenty of seating, free wifi, as much booze as you can drink etc.

Really? I fly Lufthansa every week, and am on MilesnMore, but can't shift off bottom level. I get 250 miles per weekly return trip, and need another 34,000 additional miles in 2009 to get Frequent Traveller status. That's another 1360 weeks work, don't think I can do that! And on basic "member" level you actuall get bugger all except the ability to log in and see your flights

I guess I would need to be chucking money away on more expensive tickets to get there.

[Pondlife]

Platinum with KLM for the past few years.

It's quite quick to get through the tiers if you're flying each week.

As for lounges, it's very much airport dependent. The crown lounges at Schipol aren't too bad. Plenty of seating, free wifi, as much booze as you can drink etc.

[chef]

who are you registered with? KrisFlyer, MilesnMore, BlueMiles etc.
what level are you? silver, platinum etc.

and as a slightly related question, which are the best european airport lounges that you know of?

no particular reason other than Ive realised im going to be raking in Lufthansa MilesnMore points over the next 6 months and wondered how they rate against others for airmiles and lounges..