To all you FF experts out there: We'd like to apply for a FF card since we will be flying from AZ to Europe this summer. We have been using Chase Rewards because we never seem to fly the same airline for our various trips and this has worked out well as we have had a choice of airlines.
However, I'd like to get as much out of this as possible! We will be on Northwest, KLM on the flight over and British Air all the way on the return. I'd like your advice on which card we should get: Continental's One Pass or Northwest's World Perks. (BA doesn't parner with either one.)
Our Chase rewards does have a tie-in with Continental and 25,000 points can be switched to the One Pass card each year. Guess I may have just answered my question!
But how easy is it to cash in points on either of these cards? We're retired so there aren't business trips to accumulate miles. Thanks for your help!

Maggie, Like you we use different airlines. The card that has worked well for us to accumulate f.f. miles is the American Express Starwood card. The points can be transferred to virtually any airline. For every 20,000 points transferred, they add 5,000 points so you actually get 25,000 miles!! We just let the points pile up until we decided which airline to transfer them too. The only airline that isn't part of that (as far as I know) is Southwest. http://www.starwood.com/preferredguest/partners/all_partners.html?back=-1

or you can apply here:
https://www66.americanexpress.com/c...fined/0/n&from=2&mgmID=undefined

There is no membership fee for the first year, after that it's $30 per year. I use this card for EVERYTHING. Although we have the AmEx Platinum which cost $395. year (use this only to get shipboard credit), I actually use the Starwood card to pay for Radisson cruises and everyone else in the world! So far it's worked the best for us.

Alaska Airlines is partners with NW and BA both,
as well as CO and Qantas.

If you have a BA card, they don't give you miles on trans-atlantic flights. I believe you get Alaska miles on BA transatlantic.

Check into it.

BA partners with American, but I have found BA to be very stingy with their miles.

Marcie-
That card does look good, I'll read more about it. I have a Southwest ticket waiting to be used as that airline has been the best for frequent CA trips. So it all works out!

Bob & Frances-
I'll check on BA, I get a different impression from their website, looks like transatlantic would be covered. I'll give them a call and get more info. It doesn't sound too promising, Betty!

Thanks for your replies!

Maggie - you can earn miles for British flights transatlantic on British's and Alaska's program but cannot earn miles for these flights on American's program.

If you're trying to earn miles from the whole trip on one program, I believe that Alaska is the way to do it.

Northwest has followed Continental in becoming very stingy with their award seats where it is rare to be able to obtain awards at the lowest mileage required, they tell you seats are available at the "premium" award level which is double the mileage. For your Northwest and KLM flights, another alternative would be to credit the mileage to Delta (they're now all part of SkyTeam).

Thanks, Peter, that's what I was looking for: one program to cover the total flight. I'll check it out.
Maggie

Don't call BA, call Alaska. It's an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan card. Look here
http://www.alaskaair.com/mileageplan/MPtoc.asp

and here http://www.alaskaair.com/mileageplan/MileagePartners_Airline.asp

BA
London-based airline serving more than 165 cities in 83 countries and offering the world's first fully-flat bed in business class on most services from North America to London.

Mileage Earned: Earn 25% of actual miles flown or 125 minimum miles in Discount Economy class; earn 100% of actual miles flown or 500 minimum miles in all other classes of service; earn 25% Bonus Miles for Business Class and 50% for First Class.

Cathay

Hong Kong-based airline serving over 60 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, Europe and Africa.

Mileage Earned: Earn one mile for each mile flown; 25% bonus for business class; 50% for first class.

They partner with CO, NW, KLM, Hawaiian, Qantas.
We've found it to be about the best. I don't think you can earn BA miles to your AA card, but you can to Alaska's card.

Alaska is now flying a lot more than just West Coast, and I think they are fairly easy to deal with.

I have 282,000 miles on them. Waiting to go to South Africa in first class.