OK, I admit it: I’m not part of any frequent flyer program.

For someone who is such an avid traveler, it’s probably a little shocking to hear, but I have good reasons. I’ve always been more concerned with price than brand loyalty, so I switch networks and carriers all the time. The lowest price always wins. Moreover, I use a Citibank Premier Pass Credit Card – a great card for frequent travelers. I get tons of miles on every flight booked with the card (even if I’m not the one flying), free companion tickets, and bonus miles. And, I can use those miles on any airline I choose. Since I got the card in 2005, I’ve received a free flight to Europe and $500 back. Not bad for not even using the card in 2007.

But with a new trip starting soon, as well as realizing that I’ll be taking a lot of international flights next year, I’ve decided it’s time to bite the bullet and join a program.

Another reason I’ve never done it before? All my favorite carriers are spread out over different alliances. Japan Airlines (JAL) is on the Oneworld network, while Singapore is on Star Alliance. Malaysia Airlines does  its own thing, and I’m partial to Air France/KLM. Emirates Airline, the carrier that makes me salivate, isn’t on any of these networks.

A Quick Note on Airline Alliances
All airlines code share and partner with each other to create global networks. For example, American Airlines can’t fly everywhere, so it partners with other airlines to get to the places it can’t. Hence, most companies are part of a network. There are two major airline networks: Oneworld and Star Alliance. (There are a few smaller, regional ones, but for the global traveler, these are the two that matter.)

Oneworld members include: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines (JAL), LAN, Malev, Qantas, and Royal Jordanian.

Star Alliance members include: Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, THAI Air, Turkish Airlines, United, and US Airways.

Picking One
While sitting in Heathrow Airport last month and being totally annoyed by its inconvenience, I decided joining a rewards program would bring me one thing I’ve always wanted: an airline lounge. Airline lounges are often unreachable for the coach flier, but if you are in a rewards program, you can usually get in for free (though top-tier status is needed) or at a heavily discounted price. I decided that with my increased flying, it only makes logical sense to join a frequent flyer program.

Now, I have to pick which network I want to tether myself to so I can enjoy the perks.

Star Alliance has a few pros: Singapore Airlines, SAS, and Air New Zealand. Plus, Lufthansa isn’t bad. But it has two major cons: United Airlines and Air Canada. Both Airlines are AWFUL. In fact, I recently flew Air Canada to England, and it was one of the worst overseas experiences I’ve ever had. (I’m not alone either: check out this group.)

Oneworld is a bit better. It has JAL, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. But it also has American Airlines, and I refuse to fly them after a bad experience with them a few years ago and their recent safety issues.

Emirates, my all-time favorite airline, is part of no network but code shares JAL, a member of Oneworld. However, because I am American, it’s easier to join AA and use them to join the JAL program, since AA doesn’t code share with Emirates.

The Winner Is…

After reviewing the code share arrangements thoroughly, I decided to partner with the Oneworld Alliance. It may have less carriers than Star Alliance, but it has more of my favorite airlines. I could join the JAL program and use that to fly with Air France or Emirates since I am based out of America, have an American credit card, and work in dollars. But it is simply easier to join the AA rewards program and use that to get onto JAL. While that means I can’t get Emirates miles and I’ll have to fly American every so often, at least I’ll eventually get to fly business class on JAL. That makes everything worth it.

The most important part of picking an airline network is not choosing the one with the most airlines, but choosing the one that has the most airlines you like. None of these alliances offer it all, but if you won’t fly half the airlines on one network, don’t pick it – even if your favorite is there. To join one of these alliances, you simply need to join the frequent flyer program of your favorite airline. Then enter that number whenever you book with one of their partners!