Need some FF program advice

[CaptainCurtis]

With travel starting to get easier, I expect to be flying to Singapore for work fairly regularly - about 6 times per year from Sydney. I'm after some advice on which airline I should target, and which FF program I should credit to.

For additional context, work will allow me to fly premium economy - so my options are BA, SQ and QF. The premium economy seats on the new QF A380 are somewhat expensive, approx ~$3k return vs ~$2k return on BA/SQ - I'm not sure that I will be able to justify an extra $1k for a comparable flight. So it would seem my remaining options are BA and SQ. I flew BA15/16 recently in premium economy, and was impressed with the service/product, particularly in row 16, although I have not flown SQ premium economy, so cannot compare. I credited my recent flight with BA and QFF, but I don't think the earn rates are worth it - 30 status credits and 4,000 QFF points each way.

Going forward, it would seem my options are:

1. Fly BA, credit to Executive Club
2. Fly SQ, credit to KF.
3. Any other options I'm missing?

Which of these options make the most sense for my circumstances? I would also like to factor in lounge access, and the opportunity to upgrade with points.

I currently have silver status with QFF, PCP+ and 1M+ points. No status or points with BA or SQ.

 

[SYD]

You can also credit SQ to VA (but you’d need some domestic VA sectors to climb the status ladder). But you can’t directly use VA points to upgrade. If and when VA -> SQ points transfers return, you could in theory do upgrades.

If you’re doing it regularly, SQ/KF must be a contender. The downside is the hard stop on points expiry after 3 yrs but SQ do have good award availability.

Similarly, if you go with BA then EC would make sense. I’ve actually had several comp upgrades from J -> F on BA flying SYD <-> SIN. So, they might share some love if you become a regular.

Yes, the QFF earn [Edit: flying BA] isn’t great but there might be more QF Sale fares as things get back to normal. That could make staying with QFF a little more attractive.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

If you’re doing it regularly, SQ/KF must be a contender. The downside is the hard stop on points expiry after 3 yrs but SQ do have good award availability.

Any view on their hard product in premium economy?

Similarly, if you go with BA then EC would make sense. I’ve actually had several comp upgrades from J -> F on BA flying SYD <-> SIN. So, they might share some love if you become a regular.

That's good to know. Service was brilliant on my recent flights with them. Row 16 has so much room, you almost don't need to fly J for such a short flight.

Yes, the QFF earn isn’t great but there might be more Sale fares as things get back to normal. That could make staying with QFF a little more attractive.

The earn rates are a little better with QFF if flying directly with QF - 5,200 points and 60 status credits, which would get me to gold with ~4/5 trips. The pricing on this route is just nuts though... $3.5k return to SIN in premium economy. No thank you. Hopefully prices will drop once the new route has actually started though.

 

[SYD]

Ah, I meant to say the QFF earn flying BA aint great but obviously better on QF flights (if you can get a decent fare).

Sorry, no personal experience with SQ Y+ but just completed another SYD-Euro return in SQ J.

Oh, another advantage of SQ is the option to take “day flights“ both ways - so Y+ even whY is manageable. Both QF and BA invariably have overnight “red eyes” into SYD.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Oh, another advantage of SQ is the option to take “day flights“ both ways - so Y+ even whY is manageable. Both QF and BA invariably have overnight “red eyes” into SYD.

That's a very good point - can't say I loved the red eye back home with BA.

Tough decision indeed, pros and cons all-round. Ideal would be QF, but with fares above $3k return, it simply won't be feasible.

Anyone with views on whether EC or KF is easier to reach and which is more valuable?

 

[jase05]

That's a very good point - can't say I loved the red eye back home with BA.

Tough decision indeed, pros and cons all-round. Ideal would be QF, but with fares above $3k return, it simply won't be feasible.

Anyone with views on whether EC or KF is easier to reach and which is more valuable?

Have never had any serious status with KF but have just started down the EC path and it seems to be going well so far and with crediting my domestic QF flights to it I should be able to comfortably attain Gold provided I get my 4 legs of BA/IB done

 

[Daver6]

Perhaps try BA and SQ for the first two trips so you can make an informed product decision?

I'm not familiar with either, but is one better than the others in terms of using points to upgrade to J (assuming that is something you'd want to do)?

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Perhaps try BA and SQ for the first two trips so you can make an informed product decision?

That's the plan!

I'm not familiar with either, but is one better than the others in terms of using points to upgrade to J (assuming that is something you'd want to do)?

In the past, I've accumulated the majority of my points with QFF. I don't have any credit cards that allow me to transfer elsewhere, so the majority of the points I earn (with either BA or SQ) will come from flying itself.

 

[Daver6]

That's the plan!


In the past, I've accumulated the majority of my points with QFF. I don't have any credit cards that allow me to transfer elsewhere, so the majority of the points I earn (with either BA or SQ) will come from flying itself.

I'm going to guess that it's also easier to find cards here that you can transfer points to SQ than BA.