Which FF program ? - 1st post

[The man with no name]

Ok, so I've been lurking here long enough, time to join the action

Presently I hold Qantas and Velocity FF memberships, bottom rung for both sadly. As I'm now flying a lot for work that should change shortly, however I am looking at a few business class trips in the next few months and they're likely to be with SQ or Vietnam airlines. SQ is Star Alliance and Vietnam is Sky Team so my question is which FF program offers best bang for your buck in both SA and ST ?

 

[samh004]

Welcome!

Not my strong area, but provided your business lets you choose what flights/airline to take I'd take into account a program that allows earning of VA flights, then you can secure domestic and international benefits.

I was thinking Delta is ST and are partnered with VA (but recall they're changing their program to a minimum spend so not sure about that...) & SQ or NZ are picks for *A as they also partner with VA.

 

[The man with no name]

Wow. That was a fast reply !

The reason I said Star Alliance and Sky Team programs is because I've become aware of two cheap business class fares to Europe - 1. Vietnam airlines/Air France for around 3.7K-4K and Air France/Singapore Airlines for a little over 4K. Both cannot be booked through VA

Thanks for the reply

 

[lovestotravel]

$4k on Singapore in business class to Europe ?

 

[The man with no name]

I believe it's an Air France fare but the Australia to Singapore leg is on SQ.

 

[Jack_OC]

I believe it's an Air France fare but the Australia to Singapore leg is on SQ.

$4k in business the whole way, or mixed economy-business?

PS are we talking return or one way? $4k rtn in J to Europe seems impossibly cheap, on almost any airline

 

[cove]

Our friends in Perth are all doing US Dividend Miles to travel in J or F to Europe for a cost below $3k.
Overnight we have a couple returning from LHR to BKK to PER.
Personally we would use SQ plus credit card spend to their Kris Miles but you have to watch out to not get caught by the 3 year miles expiry.
Westpac and Citi have credit cards that can warehouse Kris Miles to avoid expiry of Miles.

 

[phantompharter]

Hey - I am a newbie at this - and am in a similar position to you with FF programs.
Though I have recently purchased both USDM and LM points (both which are *A) to be able to redeem very good J fares to Europe/US as mentioned by cove.

My thoughts with the two programs you have suggested would be use *A carriers and then focus on one of the partners in the alliance (Say US Airways) and credit all the miles to the best earn/burn account for your situation.
I am finding the *A possibilities with USDM and LM combo's quite amazing.

 

[cove]

I look at which Frequent Flyer system gets our family the greatest retail value each year based on our redemption use.
Our 2013 ranking is:
Singapore Air (kris miles) We are flying six internationally
Qantas mainly for Australian travel
Virgin Australia
US Air Dividend Miles

 

[eastwest101]

Ok, so I've been lurking here long enough, time to join the action

Presently I hold Qantas and Velocity FF memberships, bottom rung for both sadly. As I'm now flying a lot for work that should change shortly, however I am looking at a few business class trips in the next few months.....

Probably most important questions are if work is presumably paying for a lot of your flying - do you have any choice as to whom you fly with or not? If not - as is often the case with travel paid for work - which airline(s) does your employer most commonly book you on? This will sort of give you a clue as to which airline/alliance you will most quickly obtain status with....

 

[The man with no name]

$4k in business the whole way, or mixed economy-business?

PS are we talking return or one way? $4k rtn in J to Europe seems impossibly cheap, on almost any airline

Sorry for the very late reply - I've been overseas on holiday and for some reason my iPad wont let me log in here...

The fare was a Air France fare and it ended up being around 4K + tax MEL- CDG and it was all business class. Now as AF do not fly to Melbourne their partner airline Singapore does the MEL-SIN leg. Not sure if the fare is still around but the Vietnam/Air France one is.