Airline/FF confusion:( New member. LONG!

[TanyaB]

I have lots of time to organize two upcoming trips so would like to use the time and your advice to my advantage please

Husband and I flying MEL/LHR/MEL in Sept/Oct 2009 on business trip (please read good excuse for a holiday). We have our own small business so there are tax advantages. My dream is to fly Business (I have done Economy trip 3 times when I was much younger and swore never again) but my husband is not “comfortable” with the $10,500 per pax Qantas price tag. The other bit of my dream is to possibly try out the A380.

I am a Qantas bronze FF and have 7,500 points from a trip to Singapore last year. In October 09 I would like to fly home via a good Asian shopping hub – thinking Hong Kong or KL. So have considered Qantas, Cathay or Malaysian. Loved Singapore and would consider SIA – but it’s not quite the cheap shopping I’m looking for but I could be flexible if necessary. No budget airlines please and no old, shoddy planes. I’m a bit of a fearful flyer and need to know I’m flying on well-maintained planes. As I am now older and fussier my general comfort is also high on my list of priorities

Am not a QC member, but would also consider joining to cover me for two trips.

NEXT – is the FF points question. This comes into play as I want to travel MEL/JFK/MEL with my teenage son in April/May 2010 and hope to be able to pay for a ticket or upgrade with points. Our Business has just switched credit cards to Westpac Gold Business Altitude Rewards so I would have these to “spend” as well – I think they can be redeemed for Qantas and now Singapore FF points.

BIG QUESTION – based on the above, should my decision on which airline to fly to LHR be based on FF points I would accrue (to then be used to JFK in 2010). Or, due to lots of recent “points palaver” (ie. people buying plasmas cos they can’t use points to fly), would they not amount to much in the long run? Is there a better FF programme I should join now given my plans for the next couple of years?

SORRY for long post but any advice gratefully received

 

[Evan]

- If you choose for example Qantas then your points can only be use to upgrade Qantas operated and coded flights, eg QF10 which is a Qantas plane.

- I accrue my points and i use them, just this weekend i was going to buy a ticket SIN-JNB (Singapore to South Africa) and i thought i would check if there was an award ticket, sure enough there was so just booked it simple as that. I have also had upgrades on points a number of times.
Of course i have also not been able to get an award ticket or an upgrade but no but deal thats life.

You could do something like MEL-HKG-LHR-SIN-MEL or BKK so you can visit 2 Asian shopping hubs

I love Cathay and Qantas but your have seen the prices ! And Malaysian i have flown a number of times and no problems, there business class is cheaper generally.

E

 

[Alanslegal]

I'll kick the ball rolling & welcome you to AFF.

As you Sept/Oct trip is for your own business, are you limited to any time constraints? If not, then instead of getting a direct MEL-LHR-MEL then you may wish to consider a Round The World fare which would be in the similar price range.

You would earn elite status quite easily if you took this, which would give you more benefits than a paid QC membership. Further flying business class you get automatic access to airline lounges anyway.

 

[TanyaB]

Evan - thanks so much for response....I hear good and bad things about Malaysian. How would flying with them fit into an FF program - are they part of an alliance? And Alanslegal - thanks for option. I had considered RTW as we do actually have 5 weeks, but as I'm not too keen on flying, it seemed the long way around? But could consider if this helped status along - only thing is I'm not sure what status actually is...just another part of my confusion I'm sorry to say And yes, I realise that if I do manage to talk husband into spending money on Business class I will get into QC...but if I have to resort to Premium Economy (any thoughts on that?) or even Economy maybe a visit to the QC might help me feel better

 

[Evan]

I am a bit 50/50 on Malaysian, Its not my first choice but no where near my last either.

They do have there own frequent flyer program but not a member of any alliance, i think there is some agreement with a few other airlines though.
There was a thread here on how actually if you fly Malaysian a bit its good value for the free flights you can earn. The only problem is i can't find the thread now ! anybody ?

I often fly enconomy even to Europe for work, i find one of the best things you can do if you have time is to split the trip in Singapore/Hong Kong etc.

The other airline as much as i think there customer service is not that good (and i will have just about everybody disagree with me i am sure) is Singapore airlines (SQ), good new planes, comfortable, Flew last night to South Africa with them and actually slept most of the flight !
But there FF program has points expiry after 3 years, since they are star alliance you could join BMI instead with no expiry.

E

 

[dajop]

Evan - thanks so much for response....I hear good and bad things about Malaysian. How would flying with them fit into an FF program - are they part of an alliance?

With just a return to London, unlikely to get good status with them. However with Westpac Altitude you can transfer points to them at the same ratio as for Qantas and Singapore Airlines. Also they are partner of Virgin Blue Velocity (as is Westpac Altitude) so that probably is a good option for you (and with VAustralia starting up may be an option for at least getting to LA).

I had considered RTW as we do actually have 5 weeks, but as I'm not too keen on flying, it seemed the long way around?

It is longer than straight return, although up the front of the plane it is entirely bearable. In fact (some will argue this) I have found the (albeit longer) westbound journey quite good in business class, as you just have extended days/nights on the plane, compared to quick cycling of day/night when travelling eastbound.

You have some time up your sleeve, as you probably can't book yet for travel in Sep 09, but if you want to get a good feel for the options and pricing, I often find bestflights a good quick guide, even if you're not booking through them. Two section relevant, UK & Europe Sizzlers and Round World.

 

[drron]

Tanya this is your big chance.Do you join the exalted world of mileage runners,DONE4's,status maybe even throw in a mattress run or do you forever wonder what if?First you need to get over this idea of not enjoying flying and flying too far-there is no such thing.
I have a plan that can acheive your objective of at least a part award in business class for you and your son to the Big Apple in 2010.To do so however will take a major change in your outlook to travel.Are you ready?
First join AAdvantage-can be done on line and no cost.Then next year your trip should be a DONE4.Make sure your TA books the first flight MEL-LAX as the AA codeshare.Then join up for the platinum challenge on AA and by the time you arrive at LAX you have status!
Next the hard part.You have to get enough miles for an award.A simple DONE4 will not do so the exciting part comes next-the MR.One suggestion is MEL-LAX-MIA-ORD-LHR-DXB-LHR-HKG-KUL-SIN-MEL.Because you will get a 100% status bonus on AA being plat this will earn you ~75000 miles.Not quite enough for the next part of the plan.
For 2010 my plan would be a flight MEL-NRT-OK probably discount Y but the an AA AAnytime award NRT-JFK-NRT at a cost of 90000 miles.Looking 4 months out from now there is AAnytime availability for 2 virtually every M,T,W and everyday for F awards-but they are 125000 miles.My wife has just done this in J and the extras came to $US39.60-compare that to the extras on QF.So how do you get the extra miles.First choose your hotels-staying at Sheratons as a plat you will earn 3 AA miles per $1 spend,at Hiltons 2.5,marriotts and wyndhams 2 so you can generate quite a few mile and both you and your husband should get to at least 80000 miles.In the worst case scenario you buy those miles from AA for about $US300-ie about what QF would charge you in fuel fines for a similiar award ticket.Best is if you could get an Amex or DC for your business and sweep points to AA via SPG.
Now this sounds like a lot of trouble so what else do you get out of it.Well there's the shopping.You havent really shopped until you have been to a few US factory outlets.For Aussies the payoff is that what is on sale is the new seasons fashion for us.And I am talking about real sales.Mrsdrron picked up Armani skirts for $70 and pants for $90-90% off.Then there is Dubai-the malls there will knock your socks off.
On top of that even your discount Y trip to NRT with your status bonus will nearly give you enough points for an AAward to NZ.Big downside is for your husband-much more going out on shopping and the very big chance you will be bitten by the bug and insist on lots more J travel-c'est la vie!
Of course you might combine all this with an attempt at hotel status and enjoy lounge access there but that is another story.

 

[Danger UXB]

Dear Tanya
firstly there are people on this website who are far more qualified than me to discuss the pros and cons of various ff schemes ( see drron's post) alot of these guys know a stack of stuff.
I do know that QF are miserly with their classic award seats on there own planes at the front end of the plane but when you get to the asian hubs SIN and HKG the BA seats on the classic award seem to be endless( just do a search to book 12 months in advance mid week LHR to HKG).
So depending on your earn rate on your cc you could asia to LHR return on points and pay the Oz to asia with cash( or cc even better).
Of course this does not solve your USA trip issues but I understand front end reward seats are few and far between.
Kind Regards
Danger UXB

 

[Platy]

Tanya this is your big chance..

Drron's advice is excellent. In essence you want to maximise your return from:

1. Your credit card (ie everything spent is helping earn points)
2. Your hotel stays (ie points for every stay)
3. Your flights (ie points and credits to your status)

Thus you need to:

1. Choose the credit card that gives you the most points
2. Choose a hotel group (eg Hilton, Marriott) and stick with it to accrue both points and status
3. Choose an airline alliance (OneWorld or Star) and stick with it to accrue both points and status

Remember that as you rise up in status levels in both the hotel and airline schemes, the rate at which you earn points increases. Thus as a Platinum in Qantas I get double points for each flight!

The above advice does all of these things and lets you benefit from a wealth of information, which would take you a long time to study!!!

 

[straitman]

TanyaB,

Are you confused yet.

Everything the guys have suggested is excellent. It is confusing, so please don't be afraid to come back with more questions because there is a whole lot more info out there to be had. Often there are several ways to tackle a problem and that's where the forum comes into it's own as we can all draw upon everyone experience and knowledge.

I've been here for a little while and learnt a couple of gems from this this topic alone.

Remember that the planning and beating the airlines and hotels at their own game is half the fun :!:

 

[TanyaB]

Not only am I confused - I can't work out how to use the "quote" button so I can ask more questions based on lots of great advice you've all been so kind in supplying. I am trying to decipher drron's suggestions as I do see this as an opportunity to "work" the system, but the shorthand letters for destinations confuse me too. I've looked up the abbreviations thread and worked out some of them such as MR and SC.

However - to be quite honest - if I'm reading most of drron's destination abbreviations correctly, that amount of flying is really not an option....frankly, it horrifies me! I want to use every minute we have to its best advantage and I'm afraid spending so much extra time in the air is just not worth it to us. This "mindset" is why I want the best airline I can get for the money - even the tedious air minutes are precious

So my challenge is to choose an airline/alliance wisely for my 09 trip to MEL/LHR/MEL, with Asian stopovers, and when combined with Westpac Altitude Rewards, perhaps manage something (anything?) for nothing in Big Apple Trip 2010. Having read all the advice so far, I think I am approaching it correctly. It sort of seems silly to fly to LHR and back without accumulating any points to use somewhere, doesn't it?