Aussie travelling to Seattle ... which program ?

Welcome to AFF, shevvi

For the to itineraries that you posted, it would seem that oneworld or Star Alliance are the best programs.

I'm not an expert on *A programs, Kiwi Flyer or others can fill you in. I can recall Kiwi Flyer posting a summary of them to somebody else's questions. IIRC, Thai was best if you are going to do a lot of deep discount economy travel and I think it had a lower threshold for earning status.

Based on Oneworld, SYD/SEA will be best done as either SYD QF LAX AS/AA SEA or SYD QF SFO AS/AA SEA and returning on the reverse routing. The QF SYD/SFO sector only starts in March 2006. You can fly Alaskan (AS) or use the AA codeshare from either hub. Another option is to use the oneworld Circle Pacific fare and routing (you'll need NM or serfty to explain them - they do a better job than me).

I think the best FF program for no or low tier members (starting out) is the American Airlines AAdvantage, particularly as they are the only one that allow you to achieve mid-tiered access to their program using the Gold or Platinum Challenge. AA are one of the few US-based airlines that aren't in Chapter 11 (bankruptcy protection). Many people on this Forum have benefited from this knowledge and achieved Platinum from one flight SYD/LAX. Yes, it's that easy if you plan carefully.

Yes, you can transfer points between QFF accounts, where you are family.
It is done over the net very easily. But there are conditions.

Yes, however if you get the AA Platinum Challenge done, you'll get automatic access to the Qantas Clubs without further expense until the expiry of your membership. Then it's all a matter of re-qualifying to retain the "free" membership.

BTW, who is this Quantas that you mention a couple of times :? - I'm sure you mean Qantas :wink:

 

if the sum total of flying is going to be once-a-year to SEA and once every few years to India, then I would suggest the AA program is going to be better value tan Qantas (leaving the A* recommendations to Kiwi Flyer and such experts).

As Lindsay explained, the AA Platinum Challenge is easy to reach when travelling over the Pacific, and gets you 100% bonus miles earned when flying and access to Qantas Club lounges and AA lounges (AA lounged only when flying internationally on the same day).

If using the AA program, you are best to buy the tickets using the AA codeshare flight number instead of the QF flight number. Be careful about which fare types earn miles and status in the program. For example, Qantas Q fares (a specific discount economy fare) does not earn miles in the AA program. Read about the program and understand the rules so you can get maximum benefits from it.

The downside of using the AA program for an Australian based person is that your can't earn miles from credit card spending. You can only earn from flying, accommodation, car rentals etc. But you can earn miles much faster from flying (with the 100% bonus miles for Platinum status level) and those miles take you further for awards. You should be able to earn enough miles for your India trips every 3 years of so.