Best *A program for someone based in Melbourne

[Keith009]

I thought posting this here might attract more responses than at Flyertalk:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=443507

Someone help!!
I hate making decisions...:S

p/s I don't really care about expiring miles - the aim is to achieve *G and maximum accessibility to elite benefits.

 

[dajop]

Read the post on FT, all I can offer is my own experience.

Have reached * Gold this year after two return J class flights to Asia on SQ(to BKK and DEL respectively) coupled with a flight on TG fron BKK to Chiang Mai. This was all on NZ's program - which I note you didn't include in your analysis. With a few hotel stays I now have enough Airbucks to get me to LAX or JFK and back. Air NZ great for J travel, and short distance Y, but I will put longer Y travel to Krisflyer. Upgrade benefits on NZ not that great though.

Whatever you choose - join Krisflyer - you can credit your miles to another * program, whilst sectors flown in J on SQ still count to PPS status.

 

[BlacKnox]

Someone help!!
I hate making decisions...:S
p/s I don't really care about expiring miles - the aim is to achieve *G and maximum accessibility to elite benefits.

As previously noted, your ability to maximise elite benefits will depend on what FFP you join.

Ok. Here goes. If it were me flying mixed Y/ J and I had to make a decision NOW, then given the information received so far I'd probably plomb for Thai. Reasons include that I can get from MEL-SIN via BKK easily at not too much expense. I love Thailand and have no problem routing via there for the odd stopover. Fares ex. BKK are cheap - so it's a good place for nesting tickets. I've heard that TG treat their RG members well with generous upgrades, and I'd use the TH upgrade coupons (following status) for the new direct BKK-NYC flight.

Of course this is making a decision NOW, and things could change tomorrow. Hope this helps.

 

[Keith009]

Does the complimentary upgrade given to Gold members covers any round trip of any distance and any number of sectors?

I'm only using TG to get to Europe, but that's at least once a year so I still get to enjoy elite benefits, like upgrading to F all the way.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am most definitely going for TG Gold now, they seem so much more generous than SQ Gold and easier to achieve than SQ PPS.

 

[BlacKnox]

Does the complimentary upgrade given to Gold members covers any round trip of any distance and any number of sectors?

Usually they're limited to sectors, though I'm not familiar with the TG FF program. Check the FT TG (Thai) forum for details.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

AFAIK its sectors.

UA SWUs upgrade entire trip one-way (as long as no stopover enroute more than 24 hours)

I think this is the only one of its type in *A. For more info on *A upgrades see this comprehensive summary