Best Star Alliance program for infrequent flyers

[justin23]

I've got 4 flights booked on Copa in April and as they will earn around 5000 miles, I figured I should get a *A membership to put the points against.

So which one?

As the title suggests, I probably won't fly them much, maybe some Singapore legs on occasions? More likely to be Copa or Avianca in the future.
I'll continue to fly mostly OW, but I've actually got quite a few miles in Skyteam also as my Delta miles don't expire. Anything similar in *A?

I'm thinking Krisflyer only because of the link with VA and because i'm more likely to fly on Singapore.

 

[Mattg]

If you are not likely to fly with Star Alliance often, then the best thing is to focus on points, ignoring status. I personally value United miles quite high, and they are especially good for medium to long haul premium cabin redemptions. But you probably won't earn anything worthwhile from 4 Copa flights.

My next pick would be Singapore Airlines, mainly because KrisFlyer miles can be transferred to VA (where you're perhaps more likely to use them). KrisFlyer miles expire after 3 years, but if they are used or transferred before then it's not an issue.

 

[justin23]

If you are not likely to fly with Star Alliance often, then the best thing is to focus on points, ignoring status. I personally value United miles quite high, and they are especially good for medium to long haul premium cabin redemptions. But you probably won't earn anything worthwhile from 4 Copa flights.

My next pick would be Singapore Airlines, mainly because KrisFlyer miles can be transferred to VA (where you're perhaps more likely to use them). KrisFlyer miles expire after 3 years, but if they are used or transferred before then it's not an issue.

Thanks I think the 3 years expiry for KrisFlyer is probably the best option. I may do a few more flights on AirNZ or Singapore in the future, seems silly to lose the points, when they may come in useful and if I never use them then its no big deal. That said I'll mostly use QFF and OW as my primary program so *A and Skyteam memberships are just there to collect the points when I fly on them and if I ever have a use for them I'll use them.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks I think the 3 years expiry for KrisFlyer is probably the best option. I may do a few more flights on AirNZ or Singapore in the future, seems silly to lose the points, when they may come in useful and if I never use them then its no big deal. That said I'll mostly use QFF and OW as my primary program so *A and Skyteam memberships are just there to collect the points when I fly on them and if I ever have a use for them I'll use them.

I'm pretty much the same! I focus most of my point earning and burning on oneworld, but have an account with Singapore Airlines. If I'm going to take a Star Alliance flight anyway, I figure I might as well credit it to somewhere.

 

[justin23]

I'm pretty much the same! I focus most of my point earning and burning on oneworld, but have an account with Singapore Airlines. If I'm going to take a Star Alliance flight anyway, I figure I might as well credit it to somewhere.

Yes see I've got CBD-SYD-SCL-LIM return in Y+ booked on QF for April. But LAN were expensive to Cuba, so decided on LIM-PTY-HAV-PTY-LIM on Copa. Either way I retain Silver on the QFF flights and as my year ends July I doubt I'll have enough time to try for gold :-( But this will be my 4th trip to South America so may use Avianca and Copa again within three years and tend to visit Asia regularly for shorter trips so if Singapore works out to be more useful I can use them.

 

[Mattg]

Yes see I've got CBD-SYD-SCL-LIM return in Y+ booked on QF for April. But LAN were expensive to Cuba, so decided on LIM-PTY-HAV-PTY-LIM on Copa. Either way I retain Silver on the QFF flights and as my year ends July I doubt I'll have enough time to try for gold :-( But this will be my 4th trip to South America so may use Avianca and Copa again within three years and tend to visit Asia regularly for shorter trips so if Singapore works out to be more useful I can use them.

Just keep in mind that with Singapore Airlines, the miles expire literally three years after they are earned - they aren't kept alive if your account is kept active.

 

[AviatorPJ]

I've got 4 flights booked on Copa in April and as they will earn around 5000 miles, I figured I should get a *A membership to put the points against.

So which one?

As the title suggests, I probably won't fly them much, maybe some Singapore legs on occasions? More likely to be Copa or Avianca in the future.
I'll continue to fly mostly OW, but I've actually got quite a few miles in Skyteam also as my Delta miles don't expire. Anything similar in *A?

I'm thinking Krisflyer only because of the link with VA and because i'm more likely to fly on Singapore.

if you have any status with OW you may want to think about the current status match with Avianca Brazil for *A status
http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../avianca-brazil-amigo-status-match-71128.html

Suggest you read especially the AFF tips in the thread about the registration page in Portugese before proceeding. cheers, PJ

 

[Prince of Persia]

Just keep in mind that with Singapore Airlines, the miles expire literally three years after they are earned - they aren't kept alive if your account is kept active.

Yes - but you do have a couple of options - you can either pay a bit to extend the miles for another year (not the best value) or you could simply link your VA account and tranfer them over just prior to expiry

 

[burmans]

Just keep in mind that with Singapore Airlines, the miles expire literally three years after they are earned - they aren't kept alive if your account is kept active.

There are ways of extending this out to nearly 4.5 years!

 

[andye]

Could also consider United or Avianca both of which sell miles that could supplement an account

 

[magnacartic]

You could also get a Turkish Airlines Star Alliance Gold status match.

 

[AviatorPJ]

You could also get a Turkish Airlines Star Alliance Gold status match.

Assuming the OP has status, and the patience to deal with the flakey TK website.

 

[justin23]

You could also get a Turkish Airlines Star Alliance Gold status match.

Only Silver unfortunately.

 

[Radio8tiv]

I'm in a similar situation where I want to take a few flights where there is only *A like in Canada, so which *A membership offers the ability to store points without expiry, considering some activity of course? Status is no issue as I'll never attain it but if one *A offer family pooling like VA does that would be another consideration. I'm only a leasure/holiday traveller but wouldn't mind getting something out of it.

 

[seanpodge]

UA is no expiry with an 18 month no activity limit. Can purchase miles too.

 

[travelislife]

United is the go. Only 3Ok plus $35 one way business class to Asia redemption. I wish I had a way to earn UA miles!

 

[Foreigner]

United is the go. Only 3Ok plus $35 one way business class to Asia redemption. I wish I had a way to earn UA miles!

from where?

 

[travelislife]

From Australia

 

[subichow]

Just watch the earn for various fare classes with the United program.

 

[clifford]

from where?

Indeed. Recently booked a SYD-BKK 1-way award ticket using MP miles and the "taxes" came to $86.07. Not bad really, but certainly not $35.