Best Star Alliance Program

[elbarto]

I'm wondering what the best Star Alliance program to join is? I'm currently a Kris Flyer member, but I know that is certainly not the best. Since I'm in London these days I figure the chances of ending up on a *A airline are a lot higher than when I was in Australia. What I'm primarily trying to achieve is status over points.

 

[browski]

I was always partial to the bohemian nature of the Rebel Alliance, but I acknowledge the purchasing power and influence of the Federation.

 

[NYCguy]

I'm wondering what the best Star Alliance program to join is? I'm currently a Kris Flyer member, but I know that is certainly not the best. Since I'm in London these days I figure the chances of ending up on a *A airline are a lot higher than when I was in Australia. What I'm primarily trying to achieve is status over points.

Are you flying back to AU regularly with SQ? They have that PPS thing that sounds attractive if you fly J or F, and with the price of tickets from LHR back to AU, it won't take long to get the card.

I've always been happy with UA's Mileage Plus myself. YMMV.

 

[adl73x]

If *A status is your primary goal, then Aegean , a new *A member, is probably the easiest to achieve. Only 25,000 miles required for *A Gold with no requirement to actually fly on Aegean.

TK and AC are also good at around 35,000 miles for status. BD is probably not long for this world at 55,000 for *A Gold from a zero start but only 39,000 to renew. It will roll into LH Group Miles and More which is 100,000 miles in one year for *A Gold (but valid for 2 years).

If you start factoring in miles earning and redemption value your options will change.

 

[anat0l]

What's your travel budget like? That is, how often do you fly, where do you fly, do you fly discount/full Y, or J or F?

Also are there any airlines in *A that you would like to fly, and similar are there others that you would rather not?

There are quite a few key *A programs that can offer you great benefits but depending on what you're looking for (it seems like status more than earn/burn) and how much you fly (so you can get the benefits in the first place).

 

[clifford]

I've always been happy with UA's Mileage Plus myself. YMMV.

I'm with you. Of course, being 2MM helps, but from the earn point of view it can't be beat(en).

Ah, but beware of the Smiseks. They will kill it.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

If *A status is your primary goal, then Aegean , a new *A member, is probably the easiest to achieve. Only 25,000 miles required for *A Gold with no requirement to actually fly on Aegean.

I thought that it was only 20k, and you get 1k for signing up (if that bonus offer is still around), so it's only 19k.

To get Star Silver is 4k, Gold is another 16k = 20k

Aegean Airlines

Or am l doing it wrong?

 

[elbarto]

Thanks for the responses team.

The Aegean program looks tempting. However, it would appear is if they issue a maximum number of points per sector. Is this normal for *A programs?

Aegean Airlines

If that's right then you could theoretically make *G in 3 or 4 trips if you take the right route. I'm making the assumption that the bulk of flying would be done on other *A airlines and probably in J since most discount Y fares appear not to earn any points.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Aegean still have the 1000 bonus points for signing up.

You can get Star Gold with 1 Business SYD-SIN-LHR flight. Circle mapper calculates that SYD-SIN-LHR = 10762miles. 200% bonus = Star Gold.

It's good to check out the Thai website often for specials too. Thai had a special, Athens-BKK in Y for $600 including tax in December.

THAI
Business Class Accrual Factor

C 200%
Business Discounted Accrual Factor
D, J, Z 200%

​

Note: Booking Classes not eligible for accrual: O, I, R, X, N, L, G, V, W

 

[JohnK]

I was also looking at alternative Star Alliance FF program as well as QFF for my trips to Thailand 3-4 times a year. I am not likely to get status in Star Alliance so earning and burning miles was more important.

I ended up choosing KrisFlyer as earning rates in discount economy are reasonable and the redemption rates appear to be quite good (with 15% online discount) with the ability to transfer Amex MR points there as well an added bonus.

 

[Halion]

Aegean ftw!

In October I flew SYD-LHR and return with SQ in Y class, within 3 days of my return my status showed Gold.
In the mail today (3 months later....oh well) I received my *A Gold card with an expiry date of 12/2013.
That's not a typo....valid for 3 years!

Not bad for just one 21.2k mile trip in cattle class...

To clarify the program, on joining you get 1k miles for free
at 4k miles you are given Blue Aegean status (*A Silver)
at 20k miles your status is now Aegean and *A Gold with all the benefits

Remember that you can fly on ANY *A airline, just beware of the ticket class, some Y classes give little or no status depending on the airline

 

[anat0l]

Aegean ftw!

In October I flew SYD-LHR and return with SQ in Y class, within 3 days of my return my status showed Gold.
In the mail today (3 months later....oh well) I received my *A Gold card with an expiry date of 12/2013.
That's not a typo....valid for 3 years!

Not bad for just one 21.2k mile trip in cattle class...

To clarify the program, on joining you get 1k miles for free
at 4k miles you are given Blue Aegean status (*A Silver)
at 20k miles your status is now Aegean and *A Gold with all the benefits

I'm hoping that the 3 years is just a glitch. From the info they supplied, it seems it's a yearly thing.

A3 is still the easiest program in the alliance to get *G. Apart from that, benefits are quite limited (pretty much only the listed common *G benefits and priority security in ATH). Earn and burn looks pretty average too.

 

[Halion]

Anat01, as the website is really vague as to validity, I'll go with what's printed on the card, gives me the warm and fuzzies to think that status can last that long

There's no contest as to earn and burn, yes, there are better programs out there....but you have to earn them....and that costs you heaps. Some judicious planning also earns great savings and FF points.

For a basic card that allows me the luxury of *A Gold privileges (with SWMBO able to take her extra luggage for gifts) it's a no brainer for me. Lounge access anywhere I travel, extra luggage, priority boarding etc....more than worth it.

For years I have been struggling with my QF FF for status, as of this year the QF card is going to be used just for rewards.

 

[medhead]

I was going to hijack the thread to ask about the best *Alliance program for earn and burn. But I think I might just go with SQ, as I have an MR Amex and they seem to be middle of the road from what I can understand. I did consider BMI, but they may disappear before I get significant points with them.

My mum is also doing a MUC-CAI with Egyptair in March, which might just be enough to hit silver with Aegean with the sign on bonus. But I don't know the fare class and she would qualify silver and then not fly with them again. So I'll probably suggest SQ for her as well. Just wondering if I've missed anything. :?:

 

[anat0l]

I was going to hijack the thread to ask about the best *Alliance program for earn and burn. But I think I might just go with SQ, as I have an MR Amex and they seem to be middle of the road from what I can understand. I did consider BMI, but they may disappear before I get significant points with them.

My mum is also doing a MUC-CAI with Egyptair in March, which might just be enough to hit silver with Aegean with the sign on bonus. But I don't know the fare class and she would qualify silver and then not fly with them again. So I'll probably suggest SQ for her as well. Just wondering if I've missed anything. :?:

If only for earn and burn and nothing else, then SQ isn't bad since you can get the co-brand credit cards to help you.

With SQ, watch for the 3 year hard expiry on points. Also, I'm not entirely certain whether you can share points on SQ (but you can have award nominees). Finally, remember that the Saver level of fares can only be used on Y awards, some very select and random J awards and almost no F awards (and zero when SQ retire their last 747, unless they change their rules). Also, no one redeems for a suite unless you've got a mental disorder.

The other options for pure earn and burn is to select one of the programs of airlines based in the USA, e.g. UA or US. You can't earn points with credit card spend here, but you can also buy points for a very reasonable price

Either way, always check the fare class of your ticket, because the notion of no-earn on some fare classes, especially across programs, is a bigger deal on *A than it is on oneworld.

 

[medhead]

Thanks for the advice.

Checked the fare class it's H (eygptair) earns 50% with Aegean and 100% with SQ, but I didn't know about the 3 year expiry. Might look at UA, or just waste the points.

The other options for pure earn and burn is to select one of the programs of airlines based in the USA, e.g. UA or US. You can't earn points with credit card spend here, but you can also buy points for a very reasonable price

 

[wyvern]

It is 3 years *G with Aegean on my card. I think you have to continue to credit miles to the programme each year to keep your existing miles active, or they will expire.

 

[foxtwo]

Hey everyone,

I'm considering joining Aegean as well because I have a study tour coming up at the end of the year which will mostly be on STAR. It will be a round the world trip starting and finishing in Melbourne.

First: Will Aegean status match to equal my QFF status?

Second: If I reach the required points for gold before completing the tour, will I be able to utilise the benefits and privileges during the tour still?

If someone could answer these I'll appreciate it.

I'm looking for status more than anything, not for points. I'm spewing that this tour is not on oneworld because then I may have been able to reach QFF Gold

Cheerio,

Fox

 

[anat0l]

Hey everyone,

I'm considering joining Aegean as well because I have a study tour coming up at the end of the year which will mostly be on STAR. It will be a round the world trip starting and finishing in Melbourne.

First: Will Aegean status match to equal my QFF status?

Second: If I reach the required points for gold before completing the tour, will I be able to utilise the benefits and privileges during the tour still?

If someone could answer these I'll appreciate it.

I'm looking for status more than anything, not for points. I'm spewing that this tour is not on oneworld because then I may have been able to reach QFF Gold

First answer: Not sure - I've heard a rumour from someone that they might have been matched by A3 (Aegean), but you can only try and write in and see what they say, if you are so inclined.

Second answer: Yes and no. By rights as soon as A3 credits the points and you cross the Gold threshhold, it is assumed that A3 will show this on your status page (i.e. the equivalent when you log in online to QFF and see your status, number of status credits etc.). You could print this out somewhere whilst you are abroad in lieu of not having a Gold card. Also, when you add your status number to bookings and/or at check-in, your *G status should appear on your boarding passes (e.g. A3*G).

Now here is the cheesy part. Whilst some lounges, check-in desks and so on will see your status in these forms (e.g. a printed screen shot of your status on the A3 website, or as indicated as a A3*G on your boarding pass) and will accord you the scheduled *G benefits, others may insist on seeing a *G card (or may begrudgingly grant you the benefit eventually after you explain the situation). There is no hard and fast rule, but it is known that it is common for *G cards to be requested, especially if you are not an elite member of the airline hosting the service (e.g. airline doing the check-in / that you are flying, or operating the lounge you want to enter). This may mean that - rather unfortunately and in a sense incorrectly - you may miss out on some *G benefits - not limited to priority check-in, extra baggage and lounge access - without having a *G card on you.

 

[foxtwo]

Thanks for that information anat0l. I will definitely see how to go about this. I guess it does say on their website that you only get the privileges if you have the card - then again in reality, I never use my QFF card (only at shopping partners like duty free) because they never ask for it.