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banyan

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Joined
Jul 13, 2023
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Hi all,

I'm a public servant with no existing status. I have an SQ flight coming up on business class that will net ~18,000 status miles.

I'm trying to work out if it's better to gun for Velocity Gold (which will be doable based on the segments) or get within striking distance of a star alliance silver (I have a few thousand miles with Turkish Airways so would probably do that one, especially given status lasts two years).

For private travel, I typically just go with whatever flight is cheapest. Star Alliance is probably more a bit better for that reason. I travel 2-3 times a year internationally, so not frequently enough to get status easily on my own. I will likely travel sometimes with work (business class if international), but there's no way to predict how often that will be. On the flip side, Velocity Gold would be nice because of lounge access + points bonus for domestic flights.

Would welcome any thoughts!
 
Welcome aboard @banyan

Have you had a look here

It would be better to post specific velocity questions in that thread after reading through to see if the answer is already there
 
Welcome aboard @banyan. As others have said probably best posting in Velocity thread. I find /velocity good and don t travel overseas often, so VF gold works well for me, and by using Family pooling and status credits through Fly /buys thus helps. Alternatively if you can get status with a start allaince partner of Virgin Australia, eg /singapore Kris flyer, this will grant you access to Virgin lunges etc in /australia. Also may be worthwile considering HSBC *A credit card, spending $60,000 gives you status for 12 months or more.
 
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SQ KF miles do expire, 3 years, there are doing gift extensions as of now, but who knows for how long more.
If you have got a lot of SQ flights coming up, and can use up as close to the max miles you will amass in the time before the points expire, then SQ KF is good, ie, any seats for upgrades, etc, with them or (Air)NZ, ie, within *A will be yours for the taking.
VAd and VAi (small part), they say they have a link to SQ, but in the end, their int flights on their own planes are very limited, int flights wise.
You can put all your *A flights to SQ KF. and of course, transfer them to VFF if you want, but sometimes, SQ do not release all empty seats to partner airlines, so keep it for themselves.
Your choice, in the end, if you want to keep all your points in SQ KF, then use them for redemptions, or transfer them to VFF.
Flights from CBR with VA are all with their partner, link with the saab340, small, no J, ie, its all Y, unless you fly via MEL to get SQ to SIN and onwards.
Personally, I would, if I were you keep in SQ KF, for the time being, and then transfer to VFF any points you won't end up needing, before they expire in SQ KF, ie, 3 years.
(Air)NZ points last 4 years, they call theirs Airpoint $.
VA and VFF treats CBR like what QF treats CBR, not important for most pax, QF uses the Dash8, also no J, so you can't "win" with either airline on that dom sector.
Your tix CBR - SYD might in VAd J, but you will use the link plane, so its a tight one there to start with, unless you are going via MEL, where its the 737.
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Re: CBR temp, it is cold, esp - 5 deg C.
Granted, I have never felt the NY or US/UK cold, but CBR is cold in winter, esp at nights.
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No Aust airlines use Status Miles, not even SQ.
Status and Miles are a different "kettle of fish", ie, the 2 things are completely separate.
Status, that usually has a life of 12 months, you have to show the airline that you will give them all or most of your flying business in that 12 months, and if you get to show a lot of flying with an airline/partners in the same alliance, in the next year, you climb up a status tier.
Points or miles, (not status), can last 18 months to 2 years, to 3 years to 4 years.
 
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