Casual flyer - Is SQ KF the best *A program?

[awkwardpaws]

Hi all - someone I know is flying to the US return on UA in Y and asked me what the best program will be. A casual flyer, won't be flying too often but I told them to at least sign up for an FF program since it could be 15k in points.

What would be the best *A program for casual flyer? Would SQ KF be good (since it credits all UA fare classes at 100%)?

 

[burmans]

Hi all - someone I know is flying to the US return on UA in Y and asked me what the best program will be. A casual flyer, won't be flying too often but I told them to at least sign up for an FF program since it could be 15k in points.

What would be the best *A program for casual flyer? Would SQ KF be good (since it credits all UA fare classes at 100%)?

Am sure we will have people with contrary opinions but as a casual flyer SQ KF would be close to the top!

 

[TomVexille]

KF miles expire in three years. So depends on what they want out of the points. I guess worst case they transfer to VA

 

[petercr]

Sort of related to this... Have VA (~10k pts plus some SC's) and KF (nothing yet) and my wife and I are going to Europe on SQ metal (and SQ numbers) in just under 2wks in PE.

What's the best to collect the points on? Booking currently has both Velocity cards on it....

(wife's VA card is pooled to mine and I'm thinking it should get me to Gold by the time we do the return leg and only about 50SC off Plat)

 

[awkwardpaws]

Sort of related to this... Have VA (~10k pts plus some SC's) and KF (nothing yet) and my wife and I are going to Europe on SQ metal (and SQ numbers) in just under 2wks in PE.

What's the best to collect the points on? Booking currently has both Velocity cards on it....

(wife's VA card is pooled to mine and I'm thinking it should get me to Gold by the time we do the return leg and only about 50SC off Plat)

petercr - is points more valuable to you, or is status? if status - I think VA's status pooling might be most appealing for you to get to SG or WP. but VA is obviously not a *A, so thats the drawback.

the person i know is flying UA (which doesnt have a partnership with VA...) and hence the question around *A

 

[trippin_the_rift]

If you're a casual flyer with no strategy to earn miles from credit card spend, I would not bother joining an FF program at all.

My decision on which airline to fly would be entirely based on my personal comfort in the air.

 

[dajop]

My decision on which airline to fly would be entirely based on my personal comfort in the air.

However if you've already made that decision (as per OP) might as well join a program (as long as it free). Worst case a year or three down the track you lose the points, costs nothing other than a few minutes to join up.

On a mile by mile basis (ignoring different redemption rates) assuming that fare earns 100% miles on Krisflyer (as most United fares do), this is ~15000 miles, SYD-LAX return. It takes a $3900 AUD UA fare to earn this many miles using Mileage Plus, so it would seem Krisflyer is better.

So earning 15000 KF miles, worst case is transferring them to Velocity @ 1.35:1, which leaves 11,100 Velocity miles - worst case with that is using these at BP for $66 worth of fuel. So might as well accrue something.

 

[awkwardpaws]

thanks dajop - looks like KF is the winner. I agree that between not accruing anything and getting something, might as well accrue something, esp when its 15k KF!