Changing From Jetstar to Virgin Australia for Domestic Flights

[Gold60]

Hi All,

I have a quick question I am trying to answer about VA’s FF programme, and its relationship to Singapore Air’s Kris FF programme, please.


ATM I have about 8000 QANTAS FF pts and no status – and will effectively not have any status from year to year – I don’t fly much.

I also have a SA Kris flyer accumulation of about 3100 miles in this account – and am likely to use this account yearly.

My only domestic flight is usually one or two return flights per year – BNE to LST – and I have been using Jetstar direct flights – hence my build-up of QANTAS FF points – with only a small number of points from Woolies when this bird was flying.

MY QUESTION : is it a smart/er move to switch to VA for my BNE>LST flights, and then transfer these miles/points over to Singapore – hoping that one day I will have enough points to go somewhere and do something with the KRIS miles, even with that 1:1.35 conversion factor? Effectively, use my VA domestic flight/s to top up/rollover my KRIS account so that the KRIS miles don’t expire don’t expire?

Aside from the points issue, the other attractive thing about flying with VA, as opposed to QANTAS, is that according to SEATGURU, VA give you an extra inch of legroom – which for me is a BIG deal.

Any clues, ideas, please oh- great- and- wise- ones, at whose feet I humbly fall to worship?


Oh, all right then, maybe this last bit WAS going a bit far ………………….

Thank you kindly in advance if you can help,

Al

 

[TomVexille]

Just a couple points. SQ miles expire 3 years from when they are earned. Earning more miles does not extend their expiry. Secondly, you must transfer a minimum of 5,000 miles/points in a transaction.

 

[Gold60]

Just a couple points. SQ miles expire 3 years from when they are earned. Earning more miles does not extend their expiry. Secondly, you must transfer a minimum of 5,000 miles/points in a transaction.

Oooohh dear. I guess this puts a big whole in my plan? At best I guess I’ll only be able to use what few points I build up on a cash/points-type fare purchase at some stage. Or maybe give my points to someone else somehow?

 

[bsb]

Maybe stick with QFF and get yourself a new credit card with a big stash of points as a sign up bonus. Cancel every year for the next version. Soon you'll have plenty of points for a freebie. (Plenty of discussion in this forum on which are best).

VA is probably a nicer experience than JQ, but if you're not getting lounge access, probably only marginally. And who knows who'll win the war over VA ownership, KrisFlyer may not be so generous in the future if the Chinese or Etihad won control. But that's just conjecture...

 

[Muppet501st]

VA don't do direct flights from BNE-LST, its either via SYD or MEL. Which can be better if looking for more SC, going via MEL gives you more ( 25 SC each way) but of course takes a lot more of your time. And VA prices are nearly always more then JQ as well.

 

[travelislife]

Oooohh dear. I guess this puts a big whole in my plan? At best I guess I’ll only be able to use what few points I build up on a cash/points-type fare purchase at some stage. Or maybe give my points to someone else somehow?

Just accumulate in VA FF account and credit SQ flights to VA account. No expired of points as long as you are earnin

 

[yohy?!]

sounds like you should be flying VA plus using a VA credit card to help build up your miles on spending, you then can decide whether or not to transfer to SQ and pay the higher taxes on award tickets or redeem directly via VA (probably not much you will ever be able to do with your orphan SQ miles if you arent flying much)

 

[andye]

If you didnt want the KF miles to go to waste:
You could get an Amex card (say a Plat Edge) and transfer some MR points into KF to make 5000 points and so rescue the orphan miles into VFF (at a cost). Fiddly for a smallish balance though.
Alternative would be to credit VA flights or Car hire partners of SQ (eg Europcar)
Amex MR will transfer to KF and VFF

 

[ric_melb]

Singapore points are worth something from 1 cent a mile up. At 3100 miles say $31-$93 with the latter at best.
I agree with travelislife, fly Virgin domestically and credit any SIA flights to Virgin.
If the SIA points expire dont worry about them.
Virgin points wont expire, as long as you earn points with them in a two year period.
And get a credit card that earns Velocity points, preferably with a sign on bonus.