Collecting Star Alliance / Oneworld Points - What the ... ??

[Tayar]

Hi FF'ers,

Long time reader, first time poster: Hoping some of you experts could provide some advice!

My fiance was lucky enough to enjoy a combined business/holiday trip around the world (ATW) :

The ATW ticket was booked Star Alliance, with all but one leg flown in a Star Alliance carrier. Basically, it was:

Melbourne --> (Thai Airways) --> Bangkok
Bangkok --> (Thai codeshare: operated by EL AL Airways) --> Tel Aviv *
Tel Aviv --> (Air Canada) --> Toronto
Toronto --> (Air Canada) --> Boston
Boston --> (United) --> Los Angeles
Los Angeles --> (Air New Zealand) --> Auckland
Auckland --> (Air New Zealand) --> Melbourne

As you can see from the above, all carriers are Star Alliance except for El Al Airways, which is Oneworld (or at least allied to Qantas, allowing QFF members to redeem points).

That flight from Bangkok to Tel-Aviv is listed as TG4593.
In other words, it's a Thai Airways flight, but operated by EL AL.

All points for the trip have been awarded, except for this leg.

- As a Miles and More member, she can't seem to redeem any points. Miles and More tell us 'No Points' cause it was operated by El AL, who are not connected to Star Alliance (El Al is allied with Oneworld).

- As a Qantas FF member, she is unfortunately told 'No Points' to her QFF account, cause the fare was paid to Star Alliance.

Any ideas in this situation?

For this leg of the trip, should she be getting points to her Qantas Frequent Flyer account, or getting points to her Miles and More account?

(Since she has 3 years consecutively of doing this trip, we're "Keen to Redeem!" - But both programs seem unwilling to pay up, which is a pity, cause it's a long flight).

Thanks for your help!

 

[Ms Lucy]

Think you may be out of luck on this one. As it's a Thai flight number, you're subject to whatever restrictons Thai have on earning in whatever program you belong to.

Sounds like it's something similar to the situation with the Cathay (CX) flights to Vietnam (which are operated by Vietnam Airlines). CX have a condition re codeshare flights and so you can't get QF FF pts for any of their codeshare flights that are operated by an airline who aren't part of oneworld.

 

[NM]

If you read the QF Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions Airline Earning Table, you will note the following conditions for El Al earning:

Excluded: Points can only be earned on flights operated by El Al with an LY flight number between Israel and Asia, India, South Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Since the flight concerned was not using an LY flight number, there is no earning for the Qantas FF program.

 

[Tayar]

Thanks NM, good point.

I suppose now it's only a matter of whether Miles and More Program should be accepting the points (as Thai is a Star Alliance member).

 

[aybee]

Thanks NM, good point.

I suppose now it's only a matter of whether Miles and More Program should be accepting the points (as Thai is a Star Alliance member).

No they shouldn't - for Star Alliance partner flights operated as a codeshare, the earning policies applicable to the actual operating carrier will apply. I don't believe LH has any sort of FF earn and burn agreements with LY, which is why they aren't coming to the party.
Your only hope may lay with any of the Star Partners that have an agreement with LY, but then again, almost all of them don't allow backdating of membership, so that's another avenue effectively closed. Pursuing that option would leave those miles orphaned in their own little account anyway, so hardly worth it.

 

[oz_mark]

For credit to Miles and More the Thai flight needs to be operated by either Thai, or a Star Alliance partner

Miles can be earned throughout the entire route network and on all scheduled flights operated by THAI.*

You can also earn miles if you have booked your flight under THAI (TG)- flight number and this flight is operated by Lufthansa, SWISS or another Star Alliance partner.

 

[Tayar]

Your sharp eye is much appreciated.

This is such a helpful forum for regular travellers, with some very clever tips around. :idea:

Thanks for pointing that all out.