Disillusionment sets in … is it worth it?

[Mr H]

and far less than $60k to get Star Gold by flying anyway. so...

Yeah, but I guess the argument would be that someone in their target group was going to spend the $60k anyway. But this card does not appeal to me for a variety of reasons.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

and far less than $60k to get Star Gold by flying anyway. so...

Yes but not by a huge amount. I mean United requires taking 24 flights segments and spending $8,000 USD on base fare ($11,200 AUD) with them or 4 UA segments + $10,000 USD ($14,000 AUD) on base fare to reach Premier Gold. For some that may very well be an easy achievement, but I suspect for others who may not travel enough stateside it may prove tricky. And yes I know, there are other frequent flyer programs out there that might be easier to achieve Gold status (e.g., Aegean) but still would require considerable flying with one alliance at the right fare classes.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes but not by a huge amount. I mean United requires taking 24 flights segments and spending $8,000 USD on base fare ($11,200 AUD) with them or 4 UA segments + $10,000 USD ($14,000 AUD) on base fare to reach Premier Gold. For some that may very well be an easy achievement, but I suspect for others who may not travel enough stateside it may prove tricky. And yes I know, there are other frequent flyer programs out there that might be easier to achieve Gold status (e.g., Aegean) but still would require considerable flying with one alliance at the right fare classes.

I'm surprised a proud Canuk would ignore AC. Now sure, the super sweet spot for status with Star used to be when it was *G with the 35k level (but that got enhanced to just be *S). Only $6k CAD spend plus the usual amounts of status milessegments at 50k level, but some can also be earned via the appropriate linked CC.

While massively OT now, that's cheaper than UA (and well, AC*G of course would allow access to UA domestic clubs too, as any other non UA *G would). Agean definitely used to also be a very sweet spot too.

If VA ends up joining Sttar, that could provide some other very interesting opportunities, and there's also SQ, though I feel SQ's program is great for SQ but not the best for Star (and we know how they treat Star). AC reward partners and so on are currently very attractive and have a system that actually seems to work (unlike some others.. ahem!).

anyway while many of these programs have gone uber spend qualification (ie: UA) it's not entirely that much different to QF - who also have a minimum flight rule (as do most others), and while not a required minimum spend (yet), the SC earn for various fare families pretty much ensure this anyway. For example using the $10/SC nominal figure for say normal type fares (and yes, we all know the tricks etc to lower this amount) then you're looking at $7k AUD spend (which is pretty much on part with the AC CAD $6k spend) for 700 SC for QF Gold - the rough equivalent. Yes, there's no sector or mileage requirement, but if you take 70 secors of say average 500 mi - that's 35k mils of flying. Again, it can be had for FAR less travel and all but I'm just using this to illustrate the point.

oh for the days when UA used to hand out double EQM promos (sorry, now called PQM) like candy (and the much remembered Baht run)

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I'm surprised a proud Canuk would ignore AC. Now sure, the super sweet spot for status with Star used to be when it was *G with the 35k level (but that got enhanced to just be *S). Only $6k CAD spend plus the usual amounts of status milessegments at 50k level, but some can also be earned via the appropriate linked CC.

Not worth having BIS for AC, especially to be one of the dime a dozen Star Gold elites they have. Fares are rarely the cheapest (especially ex-Canada) and the business class offering ain't great either (I've had better international J service on the hound and Lufty). The other thing is that all of that spend has to be on AC operated flights whereas with the hound it's $8000 with them or some combination with partners where # of PQP is some percentage of miles flown with the partner.

While massively OT now, that's cheaper than UA (and well, AC*G of course would allow access to UA domestic clubs too, as any other non UA *G would). Agean definitely used to also be a very sweet spot too.

Debatable. If you can find the right partner fares you could probably earn United elite status easier than AC.

If VA ends up joining Sttar, that could provide some other very interesting opportunities, and there's also SQ, though I feel SQ's program is great for SQ but not the best for Star (and we know how they treat Star). AC reward partners and so on are currently very attractive and have a system that actually seems to work (unlike some others.. ahem!).

That's a big if! As for SQ I won't touch them with a 20 foot pole, not after how they treated their Solitare PPS members to say nothing of having to go through the dump that is Changi.

anyway while many of these programs have gone uber spend qualification (ie: UA) it's not entirely that much different to QF - who also have a minimum flight rule (as do most others), and while not a required minimum spend (yet), the SC earn for various fare families pretty much ensure this anyway.

What is different though are things like double status credit promotions, loyalty bonuses and other ways to engineer status with minimal strategic flying. Realize too that QF sucks at North American geography. In particular, it's easy to rack up hundreds of SCs with a couple of short haul J fares on AA/AS.

oh for the days when UA used to hand out double EQM promos (sorry, now called PQM) like candy (and the much remembered Baht run)

Yes those were the days (well I don't recall any PQM bonuses but I do remember flying on a EuroWings light fare to LAS and earning a heap of PQM for what was a $230 fare. Oh and of course enjoying the Senator lounges at TXL and DUS, too!)

-RooFlyer88

 

[RichardMEL]

Different strokes for different folks.

I shall return the thread to QF disillusionment while pondering the the notion of "The dump that is Changi" ....

 

[drron]

Best days were on AA when all points were good for status. LTP with more than half my points being from CCs or Hotels. Plus 4 system wide upgrades per million points.

 

[exLXCXFF]

to go through the dump that is Changi

huh??? mate, what have you been smoking hours before you went though Changi???

 

[kangarooflyer88]

huh??? mate, what have you been smoking hours before you went though Changi???

Having to go through security at the gate, the lack of quality lounges (particular if you are a Star Alliance elite travelling in coach). Yeah sure you can bring up the movie theatre, the butterfly conservatory and some other amenities here or there but for me if the lounge ain't good the airport ain't either!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Having to go through security at the gate, the lack of quality lounges (particular if you are a Star Alliance elite travelling in coach). Yeah sure you can bring up the movie theatre, the butterfly conservatory and some other amenities here or there but for me if the lounge ain't good the airport ain't either!

Security at the gate is a godsend! Straight into the terminal. Maximise your time there and have no queues for security at the gate… straight on board. For those with tight connections there’s no waiting in slow lines for transit security like you can get at Hong Kong, Bangkok or Seoul.

Agree lounges at SIN overall aren’t flagships. Oneworld might have the advantage.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Security at the gate is a godsend! Straight into the terminal. Maximise your time there and have no queues for security at the gate… straight on board. For those with tight connections there’s no waiting in slow lines for transit security like you can get at Hong Kong, Bangkok or Seoul.

I mean not having to clear security at all would be ideal if you ask me and quite frankly there is no need to clear security on a connecting international flight like that either! Indeed there are numerous airports where such connecting security checks aren't needed (i.e. YVR, YYZ, AMS, FRA, etc.) In any event, having to wait until boarding to clear security really cuts into the lounge experience since you don't know how long those queues will be, whereas if you didn't have to re-clear security you could simply stroll to your gate when boarding is announced at the lounge!

Agree lounges at SIN overall aren’t flagships. Oneworld might have the advantage.

When I visited Changi back at the end of 2018 there were two options: Thai lounge (which had reheated food and a restroom) or the KrisFlyer Gold lounge (which didn't have a restroom) - almost gave the HBA QF Club a run for its money!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I mean not having to clear security at all would be ideal if you ask me and quite frankly there is no need to clear security on a connecting international flight like that either! Indeed there are numerous airports where such connecting security checks aren't needed (i.e. YVR, YYZ, AMS, FRA, etc.) In any event, having to wait until boarding to clear security really cuts into the lounge experience since you don't know how long those queues will be, whereas if you didn't have to re-clear security you could simply stroll to your gate when boarding is announced at the lounge!

When I visited Changi back at the end of 2018 there were two options: Thai lounge (which had reheated food and a restroom) or the KrisFlyer Gold lounge (which didn't have a restroom) - almost gave the HBA QF Club a run for its money!

If you arrive 15 mins before departure the queues will be pretty much non-existent. For pax originating in SIN it’s so much quicker… you don’t have to allow up to 30 minutes for security screening a la USA, or SYD domestic on a Monday morning.

Yes, not having transit security would be great, but when it is required, not having to join huge central queues should increase lounge time, not decrease it.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

If you arrive 15 mins before departure the queues will be pretty much non-existent. For pax originating in SIN it’s so much quicker… you don’t have to allow up to 30 minutes for security screening a la USA, or SYD domestic on a Monday morning.

Aside from EWR and SWF, I've never encountered security lines longer than 5 minutes in the US. Perhaps that's because I have Global Entry/TSA pre-check, I don't know!

Yes, not having transit security would be great, but when it is required, not having to join huge central queues should increase lounge time, not decrease it.

There really is no security reason for having it. I mean if you cleared INTL security at SYD by definition you've cleared security for just above every airport in the world as they all use the same standards. Now granted this would require some rejiggering by Changi to force the security checkpoint at the check-in area (so transit passengers bypass it), but it can be done. Canada didn't used to have this feature, requiring passengers to clear immigration, collect bags, re-check bags, clear security. Now it's just clear immigration air-side if you plan on entering Canada (and are transiting on domestic flights) or simply being dumped back to the international departures hall (if that's not the case). Trans-border is a bit more complicated since you must clear US immigration and TSA security since they don't care if you already met US standards for security you still need to go through the process again.

 

[drron]

Well Tim Clark reckons that what is considered Nirvana now will probably happen in 3 - 5 years. No check in and no central security.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/emirates-boss-predicts-major-change-to-way-we-fly-in-the-future/news-story/857fc0b39623c2fbaddf9cd653315481

 

[RichardMEL]

I mean not having to clear security at all would be ideal if you ask me and quite frankly there is no need to clear security on a connecting international flight like that either! Indeed there are numerous airports where such connecting security checks aren't needed (i.e. YVR, YYZ, AMS, FRA, etc.) In any event, having to wait until boarding to clear security really cuts into the lounge experience since you don't know how long those queues will be, whereas if you didn't have to re-clear security you could simply stroll to your gate when boarding is announced at the lounge!

But.. but.. you also said the lounge experience is terrible, so by your own standard, nothing special is being cut into by doing security at the gate. lol

Each country/airport have their own processes and standards. That's part of international travel. SIN/KUL require watches off for some reason that escapes me (even manual ones, not smart watches) but that's the deal.

Does SIN even have a Starbucks??????

I mean they can't all be LAX...

hmm reminds me of a song ..

Well East Coast 'ports are hip,
I barely dig the lounges out there,
And the Southern ports, with the way they delay,
they leave me waiting when I'm down there.

The midwest Polaris lounge really make you feel all right
and the northern 'ports, with all the snow up there,
they keep their passengers warm all night.

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be a California 'port!

The West Coast has the sunshine
and the planes there all run on time
I dig an A330 on a Hawaiian Island atolls
by a palm tree as they shine

I been all around this big old world
and I've seen all kinds of 'ports
yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back to the States,
back to the cutest port in the world!

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be a California 'port!


(with profound apologies to the Beach Boys )

When I visited Changi back at the end of 2018 there were two options: Thai lounge (which had reheated food and a restroom) or the KrisFlyer Gold lounge (which didn't have a restroom) - almost gave the HBA QF Club a run for its money!

and that's you in Y as a *G. a J pax has better options, let alone F

and of course the QF J and F lounges are pretty decent (F specially, of course) as is QR and EK (ignoring BA really lol) if one wants to go to the other side.

The SQ "Gold" lounge exactly exemplifies the SQ attitude to Star which is no shock to anyone. Star is there for SQ, not the other way round.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

But.. but.. you also said the lounge experience is terrible, so by your own standard, nothing special is being cut into by doing security at the gate. lol

The lounges for Star Alliance are terrible, I cannot comment on what the lounges are like for QF, QR, CX, Emirates, British Airways and other OneWorld partners who hold QF Gold as yours truly. I reckon it can't be that bad given the many choices and the reputations of the brands involved, but would love to hear from those who have lounged travelling QF in SIN.

Each country/airport have their own processes and standards. That's part of international travel. SIN/KUL require watches off for some reason that escapes me (even manual ones, not smart watches) but that's the deal.

That's true. It sure would be nice once things start to standardize a bit though.

Does SIN even have a Starbucks??????

My argument is Starbucks is only available in North America. Sure folks will point to Starbucks here or elsewhere but it's not the same thing. Some key differences that come to mind include the lack of drip coffee, Iced Coffee, trenta (30 oz = 0.9l) sized drinks, no Starbucks refreshers. For those saying hey we now have Starbucks Refreshers in Australia, I'd sincerely challenge you to try ordering one. Every time I visit Starbucks be it in Sydney or Melbourne, Auckland or Christchurch, it's sold out!

I mean they can't all be LAX...

hmm reminds me of a song ..

Well East Coast 'ports are hip,
I barely dig the lounges out there,
And the Southern ports, with the way they delay,
they leave me waiting when I'm down there.

The midwest Polaris lounge really make you feel all right
and the northern 'ports, with all the snow up there,
they keep their passengers warm all night.

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be a California 'port!

The West Coast has the sunshine
and the planes there all run on time
I dig an A330 on a Hawaiian Island atolls
by a palm tree as they shine

I been all around this big old world
and I've seen all kinds of 'ports
yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back to the States,
back to the cutest port in the world!

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be a California 'port!


(with profound apologies to the Beach Boys )

and that's you in Y as a *G. a J pax has better options, let alone F

Fair point, but do realize I'm not always able to travel in BusinessFirst or GlobalFirst cabins.

The SQ "Gold" lounge exactly exemplifies the SQ attitude to Star which is no shock to anyone. Star is there for SQ, not the other way round.

If you've ever visited the SQ lounge at LHR and then visit their "flagship" KrisFlyer Gold lounge at SIN, it's a real let down!

-RooFlyer88

 

[Mr H]

My argument is Starbucks is only available in North America. Sure folks will point to Starbucks here or elsewhere but it's not the same thing...

In the gentlest possible way, I will always take the opinions of someone who hold Starbucks to be the pinnacle of refinement with a pinch of salt.

 

[RichardMEL]

In the gentlest possible way, I will always take the opinions of someone who hold Starbucks to be the pinnacle of refinement with a pinch of salt.

.. or is that 30oz of sugar?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

In the gentlest possible way, I will always take the opinions of someone who hold Starbucks to be the pinnacle of refinement with a pinch of salt.

I never claimed it to be the pinnacle of refinement, it's just something nice to have particularly in the absence of good coffee shops nearby. You people are spoiled with your coffee, and I would encourage you to visit Canada or the United States where the options are often between a Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Hortons or Starbucks.

 

[Mr H]

I never claimed it to be the pinnacle of refinement, it's just something nice to have particularly in the absence of good coffee shops nearby. You people are spoiled with your coffee, and I would encourage you to visit Canada or the United States where the options are often between a Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Hortons or Starbucks.

I have no intention of going to America, but I have seen enough TV to know that they have independent cafes and delis.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I have no intention of going to America, but I have seen enough TV to know that they have independent cafes and delis.

You're right, they do, but aside from Peets (which is mostly available in California) there is no one single chain you can count on to get quality coffee. I will also point out too that North America has coffee and Australia doesn't. Yeah you folks have flat whites and lattes but real drip coffee brewed in a coffee filter, simply isn't much of a thing here. And don't get me wrong, I enjoy a swift shot of espresso here and there but there's nothing quite like a mug of filtered illy coffee.

-RooFlyer88