Enrich - Is it really worth it?

[xt_20]

Both my wife and I have a few Enrich points which will expire soon, and we would like to buy a ticket to travel from SIN to KUL. Problem is that we are just short on the points needed (we both need about 100 points more out of 5250).

What do you think is the best way to go about this?

I ended up transferring some points from Amex to Enrich (at 4:3 it isn't really worth it but it's ok).

1st roadblock - I can only transfer to myself, not to my wife (even though it's a joint credit card). So I transfer the points to my Enrich account, then pay RM80 to transfer the minimum 1000 points to my wife (even though she just needs 100).

Hang on, you can't do this online ("payment gateway not found"). So I have to call them and do this over the phone. Oh, you need to book your flight at the same time -- can't transfer points without booking flights.

So I book the flight over the phone. Hang on, not so fast -- you need to present your identification to a Malaysia Airlines office and pay the airport tax there - RM201! Also I can't do it for her unless she writes a letter allowing me to do so (probably fair enough).

Fortunately there's one near where I work.

Compare this to booking a Qantas flight from MEL to PER -- transferred the points from my wife to me (free), booked the flights on behalf of both of us online, paid the $30 or so tax and all done in under 15 mins.

Is it just me or is it just that hard to use Enrich points? I should have just forfeited the points and bought a ticket instead!

 

[serfty]

...
Is it just me or is it just that hard to use Enrich points? I should have just forfeited the points and bought a ticket instead!

Dunno, Today I gained 2000 bonus for updating my profile. That makes a total of 3000 point I have earned from them with the enrolment bonus.

It will be more interesting after they join oneworld.

 

[pauly7]

Dunno, Today I gained 2000 bonus for updating my profile. That makes a total of 3000 point I have earned from them with the enrolment bonus.

It will be more interesting after they join oneworld.

Is the enrollment bonus an ongoing offer?

I'm looking at Enrich also as they begin interlining and code sharing with QF in the near future...

 

[serfty]

It may have been targeted; I did ir though a link in an email. I'll dig it up and PM you.

 

[oz_mark]

Is the enrollment bonus an ongoing offer?

I'm looking at Enrich also as they begin interlining and code sharing with QF in the near future...

They interline now, and have done so for some time (like years!).

The oneworld/code share stuff is good though.

 

[pauly7]

They interline now, and have done so for some time (like years!).

The oneworld/code share stuff is good though.

Sorry yes I meant both together, I wasn't clear - have used their interline a couple if times.

Is there a timeline on codeshare?? I know QF is their sponsor...

 

[elbarto]

Sorry yes I meant both together, I wasn't clear - have used their interline a couple if times.

Is there a timeline on codeshare?? I know QF is their sponsor...

My bet is August 24 will involve something with MH.

 

[pauly7]

My bet is August 24 will involve something with MH.

Fingers crossed for a fastracked codeshare at the minimum!

 

[scheps]

Do they charge taxes etc? or all inclusive like a ASA? coz if they charge tax then its pretty coughpy redemption ratio.....

 

[moa999]

Interestingly just joined Enrich and have booked

TPE-BKI-(2n C&P at LeMerid)-TWU-(4n diving)-BKI-KUL-LGK
on all those legs (with a stopover booked TPE-BKI-KUL) they were cheaper than Air Asia !!

then got Air Asia
LGK-KUL-(3n Doubletree for F1)-PER

then back to SYD on QF

All in March, but can't earn DJ points for Malaysian domestic anyway, so MH will become my 4th oneworld program (admittedly haven't logged a flying point with CX or AA)

 

[MH_fan]

Do they charge taxes etc? or all inclusive like a ASA? coz if they charge tax then its pretty coughpy redemption ratio.....

All their redemptions charge taxes. They don't have ASAs. I still think their redemption rates are very good though. A business class redemption from SYD-KUL return was only 68000 with taxes of about $300.

 

[k3nnis]

How do you think the MH J product (soft/hard) compares to say SQ/VS/QF/BA? Say for KUL/SIN routes from SYD.

All their redemptions charge taxes. They don't have ASAs. I still think their redemption rates are very good though. A business class redemption from SYD-KUL return was only 68000 with taxes of about $300.

 

[xt_20]

How do you think the MH J product (soft/hard) compares to say SQ/VS/QF/BA? Say for KUL/SIN routes from SYD.

When are you flying?
They plan to bring their A380 SYD - KUL which *should* be better than their current offerings.

 

[k3nnis]

Haven't got any plans yet but most probably next year...

When are you flying?
They plan to bring their A380 SYD - KUL which *should* be better than their current offerings.

 

[MH_fan]

How do you think the MH J product (soft/hard) compares to say SQ/VS/QF/BA? Say for KUL/SIN routes from SYD.

The hard product could certainly be better. The seat pitch is enormous on their B777-200 but average/standard on the B747-400. The seats are comfortable enough but they are still using the angled lie-flat seats. The soft product, however, is very good. I have travelled on MH J numerous times and the inflight service has been consistently good. The IFE is pretty decent too. The thing I apreciate most is the provision of hot towels several times throughout the flight. These are an absolute god-send! The towels are thick, of a good size and hot! The catering is not the best unfortunately. It's decent enough but nowhere near outstanding with one exception. The satay (especially the chicken) is one of the best I've tasted (both on the ground and in the air) and the sauce is unbeatable.
In comparison, the SQ hard product will depend on the aircraft you get. Obviously, it'll be good if you get the A380 or B777-300 where they provide flat-bed seats. However, the A330 that they're starting to use more of for flights between SIN and Australia only have angled lie-flat seats. Inflight service would be very good as well, as one would expect. From what I've heard, catering is not outstanding either.
With QF, you'll get flat-bed seats if you score the A380 or refurbished B747-400. The A330 and the non-refurbished B747-400s only have angled lie-flat seats. I found the QF J seats the most uncomfortable I've experienced of all my J class experiences. Inflight service can be hit and miss but the IFE is very good. I was most disappointed with the sparse provision of hot towels. You get one at the start of your flight and sometimes one before landing. The towels are small and so thin that they're almost transparent!!
Can't comment on BA or VS.

 

[MH_fan]

When are you flying?
They plan to bring their A380 SYD - KUL which *should* be better than their current offerings.

They are scheduled to replace the B747-400 with the A380 on the MH122/123 flights between KUL and SYD starting Sep 25, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[wafliron]

How do you think the MH J product (soft/hard) compares to say SQ/VS/QF/BA? Say for KUL/SIN routes from SYD.

You might be interested in this thread I started back in March: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....edback-malaysia-airlines-j-product-38013.html

I've presently still an int J virgin, but by the time I return from CDG (have booked MH J CDG-KUL-MEL in late August) I'll have had the pleasure of trying QF A380 / QF 747 (refit) / SQ 773 (refit) / SQ A380 J products in the preceeding couple of months, and hence I should be in a good position to provide a comparison to MH 333 (refit) / 772 J. I'll post my opinion in the above thread once I return, so keep an eye on it if you're interested.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks will keep a lookout

 

[GeraldG]

They have new benefits like faste tiers move up, tier miles bonus and lots more.

 

[Moopere]

.... and back to the OT

To the OP, it seems to me that you've hit the law of diminishing returns. I don't have any personal experience with Enrich, but I'd not want to jump through so many hoops to get to a result. I hate the very notion of expiring miles so I feel your pain on that front. I'm guessing that there was no way to simply transfer the miles you had into another program (hotel, giftcard, whatever) rather than trying to use them in what was clearly a long and frustrating experience?

I can't wait for MH to join OW, but when they do, its not at all sure I'll move over to Enrich. I'll do the numbers once they join, but may well stick with QFF and utilise awards on MH metal.