FF programs compared (not CC programs)

[alison76]

Hi I hope someone can help. My CC program is about to change and I need to transfer over 100,000 FF points from my CC program directly into a FF program. I've been trawling the net looking for a comparison guide of FF programs Thai, Malaysia, QANTAS, Singapore, Virgin, Cathay etc and it doesn't appear that any such beast exists. Before I reinvent the wheel and do all the research myself, does anyone know of an existing compairson guide? Fingers and toes crossed.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hi I hope someone can help. My CC program is about to change and I need to transfer over 100,000 FF points from my CC program directly into a FF program. .

You may get a better answer if you indicate what CC you have as they are not all the same in:

• What FF Programs they award to
• What rate they transfer at (and each CC may have different transfer rates for different airlines)
• Some such as Diners and Amex Membership Rewards allow you to transfer to Hotel Programs. This can be used for rooms...or if SPG can bea way of transferring points to American Airlines FF Program.

Secondly what Award you want (ie where you want to fly to) will also be a factor as different FF programs have different "optimisations" for flights as there are many different way that flights are valued. ie miles flown, zone to zone (or within zone) etc. For example SQ is cheap for say Perth to New Zealand in Buisness Class....but if you do not want that award the fact that is an attractive redemption will be of little use.

Virgin Atlantic are good...if you live in Sydney and want to go to Hong Kong or London...

Plus some are better for say Business of First travel than others.

Thirdly: Do you want to keep accruing points as some are better for points earnt by flying, while others are better for CC earn...etc etc..

 

[alison76]

Thanks for the info. I can transfer the points to all the airlines I mentioned and I know point transfer ratios. What I'm looking for is a comparison of the features and benefits from each airline. ie how long until the transferred points expire. Other airlines they're affiliated with. Other offers by each airline. Cancellation policies etc. I'm not interested in redeeming the points for anything other than domestic and/or international flights. If not such compairson exists, I'll just call up each of the ff programs and ask - was just looking to save time, that's all

 

[futaris]

Check flyertalk. There are a few comparisons of the Star Alliance and Oneworld programs linked to from there.

See this link which FLYGVA has done up.

I think there is another one for SkyTeam airlines somewhere there too.

There is another thread on Flyertalk about Mileage Expiry.

And another about lifetime status.

 

[dajop]

Thanks for the info. I can transfer the points to all the airlines I mentioned and I know point transfer ratios.

Note that the transfer ratios are not necessarily a good indication. It also depends on the number of points required to make an award.

ie how long until the transferred points expire.

If you're planning to use all of your 100,000 pts within 3 years, then I think you will be OK, whichever program you choose. If not, choose carefully as some (Singapore, Malaysian) have points expire after 3 years. Others (Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Blue, Qantas), have expiry 3 years after last activity - which is easy to accommodate with a car rental, cheap flight or hotel stay. Not sure about Thai or Cathay.

I'm not interested in redeeming the points for anything other than domestic and/or international flights.

If you want access to both domestic and international flights, you are limited really to Qantas and Virgin Blue's programs. Cathay Pacific definitely gives access to Qantas domestic network as well, but not sure about their earn/burn rates. But forget Thai, Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines for domestic flights (not sure about Malaysian, but I think you can't redeem on Virgin Blue domestically only earn).

Also, in line with lovetravellingoz's response, if you have an idea of where you want to redeem flights to/from then there is a wealth of knowledge residing in the heads of AFF members that could help you.