Flying Etihad (SYD-IST-SYD), shall I join Etihad Guest or VA Velocity?

[RocketMan]

I'm a bit of a newbie to frequent flyer points.

I'm flying Etihad SYD-IST-SYD and also taking some internal flights within Turkey using Pegasus, Turkish Airlines and AtlasJet.
I understand that Etihad are in partnership with Virgin Australia. At the moment, I am not a member of any frequent flyer program. Is there any advantage whether I join Etihad Guest or VA Velocity before I fly on Wednesday? I'm more likely to fly with VA around Aust in the future, more than I am to fly with Etihad.

Thanks in advance,
Neil

 

[aikman]

If your main goal is to park the points somewhere and not let it go to waste, I would join AA Advantage. Subject to your booking class, you should earn enough points on this trip to redeem a free one way business class flight on Qantas to/from anywhere in Australia & NZ.

Velocity only gives half a point per mile for flying Etihad discounted economy and Etihad Guest seems to have high redemption rates.

 

[RocketMan]

Thanks Aikman, unless I am missing something, I can't see where AAdvantage are in partnership with Etihad.

 

[aikman]

See here
Etihad Airways

 

[RocketMan]

Brilliant, thanks so much, I'll look into it further.

 

[RocketMan]

If your main goal is to park the points somewhere and not let it go to waste, I would join AA Advantage. Subject to your booking class, you should earn enough points on this trip to redeem a free one way business class flight on Qantas to/from anywhere in Australia & NZ.

Velocity only gives half a point per mile for flying Etihad discounted economy and Etihad Guest seems to have high redemption rates.

My booking class is U (discounted economy). The AA website says that with this class, I can earn 100% Base Mile using AA Advantage. Does this translate to 1 point per mile? If that's the case, then I am better off signing up with AA.

 

[mwattstci]

Just wondering what you decided to do in the end? I am in the same situation, I already have a good few miles with AA, woul I be best sticking with them, or usin my velocity, or joining etihad guest?

Thanks

 

[prozac]

If your main goal is to park the points somewhere and not let it go to waste, I would join AA Advantage. Subject to your booking class, you should earn enough points on this trip to redeem a free one way business class flight on Qantas to/from anywhere in Australia & NZ.

Velocity only gives half a point per mile for flying Etihad discounted economy and Etihad Guest seems to have high redemption rates.

Don't count on using AA points to book an AA redemption via EY on Qantas. This is not possible as the redemption can only be made on AA metal. i.e. Not Qantas. AA does not fly into Australia so it only works if your embark and destination are overseas.

 

[scwappy]

As AA are part of One World surely you can use their points for a flight with QF. Surely that's the major benefits of an alliance

 

[prozac]

As AA are part of One World surely you can use their points for a flight with QF. Surely that's the major benefits of an alliance

Don't take my word, call Etihad 1300 532 215.

 

[asg29e]

Don't count on using AA points to book an AA redemption via EY on Qantas. This is not possible as the redemption can only be made on AA metal. i.e. Not Qantas. AA does not fly into Australia so it only works if your embark and destination are overseas.

Not sure what you mean by "via EY", but it is certainly possible to book flights on Qantas using AA points via the AA website.

 

[prozac]

Not sure what you mean by "via EY", but it is certainly possible to book flights on Qantas using AA points via the AA website.

My mistake and I should elaborate as I jumped to conclusions having no AA points myself but looking to take advantage of AA's better redemption rate.
I have just tried the points transfer from Amex. It is not possible AKAIK to do this directly to AA, but you can transfer Amex directly into EY Guest then redeem as an AA booking that way.