Flying Malaysian Airlines in Feb - quote Enrich or Virgin Velocity NUmbers

[DontGetMeStarted]

Hi All and Happy New Year...flying J class to Heathrow via KL with Malaysian in Feb, have joined both Virgin Velocity and Enrich programs but need some help in deciding which program to quote when earning points..currently I have the booking linked to our Velocity Numbers. As Malaysian will become a One World Partner later in 2012 should I call MAS and ask that any points earned be linked back to Enrich. We rarely fly domestic in Australia and try an save any points earned for overseas travel.
Thanks PS: Anyone know much about the lounge that Malaysian use in Melbourne or at Heathrow ?

 

[777]

Thanks PS: Anyone know much about the lounge that Malaysian use in Melbourne or at Heathrow ?

Malaysian have their own lounge in MEL. It's pretty average from memory (when VA used to use it) but nothing to complain about.

Re: The points, my gut feeling is that you are best to go with Enrich given the uncertainty around the VA relationship and the future plans with OW. The only thing you need to be sure of is that you won't orphan the points there - you'll need to find some other points on MH partners to get any useful rewards although that may be easier to come by when they are in OW.

 

[richie9x]

Hi All and Happy New Year...flying J class to Heathrow via KL with Malaysian in Feb, have joined both Virgin Velocity and Enrich programs but need some help in deciding which program to quote when earning points..currently I have the booking linked to our Velocity Numbers. As Malaysian will become a One World Partner later in 2012 should I call MAS and ask that any points earned be linked back to Enrich. We rarely fly domestic in Australia and try an save any points earned for overseas travel.
Thanks PS: Anyone know much about the lounge that Malaysian use in Melbourne or at Heathrow ?

The main disadvantage with MAS Enrich is that points expire 3 to 4 years after they were initially earned (unless you are platinum tier). If you are earning and burning points quickly it is no problem. But if you are earning points slowly then your oldest points might expire before you have enough built up to use them on something good. Points can be extended once by paying a fee.

Also points can be very slow to be credited to the account. My longest was for a flight was credited 1 year after I flew one it. The Enrich website can be a bit flaky as well.

Enrich has three status tiers like Qantas and Virgin - silver, gold and platinum. A return trip in J from MEL to LHR will get you bronze. Two return trips (MEL to LHR in J) will get you gold (similar to Qantas or Virgin). While platinum is much harder you would need roughly 18 return trips in J from MEL to LHR, although you have three years to do them. Enrich platinum is really equivalent or higher than Qantas Platinum one. Although some of the platinum privileges are only applicable if you live in Malaysia.

On the whole the benefits of gold and bronze I would rate as slightly better than the equivalent of either Qantas or Virgin. Although it really comes down to you and how you use them.

MAS have their own lounges at MEL and LHR. The LHR lounge is only about 2 years and is good. I have no experience with MEL.

Once MAS join OW I actually think the best option would be to have MAS points credited to QF (or maybe another OW carrier). With QF the points won't expire as long as you keep earning and it is much easier to achieve platinum (and OW emerald). Although it possible Enrich might be changed when they join OW.

But that is not much help to you at the moment. I would probably stay with crediting Virgin.