Flying MH, collect miles with ?? -- best options?

[aspro2]

I'm contemplating a cheap Econ fare with MH Aus-Europe vv, eligible for miles accrual (70%). I've never flown MH, and am thinking about them because of the better seat pitch in Y. My not-so-old bones complain more and more about the cattle-squish of SQ/QF/BA after 20+hours in the air.

So which FFP to join? I only ever get to fly paid discounted Econ :cry: :cry: Obvious options are MH Enrich, also KL FD (I can arrange for a French postal address :wink, VS (as they have now entered Oz market)... comments/other suggestions?

 

[arun]

What is VS?

 

[aspro2]

What is VS?

Virgin Atlantic

 

[LordGarlic]

How about Swiss Travel Club? They do offer mileage to certain classes for MH flights. They are also a partner airline of OneWorld.

 

[aspro2]

Thanks for the suggestion, LordGarlic. I gather that Swiss Travel Club will soon be eaten up by BA ExecClub, which presumably then creates probs for Australian residents (having already had my BA points devalued once through the compulsory transfer to QFFF)... so unless I'm misinformed, Swiss wouldn't work in the medium term

EDIT: silly me, Swiss Travel Club is no longer being eaten up, I'd forgotten there had been a conclusion to those negotiations a long time back. Swiss actually looks like a reasonable option

 

[CdaWorld]

It seems to me that the only way to get anywhere on MH is to be travelling in F or J. You need to earn 40,000pts in a calendar year in the premium cabins (only?) to qualify for Enrich Gold.

That looks like about 3 return trips to Asia in J.

I haven't checked out the other airlines' FF schemes to see if it is easier to earn status with them. If indeed that's what you want to do. I know personally it's not about earning pts as much as it is in striving to reach top tier status for it is then that the perks, hopefully, will start arriving.

 

[BlacKnox]

And btw, please note that Swiss is not part of any airline alliance. Oneworld released Swiss Air in June 2004 from its commitment to join the alliance.

 

[aspro2]

And btw, please note that Swiss is not part of any airline alliance. Oneworld released Swiss Air in June 2004 from its commitment to join the alliance.

On the contrary... Swiss is now being eaten by Lufthansa, so will be part of Star Alliance.

 

[BlacKnox]

Lufthansa and Swiss were linked before when Swiss came close to joining the Star Alliance alongside Lufthansa before backing away in 2003. Swiss subsequently failed to join the oneworld grouping led by British Airways last year.

This article asserts http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=161&sid=5620342&cKey=1111510724000 that Swiss will now join the "Lufthansa led" star alliance. But star alliance approval is not automatic, and the details may take some time.

Consequently Swiss remains not part of any airline alliance now, and for the immediate future. Assuming Lufthansa wants Swiss in the alliance and it applies, then approval and star alliance procedural changes will take some time. However if and/ or when Swiss does join, I gladly welcome them as an extra option for intra europe *Alliance flights.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm contemplating a cheap Econ fare with MH Aus-Europe vv, eligible for miles accrual (70%). I've never flown MH, and am thinking about them because of the better seat pitch in Y. My not-so-old bones complain more and more about the cattle-squish of SQ/QF/BA after 20+hours in the air.

So which FFP to join? I only ever get to fly paid discounted Econ :cry: :cry:

Looks oike you have two choices: Virgin or Swiss:

Discount economy will accrue 70% of mileage when crediting to Virgin.

Advantages - 20000 miles will get you a flight to new Zealand (on Air New Zealand) in economy class.

With 40000 you get a 'free' trip on Virgin from Sydney to Hong Kong.

Swiss looks like it credits 100% mileage (you will need to check your fare class against the Swiss membership guide).

Advantages - 22500 miles will get you a flight to New Zealand on Qantas.

So you will be closer to a 'free' trip with Swiss.

Regards

MEL_Traveller

 

[tanyavu]

malaysia airlines

I am flying with my husband, 5 year old son & 23 mth old daughter on 8 Oct 2005 on malaysia airlines in economy class which frequent flyer program do you recommend. I was thinking nw perks as their points don't expire, have lots of partners and earn more than MH Enrich which is valid for 3 years. Any others? I prefer a program where points can be pooled together with other family members such as Korean Airlines or Asiana or which don't expire unfortunately MH is not a partner of these ff programs.

 

[RTWFF]

Special meals

And if you want a laugh, order bacon & eggs as a "special meal"

 

[JohnK]

Re: Special meals

And if you want a laugh, order bacon & eggs as a "special meal"

Don't know about MH but you can get "bacon & eggs" all over Malaysia.

Only problem being is that it is not pork bacon but rather "beef bacon". Doesn't taste as good as the real thing.

 

[QF WP]

Re: malaysia airlines

I am flying with my husband, 5 year old son & 23 mth old daughter on 8 Oct 2005 on malaysia airlines in economy class which frequent flyer program do you recommend. I was thinking nw perks as their points don't expire, have lots of partners and earn more than MH Enrich which is valid for 3 years. Any others? I prefer a program where points can be pooled together with other family members such as Korean Airlines or Asiana or which don't expire unfortunately MH is not a partner of these ff programs.

tanyavu, the only problem with NW WPerks is that they are in Chapter 11 and the ability to redeem miles ex-Australia is limited to Korean and Malaysian. You don't advise where you're flying to (KUL, LHR, other ports??)

Can't coment on the others you mentioned, as I have never looked at Korean or Asiana FFP's (and only glanced at MH's Enrich).

 

[NM]

Re: Special meals

And if you want a laugh, order bacon & eggs as a "special meal"

Don't know about MH but you can get "bacon & eggs" all over Malaysia.

Only problem being is that it is not pork bacon but rather "beef bacon". Doesn't taste as good as the real thing.

There are a few places that will serve real bacon. The Green Man pub is one of them (run by a Scott). Another alternative often used is "turkey ham" instead of real ham. Again, not as good, but closer to the thing than beef bacon is to real bacon.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Special meals

There are a few places that will serve real bacon. The Green Man pub is one of them (run by a Scott). Another alternative often used is "turkey ham" instead of real ham. Again, not as good, but closer to the thing than beef bacon is to real bacon.

You have obviously spent a lot more time working in Malaysia than I have. I couldn't find the real bacon but I did find nice steaks.

Not sure about "turkey ham" but the "beef bacon" is a waste of time. :? I am not even sure why they have even bothered. It would be similar to putting water in a beer bottle and telling you it is beer.

 

[NM]

Re: Special meals

It would be similar to putting water in a beer bottle and telling you it is beer.

Naah, that is the American's. They call it Bud Light .

I did spend considerable effort locating beer other than Tiger or Carlsberg while in Malaysia. There are a few places you can get some decent beers, including some good English brews. But the availability is not completely reliable and the range can vary from day to day. And the price is high for a place where other costs are very low.

 

[infoworks]

I fly to Malaysia all the time but not with MH mainly because Enrich isn't linked to either OW or * programs, they are nearly always late in my experience and I have had MANY flights with them over the years.

Most recent experience was trying to urgently leave KUL for SYD last month as my son had been injured in a snowboarding accident. I still don't understand why the ticket sales counter at KLIA is in arrivals and not departures!

 

[JohnK]

Re: Special meals

It would be similar to putting water in a beer bottle and telling you it is beer.

Naah, that is the American's. They call it Bud Light .

I did spend considerable effort locating beer other than Tiger or Carlsberg while in Malaysia. There are a few places you can get some decent beers, including some good English brews. But the availability is not completely reliable and the range can vary from day to day. And the price is high for a place where other costs are very low.

I don't mind Tiger or Carlsberg if there is nothing else around.

I remember buying beer in a large supermarket and they had a wide range of beers available. There was Indian beer (Kingfisher?), Thai beer (Singha and Chang) and I think Japanese beer (Asahi?) as well. There is a beer called Anchor? as well but not sure where this is made. They also had a passable range of Australian wines available as well.

Beer is not cheap when you buy in night clubs/bars. I remember buying 2 Carlsberg draughts in the hotel bar where we were staying and this cost me 72 ringgit (~$27) and at the airport I bought 2 Carlsberg draughts for 54 ringgit (~$20). Just as a comparison beer from the supermarket was ~5-6 ringgit (~$2).

 

[infoworks]

Anchor is made in Malaysia!

The range and cost of wines in Malaysia and Singapore is improving all the time!