Frequent Flyer program recommendation for Australians

[jeremyay13]

Hello all,


I wanted to ask you for advice regarding frequent flyer mile programs. What is your experience with them? I have recently returned from my travels to the USA where I flew from Melbourne to Vancouver via Auckland with Air New Zealand. I also returned via Air New Zealand from LA to Melbourne via Auckland. I am wondering what I should do with the mile accumulated. I also flew via US Airways domestically from Seattle to Washington DC to Toronto. I am just wondering who I should register my miles via as in possibly Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines or via the US Airlines. I have an understanding that it will be with a Star Alliance member but wondering which would be of most benefit.


I would be interested to do further travel to New Zealand, US/Canada and Japan in the near future.


Thanks.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF jeremyay13.

This sort of question gets asked a lot and my opinion is that you should join the FF program of the airline you think you will be flying most with. In your own country if possible (as there are usually better credit card and other points earning opportunities). But of course no *A in Australia (which is were I'm assuming you are resident).

US Airways, if flow recently would only credit to One World, after its take-over by AA. When did you fly US Air?

As for *A, if you will be flying some in the USA, look at United Mileage Plus, as redemptions are pretty good, and taxes and additional charges on 'Award' flights are relatively low. I think there is a United marketed flight revenue or sector requirement to keep your miles every year, so look at that hurdle closely.

I wouldn't recommend Air Canada Aeroplan.

SQ KrisFlyer has credit card earning opportunities in Australia (several threads here about that) and lots of tips here as well. Plus any velocity points you get are transferrable onto KrisFlyer. I think fees and charges are rather high on their redemptions though.

Aegean Airlines' scheme is always said to be good for earning status easily - Star Gold status gets you into lounges worldwide, and is worth having.

Sorry there is no simple answer; if there is, we'd use it and probably wouldn't tell anyone else .

 

[kevrosmith]

If you will be flying a bit within Australia in addition to your overseas flights, then you could consider Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program. NZ and SQ are partners of VFF, so you'd earn points and Status Credits on flights with them (you may be able retro claim your NZ flights already). VA's not a member of *A, however.

 

[jeremyay13]

Thank you for the reply RooFlyer.

I flew US Airways (Seattle to Washington DC via Philadelphia) Jan 2 2015 & (Washington DC to Toronto) Jan 18 2015
ENVOY AIR AS AMERICAN EAGLE (Toronto to Chicago) Jan 28 2015
AMERICAN AIRLINES (Chicago to LA) Jan 28 2015

What is your opinion on Singapore Airlines vs Air New Zealand?

I did look into Aegean Airlines but it appears that they have closed the loophole to get easy access to Star Alliance Gold which is a shame.

 

[jeremyay13]

Thanks for the advice Kevrosmith. Do you have much experience with VFF?

There is no easy shortcut to get the full effect of this miles is there?

 

[RooFlyer]

Your US Air flights will credit to One World; choose between AAdvantage and QFF. Probably QFF I'd suggest unless you intend to fly AA a fair bit. Best not to split flying between alliances (ie Star Alliance vs One World), but with QFF you can earn points with credit cards, Woolworths spending etc, so it might pay to join and just see what adds up. Have a read though some of the threads here; people fly J and F to Europe every year spending points only earned outside of flying.

ANZ Vs SQ (I assume you mean the FF schemes?) - can't help there, sorry. I have heard others say here that the ANZ scheme has lost a lot of its gloss, but hopefully someone like serfty can chime in about that. As someone said up thread, both can tag with Virgin. It would be a matter of which way you think you'll be flying most. I'd prefer to fly SQ over ANZ, especially in J.

Get onto your retro claims quick smart, after joining whichever scheme(s).

Edit & correction: per OBB below, you could credit the US Air flights to US Dividend miles with a retro claim but its still One World.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I have recently returned from my travels to the USA where I flew from Melbourne to Vancouver via Auckland with Air New Zealand. I also returned via Air New Zealand from LA to Melbourne via Auckland.

I am wondering what I should do with the mile accumulated. I also flew via US Airways domestically from Seattle to Washington DC to Toronto.

I am just wondering who I should register my miles via as in possibly Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines or via the US Airlines.

I have an understanding that it will be with a Star Alliance member but wondering which would be of most benefit.

Were you already a member of a freq flyer program at the time you flew on the sectors above? If so, which ff program did you credit the flights to?

If you are not currently enrolled in a ff program your options are limited as not many programs will allow you to join after your travel is completed & allow you to credit flights on partner airlines ie flights other than those of the 'home' airline.

Some airlines will allow you to join after you've completed the travel eg QF give you a 30 day grace period so you must join QF ff within 30 days of your completed travel on QF flights only (not other one world airlines eg CX, AA etc).

If this is the case your only option may be joining the NZ ff program & crediting the NZ flights to them and ditto by joining US DM & crediting SEA/DCA/YYZ to them.

I'd get on to it quick smart to avoid missing out.