Mileage Plus Vs KrisFlyer

[Hindmarsh]

I'm new to the forum and the first question I was hoping to get help with was choosing between Mileage Plus and Krisflyer as a back up to Qantas. I am currently with Krisflyer and have 17k miles.

I live in Adelaide and have been a Platinum member with Qantas for the past few years and all of my work travel is required to be with Qantas (which is the primary driver behind my platinum status).

For personal overseas holidays (usually only once a year) I will always pick Qantas unless Singapore is considerably cheaper, and usually travel discount economy.

Even though I have 17k miles with Krisflyer my biggest concern is the miles expiry issue. Given my travel patterns (i.e. I am only likely to travel with Singapore (or StarAlliance) once a year - at best) then I can't see how I will ever get enough miles for a reward before they expire. Hence I am tempted to cut my losses and join United. I've tried to search some other threads here and realise that some of the cons of using United is the limited availability of reward flights/destinations out of Adelaide/Australia, and also the need to still keep activity through the account to keep the balance 'alive'.

Given my situation I was hoping someone could advise which option I should go for, and also advise what other issues/factors I should consider in choosing between the two options.

Thanks

 

[futaris]

Both programs are relatively bad. Only reason that you should want to earn in Krisflyer / Mileage Plus is to use the miles for upgrades on Singapore or United.

Look at other *A programs, like BMI Diamond Club (for good value redemptions) or Asiana (for lounge access).

 

[clifford]

Both programs are relatively bad. Only reason that you should want to earn in Krisflyer / Mileage Plus is to use the miles for upgrades on Singapore or United.

Look at other *A programs, like BMI Diamond Club (for good value redemptions) or Asiana (for lounge access).

I'm not sure you're right here.

I'm a member of both Mileage Plus (1K, Million Miler) and also of Diamond Club (DC).

In my own humble experience, I have found DC to be expensive in terms of its fuel surcharges, etc (which UA doesn't have) and also in terms of its complete unprofessionalism (Indian call centre).

Also, UA's redemption levels are the same or better than BD, and I get double miles for all paid travel (even the lowest discount economy class). Try that on BD...

If you would like to debate this further, I'd be quite happy to do so.

 

[futaris]

United used to much better, but the recent devaluation has cut the value of RDM so much more.

If you're going to earn on United flights, then credit to United, as the miles count towards 1MM status, and status bonuses apply. If you're flying other *A airlines, credit to another *A program, unless you need to top up your RDM.

It all really depends on how much you fly and how much you stay in Hiltons and rent from Hertz.

Quick example around here

35k in United gets you PER-AKL-PPT in economy (from 2009), with little taxes.
30k in BMI gets you PER-AKL-PPT in economy.
22.5k+150GBP in BMI gets you PER-AKL-PPT in business.

The other BIG advantage of BMI is one-way redemptions.

 

[clifford]

United used to much better, but the recent devaluation has cut the value of RDM so much more.

If you're going to earn on United flights, then credit to United, as the miles count towards 1MM status, and status bonuses apply. If you're flying other *A airlines, credit to another *A program, unless you need to top up your RDM.

It all really depends on how much you fly and how much you stay in Hiltons and rent from Hertz.

Quick example around here

35k in United gets you PER-AKL-PPT in economy (from 2009), with little taxes.
30k in BMI gets you PER-AKL-PPT in economy.
22.5k+150GBP in BMI gets you PER-AKL-PPT in business.

The other BIG advantage of BMI is one-way redemptions.

GBP150 = AUD 350.

You also seem to be missing the point that the differnence in earn rate on BD vs UA is huge. I get 100% bonus on all UA flights, but with the BD scheme what would you get? Zilch?

BD is only good if you are buying premium fares (and who's doing that?).

 

[futaris]

The OP originally never said anything about flying on UA. He said he'd fly on *A maybe once a year, so he'd be lucky to get status (if at all). For most of his flights, I'd assume that they'd be on SQ or TG.

For most SQ, TG and UA fares you'll earn at least x1.0 miles. See the earning table. Of course there are some exceptions, and you should always check before crediting.

You have to look at QF009's posts for some of the even better one-way redemptions.

Anyhow, this is much like the standard QFF or AAdvantage debate.

 

[dajop]

Hindmarsh, you've stumbled onto one of the more hotly debated topics (not necessarily UA vs SQ - but comparisons between FF progams on the same alliance are always debated with a fair amount of passion).

My advice - if you're only flying once a year on star alliance - don't worry about the FF points. Not tremendously significant in the grand scheme of things.

Having said that I'd still stick to SQ for the following reasons:

1) Trying to remember to have activity every 18 months is a major PITA (Pain In the A#*). I have several family members in your situation, and I am constantly keeping an eye on things for them, so they don't lose their points from a their trip to Europe a couple of years ago. At least on SQ after 3 years, I would have got them to use them (on me!!?? NOT) or they would have gone completely.
2) If you're flying on star alliance (I assume to Asia) at least once a year you can get a one way redemption for a minimum of 6,375 pts on SQ (from SIN to Bali at least) or a bit more if you're using TG through BKK. Or A one way ADL-SIN/BKK/MNL/DPS/HKG/SGN/CAN will only cost 23,375pts if booked online.
3) You can waitlist online for SQ awards if nothing available on dates you want.

 

[Keith009]

clifford: BD DC members earning more than 55k status miles a year will get double miles (status miles gets converted to RDMs, though this is now capped at 250k a year). Having said that I agree with dajop that it's unlikely that the OP will be flying *A enough to attain a level of status that attracts bonus miles.

At the end of the day, it all depends on personal needs and preferences surely.

UA only really works out over other FFPs if you fly a lot on UA AND buy discount economy tickets (and who the hell does that?? :shock: ). Awards seem only competitive when compared to "full miles" options on BMI due to lack of YQ.

OTOH most economy fare buckets earn 100% on BD, and premium fares attract a much better earn rate (for most *A 3x in F, 2x in C; for SQ 2x in F, 1.5 x in C). Throw in a few Hertz car rentals and book a few Hilton stays and you're on to that C+M long haul premium award in no time. The LH takeover brings a bit of uncertainly to the equation but a tweety bird has advised that "no major changes" to DC are forseen "at this time." Yes the "cash" component + taxes of C+M awards are hefty, but I see it as flying F for a mere fraction of the cost. The cash offset is more than made up by the amount of miles saved, which can in turn be put on even more good value awards.

One thing to keep in mind with DC is that only the longest segment in the award will determine the amount of miles you're charged, so you can throw in some F segments for free on C awards for instance; eg MEL-SIN SQ C, SIN-NRT SQ F charged as C award at 18750 miles + GBP105 + taxes; or AMS-ZRH-HKG LX C + HKG-SIN-MEL SQ F as a C award at 37 500 miles + GBP220 + taxes; MEL-AKL NZ C AKL-RAR NZ Y 7500 miles + cash (can't remember how much) + taxes. As demonstrated this "longest segment" can be a mere few miles longer. I believe on UAL you will be charged based on the highest class of travel.

Krisflyer isn't really attractive as an FFP (high burn rates), but I agree with dajop that it could be viable for the OP's flying patterns. Bear in mind the expiring mileage rule though - which IMO is even more PITA than the 18 month activity rule if you don't fly on *A nearly enough to redeem on other than the short haul awards mentioned. You could also use them on upgrades on SQ but this is increasingly expensive with Saver upgrades blocked on the new aircraft.

 

[Evan]

I am a OWE and my *A usage is probably not the best use of miles and program but i use SQ because i fly them a little and i can transfer from Amex 1 to 1 and i find SQ have good award availability. Although as noted by QF009 the lack of saver awards on new planes is annoying now there is more of them.

So what i am saying is that even SQ can be good if you can top up with miles from a credit card to make use of the award flights.

E

 

[clifford]

UA only really works out over other FFPs if you fly a lot on UA AND buy discount economy tickets (and who the hell does that?? :shock: ).

Well, surprisingly, I do. IMHO it's the least cost approach to F/C award travel anywhere. Also, and this hasn't been specifically mentioned, the SWU's (system-wide upgrade certs) allow you to upgrade on long-haul international sectors for free.

When I travel UA, it's generally in C class via a SWU, eg SIN-NRT-LAX and return, which is not bad for approx AUD 1600. Beats the pants off Cute A**.

So, each to their own...

 

[Keith009]

OK let's compare apples with apples then.

Assuming flying as a top tier status pax (BD*G earning more than 55k status miles a year; since only UA 1K members get SWUs), when one has miles pouring like water into their account at a rate of 625% in F, 425% in C, 225% in whY - the laughably low level of miles BD requires for its awards are really a small drop in the ocean. AUD1605 with spare change is sufficient in cash + taxes to cover the equivalent award you mentioned (SIN-NRT-LAX return) in no less than SQ F. SQ F vs UA C? Clearly a no brainer, and that alone is worth more than any SWU. You still have to buy the revenue ticket to use your SWUs anyway.

However this discussion is really irrelevant as far as the OP is concerned as we're talking about flying *A (and not even UA) only once a year here. With bonus miles derived from status out of the way, I believe the OP can still earn/burn more optimally on BMI DC than UA MP. Additionally if the OP has an ability to top up Krisflyer miles by means of a credit card as noted by Evan, even Krisflyer might be viable for someone flying SQ since miles can then be used for upgrades on SQ metal.

 

[clifford]

Well, I guess we'll have to agree to differ.

As someone who likes to buy cheap economy class tickets (helps the bank balance) and get upgraded to F/C class (100% success this year with 150,000 miles flown), I'm happy with the arrangements.

And to get 2 or 3 x miles credited is an extra bonus.

I know UA F/C isn't the world's best, but it sure beats the pants off any Y travel.

 

[Keith009]

As someone who likes to buy cheap economy class tickets (helps the bank balance) and get upgraded to F/C class (100% success this year with 150,000 miles flown), I'm happy with the arrangements.

For the nth time, I am not sure how this is relevant to the OP's situation at all given that s/he's 1) unlikely to reach that kind of status on *A; 2) not mentioned anything about flying UA?

 

[stryker]

I think clifford was just trying to make a sensible point.

I agree that if the OP flies star alliance very infrequently, it doesn't really matter at all what carrier's FF scheme they join. If any at all.