Given this does not fit into just one FFP sub-forum I am posting it here (mods please move if you feel it needs to). I thought rather than mulling over this for another week I get some AFF-qualified guidance and discussion here. Bear with me while I lay out my situation.
Status quo:
However, I would not have any status for those two trips then (except VA SG when on SQ), so for comfort on those trips later this year option 1 would make more sense. So far that is a close second preference.
I have pretty much discounted option 2.
Anything I missed? Any other views or comments? Thank you in advance.
Status quo:
- Currently I am QF SG and VA WP (about to drop back to VA SG next month, and potentially to QF PS in December).
- Travelling mainly for work, 4 long-haul trips per year (2x Asia, 1x North America, 1x Europe). Travel policy allows W or as an exception a combination of Y & J (depending on cost and availability of travel classes). Limited domestic/trans-tasman travel in Y (2-3 trips p.a.). I am based in MEL.
- As part of my work travel, I have flown mainly OW airlines on long-haul lately, most in W and some in J (QF, CX, JL), with one odd trip to Europe on SQ in W.
- For work travel, my employer’s preferred airline is QF. However, pricing in W is almost never competitive (and often not even available out of MEL, especially to Asia), hence I typically have the choice between many other W options.
- For personal travel I am very much a free agent and also use points (I have plenty in both programs).
- I could do both trips with QF & other OW carriers (QF & AA for the US trip, and a combination of QF/BA or CX to Europe), which would mean I retain my QF SG status (I will not ever get near QF WP). => Result: QF & VA SG.
- I could fly SQ to Europe and VA/DL to the US, and then wait for my next trip in early/mid 2020 to take me back to VA WP. => Result: VA SG (with potential for VA WP in 2020), QF PS.
- I could focus on *A instead and fly SQ to Europe and NZ/UA to the US, and qualify for KrisFlyer Gold. According to my calculations, including several US domestic sectors on UA I would get to somewhere between 49k and 53k status miles (depending on exact routing, booking class etc.), so definitely doable. => Result: SQ SG, VA SG, QF PS.
However, I would not have any status for those two trips then (except VA SG when on SQ), so for comfort on those trips later this year option 1 would make more sense. So far that is a close second preference.
I have pretty much discounted option 2.
Anything I missed? Any other views or comments? Thank you in advance.