New to earning points. Am I flying with the wrong carrier?

[gojun]

Hey all,

I'm new around here and noticed a majority of members are either with QF, VA or SQ. I usually fly with CX and noticed the sub forum is fairly small. Am I flying with the wrong carrier to maximize my points? It's making me second guess that I'm better off with the other 3 carriers. I did try looking through old posts but I wasn't able to find anything.

I'm not sure if this is right place to post this, but I didn't know where else I could. If I'm not allowed, I'm happy to remove this post and pay someone for real advice, PM Me.

It might help if I shared my whole situation:

• Will be flying 3-4 times a year from SYD to KIX, TPE, PEK or PVG
• My SO will be flying 3-4 times a year from KIX/TPE to SYD
• SO doesn't care so much for points, so happy for me to use them. Given we're allowed in the same redemption group, we're not married yet.
• Not a Marco Polo member, I've read that only if you fly a lot you should consider signing up. Should I consider this?
• CBA Mastercard + Amex Diamond Card
• Will be signing up with AMEX Platinum Edge with a referral for 15k bonus
• Main goal: Fly Business Class once or twice a year, not aiming for elite status.
• A friend of mine that flies with SQ says CX's program make it extremely hard to redeem your awards.

I'm also going through the Knowledge Centre atm.

Given my circumstances, I don't fly as frequent as the rest of you, but I would like to make the most of the points and maximize my local point earning ability. Would it be worth me just redeeming my remaining 30k points with a W/R ticket to J and consider moving across to QF, VA or SQ? Are there other products for me to consider? Is there better value being a part of the other carrier's FF programs? The Qantas AMEX Ultimate with 80k points looks tempting.

Again, if this is the wrong forum, I will be happy to remove my post.

Thanks!

 

[Quickstatus]

Welcome gojun. I'm sure you you will get good answers on here. It's 11pm just wait till morning

 

[gojun]

It's only 9:20pm here in Osaka!

 

[JohnK]

Try Flyertalk if you want more detail information on carriers other than Qantas or Virgin.

 

[extracta]

QF is really only any good if you are a very regular domestic customer. Over priced flights and lacks a good international network.
VA similar
SQ is good as long as you are racking up over 50000 miles a year, there are some domestic benefits on Virgin as well.
The best option I know of to attain membership with Lounge access etc, is to Join Asiana ,, then fly Star alliance carriers and allocate your points to Asiana. To attain the equivalent of Star Alliance gold you only need 40000 points in a two year period. If anyone knows of a better deal out there I would be very interested to Know.

 

[Gazza129]

I have a Westpac Amex Black and use Asia Miles via Altitude to get flights on Cathay . Problem with Cathay is point pricing.They can be more expensive prorata than others.

 

[Buzzard]

Welcome to AFF gojun,
I can't answer your question as all my flying is deomestic, mostly QF with some VA.

 

[gojun]

Thanks for the great responses.

JohnK, i will move the post as soon as I'm in front of a computer.

Extracta, that sounds decent. I'll look into it... But I prefer having stopovers/layovers in HK, since I have friends there.

Gazza129, is there any other way to earn points? Besides flights, regular shopping amd purchasing through the iShop?

Buzzard, that's okay. Thanks anway!

 

[Gazza129]

Thanks for the great responses.

JohnK, i will move the post as soon as I'm in front of a computer.

Extracta, that sounds decent. I'll look into it... But I prefer having stopovers/layovers in HK, since I have friends there.

Gazza129, is there any other way to earn points? Besides flights, regular shopping amd purchasing through the iShop?

Buzzard, that's okay. Thanks anway!

I am OBSESSED with using my AMEX for everything, including the odd 3% surcharge. I get 3 points per dollar and even get points on the surcharge!
My theory is that it takes pennies to make pounds and when I'm sitting at the front the odd few dollars on a surcharge is LONG forgotten

 

[gojun]

I'm not fussed paying a surcharge either but I'm with CX and CBA Diamond only allows to transfer to QFF or VFF. I can only get 3:1 points on the new Platinum Edge at supermarkets and 1 point for everything else. Which why it's making me consider changing to QFF and collecting points, since I get 3:1 on all purchases on the CBA card. But because I'm on a grandfather plan, I only pay $119 and I'm still entitled to the AMEX Lounge passes. I'll sign up with Westpac Altitude Black when they have some sort of sign up bonus. For now, I'll just keep chugging away with AMEX Platinum Edge when I get it.

 

[magnacartic]

Have you considered collecting AAdvantage miles? After March 22 2016, redeeming a round-trip J for Japan will be cheaper by 10k, but China and Taiwan will be dearer by 10k. Basically for one-way, Japan will cost 40k(J)/60k(F), China and Taiwan will cost 40k(J)/50k(F). If you want to fly CX, you will have to use an Asia Miles/QFF account to look for availability and call American Airlines to book award tickets. You can't search CX award flights on AA(dot)com, but you can on qantas(dot)com. AA(dot)com has Qantas award flight search, and it seems like there is a direct Qantas flight to TPE. It's not a lot of effort considering that you don't pay "fuel surcharges" or "carrier surcharges" for AAdvantage.

For domestic travel (intra-Australia), I'm using AAdvantage for now for Qantas J (17,500 for one-way).

You can transfer AMEX MR to AAdvantage via SPG at a ratio of 2:1. (2 MR = 1 mile). Currently, you'll get a bonus of 5,000 for every 20,000 transferred currently.

The best part about AAdvantage is that taxes would seem insignificant compared to other FF programs; no fuel surcharges. Just don't redeem for BA.

 

[gojun]

Hm... but Amex MMR to AM is 1:1 while via SPG to AA is 2:1. Which is pretty similar, no?

One way to Japan J ticket with AM 70,000
One way to Japan J ticket with AA 40,000
Return to Japan J ticket with AM 120,000
Return to Japan J ticket with AA 80,000

With no SPG bonus, One way J ticket I'll need 80,000MR points as opposed to the 70,000 via AM.
Again with no SPG bonus, Return J ticket I'll need 160,000 MR points as opposed to 120,000 via AM

Seems cheaper to go with AM unless I'm missing something?

 

[magnacartic]

Well, the out-of-pocket cost for redemption is a little higher higher on AM compared to AA... Crediting miles of paid trips to AA makes sense, otherwise AM is great as a transfer option from Citibank/Altitude Rewards if you're not planning to spend anything on the tickets besides the surchages and tax.

 

[gojun]

Since CX flights don't show up on the AA site, that means I have to call up CX to book the flight and provide them my AA number?

If I fly return SYD <> KIX, I'm entitled to around 12,000 miles with AM. If I call and book the flight and provide my AA number, would I be entitled to the 100% of those miles?

I've got about 30K miles left in AM, so I might as well redeem that for an upgrade from premium economy and start banking my miles in AA.

 

[magnacartic]

Are you trying to book an award ticket or to purchase one? You can search and purchase CX flights on AA's site, but the award flight search isn't available. You'll need to call AA's hotline to make an CX award flight booking. From memory, the award booking phone fee is something like US$25 (possibly still waived if you're Executive Platinum); still cheaper than paying for CX's fee, which is already reasonable compared to EK, QF or SQ.

Depending on your fare class. If it's any of these, you should get a full credit: A, F, C, D, I, J, W, R, E*, Y, B, H. Usually, you won't earn miles on award tickets. Usually.
Check out the earn chart. Sorry, I can't post links yet. Always check for availability before transferring miles from your credit card program.

 

[gojun]

I normally purchase H for economy. But my main question was Since CX flights don't show up on the AA site, that means I have to call up CX to book the flight and provide them my AA number?

 

[magnacartic]

You could purchase the ticket anywhere (direct online, phone, travel agent, OTA), as long as you can make sure that the fare class is at least H. Just be advised that the EQM/mile for H will drop to 0.5 on Jan 1.

 

[gojun]

That's okay, I'm not fussed about EQM. I'm not chasing any form of elite status.

Thanks for the information!