New to FF, lots of questions :) - Melbourne based, travelling world wide

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Inverted Flyer

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Hello,

I've just started a new role with an International Company and will be travelling for business.

I have joined 'Velocity' and 'One World' at this stage.

Please point me to the right threads, as I'm sure these topics will have been covered previously:
  1. My company has booked my next 6 flights with United Airlines (All first class, so assume FF miles will be worth accumulating) - Should I be joining United's program to claim status points directly? can I claim these FF points with one of my two existing partnership programs?
  2. Should I be joining Star alliance or Kris Flyer?
  3. Which Airlines FF points are worth the most or which ones are most beneficial to claim status points with?
  4. What is the recommended set up for keeping all your points in one place? or is it best to join with each airline for status points?

I image I will be travelling most frequently with Qantas, Virgin, New Zealand, Singapore Airlines.

Any advice is very much appreciated in advance, and if there is a thread I should be ready such as "how to get started in the world of Frequent Flying" please feel free to handball me to that :)

Inverted Flyer
 
Welcome to AFF Inverted Flyer . I'm sure some of our experienced members will be able to assist you with your enquiries.
 
I would focus on krisflyer and credit everything there. The KF miles are valuable and it sounds like youll build status very quickly.
 
I agree with the recommendation to put all Star Alliance flights onto KF as SQ is one of the best airlines and have a close tie-up with Velocity/Virgin. The UA and NZ miles can also go there although you will miss out on UA Status Credits if your Company uses them a lot. Mind you, in F, you should get the maximum benefits anyway, except maybe short haul domestic in the US.

For One World, AA Advantage might be a good option as I understand you can reach status quicker than with QF, although I am not a heavy OW customer.

Looks like you will be busy. As a Melbourne based AFF member, try your best to avoid SYD as much as possible. I find INT to DOM transfers at Sydney airport a pain even at the best of times - more incoming than outgoing. Just adds hours to the journey.
 
I would sign up for United status challenge(not sure if it's available now) and keep your miles with United. They don't expire after 3 years like KF and it's very handy to use on star alliance partners especially Thai for trips to Asia and you can purchase miles ( they currently have 80% bonus). Depending on class of travel, AirNZ can be credit to Velocity and the points are great for trips to the US and Etihad. Also, sign up with credit cards for the bonuses for QFF and velocity so you can increase your balance.
 
Hi Inverted Flyer, and welcome.

My own belief is that within an alliance, its best to belong to the FF program of the airline you will fly the most. Therefore in your case prima facie it would be Qantas FF (OneWorld), Virgin Velocity (with its SkyTeam eg Delta links, Etihad links etc) and SQ Krisflyer (Star Alliance). NZ Airpoints gets panned here as one of the worst programs going and any ANZ flights can be credited to Velocity.

The only caution to that would be SQ versus United. The US programs are generally a bit more generous than others and offer other benefits, such as ability to buy miles, often with free bonus miles AND their 'cash co-payments' that have to be paid when redeeming 'free' seats are generally lower But United also has a revenue hurdle ( I think - others will correct me).

With Velocity and Krisflyer, you can swap the points between the accounts, so if you get a swag of Velocity points in a credit card promotion, you can tip them into Krisflyer and so convert to flights on all of Star Alliance.

As to value of points, that's in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes its more difficult to redeem the points for what you want, rather than earn them. But if you are flexible with dates, you can get 'award' seats in premium cabins even without status.

Look in other threads for info about credit card promotions with bonus points for applying (100,000 points on various airline programs are pretty easily had).
 
If you are interested in status I would focus initally on gaining status with one airline.
Then keep an eye out for status match offers as and when they come up.
I've earned platinum status with QF and VA but have managed to leverage those to gain equivalent status with Alitalia (and hence Skyteam), Avianca (and hence Star Alliance) and Etihad.
I know a lot of members have had similar success - and a lot of them are much better at it than I am!
After you've gained status you can reevaluate and work to retain whichever is most important to you.
 
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Welcome to AFF Inverted Flyer!

I would have thought the general advice would have been to accumulate miles/status with United for *Alliance flights.
 
JohnK said:
Welcome to AFF Inverted Flyer!

I would have thought the general advice would have been to accumulate miles/status with United for *Alliance flights.
Click to expand...

You are possibly right, but the OP may appreciate knowing why (as opposed to Krisflyer).
 
Inverted Flyer said:
What is the recommended set up for keeping all your points in one place? or is it best to join with each airline for status points?

Click to expand...

Definitely better to keep them in one place as you can focus on building up status and a meaningful points balance more quickly.

TonyHancock said:
There are so many variables in the frequent flyer game, but my rule of thumb is to have status with the airlines I fly the most with.
Click to expand...

...unless that airline is Air New Zealand. ;)

(For those not familiar with Air NZ's frequent flyer program Airpoints, it's rubbish.)
 
Mattg said:
Definitely better to keep them in one place as you can focus on building up status and a meaningful points balance more quickly.
Click to expand...
Works for some.

Status is important but some programs have better earn rates for certain partners.

- BMI was fantastic for Hilton stays and car hire
- Virgin Atlantic was fantastic for Hilton stays and car hire
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is not too bad for car hire and occassional Hilton promotions
- United could be OK for some of the above shortly

I would certainly not credit to Qantas or Velocity. Qantas has high surcharges and the jury is still out on Velocity with only meaningful redemptions to USA or the desert.
 
GPH said:
Join everything and enjoy the ride:)
Click to expand...


Absolutely.
Join everything, without discrimination.
Sign up for all their emails. Access all their booking systems so you can see reward availability.
But use all that information to be very discriminating when it comes to where you put the points and status credits you earn.
 
Inverted Flyer said:
Hello,

I've just started a new role with an International Company and will be travelling for business.

I have joined 'Velocity' and 'One World' at this stage.

Please point me to the right threads, as I'm sure these topics will have been covered previously:
  1. My company has booked my next 6 flights with United Airlines (All first class, so assume FF miles will be worth accumulating) - Should I be joining United's program to claim status points directly? can I claim these FF points with one of my two existing partnership programs?
  2. Should I be joining Star alliance or Kris Flyer?
  3. Which Airlines FF points are worth the most or which ones are most beneficial to claim status points with?
  4. What is the recommended set up for keeping all your points in one place? or is it best to join with each airline for status points?

I image I will be travelling most frequently with Qantas, Virgin, New Zealand, Singapore Airlines.

Any advice is very much appreciated in advance, and if there is a thread I should be ready such as "how to get started in the world of Frequent Flying" please feel free to handball me to that :)

Inverted Flyer
Click to expand...


Sounds like a pretty good gig if they are flying you in First !! :mrgreen:
 
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