One FF Program - is it possible?

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browski

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Ok guys.

Scenario: You live in Australia, you travel internationally plenty with work but you need to hub out of Singapore or Dubai or Hong Kong a lot.

Obviously Qantas and Singapore are on the opposite sides of the war - but you need to use both.

Is there any value in signing up with a 3rd party FF program that incorporates Qantas AND the Star Alliance?

For example

In signing up on a SAS (Eurobonus) FF program you can earn points on *Alliance, Qantas and others. Ditto for US Airways (Dividend Miles).

South African Airways (Voyager) is even more inviting as you can earn on *Alliance, Qantas and Emirates, and Virgin Atlantic.

So......is there value in choosing one program or is it mitigated by not being able to directly use the Qantas Website for redemptions?

Are 2 programs better than one?
 
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Personally I would just stick with a OneWorld and a *A program. The only benefit in a single program is the possibility or consolidating points/miles in one account. But with the major OW and A* programs you earn bonus points and significant benefits by earning status in those programs. You won't get much in the way of status in a non-alligned program by flying on with their partners, and won't get much chance to use the status benefits.

Earn/Burn rates for points is generally best within the alliances (not always on the deep discount fares, especially between some OW partners). So if you are flying enough, you will earn enough points in *A and OW alliances if you choose the programs carefully to meet your travel planns.
 
I agree totally with NM's comments. Your best earn rate (program) is also your best burn rate usually.
 
Thanks for the advice.

I don't suppose there any listing of best Earn / Burn Rates on the various OW and *A programs!

Any recommendations?
 
There is no one best program - it depends on how and where you travel, and how and where you want to use the miles.

Some generalisations.

On *A

If you travel on UA a lot - then UA Mileage Plus is quite good (elite bonus on UA metal, low award costs, lots of upgrades).

If travel a lot in business/first other than SQ, and have european or US address - then BMI Diamond Club is good (high earning multiples, cash + miles awards).

If travel a lot in business/first, particularly within europe - then LH Miles & More is good (high earning multiples including status bonus which counts for requalifying, high fixed mileage earning within europe, awards more expensive than BMI, low earning in discount economy).

If travel a lot on Air NZ in full economy or business - then NZ Airpoints is good (high earning multiples, better earning on NZ itineraries, complex award itins are expensive, annual fee if no NZ flights, low or no earning in discount economy).

If travel a lot in discount economy - then TG Royal Orchid Plus or UA Mileage Plus have better earning rates and low status qualification levels. Also consider AC Aeroplan.

If travel a lot in SQ economy particularly asia - then SQ Silver Kris may be best with cheap asian awards (but earning relatively low on premium fares).

Other major considerations

- in most cases to upgrade need miles in the airlines own programme (ie Kris Flyer for SQ, Mileage Plus for UA). There are some exceptions and *A intends rolling out *A-wide upgrades.

- non-flying earning. Most programs have good and similar coverage of hotels & cars. Some better earning rates than others. But credit card options are fairly restricted (in Australia & NZ).

- if travelling business or first class on SQ, can earn status through PPS at the same time as crediting miles to another program. Assuming you travel enough there are some benefits to doing this.


I hope this helps!!
 
And the answer for OneWorld is defined by all the same criteria as Kiwi mentions above. It all depends on the airlines you fly and the type of fare you buy. Its especially crucial for discount economy fares where some programs offer no points or perhaps low earn rates (say 25% of flown miles) when using some airlines.

For example if flying on the cheapest discount fares, then BA is not going to an attractive program. And QF is unlikely to be attractive given their high award costs since the changes earlier in the year.

AA is certainly worth considering, but just be careful about which of the discounted economy fares don't earn. Status is easy to attain on AA using their Platinum challenge.

I don't know much about the other OneWorld program earn/burn rates so can't really comment on them.
 
Star Alliance upgrades

"Star Alliance intend rolling out system upgrades" - any further info on this?
 
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