Please help! Which Star Alliance FF Program?

[melicity1]

Hi everyone,

I have never been overseas before, and my partner and I have just put a deposit on our first flight . We are going on a working holiday to London. We are flying with Thai Airways, stopping at Bangkok, and then on to London (return ticket).

We will probably be making another trip back to London in one years time (working hol visa lasts two years - return tickets only last for one), and we will probably be making short flights from London to cities in Europe during our stay.

Any recommendations? I am not in a credit card frequent flyer program.
Please help! :?

Thanks

 

[QF WP]

I refer you to a recent topic where I believe should cover the relevant points.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Some special Thai fares are not mileage earning on FFPs (other than possibly Thai Royal Orchid Plus).

It may pay to check what fare category your booking is in first.

 

[QF WP]

melicity1, as Kiwi Flyer advised, it is important to know what class of travel you are in - presumably you are flying Economy, however as I am sure you know, there are differing "levels" within Economy.

It might show on your initial itinerary (if you've been given one, I notice you have paid a deposit). If in doubt, ask your Travel Agent what "booking class" or "fare basis" you are in - they should respond with either a one letter code (like Q, M etc) or a 4 to 6 alpha/numeric code (like BHEE1Y). If you have have paid the balance due now and have your ticket, this fare code can be found next to your flight details.

That's the important part to find out whether the mileage is not credited at all, or credited at something up to 100% of mileage flown. Let us know what it is.

 

[melicity1]

Economy class is Q

Hi guys,

Thankyou very much for the advice. Sorry I have taken so long to get back to you - I have only just found out the class type of my airfare. It is Q class - what does that mean?

Has there been any more news on United Airlines and the chances of them going bust? I am a bit worried about that happenning - so much so that I am leaning towards joing the Thai Orchard Plus program...

Thanks again

 

[QF WP]

melicity1, you will first want to check with the Thai FF program about what credit/points they give to their own Q class fares (that's a discount Economy fare). I have no knowledge of their FF program, so not much help here.

Under United's Mileage Plus program, you will receive 100% of miles flown according to this chart (although it does state "most published fares count towards eligibility towards status") in MP, so hopefully it is still one that you get towards status (i.e. 25,000 miles would give you Silver status under MP)...

 

[melicity1]

Thankyou Lindsay

I have emailed Thai to see about the Q economy, and will let you know. The reason I have been hesitant to go with UA is because
(a) will they follow Ansett??? :cry:
(b) I don't intend to travel to the US very much, if at all

However, after your helpful comments and insights and a thorough investigation of their program, they do seem to offer the best deal. I particularly only needing 20,000 to fly to either NZ or Oceania.

However, Thai do offer good 'companion' deals which are almost as good...

Well, I'm going to have to make my decision soon! :?

Thanks again for your advice

 

[QF WP]

Yes, there is always a chance that any of the USA based airlines that are already in Chapter 11 could cease trading, like United. That's the risk in the option (as with any option of any airline, but the bigger ones are undoubtedly "safer").

Certainly, as your pointed out, the redemption points cost are very good. There is no need for you to have to travel in the USA just because your have a United MP card - I have a friend who lives in the UK who is a Premier Executive MP member and has never set foot in America - closest she has been was Auckland!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Good news. Q isnt a far category that is non-mileage earning. On most *A frequent flyer programs it will earn "discount economy" miles though.

If you are likely to fly Thai again then that may be the best place to credit miles. It is relatively easy to get status on Thai that then gives you upgrade vouchers to use on their flights. Great for that trip to europe.