What will be best *alliance program to join

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Lonely Flyer

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I have a friend flying Tuesday to Europe, Canada and then home to Australia with Air New Zealand.

She does not belong to any program and I feel it would be a complete waste if she did not join a program. I think the ticket is via Lufthansa around world offer.

Further earning will probably be mainly credit card which she is still to choose.
 
I would recomend UA Mileage Plus. They are highly compatable with Star airlines and especially with NZ and LH. I think you can earn Star Silver and Gold status on them faster than any other airline, and they dont charge you to join like NZ Airports does. I just made Premier Star Silver and this year I have flown NZ ORD-LAX-AKL (twice) and AKL-SFO-ORD (once) and a few minor domestic trips with NZ. I am planning two more trips across the pond before the end of the year which will put me into Premier Exec. (Star Gold) land. I have no idea how im going to keep that staus in 08, but I'll have it.

Def. go for UA.
 
If status is important to you, then there's a note at the bottom of the Star Alliance page on Wikipedia:Star Alliance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Currently the lowest qualification criteria for a Star Alliance Gold status is 35,000 status miles earned during one calendar year with Air Canada's Aeroplan program awarding a status valid for one year from March of the next year. Alternatively, 50,000 qualification miles during a calendar year in Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus program awards a Gold status with two years validity.
Furthermore, accumulating 100,000 miles over three calendar years in Asiana Airlines Club Programme will gain Gold status, with a renewal requirement of 40,000 miles in three calendar years - the lowest re-qualification criteria for a Star Alliance Gold status.
It may be a little out of date though, so check it out.
 
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There are a number of other issues that also need to be considered, eg:

- miles earning rate for silver/gold members;

- award redemption availability/costs;

- etc, etc. (not all airlines are the same).

I don't know if I'd be putting my miles with Mileage Plus if I wasn't flying UA so much. I'd have to do some more research.... (maybe check out FlyerTalk - The world's most popular frequent flyer community).
 
I second UA MP. Those 20,000 mile awards to South Pacific islands are one of the best deals Aussies can get!
 
Tiki said:
I second UA MP. Those 20,000 mile awards to South Pacific islands are one of the best deals Aussies can get!

Aren't they actually Star Alliance award rates that would apply to any members airline's scheme?
 
Information about class of travel and pattern of travel would help.

Generally, I'd reccomend BMI diamond club because of its generous earn/burn rate. BMI also has the 'cash and miles' scheme which allows you to subsidise awards with cash - insanely good value IMO especially for long haul F or J awards. It's 57k miles to get *G for the first time with BMI, then 38k for subsequent requalifications.
 
clifford said:
Aren't they actually Star Alliance award rates that would apply to any members airline's scheme?

Not necessarily. You would have to look at each airline's program (LH, NZ, SQ, TG, etc) to determine how many miles a Australia-Pacific Islands ticket costs. AFAIK, UA is the cheapest at 20K.
 
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