Which *A FF program

[nickog]

My girlfriend and I just got 29000mile *A RTW economy tickets and haven't joined a FF program yet.

What program would you choose given the itinery below?? We thought that AC aeroplan of NZ airpoints and either the AC maple leaf club or NZ koru club might give us the best miles/points and cover most lounges. Do you agree?

We're thinking of heading to tahiti or back to YVR next year (undecided as yet) but i guess it will be dictated by what plan we've joined.

Thanks for your input


Nick


THAI AIRWAYS / AUSTRIAN AIRLINES / LUFTHANSA
* Flight operated by AUSTRIAN
SYD/BKK/VIE/TXL (TG 994 / OS 26 / LH 6321*)

SAS SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES
* Flight operated by ESTONIAN AIR
TLL/CPH/CDG (SK 8407* / SK 565)

SWISS
CDG/ZRH/VCE (LX 639 / LX 1664)

LUFTHANSA
MUC/FCO (LH 3862)

LUFTHANSA
PRG/FRA/LHR (LH 3261 / LH 4736)

AIR CANADA / UNITED AIRLINES
LHR/YHZ/BOS (AC 861 / UA 8120)

UNITED AIRLINES
* Flight operated by US AIRWAYS
BOS/LGA (UA 2639*)

AIR CANADA
JFK/YVR (AC 549)

AIR CANADA
YVR/HNL (AC 45)

AIR NEW ZEALAND
HNL/AKL/SYD (NZ 9 / NZ 701)

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

While *A RTW in economy books in a reasonably high economy class (unlike on OW), the earning on NZ Airpoints is poor. Unless there is a special feature of NZ Airpoints that you want to use, or intend a lot more travel on NZ only itineraries, I would not recommend NZ Airpoints.

AC Aeroplan often gets mentioned on FT as a good FFP to go for. The main attraction are upgrades flying on AC, and the low threshold for *G status. This trip will not be enough for *G on any FFP (unless you have significant other travel) so I'd rule status out as a factor. Similarly, you need elite status on AC to get the upgrades. There are other FFPs that offer better net earn and burn rates than AC Aeroplan.

I'd probably go with UA Mileage Plus, for their cheap awards and decent earn rate. Plus you will have enough to earn *Silver status. This mean bonus miles when you subsequently fly on UA and subject to space automatically get E+ seating on UA.

 

[clifford]

I'd probably go with UA Mileage Plus, for their cheap awards and decent earn rate. Plus you will have enough to earn *Silver status. This mean bonus miles when you subsequently fly on UA and subject to space automatically get E+ seating on UA.

Good to see you have seen sense, Kiwi.

 

[SeaWolf]

Note that with AC Aeroplan, although the points don't expire for seven years, you do need to have activity on the account at least once a year to keep it active now. If you're not planning on cashing the points within a year, or don't fly *A very often, it might not be a great plan for you.

I think the only program with *A that has no expiry at all is OZ, but I believe it has a very poor earn and burn rate.

 

[Altair]

Note that with AC Aeroplan, although the points don't expire for seven years, you do need to have activity on the account at least once a year to keep it active now. If you're not planning on cashing the points within a year, or don't fly *A very often, it might not be a great plan for you.

I think the only program with *A that has no expiry at all is OZ, but I believe it has a very poor earn and burn rate.

Yeah OZ do not expire, but they do have poor earn - no minimum mileage, no status bonus, C is 125%, F is 150%.
Burn rate is not good, same/worse than QF.
Status is higher to achieve 40K & 100K but what I like is the qualifying period, from time of joining to time of qualification 1, 7, 10, 20 years still good it does not matter. Status lasts 3 years in which you re-qualify based on miles earned during those 3 years. Status is more important for me and I recently dumped TG because I could not get *G due to most of my flights straddling the new year period every second year. Add to that expiring points made me leave it.