Which airline to nominate for FF points/status collection for US trip?

[Economizer]

I have an upcoming business trip to the East Coast of the US where my company allows business class but it must be the cheapest available.
After much searching, Emirates was found to be the cheapest available Business Restricted fare and I now have the following routing: SYD-DXB-IAD-DXB-SYD.

My issue is, I have Platinum FF with Qantas but only Blue with Emirates.
My EK ticketed itinerary was at least $3k cheaper than QF hence I booked with EK as per company policy, but if I nominate to credit the flights against QF FF I get no status credits and approx 1/3 the FF points I might get for a QF ticketed itinerary.
If I credit the tickets to EK Skywards, I get some decent air miles and tier/status credits, however, as I don't use Emirates often the points and status miles will most likely not be used.

Does anyone have any advice on how to best utilise this point and status gathering opportunity? Are there any other partner airlines that I could join that might allow points transfers back to QF?

 

[Mattg]

I have an upcoming business trip to the East Coast of the US where my company allows business class but it must be the cheapest available.
After much searching, Emirates was found to be the cheapest available Business Restricted fare and I now have the following routing: SYD-DXB-IAD-DXB-SYD.

My issue is, I have Platinum FF with Qantas but only Blue with Emirates.
My EK ticketed itinerary was at least $3k cheaper than QF hence I booked with EK as per company policy, but if I nominate to credit the flights against QF FF I get no status credits and approx 1/3 the FF points I might get for a QF ticketed itinerary.
If I credit the tickets to EK Skywards, I get some decent air miles and tier/status credits, however, as I don't use Emirates often the points and status miles will most likely not be used.

Does anyone have any advice on how to best utilise this point and status gathering opportunity? Are there any other partner airlines that I could join that might allow points transfers back to QF?

This is an interesting dilemma. The obvious answer is to credit to EK but if you're probably not going to use the points, and the status credits will go to waste given your QF Platinum status, then I guess it's really a matter of crediting to a program where you'll get the most benefit from the points.

I believe EK is partners with Alaskan Airlines. From Alaska's website:

Elite Qualifying Flight Miles: Earned flight miles and premium cabin bonuses on Emirates count towards Elite Status.
Business Class Cabin: Earn actual flight miles* flown in J, C, O, or I classes of service, plus 25% Bonus Miles.

*Earn 500 minimum miles on flights less than 500 miles. Actual miles flown = 1 mile per flight mile flown. Miles may not be earned for tickets flown in G, N, D, or Z classes of service. Some deeply discounted, and industry fares are ineligible to earn miles.

---

To qualify for mileage accrual, please note that your flights must be marketed and operated by Emirates. Ticket has to be on Emirates ticket stock to qualify.
To ensure flight credit, the two letter airline code (EK) must precede the flight number (for example, EK xx_X) on your ticket receipt or boarding pass.

So... if your ticket is booked in J,C,O or I fare class you should earn over 36,000 AS miles. (You would also earn MVP status with Alaskan, if that's of any use to you.) 36,000 AS miles is not bad - they can be redeemed on QF, who is also a partner, with no fuel surcharge. 40K miles is enough for a return business class trip anywhere in Australia, and 55K would get you a one-way ticket to the USA in business, just to give you an idea.

 

[Economizer]

Thanks for the info Mattg.
My EK outbound flights are O fare and inbound are I fare so I should earn AS miles as you've mentioned.
I have a few short internal US flights that I booked on a separate ticket with Delta that I could probably direct to AS too, seeing as they are partners, rather than have them go to waste.
Cheers.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks for the info Mattg.
My EK outbound flights are O fare and inbound are I fare so I should earn AS miles as you've mentioned.
I have a few short internal US flights that I booked on a separate ticket with Delta that I could probably direct to AS too, seeing as they are partners, rather than have them go to waste.
Cheers.

Great. Are the internal US flights on the same trip or afterwards? (If afterwards your newly earned AS status could be of use.) How many points will the Delta flights earn you? If you earn at least 40K in total from the trip that's enough for a return J trip SYD-PER, for example.

 

[bismarck]

Sounds like a good option.

AS also frequently run mileage purchase bonuses, which you could use to top up the account for a redemption. Rates are reasonable as well.