Which FF Program for me?

[sydunipete]

I'm sure this question has been asked a hundred times, but everybody's circumstances are different.

After over 20 years of loyal patronage I'm considering leaving Star Alliance. Since the ANSETT days I've been a member of ANSETT, United and now SQ. I reached Gold on 3 occasions, never realised any benefit from this lofty status. I liked the redemption process and availability. Much better than what I hear from QANTAS members that I know. All my redemptions have been intra Europe, one way, business class to complete a paid for open jaw trip from Australia.

I now just travel once or maybe twice a year, always in Business Class (I'm 6'4") and I'm based in Australia.

I also ended up with some Delta points after flying 2 people to Europe on KLM many years ago in Business Class. They were KLM then North West and now Delta Points. They never expired. I was able to transfer my wife's points to me and got a great redemption. (CDG - IST - CPH business class)

Travelling as infrequently as I do now the no expiry of Delta Points holds a lot of attraction to me. But the SkyTeam list of Partners isn't as attractive to me as Star Alliance or even One World. It would be good to be able to transfer points with my HHonours account.

I welcome your thoughts. Who else offers no expiry, but a more useful list of partner airlines than Delta? Many thanks in advance (and sorry for the long scene setting above).

 

[smit0847]

While I'm sure others on here will suggest what overseas airlines FF program you should join, one of the best pieces of advice I've got from this site (amongst many) was to set really clear travel goals for your FF program and concentrate on achieving them through one program, rather than diluting them through several programs.

Once you have your goal you look at what program best balances the ability to earn and then redeem points within that program. It's not much good earning lots of points on an airline that will never have availability to redeem them to the destinations you want, just as its no good having a program with excellent burn rates and availability that you will struggle to earn any points on. For me personally, Velocity has allowed me a good balance (plenty of earn through short domestic hops and SQ/VX alliances as well as the Virgin credit cards) and good (though not perfect) redemption destinations with their long-haul to AUH and LAX as well as the EY codeshares (I don't want anything to do with DL if possible). It's not perfect, but for me, it's a good fit for my goals and travel patterns. And I like flying VA.

Also - join a FF with an airline you actually like flying on!! So many disgruntled QFFs on here!

 

[mikejr]

While I'm sure others on here will suggest what overseas airlines FF program you should join, one of the best pieces of advice I've got from this site (amongst many) was to set really clear travel goals for your FF program and concentrate on achieving them through one program, rather than diluting them through several programs.

Also - join a FF with an airline you actually like flying on!! So many disgruntled QFFs on here!

This is great advice, I am just starting to travel more and really had to think who services the destinations I go to well and also what other program's (like credit cards...) can also add to the overall value

I think I am on the right track for me but there is great info on here about focusing on your goal...

 

[Deleted member]

Interesting article in SMH today about FF programmes. VA v QF.
I am sure I can detect a number of AFF posters there ✈