Which FF scheme to use for Air Canada flights?

[TheRiddler]

I'm Platinum on both QF and VA but will shortly be taking a trip on Air Canada in J to Toronto (nearly $2000 cheaper than QF). I am wondering what FF scheme I should utilise for these points. Perhaps an obvious answer would be the Air Canada scheme itself but cant see that having many benefits in this region. Maybe recognising the fact that VA probably wont be so generous in renewing my Plat membership next year I should fire up my old KrisFlyer account and put the points there. Or perhaps there's another Star Alliance carrier that I could convince to do a status match that would make a suitable home?

Any thoughts?

 

[cirqueboy]

It depends on what you are after. Do you need *A status? A J return SYD-YYZ isn't going to do much good as points in a FFP you don't use.

Up until recently, I had a good argument with myself that status in OW and *A was beneficial. I've been ACE and QF SG for several years and it worked for me, especially in the US. With the recent developments: AA/US merger into OW, TAM & LAN Columbia coming into OW and Qatar also joining OW, there is a level playing field in the Americas now. Add into that the huge "Enhancements" AC have applied to their FFP, crediting to AC and even keeping status for *A seems completely unnecessary. Directing it all to QF and keeping a healthy level of WP will be of more benefit come 2014.

BTW, how did you find a AC J fare cheaper than QF? A quick check and I see it $2k more expensive than QF for April! The best way to do that run is 2 bookings. J return SYD-LAX with QF and F return LAX-YYZ with AA. Comes in around $8k. Just ask the QF check in to link the PNR and you are set to go.