Looking for help with what Star Alliance FF program to use.

[GMG]

Hi all,

I am currently a Platinum United FF (Non USA) based in Australia having switched from Air NZ a couple of years ago and I am about to do some decent flying but am having negative feelings about the new United FF Qualifications due to the revenue component. So I am trying to find if there is a better FF (Star Alliance) scheme that would work based on the following already booked Trip.

SYD - BKK (Z) Thai
BKK - FRA (P) Lufthansa
FRA - SVQ (P) Lufthansa
SVQ - ZRH (P) Swiss
ZRH - AMS (P) Swiss
AMS - OSL (A) SAS
OSL - HEL (A) SAS
HEL - MUC (P) Lufthansa
MUC - KBP (P) Lufthansa
KBP - ZRH (P) Swiss
ZRH - WAW (F) LOT
WAW - ZAG (F) LOT
ZAG - WAW (F) LOT
WAW - MUC (P) Lufthansa
MUC - CLT (P) Lufthansa
RIC - ORD (P) United
ORD - MSP (P) United
MSP - IAH (D) United
IAH - GDL (D) United
GDL - IAH (P) United
IAH - LAX (P) United
LAX - SYD (P) United

I was looking at Asiana but they don't count the (P) class Lufthansa flights so that doesn't work well. Lufthansa seem to be very restrictive with their new system, and was considering SAS. But looking for guidance.

Regards & Thanks

Geoff

 

[jase05]

Have you considered KrisFlyer?

 

[GMG]

Have you considered KrisFlyer?

Hi Jase, thanks for the quick reply. The points earn looks decent with them, do you know if they are restrictive in any other way like having to fly on their metal, and beyond that how easy on redemption?

 

[jase05]

Hi Jase, thanks for the quick reply. The points earn looks decent with them, do you know if they are restrictive in any other way like having to fly on their metal, and beyond that how easy on redemption?

Sorry I’m not an expert on the KrisFlyer program but I’m sure there are others on here that would be quite knowledgeable on the subject.
Being based in Australia you have the benefits of the VA partnership aswell

 

[Matt_01]

@GMG reach out to @boomy he seems to well informed and has provided sound advice when it comes to all things *A. Looking at your flights, Asiana may be a good option however I am just a humble KF Gold member.

 

[GMG]

Thanks @jase05 & @Matt_01 .

Hopefully I can get some extra info from @boomy (if you are out there and listening )

 

[boomy]

Hi @GMG most of my *A flights are points redemptions (from CC etc) so I’m not much of an expert in the various FF programmes in terms of earning.

Living in Australia I’d assume you’ll want to look at KrisFlyer and also fly More SQ if *A is your preferred alliance. Also check out A3 and TK programmes they are supposedly good for earn/burn.

Last but not least - LifeMiles! I’m not sure how their earn rate is for partners but I’m big fan of their buying and burning points scheme. There are few threads about LM if you’re interested in more information.

 

[Mattg]

This article may be of interest: The Best Programs to Earn Star Alliance Status

Normally I would suggest Asiana, Turkish or Aegean but if you have a lot of flying on Lufthansa Group airlines, the lower fare classes (including P) on LH don't seem to earn anything with those 3 programs. (With LX flights you do at least get credit for P class.)

If for the trip you've outlined above, you credit the Lufthansa flights to another program (such as KrisFlyer for the award miles - I wouldn't bother with Miles&More!) and the rest to Asiana, I estimate that you would earn 24,117 miles with Asiana. With Asiana, you need to earn 40,000 miles over 2 years to earn Star Alliance Gold, and you then get to keep your status for the remainder of your 2-year membership term PLUS another 2 years. So, with this trip alone you'd be more than half way to Star Alliance Gold until (potentially) 2024. In subsequent years, you can requalify for *A Gold with Asiana by earning only 30,000 miles in 2 years.

United remains a good program if you are doing a lot of flying on United (for the upgrades etc. and it's easier to maintain status if you're flying on actual United flights) as well as for better earning on Lufthansa Group airlines and Air New Zealand.

For what it's worth, I'm currently United Gold and won't bother renewing after this year. I'm planning to switch to Asiana Club.

As a side note, another program to keep an eye on is ANA Mileage Club - especially given it will soon be a Virgin Australia partner. ANA is another one of the few programs that gives credit for the lower fare classes on Lufthansa Group airlines.

 

[sydunipete]

I guess it depends what you want to achieve. A good basis for *A Gold or to accumulate miles for a future redemption. Turkish and Asiana have low barriers to Gold without the need to use their metal. TK at least isn't good with your LH P flight but does do well on your UA P flight.

wheretocredit.com is your friend in this circumstance. Do a bit of a "what if" analysis and that will inform your decision.

 

[GMG]

Thanks everyone, played around with the wheretocredit and looked at a couple of other items that helped me to choose going with Singapore (have some Velocity points I can roll over) as well they are purchasable if I need more points vs Asiana as my backup. My next trip should give me A* Gold and I do that or similar ever year as a min so Status should be fine. Thanks again for the help, thoughts and directions.

 

[RooFlyer]

@Mattg Have any of your rankings changed post Covid? I’m currently with Krisflyer bottom status. I’m intending to do much more star alliance in the next year or two ( LH RTWs) , so am intending to grow status on one of the star alliance airlines replacing Qantas Plat ( have life gold).

 

[Mattg]

@Mattg Have any of your rankings changed post Covid? I’m currently with Krisflyer bottom status. I’m intending to do much more star alliance in the next year or two ( LH RTWs) , so am intending to grow status on one of the star alliance airlines replacing Qantas Plat ( have life gold).

Aegean and Turkish are still solid programs (easy to earn status and miles are valuable). Asiana is merging with Korean Air, so not much point chasing status with them any more.

United changed its program for the worse in 2020/2021 and I don't think it's as good for Australians as it used to be. I have managed to renew my United status this year through flying, but it was a pain and I plan to let my current United status lapse next year.

Ethiopian Airlines changed its program recently and no longer allows status qualification through *A segments in the same way it used to.

 

[sydunipete]

Hi all,

I am currently a Platinum United FF (Non USA) based in Australia having switched from Air NZ a couple of years ago and I am about to do some decent flying but am having negative feelings about the new United FF Qualifications due to the revenue component. So I am trying to find if there is a better FF (Star Alliance) scheme that would work based on the following already booked Trip.

SYD - BKK (Z) Thai
BKK - FRA (P) Lufthansa
FRA - SVQ (P) Lufthansa
SVQ - ZRH (P) Swiss
ZRH - AMS (P) Swiss
AMS - OSL (A) SAS
OSL - HEL (A) SAS
HEL - MUC (P) Lufthansa
MUC - KBP (P) Lufthansa
KBP - ZRH (P) Swiss
ZRH - WAW (F) LOT
WAW - ZAG (F) LOT
ZAG - WAW (F) LOT
WAW - MUC (P) Lufthansa
MUC - CLT (P) Lufthansa
RIC - ORD (P) United
ORD - MSP (P) United
MSP - IAH (D) United
IAH - GDL (D) United
GDL - IAH (P) United
IAH - LAX (P) United
LAX - SYD (P) United

I was looking at Asiana but they don't count the (P) class Lufthansa flights so that doesn't work well. Lufthansa seem to be very restrictive with their new system, and was considering SAS. But looking for guidance.

Regards & Thanks

Geoff

You need to visit wheretocredit.com

 

[andye]

You need to visit wheretocredit.com

Might be too late for that trip
If it ever ended up happening

 

[RooFlyer]

Aegean and Turkish are still solid programs (easy to earn status and miles are valuable). Asiana is merging with Korean Air, so not much point chasing status with them any more.

United changed its program for the worse in 2020/2021 and I don't think it's as good for Australians as it used to be. I have managed to renew my United status this year through flying, but it was a pain and I plan to let my current United status lapse next year.

Ethiopian Airlines changed its program recently and no longer allows status qualification through *A segments in the same way it used to.

Thanks Matt. I'll check Turkish and Agean out and compare to KF. I intend to re-visit Turkey in the coming year, and like TK, so I will hopefully be able to meet any qualifying segment hurdles.

 

[sydunipete]

I’ve been TK elite (gold) for quite a few years now. The frustrations of dealing with them for award flights are getting to me to the point that I’m seriously thinking of jumping ship to Aegean. I’m not sure if they’re much better but they certainly can’t be worse.

 

[RooFlyer]

I remembered that I was a member of Air Canada Aeroplan (then actually not run by the airline) - I got up to 100K 'Super Elite' status a number of years ago when I spent a lot of time over there. They really know how to name status levels properly . I found it a really good program for redeeming flights across Star Alliance, domestic upgrades and their airport 'concierge' service for the 100K SEs (equivalent to P1) was just superb.

But of course its now new, enhanced Aeroplan (and my membership carried over, it seems) and it doesn't look good, especially the required $ spend on AC tickets.

 

[http_x92]

Starting out with *A and it looks like Asiana would have been the best option by far but they are merging with Korean Air so not much point anymore.

Looks like it will be United or Air Canada then, but only flying on their metal would count towards lifetime status. Which means intercontinental trips…

 

[Mattg]

Aeroplan has become an excellent program in terms of earning & burning points, but earning status with Air Canada would probably be similarly frustrating to earning with United. Still, not impossible.

If you decide on Turkish, you might like to try for their status match/challenge.

Star Alliance Status Match with Turkish Airlines

Did you know that Turkish Airlines offers a shortcut to Star Alliance Gold status?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks .. had forgotten about that. I think I got a QF Plat -> TK Gold match before, so they may not come at it again. I see I raised this in the discussion thread, so it was on my mind back then!