Best programme for annual flights between London and Sydney

[malaki]

I am currently living in London long-term but with my sister about to give birth in Australia, I am expecting to fly back there at least yearly, so would like to hook up with a sturdy frequent flyer programme. I do tend to go for the cheapest flights but if there was a programme someone could recommend that could earn me enough points to make it worthwhile, then I would definitely give it a go. I have been meaning to sign up to a frequent flyer programme for years but can't work out which is best for me.
FYI - I fly economy and in the past have flown Etihad or Singapore Airlines back to Australia. I haven't flown Qantas for years as they are usually out of price range, but may be willing to look into BA.

Does anyone have any advice on the best frequent flyer programme for my circumstances?

 

[haydensydney]

Does anyone have any advice on the best frequent flyer programme for my circumstances?

I think it depends on two things:

1. What airline you will actually fly and
2. What you would want to do with the points once you've got them

Once you identify what airline you will be choosing for your flights, then i'm sure the group on this board can provide some recommendations. Remember that if you fly Qantas for example, you don't need to join Qantas but you can join any of the other OneWorld member airlines programs (all have their perks and cons).

Personally, if you can score a cheapo Etihad trip to UK and back, and credit the points to Virgin Australia Velocity, you may be able to get a few points that way and use them for domestic travel within Australia upon your return.

 

[drron]

Though if you join american airlines Aadvantage you can also earn on etihad as well as all the OW airlines-QF,BA,CX,JAL and even AY though an extra stop in HEL but often competitive on price.
Some fare classes though are poor earners.

 

[JetLagged]

malaki, if you haven't done so already, have a look at the Qantas UK site: the fares from UK-AU are WAY, and I do mean WAY, cheaper than the other way around!

 

[casanovawa]

Are you intending to earn points through your personal paid flying back to Oz until they add up to something for free, through any flying you may do for work around Europe or via non flying earnings like shopping/credit card use or all of the above??? The more ways you earn points the better and specially if you can earn a few through just your daily spending habits...

So are there any good credit card/insurance/shopping offers to earn points/miles for any FF program offered in the UK??? That would be one good way to choose which program to join coupled with what their network/alliance partners are like for getting back to Oz etc... If its just going to be solely earned through you own personal flying then yeah look for programs from the cheapy airlines...

 

[knasty]

I agree with drron re Aadvantage. You can get an AA credit card in the UK as well to topup. The business and first class redemption rates Europe-Oz are hard to beat.

 

[casanovawa]

Would they be charged a foreign exchange fee every time they used the AA cc in the UK or do they issue them in the local currency???

AA might be a good program but just wondering if there is anything local in the UK which might be better, but don't know myself...

Also depends what class of travel they like to use and what sort of points total they might amass and then burn each year...

 

[knasty]

Would they be charged a foreign exchange fee every time they used the AA cc in the UK or do they issue them in the local currency???

It's a locally-issued GBP AMEX card. I wish there was one in Oz.

The AAdvantage® / American Express® credit card from mbna

 

[casanovawa]

Yes defiintely a local one would be good...

And if they are willing to offer a card in the UK, what would be stopping them offering such a product in Australia or do they just need to find the right partner down here or are our banking laws prohibiting such a move or making it cost prohibitive anyway?? After all even as consumer confidence slides somewhat in Oz, our economy has been going much better than the rest of the world for a couple of years now and as long as China doesn't hit too many speed bumps this part of the world is due to have pretty decent economic growth rates for a while as opposed to the US and Europe which could be in the doldrums for a decade or so they seem to be saying...

Sorry for going O/T...

 

[siri]

I am Qantas and United FF member and best and cheapest way to travel between Europe and Aus is using Japan Airline ( Amazing sector points via Qantas if you are flying Bus class) or use Virgin.

 

[letsgo]

I agree with Jetlagged above - if you are UK-based you have the advantage of much cheaper return fares than Aus -> UK -> Aus return. I keep getting emails from Cathay Pacific UK and their return flight prices astound me - e.g. their web site currently shows London -> Sydney return from UKL909 - less than $1400. As I travel almost annually to the UK I am seriously considering whether to get a one-way to London then buy returns from there.

Sorry, this is more my gripe about asymmetric air fares than answering your question. If you also intend to fly locally within Aus or UK/Europe, maybe choose an airline which will let you use FF points to book local flights on a partner airline - e.g. I have previously used my Qantas FF points to book (through Qantas) an Aer Lingus flight LHR - Dublin. Basically, if a London - Aus - London flight gives you enough points for a local side trip at either end, I suggest that would be a good selection criterion.

 

[Flashback]

malaki, if you haven't done so already, have a look at the Qantas UK site: the fares from UK-AU are WAY, and I do mean WAY, cheaper than the other way around!

But QF/BA (price will always be the same due to the JSA) are often much more expensive than the other options (e.g. CX/MH).

Would they be charged a foreign exchange fee every time they used the AA cc in the UK or do they issue them in the local currency???

AA might be a good program but just wondering if there is anything local in the UK which might be better, but don't know myself...

Also depends what class of travel they like to use and what sort of points total they might amass and then burn each year...

The AA card from MBNA isn't too bad, especially considering it's free.

I agree with Jetlagged above - if you are UK-based you have the advantage of much cheaper return fares than Aus -> UK -> Aus return. I keep getting emails from Cathay Pacific UK and their return flight prices astound me - e.g. their web site currently shows London -> Sydney return from UKL909 - less than $1400. As I travel almost annually to the UK I am seriously considering whether to get a one-way to London then buy returns from there.

Sorry, this is more my gripe about asymmetric air fares than answering your question. If you also intend to fly locally within Aus or UK/Europe, maybe choose an airline which will let you use FF points to book local flights on a partner airline - e.g. I have previously used my Qantas FF points to book (through Qantas) an Aer Lingus flight LHR - Dublin. Basically, if a London - Aus - London flight gives you enough points for a local side trip at either end, I suggest that would be a good selection criterion.

Note that the CX sale fares will not earn on QF. I can't remember the booking class but I know that when I checked it did not earn on QF. Whether it would earn on AAdvantage I don't know, you'd need to check the booking class the next time they have one of their sales.

 

[Flashback]

I agree with Jetlagged above - if you are UK-based you have the advantage of much cheaper return fares than Aus -> UK -> Aus return. I keep getting emails from Cathay Pacific UK and their return flight prices astound me - e.g. their web site currently shows London -> Sydney return from UKL909 - less than $1400. As I travel almost annually to the UK I am seriously considering whether to get a one-way to London then buy returns from there.

Just to add to that, some of the CX sales have been around 650-680 GBP return.