Just registered to AFF!

[Jimbo B]

Hi all!

I have been looking for a site just like this to answer my many questions about earning and using frequent flyer points. My partner is Canadian and we currently live in Australia which will be home for us for at least the next 3 years. As my family is scattered around the country (Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane) and hers is obviously back in Canada we will fortunately be doing our fair share of travelling for the inevitable future.
For the past few months I have been trying to wrap my head around how best to capitalise on this by trying to figure out which airline alliance is best for us, the best FFP, and their affiliated credit card partners. I haven't had too much success at understanding it all, but I hope all that may change now that I have discovered this fantastic community.
So if anyone is willing to help me out on getting started it will be much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Hvr]

Welcome aboard Jimbo B, good to see you here at the start of your FFP journey.

Some basic questions, do you have a points earning credit card?

Do you have a preference for specific airlines? In Canada do your local airports have specific airlines?

These things will come into play when choosing an airline alliance.

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF Jimbo B!

 

[Jimbo B]

Thanks Hvr!

I don't currently have a points earning credit card, but was hoping to gain some sound advice on just that. My partner and I have been sifting through our options for a while now and the biggest questions revolve around her visa status. She is a teacher and is currently employed as such, which affords her a decent salary. However, she is currently still working under a temporary work visa and as far as we can tell you have to be a permanent resident to be eligible. With me being a student with only part-time work here and there my options for being approved for a decent card seem distant at best.

Domestic travel (Australia): there is slight preference towards Virgin based purely on my personal experience with them and other airlines over the years. However, now that I am aiming to earn airline status and points perhaps this will change! When it comes to international travel we would prefer to fly Air Canada due to my partner being afforded cheap flights through her mother's long service to the airline. Currently she takes what ever Air Canada flight she can get on, and I grab the cheapest flight there is.

With your last question "In Canada do your local airports have specific airlines?" do you mean TOR only uses a certain airline? Sorry, but this is all new to me.

Kind regards

 

[Hvr]

What I meant was are the airport(s) you fly to in Canada only serviced by one airline. Especially relevant if regional airports where only one airline services the region.

 

[Steady]

Welcome aboard Jimbo B

 

[TomVexille]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Dr Ralph]

Welcome to AFF Jimbo B.

 

[Buzzard]

Greetings Jimbo B, welcome to AFF. You will certainly find the answers you are looking for here.