Moving to UK - what should i do?

[mbro86]

Hi everyone,

I've found many threads on this forum popping up in my search results, and I was hoping to tap in to some of your knowledge!

I am a QFF Gold with 250,000 points saved up, and I'm moving to London indefinitely in a couple of weeks.

My main points earning activities are 1) direct earn on my AMEX (work and personal expenses), and 2) domestic and international work flights.

When I move to London, my travelling patterns will be similar to here (i.e. enough to retain the BA equivalent of Gold I assume) and I will also use an AMEX to pay for work and personal expenses.

My questions are:
1. Is there any way of direct earning from a UK bank issued credit card directly to my Qantas account?
2. Or, would it be worthwhile to open a BA FF account as soon as I arrive, use that account for all future flights and direct earn credit card points into that. This would mean I would just 'spend' the remaining QFF points and let the gold status lapse.
3. Is there another option that would mean I can keep my QFF account and keep earning points on credit card spend.

Thanks in advance, your help is much appreciated!

Regards

Mark

 

[tyrolean]

You have carefully think about which FF-Program to use (or use both and where to credit which earnings).

There is no UK Credit Card that links to QFF. So you Credit Card Earnings should go to BA.
There are quite a lot of earning possibilities (Tesco,...), so quite an easy way to accumulate points.
So opening up a BA Account makes a lot of sense, as the earning rates on BA are much more generous than on QF

Where to credit the flights?
It depends from a few things:
When you want any status from QF you need 4 QF flights per year - which can be a bit difficult from Europe.
Codeshares count - so a MAN-LHR-SIN-LHR-MAN booked on QF-Number would be enough.

The thing that keeps me loyal with with QF is the lifetime status. I just achieved LTS and I am on my way to LTG.
So if you plan to achieve lifetime status, you should stick to QF.
It depends on your flying pattern, where the status is more easy to attain/retain. Some flights earn better SC rates when crediting to QF (e.g. Flights over 600 Miles).

With the merger of BA and IB the BA Executive Club is changing at the moment.

Be careful the colours of the card are not matching!
QF = Sliver has not corresponding level on BA. Almost no value.
BA Sliver = QF Gold
BA Gold = QF Plat

Keep in Mind: In case of losing the QF-Gold Status one day, you should think about buying the QF-Club membership for a reduced rate: It gives you lounge access on BA flights!

Never Ever change your BA Account to an Australian Adress!


You will fly BA all the times? You may think about joining BMI Diamond Club for your Star Alliance Travel.
They usually will match your QF Status.