Qantas Star Alliance back up

[jakeseven7]

With my work taking me to Asian cities that OW has limited/no direct services to, I'm looking at joining a Star Alliance airlines FF program as a back up to my QF OW membership...

Just wondering if anyone else has recently looked at the airlines in the Star Alliance, had the same problem as me and done the same thing? At the moment I am leaning to Singapore or Thai...??

Does anyone else wish QF would join the Star Alliance instead of OW... Just over the last 12 months, I've found the destinations that I travel to, covered alot better by the Star airlines.. might just be my patterns of travel..

Anyway any pointers would be appreciated.

Cheers

 

[bfmi]

I've done the same. Signed up with Singapore Air as they are more central Asia located as a hub compared to Thai. SQ online ticketing and website are also better featured compared to Thai. SQ metal is also better featured compared to the older TG birds.

I typically allocate my points to UA and the Biz/1st flight sectors maintain my SQ PPS Club. That way I have Gold status on both SQ and UA. UA status bonus is 100% on UA metal when doing the long haul to LOTFAP compared to only 25% on SQ metal. Works well as all my programs have qualifying dates with a few months between.

*A have got better coverage as they have 3 members in the region SQ, TG and OZ compared to only QF and CX.

Forget QF ever joining *A as they are a founding member along with BA and AA + BA's ownership level of QF.

 

[Leumas]

I think BA sold its share in QF... But I agree, I don't see QF jumping ship any time soon, if ever.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

*A does have a strong network in asia compared with OW or ST.

Best program depends on what you want out of it (awards or status most important), and travel patterns - volume and class of travel.

Being Australia based flying *A mainly in asia I see 3 main options for you.

Thai, Singapore, NZ.

Each has pluses and minuses.

 

[browski]

SQ would be my pick as they have at least 3 daily flights ex BNE, SYD and MEL. Really helps with connections to anywhere via Changi. I would not think Thai would have that volume of flights from Australia.

 

[jakeseven7]

Thx, reckon I'll go with SQ...
When Jetstar start flying direct to Vietnam etc should help as well - as long as their Starclass is acceptable.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The class of travel and fare class is really important in deciding a FFP (and airline). For example many of the cheapest SQ fare classes in economy earn zero miles on all FFPs.

 

[jakeseven7]

didn't actually realise that about sq! thanks for the heaps up... doesn't matter so much as it is business that takes me into the depths of asia - so J all the way.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

didn't actually realise that about sq! thanks for the heaps up... doesn't matter so much as it is business that takes me into the depths of asia - so J all the way.

If you are flying SQ in business or first then that opens up some more options. SQ has a special status PPS which you earn only on their own (plus Silkair) flights in paid business and first. So what I hear you ask? Well you can also credit the miles to Kris Flyer OR credit them to another program independently of the PPS credits. If you already had a *A FFP this lets you consolidate your miles there (and possibly earning higher status) and also build status with SQ. PPS status is treated much better by SQ than any *G (even Kris Flyer Elite Gold).

To get PPS you need either 50,000 PPS miles or 25 PPS sectors in a membership year (most people qualify on PPS sectors). To give a guide SYD-SIN-ICN earns 5 PPS sectors each way in business or 6 in first.

 

[Sorky]

I'm a member of both QFF & *A, so here are some of my experiences and reasoning...

My MAIN reason for choosing SQ is that they have the full (pause/rewind) entertainment systems in cattle class (which is unfortunately all I get). Thai, Malaysian and Qantas all do the looping movie thing even if they manage to put a screen on every chair.

Price is also a factor and bought from Sydney, SQ is almost always cheaper than QF. Interestingly, QF is almost always cheaper than SQ if bought from Singapore.

Only flight I have taken in 2 years that did not give me points was a Cathay flight to HK that QFF would not give me points for!

*A seems to have the most partners in the region so there are many choices.

SQ flights seem to be at more convenient times. Malaysian & Thai airport hours seem to restrict the flight options more than Sydney airport!

The return SYD-SIN flight is almost 8000 miles, so only 6 of them (with the odd hop) and I make gold - Last *A year I did 115,000 miles! I'm keen to hear how this compares to QF flights to/from Singapore and where you'd be after 6/7 flights.

I've heard horror stories about actually getting QFF reward flights but I've heard good things about getting *A ones - I hope it's true as a family holiday in Malaysia next year is on the plan! Do kids cost as many points as adults?

 

[JohnK]

My MAIN reason for choosing SQ is that they have the full (pause/rewind) entertainment systems in cattle class (which is unfortunately all I get). Thai, Malaysian and Qantas all do the looping movie thing even if they manage to put a screen on every chair.

I vaguely remember that with QF AVOD in cattle class you can start watching movie when you like and also fast forward/pause/rewind anytime. No loopy loops!

 

[oz_mark]

I vaguely remember that with QF AVOD in cattle class you can start watching movie when you like and also fast forward/pause/rewind anytime. No loopy loops!

If you get an aircraft fitted with AVOD this is true. But not all QF aircraft have AVOD installed, there are still some Loopy Loop aircraft plying the skies.

 

[straitman]

If you get an aircraft fitted with AVOD this is true. But not all QF aircraft have AVOD installed, there are still some Loopy Loop aircraft plying the skies.

......and a lot of AVOD a/c where Loopy Loop is the only working option :!:

 

[oz_mark]

......and a lot of AVOD a/c where Loopy Loop is the only working option :!:

I had a flight where AVOD was not working and I could only get that arthouse movie, Flightplan, to run. No Loopy Loops anywhere to be seen.

 

[Sorky]

I had one flight with SQ that the entire screen was not working and the flight was full so they couldn't move me to another aisle seat (I wouldn't accept a non-aisle). They wouldn't upgrade me but they gave me a $75US voucher for the lack of service.

 

[JohnK]

I had one flight with SQ that the entire screen was not working and the flight was full so they couldn't move me to another aisle seat (I wouldn't accept a non-aisle). They wouldn't upgrade me but they gave me a $75US voucher for the lack of service.

Nice gesture for the inconvenience.

Same thing happened to me on a QF flight and the flight was so full they had no aisle seats available, business class was full as well, and they gave me a A$100 voucher for the inconvenience.

 

[Sorky]

I pondered how Qantas & Singapore Airlines compared in terms of points/status for flights (SYD-SIN & back) - I now have the answer and it is quite interesting...

Qantas FF

Status Points : 30 (12 months)
Miles/Points : 3910 (never expire)

To get to Gold you need 700 Status Points
(note : only 600 the next year to maintain Gold)

That means you need almost 12 (11.7) return flights in first year to make it to Gold.
​

Kris Flyer

Elite Miles : 3912 (12 month window)
Miles/Points : 3912 (3 years) - Note : 25% extra if Silver or Gold & SQ Flight.

To get Gold you need 50,000 Elite Miles

That means just over 6 (6.4) return flights in one year to make it to Gold.

​

If my information is wrong, please let me know. For me, SQ is the way to go!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Gold on SQ provides higher benefits than Gold on QF.

Kris Flyer points are worth more than QF ones - dont need as many for awards and upgrades.

Just watch out for the cheap non-mileage earning fares on SQ.

 

[Sorky]

Have not yet had a flight with SQ (or on other *A for that matter) that did not earn the points!

Had a Cathay flight (SYD-HK) that Qantas would not gove me points for! And a SQ ticket would have been cheaper (but less convenient )

SQ is almost always the cheaper ticket as well...

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The lowest fare classes on SQ (and NZ also) are non mileage earning.

For SYD-HKG not surprising SQ is cheaper since they need incentive to encourage you to make the detour over the nonstop flight. (Hint - if you want to get costs down look for these situations.)