Star Alliance Choices

[dajop]

Yeah as I said, anything to, from and within NZ is going to be in economy. So seems pointless to join up with Airpoints from what you described...

J class is only when heading to SE Asia, Pacific Islands or the USA.

What you describe actually makes me think NZ airpoints may be a good program for you - you earn the status from the SE Asia flights, and use the upgrades (2 per year) on your flights to NZ, on Air NZ.

J class travel to Asia & USA is particularly lucrative. MEL-SIN or MEL-BKK in J on either SQ or TG will earn $300 for return flights (or 37.5% of what is required for Gold). By contrast you would earn 9,375 SQ points - for SIN - (18.75% of that required for Gold). For a return to the USA it is either $520 and $560 for a return trip, depending on who you travel with - or 70% of getting to Gold).

Only trouble may be redemptions - depends on which class you are likely to book award flights on. THe burn rate for NZ airpoints for J class awards is not brilliant.

I went down this path based on 3 return flights to Asia (via SIN) per year in J class (actually I should say C class if talking Star Alliance).

 

[sadlier]

Interesting comments from dajop about the NZ upgrades but from what he says they only work on NZ metal. I think TG have upgrades in their program as well but they are also probably restricted to Thai.

From what Harpoon has said he can probably avoid Emirates and Malaysian since the policy enables him to skip the cheapest fares in favour of better scheduling.

That means SQ or TG as the likely carriers and you have a choice of parking the miles with SQ/TG/NZ/UA.

 

[Keith009]

That means SQ or TG as the likely carriers and you have a choice of parking the miles with SQ/TG/NZ/UA.

TK is worth considering too for reasons I identified.

Double dipping with SQ for PPS Value and another program for miles (since Krisflyer is measly) seems to work best.

 

[clifford]

I seem to recall a few posts on the FT *A forum extolling the virtues of TK's Miles&Smiles program. Might want to look closer at that program.

edit:
TK Earning chart on partners here, more generous than most I'd say (short of LH and BD levels) - Partners - TK | Turkish Airlines | International

TK Redemption chart: Star Alliance Award Ticket Chart - TK | Turkish Airlines | International

So basically 25k to get *S within 12 months, then another 12 months to get the 40k to get to *G. 2 year validity for *G during which you need 25k within the first year or 37.5k over 2 years to requalify. Comedically easy given the generous earn rate.

From what I can see, the earn rate for TK and, in particular, the burn rate are not as good as UA Mileage Plus. There are a few exceptions, but anyone flying mainly economy (especially on UA) would find MP hard to beat, particularly if they also had a US address (double EQM).

 

[Keith009]

From what I can see, the earn rate for TK and, in particular, the burn rate are not as good as UA Mileage Plus. There are a few exceptions, but anyone flying mainly economy (especially on UA) would find MP hard to beat, particularly if they also had a US address (double EQM).

I take your point and would recommend UA MP to anyone flying in Economy. However, Harpoon seems to be flying a fair bit on SQ and TG, and in C. UA MP is more 'home carrier' centric than most and one doesn't get cabin bonus on EQM for flying C or F with most *A partners.

Well he did mention that he'd be flying C to the US. Personally I'd fly NZ Biz Premier over UA C... Unless I can snag an SWU or 2 and go in F.

 

[Harpoon]

Thanks all for the help. I signed up to KrisFlyer and linked up my AirNZ flights next week to my new membership number. We'll see how it goes.

Primarily I am a QF traveller when possible, but given I need to occasionally jump on a *A plane, thought I might as well sign up to a program and SQ seemed like as good as any. Not a fan of annual fees on Airpoints and I'm more likely to go SQ than TG... so the choice was probably obvious from the beginning.

It seems like theres no real stand out *A program because everyones needs are so different.

 

[serfty]

Thanks all for the help. I signed up to KrisFlyer and linked up my AirNZ flights next week to my new membership number. We'll see how it goes. ...

Note the following:

TK is worth considering too for reasons I identified.

Double dipping with SQ for PPS Value and another program for miles (since Krisflyer is measly) seems to work best.

In what class are these flights?

There is a way to credit status to KrisFlyer but the miles to another (*A) program. QF009 knows more about this and it may be worth considering.

 

[Keith009]

There is a way to credit status to KrisFlyer but the miles to another (*A) program. QF009 knows more about this and it may be worth considering.

Double dipping only works on SQ and MI flights, and in F or C. Just tell the SQ staff that you want "PPS Value" to go on the SQ account (FQTS), and miles to your other FF account (FQTV). Add your other account's details to your online Krisflyer profile, and your Krisflyer number will automatically appear once you enter the other number for any reservations after the first flight.

Award and status miles will accrue to the other account as normal, and in addition they track your PPS Value. You can end up with PPS status (S$25 000 PPS Value) AND status on the other account.

 

[Leslie R Schinck]

Would you please credit FF points to my account for a recently travelled trip as I thought my application for membership had been processed but I am still unsure.
Star Allience Partener
Flight Thai Airways TG6935 Osaka Kansai to Bangkok Suvarnabh
Date 27th Aug 08 Ticket Number 1609616317390-91
Please advise when point have been redeemed for this flight.
Thanks. Les Schinck.

 

[oz_mark]

Would you please credit FF points to my account for a recently travelled trip as I thought my application for membership had been processed but I am still unsure.
Star Allience Partener
Flight Thai Airways TG6935 Osaka Kansai to Bangkok Suvarnabh
Date 27th Aug 08 Ticket Number 1609616317390-91
Please advise when point have been redeemed for this flight.
Thanks. Les Schinck.

I don't think this is the place to ask this question.

 

[serfty]

Methinks it's a CC of correspondence sent by Leslie R Schinck to their *A frequent flyer program.

BTW, Leslie R Schinck, welcome to AFF

 

[oz_mark]

It's hard to tell if its a CC, or they really think that someone here can do anything about it.