Turkish Airlines Status Match

[penegal]

Of course Krisflyer Silver requires 25,000 miles per year and Krisflyer Gold requires 50,000 miles, as opposed to the equivalent Miles & Smiles levels Classic Plus requiring 25,000miles and Elite requiring 40,000.

So then am I right in saying that TK's Miles and Smiles not only earns faster, but requires less to gain *A Gold benefits?

Yes on both counts.

Probably the only reason why SQ KrisFlyer is potentially more attractive on the burn side is that there are Australian credit cards which can credit to SQ (none for TK), and through SQ you can book premium seats on all SQ services (viz. on any other *A programme, you usually can't book SQ J or F on the new aircraft).

I agree with anat0l, and would add that PPS club status may sway some people towards SQ. PPS is a cut above *G, especially on SQ.

Many credit cards can transfer points to SQ, and the Westpac co-branded Platinum cards (although 'enhanced'), are a very reasonable credit card product. There is no Points cap and you earn 1.5x on AmEx and 3x on SQ spend ex-Australia (AmEx). The VISA is useless in Australia (0.5x), but is okay overseas, especially if you aren't paying the bill (1.5x points, but you cop heavy FX fees). I have never paid an annual fee on this product, although that did take some mucking around to get.

The 'new' SQ award charts are less generous than the old ones, the trade off is better "saver" seat availability in J/F/R on 388s and 77Ws.

As always YMMV, and it really depends on your own circumstances.

 

[SeatBackForward]

My SIN trip on Miles and Smiles just gets better, turns out the Hotel I'm staying at - Swissotel, isn't part of any other FF programmes I have, but they do accept Miles and Smiles!

 

[JessicaTam]

My SIN trip on Miles and Smiles just gets better, turns out the Hotel I'm staying at - Swissotel, isn't part of any other FF programmes I have, but they do accept Miles and Smiles!

I think TK had a bonus promotion with Swissotel recently.

 

[SeatBackForward]

OK on my first SQ flight since status match. The A380 in J. All I can say so far...first five mins is...WOW!

 

[JessicaTam]

OK on my first SQ flight since status match. The A380 in J. All I can say so far...first five mins is...WOW!

Having only ever sat in the back of a SQ A380 all I can say is... Enjoy!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Having only ever sat in the back of a SQ A380 all I can say is... Enjoy!

14A third row from the front. Service was amazing the seat was wide enough for me to have brought my whole family along. The only quibble I had was that they don't let the entertainment system be used until the flight has levelled off and prior to the landing. But thats really insignificant.

Once again..thank you Turkish Airlines! and SQ too...

 

[k3nnis]

What did the tk status match provide you on your sq flight? Sounds amazing though.

14A third row from the front. Service was amazing the seat was wide enough for me to have brought my whole family along. The only quibble I had was that they don't let the entertainment system be used until the flight has levelled off and prior to the landing. But thats really insignificant.

Once again..thank you Turkish Airlines! and SQ too...

 

[SeatBackForward]

What did the tk status match provide you on your sq flight? Sounds amazing though.

Entry into the NZ lounge rather than the rather paltry SQ SilverKris lounge at SYD. The onboard staff also seemed to be a lot more attentive to me, by name etc..perhaps that's just SQ though?

There would've been the added baggage allowances too but I was carry on only anyhow.

 

[k3nnis]

Nice. Just wondering can't a J SQ pax have access to the NZ lounge in syd?

Entry into the NZ lounge rather than the rather paltry SQ SilverKris lounge at SYD. The onboard staff also seemed to be a lot more attentive to me, by name etc..perhaps that's just SQ though?

There would've been the added baggage allowances too but I was carry on only anyhow.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Nice. Just wondering can't a J SQ pax have access to the NZ lounge in syd?

The Boarding Pass had an invitation to the SilverKris lounge printed on it. So I assume if it weren't for the *A Gold from Turkish, that I wouldn't have been able to go to NZ Lounge. That said the NZ lounge is far better!

I'll post up some pics of the flight a travel report later tonight after work.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. Can someone confirm if this is the case? Have the rules changed? Always thought a *A J BP can access any *A lounge.

 

[anat0l]

Thanks. Can someone confirm if this is the case? Have the rules changed? Always thought a *A J BP can access any *A lounge.

*A J BP can access any other J Level *A lounge.

In many cases, if you don't have *G status and just on a *A J ticket, the gazetted J lounge for the carrier of your flight will be "strongly recommended", but the rules are the rules. That is why some carriers will insist on an invitation, but you can't really be forced against the rules. (It's sometimes a bit too difficult and not worth to argue the point if it comes to that, however).

There are some exceptions to these, of course. For example, non-*G J lounge pax are not allowed in LH/LX Senator Lounges. J pax only are allowed in the SQ SilverKris Lounges in SIN - *G pax travelling in Y are not permitted. And of course, you can't use a lounge which is not operated by a *A airline, even if a *A airline uses that lounge for premium pax.

 

[penegal]

14A third row from the front. Service was amazing the seat was wide enough for me to have brought my whole family along. The only quibble I had was that they don't let the entertainment system be used until the flight has levelled off and prior to the landing. But thats really insignificant.

Once again..thank you Turkish Airlines! and SQ too...

Entry into the NZ lounge rather than the rather paltry SQ SilverKris lounge at SYD. The onboard staff also seemed to be a lot more attentive to me, by name etc..perhaps that's just SQ though?

There would've been the added baggage allowances too but I was carry on only anyhow.

Good choice - 14A is one of the best seats on that aircraft IMHO. Good balance of being foward, private and away from galley/lavatories.

SQ J normally give excellent service, especially on the A380. The expectation is that they would address you by name.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I've started some posts on the Trip Report: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....stions/travel-options-46436-2.html#post751904

 

[michaelj]

My NZ status is about to downgrade from Gold to Silver. So, I've just joined Miles & Smiles and sent a request to status match my QFF WP thanks to the intel gained here. It would be good to retain access to teh Koru Club on my regaular trips to NZ. I'll report my successs or otherwise.

 

[JessicaTam]

I do recall that an AFF member or two have tried without success to SM Skyteam. ISTR that there was a mention of it in an early part of this thread, however I have not gone back through it to find it.

I still can't believe they knocked me back with Skyteam Elite Plus and with lots of Europe travel having shown on my account in the last 12 months.
Obviously they just don't like me!

A bit late but I found it.

 

[hummel]

A bit late but I found it.

Appreciate it, it looks like FlyingBlue has pulled the offer so something I don't need to worry about now!

 

[jetlagger]

I did send off an email to TK, requesting for SM - just to satisfy my curiosity..
Still waiting & nil reply since last week.. Not that I'm overly concerned.
Even the website sign up process was clunky.

 

[Flashback]

I did send off an email to TK, requesting for SM - just to satisfy my curiosity..
Still waiting & nil reply since last week.. Not that I'm overly concerned.
Even the website sign up process was clunky.

It has been reported that it's over .. so would be surprised for you if it did come through!

 

[SeatBackForward]

So the outbound SQ flight was credited to M&S within 24hrs of the flight, but the return has now been almost a week and hasn't been credited yet..is this typical?