Which loyalty program for self funded travelling ?

[sshazam]

Hey everyone

I would first like to state that I'm completely new to all of this so if I sound nooby you know why .

Im 18 and hopefully looking to do at least 1 international trip a year ( I wish money grew on trees).

Im also looking to go to India next year in February to visit some family and I'm wondering which airline I should sign up with to start earning miles? I'm not to keen on Flying Qantas as i've found for international travel they're usually a bit more expensive than their competitors. E.g. a Virgin a ticket will cost me around 1.2k, Air Malaysia 1.3 , Emirates 1.4 but Qantas was around the 1.7k mark.

I also have a commonwealth Gold Credit card but I only spend 1k a month max on that so I doubt its worth me joining another credit card plus I like their travel insurance and warranties.

Thanks everyone for any help.

 

[drewbles]

Welcome to AFF!

This question is asked *a lot* here. I suggest you do a search and just browse the forums. There's a wealth of information around here without us needing to repeat it

 

[sshazam]

Welcome to AFF!

Thanks !

This question is asked *a lot* here. I suggest you do a search and just browse the forums. There's a wealth of information around here without us needing to repeat it

Ive had a look around but with so much information its a bit confusing.

I saw that Virgin usually have cheaper rates which makes flying for people like me more affordable but the price difference for the cheapest One World Airline isn't that big.

Just wondering though if I join up for the Qantas Frequent flyer and in Feb next year I fly with either Air Malaysia or Emirates how do I work out how many points I earn?

 

[drewbles]

As MH are not yet a part of oneworld, and the EK tie-up is yet to be fully confirmed, there's questions we can't answer just yet.

MH are due early 2013, and the EK details would be announced as soon as the ACCC declared the tie-up all ok.

 

[harvyk]

Who do you fly now?

 

[sshazam]

As MH are not yet a part of oneworld, and the EK tie-up is yet to be fully confirmed, there's questions we can't answer just yet.

MH are due early 2013, and the EK details would be announced as soon as the ACCC declared the tie-up all ok.

Thanks ! looking like i'll have to see what current airlines are offering me good deals.

Who do you fly now?

Nobody really at the moment, in the past I flew on Singapore a lot (parents paid) but now i'm looking to fund my own travels.

Thank you everyone for the help as well.

 

[mella2007]

At your age and self funded, I can only assume that price is the first factor. For that reason go with Virgin. If you plan on flying with Singapore again in the future you can earn points and more by being with them.
One flight a year however with any airline will not get you above the base tier, which doesn't offer really anything across any program.

 

[harvyk]

I guess the next question is how many domestic trips are you looking at doing per year? And more importantly from where to where?

Just reading what you are saying though, I doubt you'll get a lot from any FF program at this stage, and since price is a factor you may even consider just using BFOD and ignoring loyalty and alliances.

Keep in mind, to get 1 actual free SYD-MEL vv flight (without paying a cent, even for taxes) you'd need 28,000 points which would require 14 SYD-MEL vv flights. Assuming you can find each one of those 14 flights for $100 even, that's still $2,800 you'd need to pay to earn that "free" flight. Now if you'd simply done BFOD and found the same flights for $80, and then flown those 14 vv flights, that's $2,240 you'd need to spend, which even though you won't have a "free" flight at the end, you do have an extra $560 in your pocket.

BTW. the example above is certainly not showing a good use of points, but strictly speaking to get good value from points you really need to use them to fly or upgrade to higher class cabins and typically on international flights IMHO.

 

[drewbles]

At your age and self funded, I can only assume that price is the first factor. For that reason go with Virgin. If you plan on flying with Singapore again in the future you can earn points and more by being with them.
One flight a year however with any airline will not get you above the base tier, which doesn't offer really anything across any program.

If you're self funded, you may be better off looking at JQ with the bundle for Points/SC's. As DJ moves away from its low cost carrier roots, pricing is often on-par with QF. Indeed, some times on the same routes, QF is cheaper than DJ, and vice versa. FF programs are not good for people who have to pick the lowest fares (or they'd always fly TT).

 

[samh004]

Where are you based?

My carrier of choice is QantasLink, plenty of sales, friendly staff and not to brag, but I've solely flown within QLD this year and I'm a Platinum

Unfortunately they don't fly international, but their big brother does.

As for CC's, keeping CC's is different to applying, spending the minimum required, earning thousands of bonus points and then cancelling. You don't need many cards, just many good bonuses.




 

[sshazam]

If you're self funded, you may be better off looking at JQ with the bundle for Points/SC's. As DJ moves away from its low cost carrier roots, pricing is often on-par with QF. Indeed, some times on the same routes, QF is cheaper than DJ, and vice versa. FF programs are not good for people who have to pick the lowest fares (or they'd always fly TT).

Sorry, what does that mean ?

Where are you based?

My carrier of choice is QantasLink, plenty of sales, friendly staff and not to brag, but I've solely flown within QLD this year and I'm a Platinum

Unfortunately they don't fly international, but their big brother does.

As for CC's, keeping CC's is different to applying, spending the minimum required, earning thousands of bonus points and then cancelling. You don't need many cards, just many good bonuses.




Im Based in Sydney. I know the commonwealth Gold Card isn't the best value around but because I'm young and don't earn 30k I don't think I'll get offered any better cards.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I think because i'm self funding and don't fly domestic Virgin at the moment is the better option, but I know the cheap fare options don't award me any points but they're significantly cheaper than the ones that do.

Side note does anyone know how to find out about cheap airfares?

 

[Bolthead]

Side note does anyone know how to find out about cheap airfares?

Hit the net and find out for yourself your favourite websites. Always cross reference them with the airlines actual websites and don't discount Travel agents specials from time to time. The favourite website I use to start my searching is Skyscanner.com.au Cheap flights | Free flight comparison at Skyscanner.com.au From there I then piece together what I want. I am sure other people have their own favourite sites.

Another thing to add about Virgin is don't forget about the power of family pooling. If other members of your family only fly a little bit as well family pooling can help you (or somebody) in the family reach a certain level of status quickly. Good luck

 

[Mwenenzi]

If you're self funded, you may be better off looking at JQ with the bundle for Points/SC's. As DJ moves away from its low cost carrier roots, pricing is often on-par with QF. Indeed, some times on the same routes, QF is cheaper than DJ, and vice versa. FF programs are not good for people who have to pick the lowest fares (or they'd always fly TT).

Sorry, what does that mean ?

Translation:
If you're self funded, you may be better off looking at Jetstar(JQ) with the bundle for Qantas Points/ Qantas Status credit's (SC's). As Virgin(DJ) moves away from its low cost carrier roots, pricing is often on-par with Qantas(QF). Indeed, some times on the same routes, Qantas(QF) is cheaper than Virgin(DJ), and vice versa. Frequent Flyer (FF) programs are not good for people who have to pick the lowest fares (or they'd always fly Tiger Airlines(TT))

Conclusion:
Just go for lowest cost airfare. You will not get many freq flyer miles/points or status, but consider Jetstar if price is OK.

 

[harvyk]

Translation:
If you're self funded, you may be better off looking at Jetstar(JQ) with th....

I think we sometimes forget not everyone knows the AFF lingo...
For the OP a learn the lingo page is here -> http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ions/abbreviations-and-explanations-5056.html

 

[stigsfilocousin]

Apologies to the OP if I am sidetracking the thread, but in my case, I decided to join Miles&Bonus (Aegean Air's program) because they have a relatively low threshold system. So long as you fly any Star Alliance carrier (Singapore, Air NZ, Thai, etc) you can earn points towards the program (even a lowly economy ticket that is on a W fare type earns you the full kaboodle), and you get a 1000 bonus points as soon as you sign up. To hit silver, you need 4000 points less 1000 bonus so only 3000 which a trip to India will more than cover and after that, you only need 12000 points in a year to hit gold i.e. lounge access, 20kg extra luggage or one piece depending on carrier, and so on.

I've decided to switch to them and will qualify for silver next month after flying business class in Thai (domestic flight) and to hit the 12000 point target, it would either be a business class flight or mixed class to Manila (my birthplace) or even a trip to Europe.

 

[k_sheep]

Apologies to the OP if I am sidetracking the thread, but in my case, I decided to join Miles&Bonus (Aegean Air's program) because they have a relatively low threshold system. .....

Ohh good call. I'll be doing that for my upcoming RGN-NRT!