Which Star Alliance frequent flyer program should I join?

[harriaj]

I will be flying to Canada to live for at least a year in late August. I am currently with Velocity, QFF and Qatar Privilege. I am not with KrisFlyer or Air New Zealand Airpoints as living in Australia it has made sense to pool any points earnt on SG or NZ services to my Velocity account. Should I sign up to Air Canada's Aeroplan Miles, with KrisFlyer or with Airpoints?

Alternatively, is there any way to turn points on any of the abovementioned programs into Velocity points (or cash then Velocity points)?

This dilemma seems to illustrate the pitfalls of VA's pick-and-mix alliance/frequent flyer strategy, but I suppose a few of us have to slip through the cracks.

 

[serfty]

Really can't say - Delta can earn some velocity for you.

Is it *A you really want?

 

[boylero]

what are you trying to acheive, status, lounge, max points?

 

[harriaj]

Really can't say - Delta can earn some velocity for you.

Is it *A you really want?

I should qualify my first post by noting that I'll be flying with Air Canada, so a *A program is what I'll need.

what are you trying to acheive, status, lounge, max points?

Given that I'm starting at the bottom, I'm probably looking for status and then lounge access, rather than points. The three programs that I have read about and continue to pop up on other forums in terms of reaching status quickly are A3, OZ and TK. I'm not completely up to speed with A3's financial status as a going concern, but the ease with which one can seemingly gain status with them seems unsustainable to me.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

if flying Air Canada regularly join their program for the upgrades once you have status. You will earn status pretty quick if you are doing regular trans-pac trips to Sydney with them.

 

[yohy?!]

Aegean is the quickest for Star Gold and Lounge Access - 20,000miles gives 3 years Star Gold

Check out the Aegean forum on flyertalk.com for more dets

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Aegean is the quickest for Star Gold and Lounge Access - 20,000miles gives 3 years Star Gold

Check out the Aegean forum on flyertalk.com for more dets

Quickest but if you are flying AC a lot you will want the upgrades with them.