I only belong to QFF, and thus typically only fly with QF and their partners. In terms of how many programs a person should belong to, well that depends on their flying. However in the OP’s case I would recommend that they pick one program, and then only fly with that airline / that airlines partners whenever possible.
A FF program is a loyalty program, so naturally they typically provide the best perks to those customers whom fly with the airline /partners, and purchase what the airline wants you to purchase via the airlines preferred methods (eg airline branded CC’s). Most FF programs have some sort of status attached, and typically they will reserve the best perks for the higher status pax. These can include better choice of seating, lounges, premium support both phone / and at the airport, etc… and of course bonus FF points and better award availability, so it’s quicker to earn points, and easy to use them.
At the lowest level of the FF ladder, FF points are much more difficult to earn in serious numbers, and certainly much harder to use the meagre scraps which are given to the “no status” levels.
Personally I would only ever consider joining a second FF program should I be high enough status in my first, with a guarantee that I’ll earn that status again next year, I would then make sure all my flights will earn status against that program. But that's just me.
While I understand that suits your needs and earning patterns, there are also may people such as myself who do not pay for flights often (or at least no longer do as I am a lapsed air-warrior) and so "ëarning" status through flying would result in no benefit. What is best will vary for each of us. The OP only mentions two flights, though she may well fly more.
Gaining and retaining status is an important strategy for many and in particular where there are works flights to assist with earning it. For others though it is a pointless exercise and it can be more effective to achieve benefits through other means.
To achieve my flight comfort, lounge access and priority check-in for international long haul flights I only fly J or F by redemptions (others may buy tickets) and
I achieve this by super-charging both my "earn" and "burn" by being in multiple FF programs.
Being in multiple allows:
- To earn points that may only be achievable to that program. ie Woolworths Shop to QFF, Coles to Velocity (Or another non QFF Program). CC sign on bonii to Velocity etc. Point Proms like this weeks CrownBet (an easy 10,000 points for the family to Velocity)
- To allocate points to a particular program based on what is achievable on any given day. ie airline shopping portals often have bonus point specials. So for example who I buy eBay though varies on this.
- To allocate points from any particular hotel or car-hire etc to the FF program that earns more points. Special can make his very attractive on occasion.
- To redeem for the route you want at the cheapest point cost as all programs have their wrinkles.
- Plus each program will have booking discounts from time to time
- Each program may have transfer in points from time to time (ie To go to Africa I took advantage of 20% bonus to move points in and another 20% to redeem)
- To have the choice of which airline I redeem with (ie cheapest points cost is not always the flight experience I want)
I would estimate that by super-charging my earn and burn in this way would effectively double the benefit in terms of J/F flights that I actually achieve if I stuck to only one FF program.
The other big benefits from being a multi-FF er is
availability and
choice. If had stuck to just QFF I would find it much harder to actually redeem for when, where and how I wish to fly.
