Other European Frequent Flyer Programs - MA Duna Club status matching: worth it?

Hi guys. I'm looking for a replacement FFP for Asia Miles and while I was browsing through Malév's website to check in for a flight tomorrow, they were advertising a status matching promo for elites in other FFPs to Duna Club provided you fly them at least once. Since I'm flying WAW-BUD and I'm a SkyTeam elite (DL Silver Medallion), I'd like to ask two questions:

1. Is status matching with this particular program worth it? (I'm also considering BA/IB and AA for a replacement oneworld FFP.)
2. Will MA be a good fit for travel outside of Europe? (I'm returning to the Philippines next year.)

Thanks and I hope to get answers soon. I have BA flights which need to be credited! :D

I've matched my FB Gold with them in July. It took them until two weeks ago to send me my member card. It is however valid until 2013.

As they are a member of OneWorld, their card should be usable for any OneWorld carrier, including BA. If you will get any lounge access with Ruby level I dont know - I am suspecting no though. It might be useful for priority check in and so on.. :)

If you will get any lounge access with Ruby level I dont know - I am suspecting no though. It might be useful for priority check in and so on.. :)

According to MA's website, Silver level has MA lounge access, excluding fare classes G, P, S, E, Z, N, Q, O, T and U if booked with MA. And no lounge access on other oneworld carriers. I can use priority boarding, extra baggage allowance and mile multipliers though! :D

My only concern right now is the steep entry barrier: 40,000 miles to earn Silver, plus the one-year validity of miles. But 15 segments is a bargain! :p

According to MA's website, Silver level has MA lounge access, excluding fare classes G, P, S, E, Z, N, Q, O, T and U if booked with MA. And no lounge access on other oneworld carriers. I can use priority boarding, extra baggage allowance and mile multipliers though! :D

My only concern right now is the steep entry barrier: 40,000 miles to earn Silver, plus the one-year validity of miles. But 15 segments is a bargain! :p

Silver on MA has almost no tangible benefits when travelling OW. Only J check-in alliance wide might be useful.

+1pc on newly purchased tickets also

+1pc on newly purchased tickets also

It would be helpful if this was alliance-wide, but I was under the impression that this is only for MA-operated flights.

It would be helpful if this was alliance-wide, but I was under the impression that this is only for MA-operated flights.

It is not alliance-wide, unfortunately, but several carriers (AA and AY for sure) grant extra baggage allowance for Rubys.

After evaluating several other OW programs (virtually having gone down the entire list! :D), I finally signed up for the Duna Club and I hope to receive their response to my status-matching request soon. Since the perks were virtually the same anyway across the different programs, I decided to choose MA because it was the easiest program to earn status: 40,000 miles or 15 segments. As far as my flying patterns are concerned, I might end up earning status more on segments than on sheer miles, since virtually all my long-haul flying is still done with SkyTeam carriers.

This will be very exciting indeed. :)

It is not alliance-wide, unfortunately, but several carriers (AA and AY for sure) grant extra baggage allowance for Rubys.

If this includes long-haul, I have a reason now to fly HKG-HEL! :D

I would be careful about crediting to Duna Club - the redemption rates for premium cabins and for partner airlines and multi-segment awards appear appalling compared to the earning rates. I would be happy to be disavowed of this belief if I am wrong.

I would be careful about crediting to Duna Club - the redemption rates for premium cabins and for partner airlines and multi-segment awards appear appalling compared to the earning rates. I would be happy to be disavowed of this belief if I am wrong.

When all else fails, I can always rely on Asia Miles. (The tradeoff is that I can't credit to MA, but it would be useful for other airlines.) :D

WAW-BUD is currently going for 23,000 miles at the lowest in Y, and 46,000 miles in C. I'd rather just buy a ticket and upgrade for 10,500 miles instead.