Thanks Santander for the response.
1) Hmm thanks for the tip. So I am guessing you are saying QR flights will not help credit towards *A miles so the only benefit is to credit those in a consolidated statement under UA. In that case, seems like I might just as well collect it on QR since it will probably be easier to reedeem it on future QR flights?
2) Actually been looking thru the QR website and it mentions that you could pay an amount to use the lounge or be the highest status under QR and use the lounge. Doesn't mention anything about partners though.
3) Yeah the problem is even though I fly often, I tend to fly really short legs. SGP-KL (184 miles?!), SGP-HK, SGP-JKT, HK-JKT, HK-DPS, SGP-PERTH, etc. I fly out of SGP or HK mostly. I will probably just spend most of my Qantas miles on some items and start collecting on CX from now on. Since I am mostly in HK and SGP, there are other ways to collect miles on both these programs anyway. I guess you are right I should not count on op-ups.
4) I don't have any particular preference. I am quite price sensitive in some sense. For example, I don't see why I would pay 1000USD to fly on SQ to NYC vs QR. I would much rather spend that on a nice dinner when I reach NYC. (I for one, rarely eat airplane food even if it's on business on SQ, I just tell them to give me some cup noodles)
Originally Posted by
Santander
1. UA is not a bad programme for you to go into, especially if you fly to the US a lot. Note that QR flights do not earn EQMs so you'd still need to fly more *A to earn status. AC would be a terrible choice if you don't fly to/through Canada as they have a minimum AC flights requirement.
2. Don't know, never been to DOH. Simple web search should get you the answer though.
3. If you want to fly OW, crediting to CX isn't bad. Keep in mind that CX status isn't easy to get either (need to fly 90k in the first year to get Gold/Sapphire). If you're not flying premium fares, 50k of travel a year will only get you SL/Ruby. As far as upgrades go, Asia Miles upgrades are expensive to use and you can't count on op-ups as the reason to switch FFP.
4. Do you want to fly *A, OW or both? You don't seem to have any particular preference at the moment and not enough travel to keep status on two alliances.